Video Games Fitness

We’re fat. There’s no nice way of saying it. America has become a country of fast food munching, TV watching, video game playing, couch potatoes and it’s killing us. Several recent studies, including one by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) have shown that obesity will soon top even tobacco as the leading threat to American health. I’m not pointing fingers. I’m definitely no Kate Moss and I frankly don’t ever see that happening but I do want to be more fit and healthy.

We all know that a health lifestyle is very important, especially for the younger generation. And while video games are no doubt a part of the overall problem for a great deal of us, they also might provide a way to help all of us shape up. I certainly don’t have the time or the money to go off frolicking in the wild, wild woods every weekend. And I’m pretty sure a lot you out there have other reasons why you can’t get outside and do the health and nature thing. That’s why we need to make the most of the resources we have. TV watchers have 5AM fitness shows and we gamers have Konami’s Dance Dance Revolution.

The Dance Dance Revolution series has gotten a lot of gamers off their couches and onto their feet with some flashy lighting and amazing Techno and Eurobeat stylings. DDR machines are now staples in arcades around the country and the series has consistently sold for home systems as well. For home systems the game features a workout mode and calorie counter, which may be why some schools are looking at DDR as a way to get kids interested in exercise.

You’ll definitely want to get a dance pad if you want to truly benefit from DDR either for fun or fitness. That’s why I decided to interview Dean Ku, Vice President of Marketing at RedOctane. RedOctane makes what has been called the best video game dance pad by industry experts and DDR freaks alike. So, I was very interested in what the company thought about the game and the recent issue of obesity in America.

C: First off, let me say thank you for taking the time to talk to me about the fitness aspects of games like Dance Dance Revolution and your company.

D: You're welcome. It's my pleasure. I appreciate your interest in RedOctane and our products.
C: And now that we’re done with the preliminaries, you make dance pads. That’s one of the big focuses of Red Octane’s business, right?

D: Yes, we do make dance pads and accessories have become a big part of our business. In fact, most fans and video game publications consider our RedOctane Ignition Dance Pad to be the best soft dance pad available. It has become our best selling product and is available online and in retail stores like Electronic Boutique and GameStop.

C: What makes Red Octane pads stand out from the slew of other makers out there? I mean, I have a couple of dance pads and I'll admit that neither is a Red Octane pad. Am I missing something by not having one?

D: You're definitely missing out if you don't have a RedOctane Ignition Dance Pad. If you have an ordinary dance pad, it will slip around and bunch up while you are playing a game like Dance Dance Revolution, which requires a lot of jumping around. The RedOctane Ignition Dance Pad has a dense foarm insert that is almost 1 inch thick with provides a lot of cushioning for added comfort- no more sore feet and tender knees. Plus the foam helps the pad maintain its shape which preventsit from slipping around and bunching up. The RedOctane Ignition Dance Pad also has plastic, reiniforced, and raised buttons for durability and a true arcade feel. Gamepro magazine said it best, "5.0 out of 5.0 points. This was built by DDR [Dance Dance Revolution] freaks; you won't find a better dance mat for the money."

C: So do you do DDR or have ever been to one of the competitions? I know Red Octane sponsors a lot of them so, do you ever, you know, go out there and do a little freestyle?

D: I'm not good enough to compete in DDR tournaments, but we have a lot of guys at RedOctane that are really good and have won competitions before. We sponsor hundreds of DDR tournaments all over the US and also attend a lot of conventions to support the DDR community. We have been doing this for years now and have built up a lot of good relationships with fan.

C: Fitness is a big concern now with obesity becoming one the greatest health threats for the entire nation. People sit in front of the TV and video games all day. Do you think that a game like DDR helps? I know it’s better to get outside in the fresh air, but is this something that might get people moving? Have sales up for dance pads and games now?

D: Obesity is a huge problem today, especially with children. DDR, in conjunction with a sensible and balanced diet, can help obese kids lose weight by helping them to achieve a great workout while having fun. In fact, there is a workout mode in DDR games that allows users to track the number of calories they burn during each song. Plus DDR is a very social game and can be played with others. Sales have definitely been increasing every year since we started selling dance pads in 2001.

C: You’ve helped create a Website called GetUpMove.com with Tanya Jessen and several others who have lost a lot of weight playing DDR. That’s a very socially responsible act and frankly, I’m impressed. Why did you decide to do this?

D: We noticed that several middle and high schools were starting to use our dance pads as part of their PE programs to encourge kids to stay in shape while having fun. We also hear a lot of great stories about customers who have lost a lot of weight. The idea of starting getupmove.com really came out of these events that helped us to realize that DDR could be more than just a video game. It had the potential to help people stay in shape and we really wanted to let people know that there was a way to lose weight and have fun at the shape time. It always seems to be such a chore, but not with DDR.

C: Ok, last question. Since you’re not a woman, I’m not gonna ask for your shoes, but you are gonna let me put one of those metal dance pads in layaway, right? I figure it’ll take me say…10 months to pay it off and another 2 months for the shipping. You’ll still be in business by then won’t you?

D: ? I dont quite get your question here. Are you asking for a demo to test out the metal pad?

Editors note: I not only want to test one, but own one! Yet, I’m too much of a lady to go begging for handouts. Now gifts on the other hand, that’s a whole other story…. So if you’re reading this Lords of the Dance Pad…I really, REALLY want one of these! ^_^

C: Thanks so much for helping me out with this. I really appreciate it a lot and I’m sure that our readers appreciate it, too.

D: Thanks. Let me know if you have any questions.

We all need fresh air, sunshine and the will to run and frolic in the wild, wild woods, but let’s face it; it’s not going to happen for all of us. We want to be fit, but we can’t always afford an overpriced gym membership that we won’t use because we simply don’t have the time. With games like DDR, you can afford to pop it in for ten or fifteen minutes a day and have a little fun that doesn’t seem like exercise and actually get some health benefits while you’re at it. If you have a DDR success story or need to know more about this game and others or RedOctane, please feel free to email me or follow the links in this article.

Cynthia Threadgill

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