14 DAY TRIAL // A recent study conducted by the University of Wisconsin through the person of Dr. John Porcari concluded that EA Sports Active and EA Sports Active: More Workouts, distributed by Electronic Arts, did make for an effective workout. Both games passed the fitness guidelines imposed by the American College of Sports Medicine, proving that they contributed to a healthier and active lifestyle.
Dr. Porcari described these guidelines more precisely, saying that, “ACSM sets key guidelines on what constitutes a healthy, active lifestyle, recommending that individuals perform 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise five days per week, or 20 minutes of vigorous intensity exercise three days per week, as determined by specific heart rate and oxygen consumption criteria. In terms of the intensity criteria, both workouts tested from EA SPORTS Active were sufficiently intense to be within ACSM guidelines.”
16 adults between the ages of 25 and 45 were involved in the tests. The results showed that two pre-set EA Sports Active workouts, Afterburner and Legs & Lungs, had the relative exercise intensity and caloric expenditure meeting the ACSM standards for effective physical fitness. A session of EA Sports Active burns around 300 calories per session, if repeated five days a week.
The success of EA Sports Active for the Nintendo Wii has prompted a sequel, EA Sports Active 2.0, that will be available on more platforms this time around, like the PlayStation 3 and the iPhone. The game will feature new wireless motion-control sensors that will monitor a user's activity to provide real-time results. It will boast a nine-week workout program to help individuals keep track of their progress and motivate them. The title will include an online component as well that will allow owners to download new exercise programs as they become available. EA Sports Active 2.0 will launch at the end of 2010.