Last week at Pepcom’s Digital Experience in New York we got our hands on an interesting way of passing time while exercising, with Blue Goji’s interactive fitness controller, Goji Play.
Blue Goji was founded by Kai and Charles Huang – the co-founders of RedOctane and creators of the hugely successful Guitar Hero franchise — and Coleman Fung, the founder of OpenLink. They’ve come together to create a gaming experience to enhance your cardio workouts while at the gym.
Goji Play uses a unique wireless controller and activity sensor to link with your tablet or mobile device and run specific games compatible with the hardware. There are two controllers - one for each hand - each with two color coded buttons that could potentially lead to some interesting gameplay mechanics. The controllers attach directly to the exercise machine for ease of use, while the sensor tracks your workout vitals as you play.
Currently there are 20 games available for download on the iStore, and 17 of these are free, with more planned for release within the next year - many of which are already playable with a touch screen.
We were given a hands on demonstration of Shine Runner - a racing game - while the hardware was hooked up to a treadmill. Admittedly, it took some getting used to keeping our hands placed on the controller while walking, but eventually we got the hang of it. We can easily see how this could help pass the time while grinding out a workout. The demonstrator walking us through the experience said that all the games currently available for the system have been hand-picked specifically for an optimal workout experience.
Also on display was a Punch Out-style boxing game called Fisticuffs, that showed off a boxing match with an early 1900’s aesthetic. You control a noticeably smaller fighter in a boxing ring that goes toe-to-toe with a much larger stylized series of opponents. Unfortunately we didn’t get to try that out, it looked fun, and the artstyle alone was enough to catch our eye.
While these games admittedly tend to be more on the casual side, they are perfect for a quick workout session and don’t require much concentration. It wouldn’t surprise us to see the Goji Play make its way into gyms nationwide eventually, and would make a good gift idea for someone’s home gym. Pricing starts at $99.99 (USD) and is available directly through Blue Goji’s website and Amazon – with the system being compatible with the more current generation of iPads and iPhones.
Goji Play is an interesting idea and it is good to see videogames filtering into interesting places in the market as new applications are being created for the medium.
Brian Kale
@brianwkale
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