DDR Added to West Virginia School Curriculum

[Pookymeister]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060125/ap_on_he_me/fitness_obesity_game


Thought that was an interesting read. Though at the end, it says they are getting a console, at least two pads, and software for $740. I guess it depends if the 'software' is more than just the games, but that seems a little overpriced there.

[shieryda]

Funny. You beat me to posting this. The West Virginia school district obviously doesn't have any CAGs on its staff...

[javeryh]

Video games can be positive? This made the news? HOLY SHIT.

[shieryda]

Video games can be positive? This made the news? HOLY SHIT.

Only in West Virginia!

[javeryh]

Only in West Virginia!

This is probably further proof that they are the most ass-backwards state in the country... :D

[TurkeyOnRye]

I just read this on yahoo's front page too.

The kids in the pic didn't look like teh fatties....

[Supercake]

Tch, lucky fat kids! All I ever did in gym was play GBA and just sit there. I was tubby back then, but not anymore. Haha, ah...whatever. :roll: Those pads look pretty decent, I think they are the same metal pads a friend has. Not the best, but a hell of a lot better then generic plastic.

[evanft]

$740?!?!? What the fuck? You can get that setup at EB for less than $250!

[Ecofreak]

From Next Generation, lifted from EvilAvatar.com


Konami has entered a three-year agreement with the State of West Virginia to bring Dance Dance Revolution to 765 of the state's public schools.

The state will develop a DDR curriculum that will be incorporated into health and physical education courses to counteract obesity issues in students. The program will also be used as a testing ground for controlled analysis of the benefits of DDR in schools. Data from the study would be forwarded to Konami, then distributed to other school systems through professional journals.

"Bringing the health benefits and enjoyment that DDR provides to school children is a great way to combat childhood obesity that is caused by the sedentary lifestyle of today's kids," said Konami's Clara Gilbert, director of business partnerships. "DDR has been a proven success in schools and this program with the State of West Virginia demonstrates the positive effects that can come from making DDR a part of one's daily routine. This first-of-its-kind partnership will help us continue to demonstrate the benefits of DDR to consumers around the country."

Dang it - this would be the ONLY reason I'd actually want to attend school in W. Virginia. (No offense to people in W. Virginia - I've gone there before and it's just not my kinda place. ;))

Link: http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2127&Itemid=2

[shieryda]

There's already a thread for this:


http://www.cheapassgamer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=82720

[shipwreck]

Already a topic going on in the Off-topic Forum, but I think it belongs in this forum, so I'll merge the two.

[Graystone]

When I was in H.S. all we got was tae-bo

[2poor]

When I was in H.S. all we got was tae-bo

shit you had tae bo videos?

we could only afford to record and watch the tae bo informercials until they had to be rewinded and replayed.

[Backlash]

childhood obesity that is caused by the sedentary lifestyle of today's kids


Sedentary yes, but also from all the horrible crap those kids eat. Probably eat fast food every day. Playing DDR for a few minutes a day isn't going to do much. If they're forcing the kids to play DDR in gym, can't they make the kids run arouind and play soccer and stuff? What were they doing up til now?

Edit: Oh wow I see that each school will have 2 whole game pads. So I guess each kid gets to play for about 5 minutes. Now we're burning calories!

[shieryda]

Sedentary yes, but also from all the horrible crap those kids eat. Probably eat fast food every day. Playing DDR for a few minutes a day isn't going to do much. If they're forcing the kids to play DDR in gym, can't they make the kids run arouind and play soccer and stuff? What were they doing up til now?

Edit: Oh wow I see that each school will have 2 whole game pads. So I guess each kid gets to play for about 5 minutes. Now we're burning calories!

Yeah, what ever happened to a good old-fashioned game of kickball, or floor hockey to get those tubbies moving and sweating off the fat?!

[Dr Mario Kart]

Really, you could just bring a projector into the gym, and give everyone those $5 generic mats. They dont actuallly have to be hooked up, except for like the two on the machine. You know. Pretend. That would save them like a billion dollars