City Officials Testing Life-Sized Aerobic Video Game

City Officials Testing Life-Sized Aerobic Video Game

April 3, 2008
The city of Elgin, Illinois will offer citizens an opportunity to try out a life-sized game system that is designed to promote aerobic play.

As reported by the Courier-News, the NEOS game system will be set up in Elgin for the city's Healthy Kids Day on April 12th and will remain in place until April 20th. City Parks Development Coordinator Paul Bednar told the newspaper:
I just got to talking to [NEOS manufacturer Playworld] about it and they said they were allowing different cities to borrow it for a couple of weeks at a time and let people try it out.

As described by the Courier-News:
Much in the spirit of the popular arcade music video game Dance Dance Revolution, NEOS involves players interacting with the game, requiring people to move about nonstop for 45 to 60 seconds at a time.

According to game's Web site, up to four people can play one of nine games that test reflex speed, hand-eye coordination and memory retention, requiring players to hit or kick lighted touch pads.

A NEOS system costs about $30,000.
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Comments

Submitted by Tyriku - April 3, 2008 at 12:31 pm -0500
"Much in the spirit of the popular arcade music video game Dance Dance Revolution, NEOS involves players interacting with the game, requiring people to move about nonstop for 45 to 60 seconds at a time."

1. Dance Dance Revolution SuperNOVA2 (the newest one) for the arcade costs somewhere in the of $5000-10000. Waaaaaaaay cheaper.
2. There is no DDR song shorter than 1:08, and 99% of all the other reside between 1:30-1:50.


For your upper body there's always EyeToy Groove or Hands and Feet Mode in DANCE DANCE REVOLUTION SUPERNOVA 2 US PS2.
Submitted by Jonathan, aka Soul - April 3, 2008 at 9:03 am -0500
That's one nice and fancy system they got there.
Submitted by JustChris - April 3, 2008 at 9:08 am -0500
They should set them up in arcades as the NEOS-GEOS system!!

Yeah, I'm terrible...
Submitted by Ebonheart - April 3, 2008 at 9:09 am -0500
I have a better idea than spending 30 grand on this boondogle....BUY DDR MACHINES.
Submitted by Christian Astrup - April 3, 2008 at 9:13 am -0500
Neat
Submitted by Monkeythumbs - April 3, 2008 at 9:14 am -0500
DO WANT!
Submitted by lordlundar - April 3, 2008 at 9:43 am -0500
Or they can wait for Wii fit, and buy a wii assembly with wii Fit and DDR Mario Mix for an eith of the cost.

Oh wait, that would make sense now, wouldn't it?
Submitted by mogbert - April 3, 2008 at 10:09 am -0500
Yeah, I'll either stick with Wii Boxing for $250 or DDR for about $200 total (with a decent pad). Ever tried playing DDR with ankle weights? Don't.

I have a half finished DDR platform in the basement (2x4's, sheet metal, and plexiglass), but by the time I finish it, I'll need to rewire a new controller to it.

I guess the government has so much of our money to spend that some smart company is going to get some of it.
Submitted by Frogfucius - April 3, 2008 at 10:09 am -0500
They could get the same effect with a ton of NESs and Power Pads. And if I do remember correctly, there was some kind of aerobics game also.
Submitted by myrpok - April 3, 2008 at 10:28 am -0500
I know it would mean supporting a third party company on tax payers money, but I'm POSITIVE the citizend of Illinois would thank you (whoever is running this project) to have the common sense to just go out and buy a PS2 and DDR pad, or a Wii and Wii Fit. Seriously, 30 Grand? If these kids can't run around outside on there own for free, and somehow can't make use of popular technology, why will they use some over-priced crap that probably isn't even fun?
Submitted by SimonBob - April 3, 2008 at 10:34 am -0500
I love how no matter what the government does in the gaming realm, be it positive or negative, everybody immediately finds a reason to decry them. Would you rather they were spending money to put out more "videogames are evil" literature?
Submitted by Ebonheart - April 3, 2008 at 10:38 am -0500
Hmm, could buy DDR machines I think 1000 a pop, that means 30, for the price of 1 Neo-Geo system (I'm helping that catch on Chris!) Wow, Maybe I should be a city treasurer, man I could bring in money with my "Brillant" ideas! By brillant I mean common sense.
Submitted by Jer - April 3, 2008 at 10:43 am -0500
OR they can get Kinetic for the PS2
Submitted by PitViper401 - April 3, 2008 at 10:59 am -0500
I live 10 minutes from Elgin for starters. And I've just got to say it's a great idea BUT I know Elgin. It is one of the worst cities around. Lots of unemployment, 10% drop-out rate, lots of drug problems, etc.. My question is, where the hell did the city get all the money?? Last I heard (I'm at school right now) they were having trouble getting enough money to keep a library open.
Submitted by Ebonheart - April 3, 2008 at 11:14 am -0500
@PitViper

Easy by hoarding the money that was suppose to keep the library open.
Submitted by JQuilty - April 3, 2008 at 12:58 pm -0500
Guys, this is Illinois. Fiscal responsibility doesn't exist. Especially in C(r)ook County.
Submitted by Ken - April 3, 2008 at 1:21 pm -0500
Wouldn't it just be cheaper for these morons to get DDR machines?
Submitted by kurisu7885 - April 3, 2008 at 1:25 pm -0500
It seems like a neat idea to me.
Submitted by axia777 - April 3, 2008 at 2:48 pm -0500
How about going and playing some real sports like kids used too? That usually helps. Martial Arts are a good one too. My daughter does Foot Ball(Soccer) and has a blast. That promotes great exercise.
Submitted by IllegallyMindedJohn - April 3, 2008 at 4:27 pm -0500
Para Para meets that silly and old arcade game where you hit the "boxer" guys face until you lose... or break your wrist
Submitted by kurisu7885 - April 3, 2008 at 4:37 pm -0500
@axia777

Try explaining those to paranoid "my baby will get hurt/snatched away" parents
Submitted by JustChris - April 3, 2008 at 4:47 pm -0500
If Elgin is as broken as PitViper401 says it is, then this sounds like another case of...PORK BARREL SPENDING! On obscure entertainment systems nonetheless.
Submitted by TBone Tony - April 3, 2008 at 5:25 pm -0500
As long as the game is FUN and ENJOYABLE, then we would all like to play it.
Submitted by axia777 - April 3, 2008 at 5:36 pm -0500
@kurisu7885

Too bad for them I guess. Over protective parents can be bad for kids health. But that is their problem.

If they want they can get DDR. There was a study at some college were some kid lost a crap load of weight doing nothing but a sensible diet and DDR for exercising. But even DDR will never beat real sports or exercise.
Submitted by Joe - April 3, 2008 at 8:43 pm -0500
The got the money from the riverboat casino
Submitted by Ebonheart - April 4, 2008 at 8:35 am -0500
@ axia777

I don't know some of those songs are just insane.
Submitted by axia777 - April 4, 2008 at 10:54 am -0500
@Ebonheart

Yes, yes they are. Which is why DDR is banned in my house. ;)
Submitted by Ebonheart - April 5, 2008 at 7:34 am -0500
@ axia777

Ahh screw the DDR which costs 50 bucks tops without the pad, spend 30000 grand for a Neo-Geo system you'll be the coolest kid on t3h bl0ck y0! You could be just like your hero city! Or you could just.. ya know I really really want to hit who ever thought spending 30000 grand on one of those systems was "such an oh so great idea"
Submitted by Share Your Music Videos - April 15, 2008 at 11:10 am -0500
Share Your Music Videos...

Gist: Nell Bedworth (Samaire Armstrong) is a smart, awkward,“ pencil- necked virgin” hoping to pass her interview to get into Yale. Her next- door- neighbour, Woody Deane (Kevin Zegers), is into loud hiphop, dates a cheerleader and wants to get a f...

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