Hotmilkydrink: The Digital Home of Derek Robertson

Dancing Games: Dance on Broadway is (almost) Jazz hands-tastic 2/2

After reaching the heady heights of the high score/performance domain in Just Dance we have now moved on the the more theatrical dance world of Dance on Broadway. This dancing game for the NIntendo Wii is set in the world of musical theatre and requires that you perform routines as perfect as possible....

For those of you that might wish to emulate John Barrowman, Denise van Outen or even Michael Ball then this game might be right up your street. 

Still thinking about it's educational application but already I have managed to make my young daughters aware of a range of muscial theatre shows and their underpinning storylines as a result of their developing interest in some of the songs that they enjoy playing/performing.

Only problem with this game is that the proper jazz hand technique is compromised when holding the Wiimote ;-)

Dancing Games: Just Dance even if you still say disco! 1/2

Earlier in the week I was chatting with my neighbour's 23 yr old son about music. Somehow we got on to the subject of nightclubs and when I mentioned the fact that i hadn't been to a disco for at least 6 years the young whippersnapper sniggered and took great pleasure in telling me that, "No-one calls them discos anymore!" Sheesh, the ever marching nature of time and how it dates one (even when you don't think it isn't doing so) will catch up on you...as, it so appears, it has with me!

Well, if like me you don't get to go to discos now but still would like to 'get down' (dated disco reference from 1970/80s for younger readers) but in the privacy of your own home then you must get your hands on Just Dance for the Wii. You will be digging out the flares and dusting down your your old Tavares and Earth Wind and Fire records before you know it and show the younger members of your household that you can still do The Hustle!

This game is a huge load of fun and a really good way to exercise too. There are a number of really decent tracks in the game that accompany a choreographed programme of moves that you need to copy in real time in order to dance along with the on-screen dancer. The more accurate the moves the bigger your dance star power build (as with Guitar Hero) and then you can score extra points. Today we must have played this for at least 3 hours with Ring My Bell by Anita Ward and Pump up the Jam by Technotronic my particular favourites ;-)

Have a look at the game trailer:

This game does get the heart rate up let there be no doubt about that. Great exercise with proper movements required in order to score decent points. Check out this game play video. Apart from the engaging game play one does wonder as to the appeal that this may have with younger and pre-early teens/learners particularly in relation to the health and well-being agenda. Two things that have made me reflect on this are:

• I have continually seen children in many primary and secondary school using games such as Singstar and Guitar Hero and technologies such as Crazy Talk in such a fashion that any aspect of shyness or embarrassment about 'performing' seems to disappear when these resources are used. I've often discussed with colleagues whether this technology creates an interface between the player, their self-image and their viewing audience that allows them to suspend disbelief and do their best. I think it does...
• I recently listened to some research about Girl Gamers from Sherbert Research (will blog and tweet link as soon as I have it). It seems that 10-13 yr old girls really go for this type of game. Now we know that research indicates that this is the age group that sees the biggest move of girls away from sports and exercise so is this one, affordable and culturally appealing, way in which we can encourage and entice girls of this age to stay active?

What about boys? Well I have seen 12 yr olds on stage dancing to their own choreographed moves as part of a Guitar Hero project. Not only were they swinging arms and legs but they had the serious face on too! They really meant it so I wonder if this might work for them...

There have been and are a number of exertainment games that require some degree of physical activity. These have worked to varying degrees for me but the fact that I spent so long playing this today and can't wait to get on it again tomorrow night must say something about its engaging game play. Or maybe it's just that I need a night out at a disco ;-)

Games encourage exercise: The Wii Fit Pentathlon!!!

I am currenrtly involved in the Games in Schools community of practice that is being managed by European Schoolnet. The idea behind this is to share the practice, expertise, experience and thoughts about games based learning in schools across Europe. The community is steadily growing and is proving to be quite enlightening in relation to what's happening in schools from Scotland to Denmark.

A colleague from Aberdeenshire, Jonathan Cordiner, who is heavily involved in all things ICT in schools up in that fine part of Scotland has been working with Wii Fit. I had doubts about how this might be used in schools due to only one board being able to be hooked up to the Wii but look at what Jonathan has organised...the Wii Fit pentathlon!

Find more videos like this on Games in schools

I'm off to meet with Jonathan tomorrow to find out just how he managed this project and what the impact on the children was...and maybe I'll have a go at the ski jumping game. I find that the use of jazz hands helps me keep my balance. ;-)

Wii Fit is on its way: some reviews

I've been waiting patiently for news of the new Wii fit application and was delighted to read reviews about this week in the new editions of Edge and Nintendo Magazine. Some time ago David Muir sent me a link to a parody of the new Wii Fit product on You Tube and since then it has made mer look at it in a slightly comical fashion, however...the reviews it has received has dismissed this and I now await it's release with real anticipation and dare I say excitement!

Wii Fit is a 'game' or lifestyle application that enables the player/exerciser to engage with a comprehensive exercise programme via a balance board that communicates with the Wii. Have a look:

Nintendo Magazine have written an extensive review of the product and although they feel they still need time to work with it they gave it a decent review.

"...after an hour or two playing it we realised that we were quite tired...we could feel the strain on our backs and legs, as if we had been walking for quite a while."

...and Edge magazine said:

"...unlike much of Wii Sports, the Balance Board necessitates that they (the games) cannot be played in half measures. You have to stand; you have to articulate your body into positions in order to move your centre of gravity. There is clearly more exercise than play....an intimidating repertoire of lunges, press-ups and yogic positions await. However, simply as a fitness product it has the advantage over Cindy Crawford and her ilk in that it can communicate feedback very effectively plotting achievable targets tailored to the individual."

The Wii Fit programme has 48 activities that are split into four different categories. The main training games fit into Cardio and Yoga type exercises with balance and mini-games making up the rest. One of the mini-games sounds like great fun and it sees your Mii dressed up in a penguin suit, stood on the Antarctic ice-flow. Various fish jump up on to the on-screen board and you have to lean left and right to make them slip off the board! Imagine how much fun that will be if you play it with a penguin suit on.

I'll be interested to see how this game could be used a s part of a fitness programme within the home but as a tool in school that can be used to focus on fitness - then I'm not so sure. However, no doubt the growing body of 'gamer' teachers out there will be able to come up with innovative ways to apply its use in teaching and learning.

When my Wii Fit arrives I plan to carry out a 28 day Wii Fit programme to see if it impacts on my health. Weight, heart rate etc. Mind you, when you have Olympian standard of fitness and musculature, I'm not sure that this new device will make much difference! ;-) Irrespective of this I'll keep you posted with the results.

Free dance mat game

For those of you who are keen to explore dance mats in school but don't have access to a games console then have a look at this resource. It is called Stepmania and it is a free download dance ,at game that you can olay from your PC. All you need is a USB adaptor for your dance mat then of you go, a challenge to Bruce Forsyth on easy and then John Travolta on hard. Remeber guys, take the high heels off first.

Thanks to Hamish Budge for this link.

Beware the Wii tennis shark!

At the Consolarium we are currently working with a company called TPLD on a games based learning project that we hope to roll out across a number of local authorities. There will be more about this once the finer details are confirmed but in the meantime beware Jim Piggott of TPLD: he is a Wii sports shark!

Now, late Friday afternoon, the meeting finished, time to go home you would think? No. Jim asks me what the Wii is like. So, being the accommodating chap I am I said we could have a game. He asked to see Wii sports so I put this on. But alarm bells started to ring when he expertly selected a Mii and then jumped to the tennis selector! "Wait a minute!" I exclaimed, "you've played this before."

"I've had a wee shot at it," said Jim guardedly.

Well, in the time that the Consolarium has been opened I have yet to meet such a worthy adversary on the Wii tennis court. He could pull in the fast serve when he wanted, he had super quick reactions and a determination to be victorious, however, Hotmilkydrink is made of sterner stuff and refused to be defeated on home turf! At times it was like Federer vs Nadal as we engaged in furious rallies but in the ens a 3-1, 3-1 3-1 victory was gained by your's truly.

We have made mention of the power of competition via games consoles and I couldn't help think that there is real potential in having a Wii Sports tournament. I felt incredibly challenged by having another player of 'Pro' level trying their skills out on me. I still play football and have that determined competitive edge and I tell you it came out in me as Jim put the pressure on.

This is something I need to take further seeing as how we have put 18 Wiis in schools around Scotland. Right Back to my training session now that a new pretender to the Wii tennis crown has appeared in the Scottish educational landscape!

Wear your guitar!

I am currently hooked on Guitar Hero. Just learned to activate Star Power and am making great progress on the Medium level. I aim to play my 70s/80s repertoire at the Toxic festival tonight and then spend my hard earned rock cash in the Guitar Hero shop. I'm saving up for the Grim Reaper guitarist...he has long fingers and looks as though he can reach difficult chords.:-)

If this proves too hard for you then why not buy a guitar that you can wear? Some textile students in Australia have devised a t-shirt that allows you to play air guitar. If you make a strumming movement with the left hand then you are activating the strings of your air guitar and moving the left hand up and down the virtual fret board changes the chords.

See it in action

Alas, frantic finger movements do not yet facilitate solos in the style of Hendrix, Page or my favourite Frehley!

More exertainment!

Here's another piece of kit from GymKids.

The Cyberbike hooks up to one of five in-built computer games and the movements of the on-screen characters are controlled by how fast the player cycles. Must try this out...

Exercising with games-bribe or incentive?

Last month I posted an article about an exercise device that hooks up to your games console and requires you to keep keep exercising otherwise the console game pauses. Now a similar device aimed at children has been released. The Step2Play exerciser from GymKids is doing the same thing but it is built for 7-11 year olds.

It kind of reminds of the Anthill Mob's bullet proof bomb car from Wacky Races. The Guys inside had to put their legs through the bottom and run to make the car go!

The BBC site has a short article about this and it briefly touches on the comments from Dr Ian Campbell of WEight Concern who said the device would be "useful" but that it was "a terrible indictment on society thyat children needed to be bribed to take exercise".

For me, it's all about balance. Nothing replaces active games, sports, walks etc. but where games are played and some exercise is required then there is the option to use a number of peripherals such as Eye Toy, Dance Mats etc.

In a world where children play outside less and less it then it seems slightly unfair to point any finger of causality with obseity solely with computer games.

Game City Conference

Going to the Game City Conference in Nottingham this week. There is a nice summary of the events from the Edge site. I look forward to blogging about this.