What is Exergaming?

via chesie

We recently asked whether people prefer the Wii Fit over the gym – although the Wii Fit won the vote, there was lots of debate.  You may be asking: What does Exergaming mean?  Exergaming means the marriage of physical exercise with video gaming.  And although it wasn’;t coined yesterday, it’s definitely increasing in mass appeal

This year CES featured several exergaming newbies who showcased their latest creations at the Cardio Play Zone. Attendees were really working up a sweat on the advanced workout contraptions. But these are still very expensive. The more affordable choices like the Wii Fit, the Sony Playstation and the Xbox have several exercise games that people are choosing to use versus frequent gym visits.

The question now becomes, can these games replace good old fashion exercise?  I do think that exergaming has its place.  It’s a fun way to introduce activity into many people’s currently sedentary lives, many of whom already enjoy playing video games for hours on end.  It’s also convenient and alleviates the pressure of the gym atmosphere. Personally, I prefer the outdoors. But its an easier option for me since I live in Southern California where the sunshine is plentiful and the climate is comfortable.  Technology has impacted our lives in so many positive ways, but it’s still important to embrace the outdoors when possible and connect with our own rhythms through exercise. Whether that is cycling, running, playing basketball or soccer or something else, these activities give us time to think things through, to sharpen our motor skills and if it’s a team sport, develop camaraderie. These qualities are all very important for our overall well being.

What do you think?