B.C. residents set world record for video game exercise
May 23, 2009
VANCOUVER — Peter Wright came prepared: He had the sunglasses, the head band, the water bottle and yes, he even practised a bit.
“I did a little preparation so I wouldn’t faint,” said the 34-year-old software engineer for Electronic Arts.
Wright was among the 605 staff members at the video game giant’s Burnaby headquarters who emerged from their cubicles on Friday to break an obscure world record: largest simultaneous video game exercise routine.
The huge crowd converged at EA’s soccer field at noon to play EA Sports Active, the company’s latest virtual fitness game.
Wright and his coworkers then did 15 minutes of simultaneous jogging, squats, lunges, aerobic dance and pretending to shoot hoops and skateboarding.
The game, which was designed for the Wii console, was broadcast on a giant screen for the gamers to follow while an official adjudicator with Guinness World Records took notes, pictures and did a head count.
At the end, adjudicator Danny Girton declared the new record.
“What’s really amazing about this phenomenal achievement is that it’s never been done as recognized by the Guinness World Records,” said Girton, who flew in from New York for the event.
Dave McCarthy, vice president and EA Sports executive producer, called the game “a fitness trainer in a box.”
The game follows on the success of the Nintendo Wii Fit, which McCarthy said influenced EA’s new venture into reality fitness games.
“Definitely the Wii Fit played a role in how we view the fitness and wellness market. Nintendo’s done a wonderful job of making that accessible to consumers,” said McCarthy. “But we wanted to take a slightly different approach, one that’s more in line with what EA Sports is about. So a more western approach to fitness: Getting your heart rate up, sweating, getting the pulse racing a little more.”
The company also hired Bob Greene, Oprah Winfrey’s personal trainer, as a consultant for the game.
And at $60, McCarthy points out the game is much cheaper than an annual gym membership.
Wright said he plans to shed a few pounds by working out with Sports Active.
“The first time I tried it, it was pretty harsh,” he said. “It’s a pretty intense workout when you actually get into it.”
Vancouver Province