Best platform for fitness and dance?
May 31, 2011 12:12 PM Subscribe
Which is the best gaming platform (wii, xbox, etc) and software to learn how to dance, yoga, cardio, and strength training? Oh yeah, I also want to run Netflix through it.
Ah, and let me amend what I said that none of the gaming systems will teach you to be a skillful dancer, yoga master, etc. You will learn approximations of those things.
If you really want to learn to dance and such, you should take classes.
Video games really aren't meant to teach. They're meant to be fun and -- in the case of children's games -- reinforce things that you are already learning.
posted by royalsong at 12:21 PM on May 31, 2011
If you really want to learn to dance and such, you should take classes.
Video games really aren't meant to teach. They're meant to be fun and -- in the case of children's games -- reinforce things that you are already learning.
posted by royalsong at 12:21 PM on May 31, 2011
We have all the gaming platforms in our house.
I'd go with the Xbox 360 with Kinect. The dance and fitness games sense your movements far better than the Wii does, and you can't really fake it/lazy your way out like you can with the Wiimote. You'll pay extra for xbox live for your netflix access though, about $50/year.
posted by ferociouskitty at 12:25 PM on May 31, 2011 [1 favorite]
I'd go with the Xbox 360 with Kinect. The dance and fitness games sense your movements far better than the Wii does, and you can't really fake it/lazy your way out like you can with the Wiimote. You'll pay extra for xbox live for your netflix access though, about $50/year.
posted by ferociouskitty at 12:25 PM on May 31, 2011 [1 favorite]
Best answer: What are you weights (order of preferences)? Maybe this will help:
- Wii: Currently has the widest selection of "fitness" programs. Can be as intense as what you put into it as the wii-mote takes very little effort to be effective. There's also other peripherals like a balance board, and of course DDR style dance mats. Poor Netflix quality compared to the competition, and mostly so on larger displays.
- Xbox: Lots of potential with Kinect. Can analyze your form and movements. The amount of titles are lacking so far, but Kinect is something I see sticking around for some time to come. Netflix runs at a much nicer resolution and the console can also act as a media extender to nearby Windows PCs.
- PS3: Bluray support and very nice Netflix implementation. Exercise and fitness titles are normally for the "Move" controller. Backwards compatibility for DDR titles is also a nice plus
So if Netflix isn't too big of an importance, definitely go for the Wii. If Netflix is important, go for an Xbox or PS3. If you'd like to take advantage of Netflix shipped Bluray discs, go for a PS3.
From a quick search, I found this simple guide, as well as this top ten list which may help with your decision if based on the available game titles.
In my opinion though, console games haven't quite gotten to the point of being able to replace all types of exercise. You'll get some good cardio out of many of these titles, but jogging and maybe a personal gym (bench) should take care of the rest.
posted by samsara at 12:38 PM on May 31, 2011
- Wii: Currently has the widest selection of "fitness" programs. Can be as intense as what you put into it as the wii-mote takes very little effort to be effective. There's also other peripherals like a balance board, and of course DDR style dance mats. Poor Netflix quality compared to the competition, and mostly so on larger displays.
- Xbox: Lots of potential with Kinect. Can analyze your form and movements. The amount of titles are lacking so far, but Kinect is something I see sticking around for some time to come. Netflix runs at a much nicer resolution and the console can also act as a media extender to nearby Windows PCs.
- PS3: Bluray support and very nice Netflix implementation. Exercise and fitness titles are normally for the "Move" controller. Backwards compatibility for DDR titles is also a nice plus
So if Netflix isn't too big of an importance, definitely go for the Wii. If Netflix is important, go for an Xbox or PS3. If you'd like to take advantage of Netflix shipped Bluray discs, go for a PS3.
From a quick search, I found this simple guide, as well as this top ten list which may help with your decision if based on the available game titles.
In my opinion though, console games haven't quite gotten to the point of being able to replace all types of exercise. You'll get some good cardio out of many of these titles, but jogging and maybe a personal gym (bench) should take care of the rest.
posted by samsara at 12:38 PM on May 31, 2011
Best answer: I second the Kinect/Xbox 360. We used to have the Wii, but sold that system to get the Kinect. It is much more responsive, and it is very nice to not have to hold the Wiimote. I know that there is at least one workout on the Your Shape Fitness Evolved that uses dumbbells, but I haven't done that one yet. The Nivea workout lunges killed me at first though. And I wanted to strangle the lady who kept telling me to get just a little bit lower.
And I love Dance Central for the Kinect. I think you can learn to dance if you have just a little bit of coordination and rhythm. I recently went to a wedding, and when "Push It" was played, I busted out some of my newly learned Kinect moves. People were either copying me or we all have Dance Central.
I've been working out with the Zumba workout lately. It kicks my dancing butt still, but I'm getting better everyday!
As for Netflix, you'll have to get an XBox Live Gold membership to use it. The Zune stuff is decent (pay per view type downloads/streaming), and they recently added Hulu+ (one xbox live account will allow access to all that stuff).
posted by Kronur at 12:38 PM on May 31, 2011
And I love Dance Central for the Kinect. I think you can learn to dance if you have just a little bit of coordination and rhythm. I recently went to a wedding, and when "Push It" was played, I busted out some of my newly learned Kinect moves. People were either copying me or we all have Dance Central.
I've been working out with the Zumba workout lately. It kicks my dancing butt still, but I'm getting better everyday!
As for Netflix, you'll have to get an XBox Live Gold membership to use it. The Zune stuff is decent (pay per view type downloads/streaming), and they recently added Hulu+ (one xbox live account will allow access to all that stuff).
posted by Kronur at 12:38 PM on May 31, 2011
As for Netflix, you'll have to get an XBox Live Gold membership to use it.
Really? Ouch! The integration is free on the PS3 and Wii. Both these consoles used to require bootup CDs, but now the functionality is available as apps within the console's OS.
posted by samsara at 12:42 PM on May 31, 2011
Really? Ouch! The integration is free on the PS3 and Wii. Both these consoles used to require bootup CDs, but now the functionality is available as apps within the console's OS.
posted by samsara at 12:42 PM on May 31, 2011
Response by poster: Thank you for the info.
Now I'm wondering if I can even watch netflix through an xbox, etc because I have satellite and not a great internet connection?
posted by Juicylicious at 2:06 PM on May 31, 2011
Now I'm wondering if I can even watch netflix through an xbox, etc because I have satellite and not a great internet connection?
posted by Juicylicious at 2:06 PM on May 31, 2011
As far as I know, the stand-out best game out there for cardio/strength (but not yoga or dance) is EA Sports Active 2, and EA Sports Active 2 works much better on a PS3 than anything else. It doesn't require a Move, but almost everything else for the PS3 is likely to. If you have a giant, uncluttered gaming room the Kinect is fantastic; if you don't, it won't work at all.
posted by Acheman at 6:35 AM on June 1, 2011
posted by Acheman at 6:35 AM on June 1, 2011
You should be ok with satellite if its 500kbps or above on the downstream. The quality may not get to HD quality, but should look fine on a SD TV. Latency on satellite connections is high however (usualy around 250-400ms), so allow a good amount of room to buffer. (eg. pause at the beginning for a minute or so)
posted by samsara at 9:51 AM on June 1, 2011
posted by samsara at 9:51 AM on June 1, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
but otherwise the Wii does everything you mentioned. You're going to need several games and peripherals though.
posted by royalsong at 12:15 PM on May 31, 2011