For some ASU students staying fit means eating right and exercising. For others, it means switching on the game console.
Giancarlo Rubio, a business management sophomore, has turned to Nintendo's Wii, instead of the gym, for exercise.
Rubio has had a Wii for five months and uses it for exercise at least three times a week.
"I don't get the same sweat from going to the gym, but it's a workout," Rubio said.
The Wii Sports package, which includes tennis, bowling, baseball, boxing and golf, uses infrared technology to send signals from the remote to the game according to
body movements.
The games seem to mirror the sports themselves at times, said Anthony Martinez, a journalism junior.
"You don't realize you are playing a video game," he said.
Although Martinez, a Wii player since its release last November, said he has never used the console as a workout device, he has felt the effects of the body motions necessary to play it.
"The first time I played it my arms were sore the next morning," he said.
Kinesiology freshman Chelsie Chmela said she loves to use the Wii as a workout and that she takes it pretty seriously sometimes.
"My friend and I have put on workout clothes, got water bottles and have played Wii tennis," Chmela said.
Chmela, a Wii owner for about 10 months, said she still goes to the gym, but enjoys playing the Wii over an average workout, she said.
"I prefer Wii over pilates," she added.
Her friends get very involved in playing the games, Chmela said.
"I have friends that have torn muscles in their arms playing," she added.
Sociology senior Danielle Rainwater said it's nice to get exercise using the Wii while moving away from typical video game themes of stealing cars, buying drugs and killing people.
Rubio said his favorite aspect of the Nintendo Wii was that it kept him active.
"The Wii is a great thing because you can play video games and not be a couch potato," he said.
Reach the reporter at: andrew.dickman@asu.edu.
