Dance Dance Revolution Becomes New Gym Tool

Thu, 26 Jan 2006 08:30:49 GMT

Wait, is it April 1? No? Well, in the case, we're really blown away by this apparently true story: West Virginia has decreed that the video game, Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) should be added to all 765 public schools in the state. Beginning with about 100 middle schools, over the next two years, there will be an XBox, a copy of DDR and two dance mats at every school. From there, students will be trained to use the game as a form of exercise.

While this might seem like a really egregious example of product placement in public schools, there is a greater point: West Virginia has one of the highest rates of childhood obesity in America. Officials feel that anything that can get kids to exercise more will be a plus. The game was recommended by a committee at West Virginia University which studied its potential benefits after one committee member saw sweaty dancers at an arcade.

This isn't completely out of left field; more video game makers are designing potential exercise games. MTV News reports,

"The 2004 Xbox game "Yourself!Fitness" functioned primarily as an interactive workout video. The 2005 "Eye Toy Kinetic," designed with involvement from Nike fitness experts, used the PlayStation 2's camera peripheral to stage interactive exercise sessions that put jumping, arm-swinging users into the action on their TV and counted the calories being burned."

Likewise, the maker of DDR, Konami, has inked a deal to feature the game in 24 Hour Fitness centers around the country.

You may note: how are all those students supposed to make use of just one game and two dance pads?

"Even though each school will start with one copy of the game ... classes will likely consist of one or two students on the mat and the rest of the students following along. Schools will also be encouraged to start before-school or after-school "DDR" clubs similar to chess and tennis clubs."

Wow, times have really changed since our day, doing jumping jacks in gym class. (Source: MTV News)

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Dance Dance Revolution Becomes New Gym Tool