2K Play Tackles Kid Fitness with Help from Nickelodeon

2K Play and the media conglomerate Nickelodeon have announced that they are entering into an agreement linked to the development of a new fitness video game, the first to be aimed directly at kids. Nickelodeon Fit will be released exclusively for the Nintendo Wii home console and development duties are handled by High Voltage Software. 2K Play has not offered a clear launch date for the new fitness game but it seems that those interested will be able to pick it up during the fall.

Nickelodeon Fit will offer 30 exercise mini games, the main targets being the cardiovascular system, core muscles, balance, motor skill development and core muscles.

The game also aims to improve the coordination abilities of those who play. Each of the mini games uses a well known character from Nickelodeon shows. Dora will bring a pogo stick along, rope jumping will involve the Backyardigans, while Diego will appear in the river rafting game. The Wiimote and the Balance Board will be used by the player for the fitness activities. Parents will have access to features allowing them to see how their kids are doing and they also have the options to actually customize the workout schedules of those who use Nickelodeon Fit.

Steve Lux, who is the vice president of business development at 2K Play, stated, “We're excited to introduce a product that helps address the evolving recommendations for children to engage in physical activity, in a game where breaking a sweat with your Nickelodeon friends is not only fun but can be heart healthy.”

2K Play is even quoting the opinion of Dr. Goodway, the chair of the Active Start program at the National Association of Sport and Physical Education, “Our association has found that many children are not engaging in enough physical activity to promote positive health outcomes. Nickelodeon Fit employs four principles to help counter this trend: frequency, intensity, time and type, thus encouraging gamers to exercise regularly, try activities with different intensity levels, extend their exercise time and add variety to their daily regimen.”