Nintendo's Wii, released in 2006, was the first console of its generation to make motion-sensitive controllers a part of every aspect of game play. The Wii allows for active gaming and has a growing library of games devoted to working out, but the console has some limitations, and its games aren't a substitute for traditional exercise.
Active vs. Passive Video Games
During traditional, passive video games, players remain seated throughout their play session and operate buttons on a controller. In active games, such as those played on the Wii console, upper- and lower-body movements operate the game controls, and players frequently need to stand while playing. A study published in Pediatrics in 2006 found that the energy expenditure of children rose by as much as 22 percent over their resting heart rate while playing sedentary games and as much as 172 percent over their resting heart rate while playing active games.
Wii Controllers
All games made specifically for the Wii console use the Wii remote, which registers the movements of the player. Typical movements include swinging the controller as if it were a baseball bat or tennis racket in sports games or shaking it in party games like "WarioWare: Smooth Moves." The Nunchuk attachment connects to the Wii remote for two-handed movements in some Wii games. The Wii balance board, which is sold separately, resembles a scale, and it figures prominently in many fitness games and other active titles like "Shaun White Snowboarding."
Fitness Games
"Wii Fit" and "Wii Fit Plus" provide yoga, strength training, aerobics and balance exercises. Players input their weight-loss or weight-gain goals and customize their workouts, and the game records weight changes, total exercise time and, in "Plus," calories burned. "EA Sports Active 2" includes a heart monitor and a virtual personal trainer to assist the player during workouts. Some dancing games, like "Dance Dance Revolution" and "Zumba Fitness," provide solo workouts and track the calories burned while playing.
Considerations
Few studies have been performed on the exercise benefits of the Wii console, but many indicate that it provides more exercise than watching television or playing a sedentary video game. However, a study in the "British Journal of Sports Medicine" concludes that playing games like "Wii Sports" does not provide the same amount of exercise as playing the actual sports involved. Children and adults are advised to engage in moderate and vigorous aerobic exercise daily, and some Wii game workouts may not be of sufficient intensity to meet these recommendations.
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