Video gaming has always been seen as a sedentary hobby and one that conjures up images of people sitting on a sofa for hours on end. However, this preconception could be about to change dramatically thanks to the rise of gaming-exercise. Gaming companies and game consoles have launched several platforms, such as the Wii-Fit and others, that help users stay fit while gaming. In addition to this, many fitness companies have been driven by the success of these platforms. This has seen the introduction of a new wave of innovative ideas designed to make fitness more fun than ever.
This could help change how people see fitness, making it more fun to stay in shape and giving people more confidence in themselves. Not everyone feels comfortable going to the gym, and gaming-exercise could be a great way of encouraging people to stay healthy and active while still enjoying themselves. Here are some of the most important trends in the gaming-exercise revolution.
Gamification
Gamification has been one of the biggest trends in gaming-exercise, with gamers able to gain rewards through physical activity. Gamification is the application of elements traditionally found in games and sports such as points, competition and rules to other areas. It’s a great way of motivating people to succeed and creating challenges that can vary in difficulty and accessibility.
Through gamification, people can create their own fitness challenges and compete with their friends for the most points. This system can also be combined with online gambling, giving people a way to use their points to potentially win real prizes. The online gambling industry has been a major driver in the growth of gamification, as it’s an excellent way to create better engagement with users. This leads to people sticking to their fitness routines and achieving their goals while still having fun.
Virtual Reality
Virtual Reality (VR) is a technology that’s been around for many years but has really taken off recently. VR headsets and equipment are now cheaper than ever and allow people to enjoy VR games and applications in new ways. The technology is also ideal for fitness as it’s far more immersive and uses real movement controls rather than a controller. Users can be immersed in a 3D simulated environment and experience a fitness experience like no other.
The nature of VR means that no two training sessions ever have to be the same, allowing users to enjoy a completely new experience each time they log in. Rather than exercising in the gym, they’ll be able to exercise anywhere they want. This could include running along mountaintops, swimming through the ocean or even exploring space.
Social Gaming
Online connectivity and multiplayer have helped to make gaming more mainstream than ever, allowing people to play against their friends and other people from all over the world. It also means you can jump online and challenge your friends to a fitness training session. Fitness with friends is always more enjoyable, but it can be difficult to encourage your friends to head to the gym with you. Luckily, it’s now easier than ever to train with other people, thanks to the development of social gaming.
This trend means you can meet and train with other people, take on challenges and work together. Teamwork, social activities and competition all help to make fitness more exciting and fun, and make gaming-exercise a real winner. People can compete with others from their homes by logging in and tracking their latest fitness sessions. Sensors such as motion detectors and heart rate monitors are used to measure and track progress and can be entered into a leaderboard.
