There has been growing interest in the use of active videogames to influence levels of physical activity. Most studies have investigated energy expenditure in general, without taking into account moderating factors such as player mode and game enjoyment. This study therefore examines whether children's energy expenditure and game enjoyment are higher when games are played in a two-player mode than in a single-player mode.
Materials and Methods:
Forty-three children from the 7th grade who exhibited an inactive lifestyle engaged in six sports exergames on an Xbox® Kinect® (Microsoft, Redmond, WA) console. The player mode (single-player or two-player mode) was manipulated (within-subjects design). The primary parameters were “energy expenditure,” which was measured with a SenseWear® device (Bodymedia Inc., Pittsburgh, PA), and “game enjoyment,” which was assessed through self-report.
Results:
On average, Kinect play elicits moderate physical activity (approximately 4 metabolic equivalents of task). Games that are played in a two-player mode elicit more energy than games that are played in a single-player mode. However, this was only the case for simultaneous play (boxing, dancing, and tennis), not for turn-based play (bowling, baseball, and golf). Furthermore, participants generally liked exergaming, regardless of their sex or the player mode. Finally, no significant correlation was found between energy expenditure and game enjoyment.
Conclusions:
This study has shown that Kinect play elicits physical activity of moderate intensity. Furthermore, Kinect play is generally enjoyed by both boys and girls. Simultaneous play may be the best suited to increase levels of physical activity in early adolescents who exhibit an inactive lifestyle.
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