EA Sports Active – an alternative for the Wii fit

November 14: Electronic Arts (EA) officially announced that they will be creating a game that will rival the Wii fit – the EA Sports Active.

Wii fit has become a widely successful exercise game and EA will enter the Nintendo Wii fitness market through their EA Sports Active that is set to be released March 2009.

According to Peter Moore, president of EA Sports, "EA Sports Active and our entrance into the fitness space is an exciting and groundbreaking milestone for EA Sports. As we continue to expand our brand, we have a real opportunity to redefine the home fitness experience with a more Western cardiovascular approach and exercises that will appeal to a diverse audience, getting people off the couch and into shape while interacting with our products in a way never before possible."

EA explains that the Wii fit is more inclined towards Eastern influences such as Yoga while EA Sports Active will make use of the Western style of fitness. It is designed to offer more active and rigorous workout than that presented by Wii fit.

EA Sports Active is more than a game; it is a personalized fitness program. It includes a real-time feedback of the player’s workout scheme with features such as a calorie counter and a virtual personal trainer. It also features a “30 Day Challenge” where players can create goals for themselves, follow their progress and will be guided by the virtual personal trainer. This challenge offers a 20-minute exercise routine that includes "clear instruction, feedback on technique and positive encouragement throughout the workout".

Other activities that can be done on EA Sports Active are running, and sports games such as tennis and boxing.

The new EA game is created with the help of Bob Greene, a fitness expert most people commonly know as Oprah’s personal trainer. It is primarily catered for women but will also include games for a wider audience.

EA Sports Active will need the Wii Fit board for some of its activities but also has accessories especially designed for it. This includes leg straps that will hold the Wii’s nunchuk controller to note the player’s lower body movements, and a resistance band for upper body exercises.