14 DAY TRIAL // Fit Freeway is a new iOS game that is said to reinvent cardiovascular workout. Instead of just pedaling away like a maniac looking at the wall, you can place your iPad or iPhone on the machine and control the race car via workout.
The game tells the iPad / iPhone what to sense in terms of vibrations and other types of motion, and tracks the user’s head for steering. You play the racing game without ever touching the device.
As the video below shows, it does seem to make workout sessions more engaging. You basically have an added motivational factor to burn down those calories.
Come to think of it, if the SDK they offer allows for the creation of multiplayer games, you could turn the gym into an arcade. Provided that you know a thing or two about coding, of course.
Fit Freeway features eight stages, three different difficulty levels, three different play modes and iPod music support.
Fit Freeway is the first entry in BitGym's exergaming portfolio, the company said.
“Using BitGym's patent-pending algorithms and motion sensing technology, Fit Freeway senses the rate of the exercise on the equipment, as well as the head position of the user,” according to the developers. “Exercise faster the accelerate your car and simply tilt your head left or right to steer.”
Alex Gourley, BitGym's CEO, commented: "We think that FitFreeway is just the start for BitGym. We have ambitious plans to change the way people think about cardio.”
“For too long people have been told to worry about minutes, miles or calories - but really what is important is that people are engaged, have tangible goals, and keep coming back. Cardio machines are awful at all these things, but with videogames we can change that. Research out of the Behavioral Medicine Laboratory at the University of Virginia sees cardio machine exergames increasing workout adherence by 83%,” added Gourley.
There's a paid and a lite version of the game. Download any using the links below.
