Gamers are not known for their athleticism. Yes, we have eSports professional players who are incredible at what they do, but I’m still not picking them first when during a pick-up basketball game. We’re not the most physically active of cultural groups. However, the one and only Atari hopes to change that with a new mobile app called Atari Fit.
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"Oh great", I hear you say, "another damn exercise app. There are dozens out there and already you don’t use them." Well, this one might get you going. According to a press release the company has teamed up with Michael Porter, certified personal trainer and performance enhancement specialist through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), who will outline 150 exercises across all spectrums of “working out”. But in addition to ‘weight loss’, ‘improved cardio’, ‘the ability to lift small humans’ and ‘looking marginally attractive to the opposite sex’, users will also be able to unlock classic Atari titles like Super Breakout, Centipede, Pong and more.
I know in this day and age, there are faster, smarter and better looking titles, but this is a big deal all the same to those of us who grew up during the wild west days of the video game era.
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“Atari also announced its integration of the Walgreens Balance® Rewards application program interface, which allows users to earn Balance Rewards loyalty program points for participating in challenges that log steps taken. Points can be redeemed at Walgreens and walgreens.com.”
“Players are motivated to work toward their fitness goals, while offering a fun, competitive experience where they earn coins and can unlock their favorite classic Atari games," Said Fred Chesnais, CEO of Atari. "The team and leaderboard components are especially unique to the Atari Fit experience, as players around the globe can exercise, play and get healthy together."
Users will have access to worldwide leaderboards, so we can once and for all see who is the most fit person. You can join teams to achieve certain fitness goals or participate in group events or simply to encourage one another to get out and up more. A social media component will allow you to make your friends and family feel bad for being lazy, because if you can’t tell people you just ran five miles and nabbed the high score on Asteroid, what is even the point?
Atari Fit will be coming to mobile devices in Early 2015. Sign up for updates HERE.