Wii Aches - Couch Potatoes Working it Up

Genocaust writes "While the new controller on the Wii is proving to be a success, it's turning out to be more effort than some die-hard couch potatoes bargained for. The Wall Street Journal reports on the newest workout regime for nerds." From the article: "In Rochester, Minn., Jeremy Scherer and his wife spent three hours playing tennis and bowling, two of the games included with the Wii. Mr. Scherer says he managed to improve his scores — at the cost of shoulders and back that were still aching the next day. 'I was using muscles I hadn't used in a while,' says Mr. Scherer, a computer programmer who describes himself as 'not very active.' Mr. Scherer is vowing nightly 'Wii workouts' to get in better shape." "Bunnies Don't Know What To Do With Cows", in Rayman, is another guaranteed way to get your arm aching. Cows are heavy, and it takes a lot of energy to throw them.

A solution

[causality]

Maybe this could be a solution for Bovine America. If only they could come up with a video game controller that removed excess complacency and enabled one to recognize propaganda, then we might even go back to having a free country again!

Brilliant -- like DDR but for the arms

[retrosteve]

Imagine this as the start of a trend -- play video games and still get in shape.

Penny arcade said it best...

[Flamefly]

I think http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2006/11/13 [penny-arcade.com] eloquently puts the point across.

Frustrating news for the young Sebastion

[goddidit]

Since the wii has wifi, Sebastion isn't allowed to play with it.

Re:Brilliant -- like DDR but for the arms

[neoform]

I'm going to have to disagree with this article..

This article assumes that nerds are somehow NOT used to making quick/small jerking motions with their wrists.. I mean.. common.

Re:Hummm...

[Umbrae]

And hey, maybe a pad you can put on the ground! I'll make a game called track n field. It'll be great. Or how about a glove you can wear? That'd be neat too.

Both arms?

[Tx]

I get plenty of right-arm exercise in front of my PC, but I could do with something that works on my left arm, and preferably doesn't make you go blind ;)

Re:Its a choice

[Shados]

You have no idea. I tried to avoid launch, because I thought it was stupid to camp for a console. Ironicaly, camping for it probably would have been the easiest way to get one. Now retail stores have no clue when they get them, so you have to head to the stores (if you call, its too late by the time you get there) and just randomly ask face to face every so often. I live near a bunch of stores (like 10-15 minutes on foot), and don't have a car (personal choice, since i'm a programmer and always in front of my computer, its the only way I'll ever get off my ass, so I decided not to get a car for the time being). I've never been walking this much in my entire life.

The Wii literally made me lose 5-10 pounds in a week, and I didn't even BUY one yet.

Re:Both arms?

[gknoy]

... so switch hands? :)

Re:Not my choice

[Anonymous Coward]

and kids would love to pretend they're swinging a sword or some such stuff

Unlike us: Slashdot-reading-adults who would never want to do anything as silly and embarassing as waving a remote pretending it was a sword. Though, if instead of sword you got a lightsaber... ;)

Coming soon from Nintendo...

[writermike]

Just so you know, this is the new Wiimote, coming next year.

Wiimote 2.0 [barbell.us]

Re:FIRST WII FISH POST!

[MobileTatsu-NJG]

"I AM A FISH!"

Mr. Rimmer, this is the 11th time you've failed the astro-navigation exam. Don't you think you're just not cut out to be an officer?

Re:Both arms?

[Anonymous Coward]

Not all of us are ambisextrous. :*-(

Re:How long

[Dunbal]

The last thing we need is a Jane Fonda exercise video game.

      Yeah, my grand-dad might be interested in that. How about someone younger...?

Re:Wiimote + Dancemat?

[dangitman]

Something I would prefer would be motion sensor controllers, fastened to the feet, to be a substitute for mat-style dance controllers. I read of many diificulties with the dance pads. If one ponders it, leaping upon your interface is going to increase wear significantly (unless you pay $200 for one made with more durable materials). Wireless sensing will possibly avoid all the physical problems of human/dance interfaces.

Re:Hummm...

[TheSHAD0W]

The idea is to have something that'd give you a good workout without being long enough to destroy your TV, or furniture, or little brother. :-P

Re:Brilliant -- like DDR but for the arms

[Anonymous Coward]

mean.. common.

Common what? Oh, did you mean "Come on?"

Come on what? Ewwww!

Re:Wiimote + Dancemat?

[Photon Ghoul]

Well, I for one would much prefer something like little WiiRemotes strapped to the ankes to replace dancemats. I was going to buy DDR but I read about a lot of problems with the mats. And if you think about it, jumping on your controller has to be hard on it (unless you pay a couple hundred for a metal pad). Remote sensing (like the WiiRemote) might avoid all the mechanical Dance Pad problems, perhaps?

Re:Wiimote + Dancemat?

[xx_toran_xx]

Three words: mosh mosh revolution

Re:Hummm...

[AugustZephyr]

How about a bazooka gun for first person shooters. You would have to balance the large awkward gun on your shoulder to be able to use it. Oh wait...

wii elbow

[Cainjustcain]

I smell a repetitive stress injury in the making and products liability lawsuits to follow.

Re:Hummm...

[iamhassi]

I think a small 1 or 2 lbs hand weight would be a fine workout for most people. Might not seem like much but you try swinging 2 lbs around for 2 hours and see if your arm's don't feel a little sore the next day.

then have larger sizes up to 5 lbs or so. Wow, can you imagine if the Wii actually made people stronger? You'd see some muscular guy and think "What a geek! Must spend 10 hours a day playing with his Wii!"

Weirdest Rayman game

[Asmor]

I don't have my Wii yet, but I actually bought Rayman in anticipation and played it on a friend's console.

Anyways, there's this one game where you're looking at a beach, and rabbits in scuba gear are coming towards you from underwater. You've got to shoot them with carrot juice. You use the wiimote to aim the hose, and you rapidly move the nunchuk up and down to pump carrot juice...

You know, I would have thought that I'd have more staying power in that game, but holy hell was I wrong. Maybe I was pumping too hard, but my arm was fricking tired at the end of the, I think, 50 seconds you needed to last to beat it.

Re:Not my choice

[Anonymous Coward]

Damnit son!
Sports are for men, men are for sports.
Don't you get it!
None of this cartoon wops jumping on mushrooms crap.

Re:Its a choice

[Anonymous Coward]

"Honestly, with the way the control scheme works, you CAN be a couch patatoe and play the Wii just fine."

Mr. Quayle, is that you?

Word to the wise: Wyoming isn't far from Salt Lake

[AmazingRuss]

I grew up in Wyoming, where I never saw a crosswalk, and to cross when cars were coming meant death. We Wyomingites often go to Salt Lake for rock shows and whatnot. It took me several trips down there to understand that you had to stop for the people in the stripey line zone. Stoplights I understood...but these fools were just out in the middle of the road! I must have chased hundreds back onto the sidewalk before I finally got it...couldn't figure out what the hell was WRONG with those people.

So if you're walking in Salt Lake, keep a wary eye out for those Wyoming license plates. They have the little cowboy on them.

Re:How long

[kabrakan]

Its late november and I live in Canada!

Re:How long

[Senjutsu]

Why not just go outside and play the actual sport?

It's minus 22 out right now. The only sport playable in this weather is "Run between buildings while trying not to freeze to death".

Re:Hummm...

[Kyeetza]

And hey, maybe a pad you can put on the ground! I'll make a game called track n field. It'll be great......

That reminds me of an old idea I once had. It was a "Jump to Conclusions" mat. You see, it would be this mat that you would put on the floor... and would have different CONCLUSIONS written on it that you could JUMP TO

Floor Pad?

[mreed911]

Can you say "Dance Dance Wiivolution"? I thought you could...

Re:exactly what happened to me!

[Anonymous Coward]

This means that you're either a horribly out of shape fat slob or an 80 year old man or already dead.