EA Sports announced yesterday that a full sequel to the tremendously successful, critically acclaimed workout program EA Sports Active is currently in development, set for release this fall. The sequel, tentatively named EA Sports Active 2.0, is reaching out to more customers -- it's coming to the PS3, iPhone, and iPod Touch as well as the Wii. The product will come with leg and arm straps, both of which will include their own motion sensors, and a heart rate monitor to, uh, monitor your workout.
People who bought EA Sports Active and its expansion pack (More Workouts) on the Wii may be disappointed: it looks like the PS3 version is going to be the most attractive option, if only because it will offer downloadable workouts and exercises. Curious indeed is the omission of a Project Natal version -- it seems like Microsoft's new control scheme would be ideally suited to an exercise program. Perhaps Microsoft is working on its own workout software, or maybe EA will announce a 360 version of EA Sports Active 2.0 at a later date.
Another impressive-sounding feature is the ability to upload exercise data to an online hub that will allow you to track your workout progress and share it with users around the world. I can see it now: "Sally, you lost 30 pounds in two months? Oh, hell no. I'm coming for you, woman! Ain't nobody going to seduce my man!" This time around, you'll be able to work out wirelessly, and Active 2.0 will include a nine-week "total body conditioning" program. It's not clear at this point if the PS3 version will support the PlayStation Motion Controller, or if the iPhone/iPod Touch version will let you, say, track your daily run.
Folks, here's some free advice: your significant others or spouses probably won't be too happy to see EA Sports Active 2.0 under the Christmas tree, even if you mean well, so don't go out and get it for them as a helpful nudge -- unless they've explicitly asked for it. Seriously.
Contest:
12:00 AM on 03.10.2010
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Also, system exclusive downloadable workouts don't quite sit right with me. I understand why most Wii games don't have DLC, but it would take a lot to convince me that the online network is so inferior to the playstation network that it can't handle downloadable workouts.
@ EnigmaticHarle - Better than Wii Fit?
I said apparantly because I have never been able to play them myself. I've had Sports Active in my checkout cart for some time now, though I've not enough funds to finally buy it.
I can say, however, that I've checked through an innumerous amount of data (other peoples experiences) for both EA Sports Active and Wii Fit to see which one gives you the best workout and I've seen an overwhelming amount of support that EA's game get's the job done. Even some world class athletes gave praise to the game for it's ability to make you sweat and toned.
As for Wii Fit, I found it to be second overall. It generally seems to be pointed towards people who don't work out often and/or for families to enjoy together. Wii Fit also is taken as a funner game than EA's, giving user's the "Nintendo" way of working out (as in easy to use).
All I really wanted to find was a good workout that I could do in my house without taking up 500 cubic-feet of space and without paying over $100. All my research lead to that game. Sad yet awesome.