July 6, 2006 Charlottesville, VA --
This week the news was that Gold's Gym in Charlottesville is one of the first to install the
Kilowatt videogame/fitness systems. More than entertainment mounted on a treadmill, this is fully integrated where the person pushes harder to play the game. It's the next in the line of calorie burning video games. The company calls it "Exertainment".
" electronic entertainment is now part of the solution"
-- Deana St. John, General Manager Charlottesville Gold's Gym
Powergrid Fitness, the producers of the game, announced that Gold's Gym has started making Kilowatt videogame/fitness systems available to its members. The "health-conscious video game controller" is manipulated by movements of the entire body. This apparently raises the metabolic rate and helps burn 350 calories per hour.
"Hard core fitness facilities, like Gold's Gym, YMCA, JCC, and others are now recognizing that innovative interactive workout products like Kilowatt are the future of the fitness industry," said Greg Merril, President of Powergrid Fitness. "Powergrid's technology is making being a couch potato a physically demanding sport."
"Electronic entertainment is thought of as being one of the major contributors to this nations obesity epidemic," says Deana St. John, General Manager of the Charlottesville Gold's Gym, who placed Kilowatt's in her facility last month. "With 'exertainment' products like Kilowatt, electronic entertainment is now part of the solution."
The Harder You Push, The Faster You Go
Technology located in the alloy steel tube that connects the controller to the base, measures how hard the member is pushing and pulling on the controller. Instead of just using their thumbs to play, they literally use their entire body.
The participant must push the controller in the direction they want their on-screen character to move. Two microprocessors translate the force into actual movement in the game. The harder they push, the faster they go.
The professional model for health clubs Retails for around $1,600. www.powergridfitness.com
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