Monday, July 20, 2009

The Development of Wii Active

When Wii Fit hit the market the previous year, it was being advertised as the perfect union between working out and games. It was a marriage between fun and fitness in a $90 box. When the people finally tried out the program, many were happy, while some felt that there was still room for improvement. The software games focused on the Asian model of fitness. Westerners, however, needed something more. Many criticized its basis for measurement, often calling fit people obese, having in mind the average measurement of Asians who are generally more slightly built than Westerners.

Recently, Electronic Arts announced EA Sports Active, its long-rumored exercise game. The game does not require the Wii Balance board at all, but will instead rely on a neoprene peripheral that will strap the Wii remote or nunchuk to a player's leg. The program also comes with a rubber resistance band for strength training. All these for a retail price of $60, which is $30 less than Wii Fit.

EA Sports Active features more than 25 exercises. There are also tools such as a calorie counter, a virtual personal trainer, a 30-day weight-loss program, and some customizable workouts included. The makers behind the software are aware of the different philosophy between the East and West. They designed the program to recognize the body type and health requirements of westerners. They've also spent a lot of time working with Nintendo to make sure that the leg straps fit snugly and that it will be able to measure the players’ movements with no hassle.

Nintendo Wii’s Famous Trainers

To make your workouts more fun and believable, EA Sports Active has included Avatars of famous exercise gurus to guide you as you work your way towards your fitness goals. One of the newest games is EA Sports Active Personal Trainer 2009. The game offers quick twenty-minute workouts that enable the player to take advantage of high intensity cardio as well as upper and lower body muscle workouts. You will be encouraged to strive for weight loss by getting into shape with a healthy lifestyle.

Jillian Michaels Fitness Ultimatum 2009 is one of the top games for Wii. The market wants Jillian Michaels to strictly get them into shape just like she does on the hit television show, The Biggest Loser. The software comes with five different workouts and it includes cardio workouts that are combined with intervals and strength training. You also get tips along the way.

Then, there’s Bob Greene. He is EA’s Sports Active’s latest trainer. He was also involved with the development of the game that has recently hit the shelves. He is a famous American Exercise Physiologist and certified Personal Trainer. He has authored 10 books that talks about health, exercise, and diet. Moreover, he is better known as Oprah Winfrey’s trainer and has frequently been a guest on her show. He also has a radio show on the “Oprah and Friends” satellite radio network. With his reputation for being one of the best in his field, users of Wii Active will be inspired to exercise and work out. With him working alongside the makers, you know that you are getting what you deserve when you make the purchase.

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Wii Active, Today’s Remarkable Breakthrough

Since the introduction of Wii Fit to the market, people have been using this medium of exercise to get in shape from the comfort of their own homes. From its birth as a video game, Nintendo has become all that and more. The equipment no longer targets the younger portion of the population. In fact, adults have gotten into it because of the innovative workout system that allows a person to get into shape. From video games to fitness experts, this is one of the most remarkable feats accomplished in today’s era.

To meet the further needs of people, EA has come out with a new software program. Being one of the leading software developers, EA has designed the new Wii Active, set to rival Wii Fit. First and foremost, it is far cheaper than the current Wii Fit. It presents a variety of games which are available for the system to create a versatile workout program that never leaves you bored and restless. If you feel the need to change your exercise program, all you need to do is choose from more than the 25 other games available.

The accessories were designed to make the entire workout fun yet challenging. You no longer need to worry about standing on the balance board. Wii Active has leg straps to measure your movements. You can also opt to use the control mat for its outdoor programs, but unlike the balance board, you won’t hesitate to jump and stomp because the mat was made to be sturdy and long-lasting.

The Best Part about the 30 Day Challenge

EA SPORTS Active challenges all of Wii Active’s buyers to embark on a 30 day challenge. It has set out to prove itself to the market as the leading fitness guru in the world of technology. You can use the structure included in the package as a road map to reach your own personal fitness goals and desires. During the entire program, your trainer will be the focal point of the experience. The trainer is represented by an avatar on screen. With your help, your trainer will create a new 20 minute workout for you every day. All you need to do is fill out the necessary details on the journal found at the right side of the screen. Then, they will provide you with clear instructions and encouraging words.

The software features a wide variety of activities that target your upper body and lower body. Included in the workout are different cardio activities for each fitness level. Each daily workout will feel a little different from the last, much like a gym workout. You will be required to increase in intensity as you work up a sweat towards your goal. In the custom workout mode, you can adjust the length of the workout to the time you want. You can also choose to focus on specific body areas and isolate the muscles. Plus, you can identify your favorite from more than the 25 workouts included. As you exercise, you will see how many calories you are burning in real time. This is a great motivational addition because it will inspire you to focus on what you want to get out of this regimen.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

EA SPORTS Active Trainer

EA SPORTS Active was set for release last May 2009. The software was designed exclusively for the Wii games console. All the latest games have been carefully designed to meet the demands of the Western market. You finally have a guide with American accent and current beats to accompany you during the workout. The programs were developed in collaboration with top fitness experts.

Wii Active enables you to take part of the fun and easy to learn exercises. You can have your family and friends join in as well. The activities included create circuit training fitness routines that you can do all from the comfort of your own home. You don’t have to go to the gym to get a skilled trainer to guide you. Aside from saving money from paying for the services of an expert, the trainers in the program don’t cost anything. It’s all part of the package when you buy the software.

Your trainer will help you track your movements on screen to give you real time feedback on your overall performance. You can follow both upper and lower body movements and experience Wii controls in a whole new light with its uniquely designed leg straps. Two controls are provided in each box so you can work out alongside with a friend or a family member. As you move a level up, your trainer is also there to increase the intensity of your workouts. You can buy resistance bands of various levels to meet the needs of the exercise given. Just make sure that you are equipped with the right accessory otherwise it won’t be recognized on the screen.

Doing the Exercises for Wii Active

The best thing about Wii Active is that you can do the exercises with a friend. But if you’ve set to join the 30-Day Challenge, it is best that you do this alone. Not to fret, because if you’ve exercised with a different program which is not part of the challenge, you simply have to log it in your journal. The software immediately adapts to the changes.

During the actual exercise, you should follow the on screen prompts during the workout to ensure that you are doing them at the right pace. Remember, each exercise was designed to work at a specific pace. Some programs will show on screen messages that tell you if you are following the set rules while others use a “ding” sound effect to let you know when your next move is coming up. A trainer is set up so that you can take their lead and follow their body movements. When the next routine comes up, the avatar moves to indicate when its time for you to continue. It is very important that you carefully keep an eye on the correct positioning of your body as an assurance that you are targeting the right muscles.

If you find an exercise too difficult to do and follow, you can opt to skip it. To do this, just press the + button on the Wii remote and go to the pause menu. Select “skip exercise” to move on to the next routine. You can also remove exercises on the Today’s Exercise screen before the workout. Just mark a red “X” next to the exercise you do not want to do for that day.

Friday, July 17, 2009

EA SPORTS Active 30-Day Challenge

You can achieve your fitness goals with EA’s 30-Day Challenge. To make this mission more fun, you can use a variety of activities. Workouts no longer have to be boring because now you can choose from more than 25 activities.

This 30 day challenge should be done on your own. If you want to exercise with a friend, you can do many pre-set or custom workouts. These, however, will not count as part of the challenge.

To make your workout easier to track and follow, the journal calendar included in the software keeps track of every single workout. Within the 30 days, you will see a slightly different calendar that only tracks the specific workouts that you do as part of the challenge. You will be able to see your level, next workout, and rest days. There are tabs on the top corner of each journal page. You are able to flip through the pages and see what has been done and what is yet needed. Though you may not be able to do workouts for days you missed, you are allowed to fill out the survey form and record other activities done outside the program.

Just like an actual workout at the gym, Wii Active was designed to be flexible. You can make these activities suit your lifestyle and adjust to your needs. The makers behind the software recognize the fact that reality can sometimes get in the way and that you also need to make adjustments so that you are able to meet your other responsibilities.