Can Video Games Replace the Gym?

I’m a gym guy. Always have been, always will be. I love lifting weights, pushing sleds, and deadlifting. 

But I’m also a believer that fitness has many faces, whether it’s running, swimming, climbing, or fighting. (sorry, curling does not make the cut) It’s why I’m constantly trying out new forms of fitness, just for the sake of experiencing something new. 

So when I saw some recent ads running for Your Shape Fitness Evolved (a new game for Kinect), I had to try it out. But my opinion wasn’t enough, and, in full disclosure, I didn’t want to provide anything that could appear biased. Instead, I had 5 fellow employees try out the game and provide me with their feedback.  Here’s what I found:

The Game is Fun

I’ll say this about Your Shape—it makes being active more enjoyable for people who don’t like exercise (and let’s admit it, many people fall into this category). All of the people who tried the game also participate in a 2-day-per-week boot camp. No surprise: Everyone considered the game more fun and it made the time pass much quicker. Twenty minutes of heart-rate-elevating dancing, kicking, punching, and jumping moves faster when it’s part of a game. (and when I’m not yelling for 5 more burpees)

It Makes You Move 

Much to my surprise, the people who tried the game found themselves with an elevated heart rate and signs of fatigue. In a world where video games typically promote a sedentary lifestyle and Cheetos addiction, this was a step in the right direction.

It Can Work For Everyone 

I’m not necessarily talking about results. Instead, I’m referring to usability for a wide demographic. These games have enough options to entertain any child or adult. I watched grown men live out their Karate Kid fantasies by punching and kicking virtual boxes, all while dodging swinging hammers with virtuoso Matrix-style movements. Toss in the fact that you can do everything from abs, arms, and cardio to boot camp, and you have a game that—at least on the surface—offers plenty of variety and activity.

It Has Benefits for Kids 

I’ll be the first to say that I’d rather see children running around playing outside or participating in a sport. But I was surprised by one aspect of the game: It clearly builds coordination and quick reactions. Both of these are skills that children should have. And again, while I’d prefer for them to build them outside, this is clearly a better alternative to traditional sedentary games.

The Game Doesn’t Burn a Ton of Calories 

I know that my co-workers were sweating a little, but after completing each game the user receives feedback about how many calories they burned (admittedly, a cool feature). Unfortunately, the numbers weren’t significant. At most, people were burning about 20 to 30 calories per game (we didn’t try every option). And while that’s definitely better than ingesting hundreds of calories or not moving at all, it means that you’d have to be sitting in front of the TV screen for a long time in order to really make a significant difference. In other words, it burns calories but it’s not the most efficient way to boost your meatbolism.

Don’t Expect a Transformation 

The Kinect is extremely cool. It literally allows you to become part of the video game. But the technology also has limitations—and that includes the type of exercises you can perform and still be “recognized” on screen. So while there’s plenty of a variety for a game, it still has limitations in the types of exercise movements that are incorporated. As such, while the game forces you to move, it won’t make you more muscular or shred much fat. 

The Bottom Line: Your Shape is a step up from traditional video games, and it’s a great bridge for people who don’t enjoy activity or are intimidated by the gym. It’s better than being inactive, and it might encourage people to live healthier, join a gym, or become more interested in exercise. After all, anything that can make exercise seem more enjoyable (for those who naturally dislike it), is a good thing. Just be realistic about what you can expect. Playing a video game probably won’t help create much change. For that, you still need to rely on a professional workout and a solid diet plan.