Younger gamers looking to con a Wii out of parents this year by
selling them on the physical benefits of "active" gaming, it's
time to dream up a new strategy. A UK study entitled "Energy
expenditure in adolescents playing new generation computer
games" reveals that a round of Wii Sports doesn't work the body
nearly as hard as proper exercise. While it expends more energy
than "idle" gaming with a controller, the difference is
negligible. Eleven physically-fit teenagers, ages 13 to 15, were
selected for the study. After measuring expended energy in a
resting state using five sensors placed around the body, the
participants played 15 minutes of Project Gotham Racing 3,
followed by rounds of Wii Sports boxing, tennis, and bowling for
15 minutes each. Though there was a marked difference in
expended energy between rest and PGR3, Wii Sports definitely has
a lead on the racer in physical activity. But not by much: -
Project Gotham Racing 3: 125.5 kJ/kg/min - Wii Sports bowling:
190.6 kJ/kg/min - Wii Sports boxing: