Designing Health Promoting Dance-based
ExerGames to Maximize Physical Exertion
and Perceived Enjoyment based on an
Evaluation of Three Commercial Games
Dr Alasdair G Thin
Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK
International Simulation and Gaming Association Conference, Singapore, 2009

ExerGaming - Social Phenomenon
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1661688,00.html

Low Cost Body Motion Sensors

What is an ExerGame?
BeFitt
BeFitt
gamercize

Highly Mechanized Society
splorp Squirmelia

Obesity Problem
Malingering

Health Agencies Getting Interested?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7262770.stm
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/30/health/30exer.html

Game-based Paradigm Shift
Persuasive Message (“Exercise is Good for You!”)
Perceived Future Reward
Persuasive Interactive Experience
Immediate Real Reward

Methods
11 subjects (6F) recruited
Initial session
Incremental exercise test on a cycle ergometer to
determine maximal exercise capacity
Familiarization with 3 Dance-based ExerGames
Pre-Training session
Games played in randomized order (~5 mins each)
Phyical Activity Enjoyment Scale administered after
each game (Kendzierski & DeCarlo, 1991)
Two training sessions
Practice games in randomized order
Post-Training session - Repeat of Pre-training session

Ambulatory Gas Analysis System -
Energy Expenditure

Dance-based ExerGames
Dancing Stage Hula Hoop
Step Aerobics

Results - Energy Expenditure
No significant differences in Energy Expenditure Pre- and Post- Training

Results - Exercise Enjoyment
Significant increase in Enjoyment rating for Step Aerobics Post-Training

Results - Game Score
Significant increase in Post-Training Game Score for Step Aerobics and
Composite Score for Dancing Stage (latter not perceptible by subjects)

Summary
Energy expenditure was equivalent to 3.5-4.5 METs
Dance-based ExerGames can make a useful
contribution to maintaining energy balance
Despite the short period of game training, exercise
intensity was below that recommended by ACSM to
improve aerobic fitness
Significant increase in enjoyment for Step Aerobics
game corresponded with a perceptible increase in
Game Score
Enjoyment rating for Step Aerobics was significantly
higher than published mean rating for exercise on a
cycle ergometer

Future ExerGame Design
Need to maximize physical exertion achievable by
beginners by significantly reducing the skill demands of
the lowest game levels
In order to promote enjoyment and counterbalance any
sense of exertional discomfort, it should be possible for
even the most unskilled players to make perceptible
progress
In order to realize significant health benefits, design of
future ExerGames must be informed by exercise
physiology and psychology principles

Game Over

Dr Alasdair G Thin, BSc, PhD
a.g.thin@thin.me.uk
www.GamerSizeScience.org