The popularity of fitness games is influencing gym activities. Bally Total Fitness plans to install video walls with a multi-screen display with a motion-sensing camera. Similar to gesture-based console games on the Nintendo Wii or Microsoft Xbox 360 Kinect, the video will incorporate user movements such as arm sweeps and jumps to control the activity on the screen.

Video activities include gaming inspired applications and in-depth nutritional advice. A video demonstration shows these two applications, plus a mode that shows the user how they will look a few pounds slimmer (or heavier). While the nutrition and views of weight loss (and gain) are interesting applications, we wonder how public these video walls will be. It’s a very brave person who goes up to the screen and views themselves at different weights, or reports to the display her stats, or what she had for lunch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1Unah7umnw

Bally worked with a company called Helios Interactive Technologies to ultimately select SoftKinetic as the provider for the video wall displays. Bally determined a no-touch gesture-based solution was appropriate. “The displays provide a real ‘wow factor’ for new users, while offering valuable advice to gym regulars,” said Mike Schaiman, managing partner at Helios.

The gym hopes to install the video wall displays in 15 to 20 locations, possibly new clubs, by the end of the year.

Official Bally Total Fitness Website
Official SoftKinetic Website
[via The Next Web: Bally Total Fitness introduces gesture-based video technology]

The new collaboration is set for release next year, and will allow gamers to train using the miCoach hardware, including heart rate monitor (or any ANT+ compatible monitor), which will connect to the THQ’s new video game title for the Kinetic for Xbox 360 or PlayStation Move via miCoach Pacer and miCoarch mobile app.

“We’re taking our successful miCoach line and broadening its reach to an even larger audience, who we hope will find motivation and inspiration from adidas and our roster of star athletes,” said Simon Drabble, Director of miCoach BU for adidas. “In simple words, this combination of console technology and training for sports supports everybody to become better athletes, regardless of their fitness level.”

Players will get an onscreen trainer to guide them through hours of on-screen training and motivating game experience. The system will get gamers toned up beginning next year.

miCoach Official Website
THQ Official Website

A new workout game will hit consoles in March. Fit in Six from Ubisoft will be available on the Sony PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii. As the title suggests, Fit in Six focuses on six modalities to get you in shape and reach your goals. Those are core body, upper body, lower body, cardio, balance and flexibility.

Workouts are individually tailored for your stated goals. Ubisoft plans to provide more content for PlayStation users through the PlayStation Network. On the Sony console users can also upload their own music. Once it’s in the system, the game’s software evaluates the beats per minute and other elements and selects songs that are appropriate for your given routine. The PlayStation 3 version uses the PlayStation Move as a controller to capture your movements.

Wii offers its own attributes to Fit in Six. The game uses Ubisoft’s USB camera and will be sold in a bundle or separately from the device. The camera lets the Wii and game evaluate your movement. It also gives you a picture-in-picture view so you can compare your positioning with that of the on-screen instructor.

In total, Fit in Six will have about 24-hours of workout time, which of course can and should be repeated for best results. Workouts range from cardio and toning exercises to dance and personalized routines based on your goals.

We’re not sure yet how adaptive Fit in Six is, but it sounds like it creates content for you based on your goals and has the ability to vary routines so you don’t get bored.

Ubisoft Fit in Six