A New Generation of Active Video Games

Katie Wilson - Knight Ridder/Tribune

The days of couch-potato video games may be gone.

Just a few short years ago, video games were limited to a console attached to a television. Dedicated gamers would sit in front of the TV for hours, trying to reach the next level in their favorite game. Criticism was rife through the industry, with a host of youths playing video games for hours on end with no physical activity beyond running to the kitchen for more snacks.

Today, these aren't your mother's video games.

A few years ago, Dance Dance Revolution was released, which connected a footpad on the floor to the game console. Kids of all ages were encouraged to learn the latest dance moves to the accompaniment of popular tunes.

Then came Guitar Hero and its spinoffs. Suddenly, gamers were jamming to their favorite rock tunes. Today, there's an entire set with a drum kit and everything, so if you'd prefer to pretend to be Lars Ulrich instead of James Hetfield, you can.

Last year, Nintendo introduced the Wii. The game console is still flying off shelves. Experts say that's partially due to the reasonable price (around $250) and because everyone wants to try the games.

It's not possible to just sit on your duff and play a Wii game. With the baseball game, you swing the game controller as if it were a baseball bat. With Wii Tennis, the controller becomes your racquet. And WiiFit is a whole new "game" that encourages players to get healthier using the physical activities in the Wii system.

And, yes, just as there were "gaming" injuries in the old days, like carpal tunnel syndrome and the proverbial "gamer's thumb" (your thumbs got sore from pushing the controller buttons) there are Wii injuries. Of course, most of them seem to be from one friend getting overexcited while playing Wii Boxing and hitting their friend in the face.

While we know they're fun, there is a debate over whether this new generation of video games are healthy or not.

In the past year, the popularity of Wii has grown tremendously among retirement homes and physical therapists. The console has given senior citizens the ability to play their favorite games with a severely reduced risk of injury.

Since they're actually video games, children are very excited about this new generation of games. That makes them very valuable for teachers.

Mary Weikle, physical education teacher at East Dale Elementary, said there are pros and cons to everything, but there seem to be more pros associated with new things like the Wii.

Weikle said there is a debate between critics of the new systems and proponents of them but she's taking a middle-of-the-road approach. While traditional physical activity, such as playing outside, is great, at some times of the year, that's just not feasible.

"If the weather isn't good, I'd rather see kids inside moving their whole bodies," she said.

Weikle got a Wii for classroom use last year and the kids really love it. She uses it in classes and also as a treat.

Some of the games include health tips, Weikle said.

"They give just as good information as is available in my health books," Weikle said.

Regardless, working out with a video game shouldn't be the only activity, Weikle said. Variety is important, and children should always be monitored by their parents, she said.

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Copyright 2012 by Knight Ridder/Tribune