There's a new fitness game in town and it's ready to work you out and make you sweat. Your Shape ($69), a new Wii game by Ubisoft, makes Jenny McCarthy your workout coach and training buddy so you don't have to sweat it out alone.
The game comes with a camera that you perch on your TV; it captures your image and plays it on your TV so you move with a reflection of yourself, like looking in a mirror. The camera also monitors your movements, and if you slack off, Jenny will let you know — she also gives you praise when you make a correction. Who couldn't use an ego boost mid-workout?
To learn more about the game, continue reading.
Aside from exercising next to the perky animated McCarthy, the game tailors workouts to you in type, length, and difficulty level. The game includes 400 exercises, so your workouts are never the same, which keeps you on your toes and busts the boredom common to home workouts. You can select to focus on cardio, strength training, or toning exercises, and focus on a specific body part. I selected a 15-minute burn, aka cardio, focusing on my backside. After a five-minute warmup, I did many lunges and kicks peppered with some old-school aerobics moves. When my grapevine turned sloppy, Jenny chimed in, "Please follow me." When I corrected my footwork she gave a "Fantastic!" You can also have the game add in exercises with equipment you already own, like an exercise ball, hand weights, or an aerobic step. Unlike many Wii Fit games, Your Shape creates a continuous workout and you can sweat it out for 45 minutes nonstop.
You begin playing the game with a fitness test, and every nine workouts you take the test again to assess your improvement. You can compete with other users registered to your game — up to four. The game drops Nov. 24, and will be available at Amazon, Target, Walmart, and other large retailers. If you're more of a mobile game player (or your kids hog the TV or the Wii), a PC version of the game, also $69, will be available for purchase in early December. This version comes with the camera as well so you can work out with Jenny anywhere.
Check out more images of the game.
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This sounds neat. Was there any time delay between your actual movements and the video image of yourself?
1this looks pretty cool.
i notice on the picture it shows the calorie burn of the workout. how does the game know? do you have to wear a special attachment or does your own heart rate monitor sync with the game?
2I would caution people here from buying this. Wii is notorious for junkware, and celebrity exercise games have been the worst offenders lately.
What do you think is more likely - that the company developing this spent the money to make the camera interpret gestures correctly, something Microsoft's multi-million dollar project Natal MIGHT accomplish in a few years? Or that it's just a cheap piece of software with Jenny's name on it and a camera that doesn't work?
I love Jenny, but unless the reviews are stellar, it's safe to assume this game sucks.
3I disagree that it's junkware. I don't think this is the ONLY workout regime anyone should have- and in general with these games you have to know good form- but it's better than sitting on the couch and playing games, which is still what most people do.
I'm not sure I'd be buying this game. It sounds fun, but I hate that every game that comes out come with some attachment that you have to pay extra $$ for. The games are expensive enough as is for $50. Maybe I'll consider after the price drops. It seems sort of similar to EA sports active in terms of giving you a good workout...
4EA Sports was an awesome aberration, though the bands that came with it were garbage.
I'm not saying definitively that it's junkware, I'm saying it's probably junkware. I think we'll have to read some reviews to know for sure. Still - the industry tends to poo on any game that's female friendly. What a shocker since the reviewers are almost always men.
I'm willing to withhold judgement - but if the camera works well, I'll eat my hat.
5Yogaforlife,
6There wasn't a delay in the imaging. The calorie count on the screen is an estimate of calories burned based on your weight. The game is not compatible with heart rate monitors.
ok, i have purchased this game and it is 1000% safe to say its a piece of junk. waste of my money. it is nothing like the commercial. its exactly like my wieght coach, just with the camera.
7I am a fan of ea sport active with the Wii but it has its drawbacks-mainly the clumsiness of the remotes as you are trying to keep proper form through each movement. I was hoping Your Shape would solve these issues. It is not at all what I was hoping for! It is a piece of junk! Jenny decides your work-out and there is no way to delete an exercise you don't like. It is so frustrating. The camera will not read me no matter how much my clothing is in contrast to the background. If you are looking for something to make you throw your hands up in the air and vow to be a couch potato for the rest of your life this game can get you there! I will personally stick to Wii fit and Ea sport active and more work-outs to help stay motivated.
8It doesn't read me at all. I use to work out in a gym 5 days a week. I know my moves. It says I'm doing them wrong all the time. I have to stand really far to get my feet and lower legs in view. I really wished I had have gotten something else.
9I purchased this game the other day and i'm really enjoying it. I am a gym junkie and this game makes me sweat as much as any gym class.
10I have had no problem with the camera reading me with no time delay. It can tell when i get a bit lazy eg with my arms- it really makes sure you are performing the exercises to get the best results.
This game is far better than Wii Fit, because you can work non-stop for an extended period of time, unlike the Wii Fit which only allows one exercise at a time for a few short minutes. The other benefit is you are remote free while doing the exercise.
Every time i have exercised it works out how well i did and changes the workout for next time- i have noticed if i perform well it will make it harder for next time.
I am not sure the calorie counter is very accurate though- i'd probably half the amount it says that you have burned. I just finished a 30min workout and it said i burnt 616 calories, but i think i only burnt about 300, because i know that if i jog non-stop for 30min on a treadmill i only burn approx 350 calories according to the treadmill.
Anyone who doesnt like this game- isnt serious about exercise.
THE GAME COMES WITH THE CAMERA- You DO NOT have to purchase one separately!!!
11First of all. This game is NOT like it is advertised.
1) The gameplay screen shown in the game trailer is different than the one that is actually used in the game.
2) The camera is average, nothing better than an average webcam, and you need pretty good lighting in your room
3) While it says you can use weights, a step-up stair(or whatever the hell that is), or a stability ball.......I can't seem to get one damn workout to incorporate these. Even when Jenny asks, what kind of equipment are you using today, and i select the stability ball, the entire workout = NOT ONE DAMN stability ball exercise. It's all bullsh*t side-stepping and what not. So how the hell do i incorporate extra equipment? FAIL
4) The calories burnt is only derived based on your height and weight. There is no additional means to establish a target heart rate, or anything outside of the game just running a "calories burned" counter that runs like a stopwatch as the workout begins. FAIL
5) However, the positive part about this game is that it requires you be a little more concentrated with the form of the moves and exercises in order to ensure accuracy, therefore you can't just "go through the motions" like a lot of people end up doing in a real aerobics room with 20 other people. You are given a % of how accurate your moves are and that is a good motivator to keep strict form, therefore putting a longer duration of stress on your muscles throughout the movement of each exercise. Which gives a good burn.
Conclusion: 4/10. There are just too many things about this game that piss me off. You kind of have to "humor" the game, and "get used" to its faults so that you can actually get a good workout. It isn't AT ALL as smooth or easy to execute as it shows in the game trailer.
12This game is great. There is hardly any time delay and you do not need any special equipment. It is a reasonable price and well worth buying it. It evaluates your body shape and fitness level so your workouts are challenging but achievable and to my amazment I managed to burn 200 cals in a 15 minute workout, so very good if you are streched for time.
13The game is a pain in my butt and not a fat burning one. Camera is not recognizing my moves properly. I guess I'll try to go spend more money to buy brighter clothing!
14I bought the Your Shape and was very upset with it. i know that i am out of shape and was being told over and over to go to the tutorial to learn to keep up and how to do them exactly. listen i was very offened that she said it many times. i was not happy so i am taking it back and getting something else. Saying it once is no big deal but then leave it alone! Sorry i was not happy. It takes alot to admit your put of shape and i was finally doing something about it and was very upset that it was telling me that numerous times.
15I bought this recently, and although I do like it very much, it's not without it's problems. I like the camera idea, but like others have said, it won't recognize my moves at all. If I hear "uh-oh - your legs need a little help", I might punch the damn thing. I excercise regularly, and know what I'm doing, but it constantly corrects. I finally turned the voice down and just watch the moves instead. Having said that, i do feel like I get a very decent workout, the calorie count is about 50-100 calories higher than what my Polar monitor says, and I enjoy the different workouts - not knowing what comes next keeps me from getting bored. The Yoga workout is nice, but you have to know your moves (and I don't, but i managed) because it doesn't give you any instruction at all. Someone mentioned that it didn't recognize the stability ball or other accessories, but I haven't had that problem so far - those have been some of the really good exercises. Overall, I do like it, and would recommend it, but if I can figure out how to make it recognize my moves (or if they can correct it with an update) it would be a lot better. And I think it's a little over priced.
16I received this game for free (thankfully). I have already used the Wii Fit (fun, but not a great workout) and the EA Active (great workout, but no abs workout, and some other minor flaws). I mention these so you know I have a little experience using the Wii for exercise.
The game seems like a great concept, however like SO many others I am frustrated with the camera not reading my movements AT ALL - 0%. I changed clothing 3 times to make sure contrast was ok. Lighting - check. No other moving objects - check. Still no read but at least fake Jenny nagged me constantly to "Follow Me" which was not annoying at all. That was sarcasm - I was ready to chuck Jenny's perky butt out the window!!
If this can be corrected I think the game has potential, although without any monitoring of movement through either the remote or a leg band, etc. I don't see how it can record your level of activity with a cheap camera.
17i bought this game with high hopes and sadly disappointed. If i use it i need to play a music CD with it because i am sadly out of shape and the jenny in the game saying arms , legs over and over again is annoying. and no matter what exercise i choose or what part of my body i want 2 work on or what equipment i choose 2 use with it . it does the same exercises over and over again , boring . there is suppose 2 be like 400 exercises in the game. plus some exercises i cant even do i think its made for already skinny people..
18Ok lets not forget though that this is a game. Basically this game was designed to get gamers off the coutch and onto working out.
19If you don't mind being a large dark shadow on the screen next to the perfect skinny Jenny, than this is "OK". If she tells me one more time "looks like your legs need a little more work," I am going to scream. I am doing just what perfect jenny is doing. I am glad I got it on sale at Target. It is still better then sitting on couch, I guess.
20i have it,and love it! i think its like having a personal trainer. everyone that says it sucks probley wants a workout game to do most of it for you! well sorry it doesant work that way! For anyone that wants to be pumped with a great work out and also be challenged its great!
21I have just ordered this game after seeing the trailers. I'm hoping seeing myself on screen in lycra (lol) will give me inspiration to keep it up. I am worried after hearing sooooo many negatives on this game, that I may end up dissapointed. Saying that at the moment I am doing no exercise so if it gets me up and off my butt it will be £29.00 well spent
22I've been at it for a week and I feel it has potential. I think it totally depends on environment. I'm exercising in our den and there is alot of light on my upper body while my lower body is in shadow. My scores in upper body exercises are always in the 70%-80% range. Lower body are in the 50%-60% range. Since today is an off day I'm going to expriement with different lighting, backgrounds, camera positions and clothes.
23This game needs to be re-written in terms of dialogue and manual. There should be one of those "the book the product didn't come with" books for this game. Basically she says "stand front and center" it really means "stand where the silhouette is" and having a lamp or something directly behind you helps contrast you from the background better. only THEN was i able to get the game to pick up my movements and then. And can we talk about how it doesn't account for latency? I don't need to see MYSELF doing the moves so don't waste the bandwidth and processing power for video and use it more to give me a VISUALIZATION of myself. I need to do everything BEFORE Jenny does in order to "match" her moves. I have only spent about 20 minutes with this game so far but what a pain.
Anyway, good idea -- spend a little more time on the tutorials (and not the damn "how to do this exercise" -- I CAN SEE YOU DOING IT JENNY! A jumping-jack isn't testing my comprehension of basic aerobics!) next time. Seriously -- my girlfriend really liked the idea of the game and i felt really good and worked out but YEESH!
Now, where's my wii balance board...
24program is a waste! I'm more pissed off after listening to Jenny than anything. Set up your calender for a 60 min workout and it only goes for 20 min. Not to mention that Jenny is constantly telling you to follow her or check your legs/arms. Funny how I got sick of hearing her mouth so I sat down on the couch and the dog walked in front of the camera and all of a sudden she started saying good job, now you got it! I find that putting her on mute and turning on pandora while doing an actual workout in the program is more satisfactory. This is a regift product! Don't waste your money! I recommend Core Rythems fun and easy workout without feeling like you worked but you see results!
25Not impressed. The graphics are great, and the camera is dead on. But too many rests without any stretching. I wanted an arm/shoulder work out but I got abs, cardio, lunges - I only had biceps and push ups for arms - huh? I didn't feel like a fitness trainer was involved in putting this together at all.
26I just wanted to say that I have the game and I LOVE it. The camera quality is really good, and its not workouts that are hard to follow. I did a lot of these same workouts when I was in aerobics class. Now, dont think I am fit because I am not. I am just someone who is looking to lose weight and I know this game will help because it keeps you moving while not overworking yourself. I burned 500 calories in 30 minutes from these workouts and it specifically targets the areas YOU want to burn. I highly reccomend the game becasue of how simple the workouts are to follow and how much you do burn.
27I also wanted to add that the camera comes with the game, so you pay for the whole package, not just the game.
28I've just starting using Your Shape, so far so good, I like the way Jenny keeps reminding me about arms and legs its stops me from being lazy!
One problem though, I wanted to use my stability ball and and selected it, but the workout didn't include it, so frustrating. Can anyone tell me if they have managed to use the ball and what workout you selected?
29i just bought this game yesterday, and at first i liked it, but after using it today, i am returning it. i wanted to work on my abs and selected it, but the whole time i did more side steps than i think i should have, and only once did i use my hand weights. funny thing, i took a break and the exercises still continued, doesn't it sense at all that there's no movement? or the fact that i'm not doing the exercises? i feel this game isn't worth $69 at all
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