EyeToy Kinetic is an innovative new physical exercise gaming title that Sony produced in association with Nike Motionworks, the professional sports research lab. It has been designed to help the player improve their fitness and health using a variety of exercise games, whatever that person’s fitness level is.
EyeToy Kinetic allows players to improve not only general fitness but also the warm-up, stretching, reactions, posture, balance, breathing and all round body toning and conditioning.
System: PS2
Genre: Sports, Fitness, Exercise Gaming
Release dates: September 23th 2005 (EURO), November 8th 2005 (USA)
Players: 1-4, Sony EyeToy camera for PS2 required
Save: 455KB minimum
Developer: SCE Studios London / Nike Motionworks
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Origin: England
Sony’s EyeToy is a small digital camera that sits on top of your TV and plugs into your PS2. The motion sensitive camera films you as you stand in front of your TV, putting your image on screen in the middle of the action. Then you use your arms, legs, head, bottom… in fact any part of your body to play the games. Using this EyeToy camera is an entirely unique gaming control experience for people of all ages. Incorporating a unique USB camera that utilizes motion-tracking technology, gamers instantly become the main character in their own game. With no need for a controller, anyone can have fun with EyeToy, and no previous gaming experience is required. Watch as players jump, kick, and flail their arms to create entertaining action with EyeToy.
EyeToy Kinetic offers a wide variety of fitness activities that far exceeds the traditional ‘home workout video’. The EyeToy camera, with the addition of a newly developed Wide Angled Lens that attaches to the front of the camera, allows for increased levels of interactivity projecting the exerciser’s image onto the television screen, enabling them to physically interact with their environments.
With four areas of discipline to choose from, EyeToy Kinetic offers a wide variety of exercises for players to choose from. Aero Motion and Combat zones help to increase the player’s overall fitness level, inspired by moves and stances from activities such as Tai Kwon Do, Modern Dance, Kick Boxing, Aerobics and Karate.
The game contains two personal instructors, Matt (pusher) and Anna (coercer), who guide and motivate you throughout the tailor-made 12 week workout. This incorporates a diverse set of exercise disciplines, from Martial Arts to Aerobics and Dance, with bespoke Yoga and Tai Chi sequences. When you have missed 5 days, you can choose to do the entire workout again. You’ll be exercising in four vibrant, immersive zones, each with a wide selection of music to choose from.
The workout is split into these four zones:
* Cardio Zone: Improve cardiovascular fitness.
* Combat Zone: Increase reaction speed, physical strength and flexibility. This helps to increase the player’s overall fitness level, inspired by moves and stances from activities such as Tai Kwon Do, Modern Dance, Kick Boxing, Aerobics and Karate.
* Toning Zone: Concentrate on all-around body conditioning and helps the player to tone specific muscle groups utilising slow and refined movements.
* Mind & Body Zone: Promote good posture, balance, breathing, relaxation, concentration and flexibility, taking inspirations from Yoga and Tai Chi, leaving players feeling relaxed, yet with their body fully conditioned.
Watch the EyeToy Kinetic intro video.
The key features in EyeToy Kinetic are:
* Inspired by Aerobics, Capoeira, Kick Boxing, Yoga, Modern Dance, Tai Chi and more, EyeToy: Kinetic is a new in-home personal trainer that creates personalized workout regimens with on-the-spot performance evaluations for a more effective workout.
* Utilizing the EyeToy technology EyeToy: Kinetic provides players with a superior fitness experience all in the comfort of their own home.
* Experience a true “interactive” fitness experience unlike traditional workout videos with EyeToy: Kinetic’s real-time performance evaluations.
* Designed to improve general fitness, reactions, posture, balance, breathing and all-around body toning and conditioning.
* Two unique virtual personal trainers provide professional guidance by explaining the exercises in detail and giving encouragement.
* Players can choose from four Zones of discipline: Cardio, Combat, Toning and Mind & Body for an all-in-one fitness program.
* Select individual routines from the four Zones to shape specific body areas, or choose a challenging and intensive 12-week training program, which keeps track of workout schedules and monitors progress. This program will improve your overall fitness by leaps and bounds.
* Mix of exercises to work every muscle group – and help you burn calories, too!
* Train in four different environments: Dojo, Dance Studio, Zen Garden and Loft.
* Designed for all fitness abilities.
* Requires EyeToy USB Camera. Includes the EyeToy Full Vision Lens adaptor to allow for a full-interactive experience.
* Features a clean, sophisticated graphic design throughout.
* Utilizes never-before-seen EyeToy technologies.
Watch a man play EyeToy Kinetic’s Wildfire.
While that man had made too little free space around him (he even hit the lamp hehe) the following woman does a much better job. Watch her play EyeToy Kinetic’s Equilibrium on Youtube (click link for video to pop up).
EyeToy Kinetic allows you to choose the zone, the music, the trainer and the intensity to suit your fitness level and goals. With 16 different routines and individually tailored programmes, EyeToy Kinetic harnesses the power of technology to maximise your workout. This unique exercise experience is a fun, interactive and positive way to supplement your existing fitness regime or kick-start a new you: accredited by top celebrity trainers, you can get the body you want, when you want it.
Before you begin a game or sequence in EyeToy Kinetic, a Fact File screen will provide some background information. Unless you’ve decided to turn them ‘Off’, Matt or Anna will also give you a detailed demonstration of the exercise before you get under way.
These are the 16 different routines in EyeToy Kinetic:
CARDIO ZONE
Cascade is a high energy workout based on simple to follow choreographed cardio sequences. The workout encourages movement throughout, leading to improvement of cardiovascular fitness and reflexes.
Aim: Blue and red orbs move down the screen. Touch the blue orbs and avoid the red ones.
Scoring: For every blue orb you touch your score will increase, and for every red orb you touch your score will decrease.
Progression: The more blue orbs you touch, the higher level you’ll progress to and the greater score you’ll achieve. Additionally, red orbs will occasionally increase in size, making them more difficult to avoid. The colors of the orbs will also reverse, when this occurs, you will need to touch the red orbs and avoid the blue ones.
Pulsate is a progressive and rhythmic workout that uses dance movements, inspired by modern cardio workouts. Your heart rate will be raised through the fast paced movements, increasing your fitness levels.
Aim: Touch the blue discs in time with the music before they change position.
Scoring: For every blue disc touched, your score will increase and for every red disc touched your score will decrease.
Progression: The more blue discs you touch, the higher level you’ll progress to and the greater score you’ll achieve. Additionally there will be lines of connected discs you’ll have to sweep your hands over.
Ricochet will test your agility, as you avoid obstacles that move across the screen. You will move at differing speeds throughout, which will help to strengthen your heart and tone your legs.
Aim: Blue targets will appear to the left and right of you. Touch them whilst avoiding orbs that bounce around the screen.
Scoring: For every blue target you touch, you score will increase and every time a bouncing orb touches you, your score will decrease.
Progression: The more blue targets you manage to touch, the higher level you’ll progress to and the greater score you’ll achieve. Additionally, the number of orbs that bounce around the screen and their speed will vary.
Arcburst is a dynamic and rhythmic workout that combines elements of modern dance with cardio workouts. The workout will raise your heart rate through full body movements, leading to an increase in fitness levels.
Aim: Trails of blue discs will appear on screen. Move your hands over these trails in the direction indicated, before they change position.
Scoring: For every trail of blue discs you touch in the correct order, your score will increase If you do not sweep over the trail in the correct order your score will decrease.
Progression: The more trails of blue discs you manage to touch, the higher level you’ll progress to and the greater score you’ll achieve. Additionally there will be single flashing discs that you have to clap your hands over before they disappear.
COMBAT ZONE
Wildfire is a short, sharp and intensive workout inspired by moves and stances from a range of self defense disciplines. Playing this fiercely energetic experience frequently will ensure fitness levels are raised throughout your whole body.
Aim: The objective of the game is to destroy the orbs that appear on screen.
Scoring: Orbs can be damaged by hitting them as hard as you can, but only when they are at rest in the corners of the screen. For every hit they receive, your score will increase. If an orb hits the side of the screen, it will reposition itself in one of the corners. Bob and weave to avoid them until they come to rest as each time they hit you, your score will be reduced.
Progression: When all orbs on screen have been destroyed, you progress to the next level. As you progress to higher levels the number of orbs on screen will increase.
Trespass is a fierce, active and lively workout that combines attack and defense techniques. Undertaking this workout regularly will promote improved dexterity and reaction times.
Aim: The objective of the game is to destroy the incoming yellow orbs before they reach the central vent, and are removed from the screen.
Scoring: As the yellow orbs move towards you, hit them once. For every yellow orb destroyed, your score will increase. Red orbs travel across the full length of the screen and cannot be stopped. If a red orb does come into contact with you, your score will decrease.
Progression: The more yellow orbs you destroy, the higher level you’ll progress to and the greater score you’ll be awarded. As you progress to higher levels, orbs will be generated from an increased number of active points.
Breakspeed is highly energetic and intensive, encouraging you to sustain excessive power over a short period of time. The high intensity nature of the game leads to improved conditioning of the body.
Aim: The objective of the game is to destroy walls which appear either side of you.
Scoring: Each wall is made of bricks. For every brick you destroy, your score will increase. If you stop striking the wall for a short time, it will begin to move back towards the centre of the screen, your score will be reduced and you will have more bricks to destroy.
Progression: When all walls on screen have been destroyed, you’ll progress to the next level.
Reflex is fast and furious active, allowing you to master precise attack techniques. Frequent play leads to improvement in accuracy and form of combat maneuvers.
Aim: Yellow orbs are fired upwards through vents. To the left and right of you are walls which are connected to the sides of the screen. The objective of the game is to destroy these walls by hitting the yellow orbs into them.
Scoring: The more damaged the walls become, the more points you will receive. Try to make contact with every yellow orb, as not hitting them and allowing them to leave the screen will reduce your score.
Progression: When all walls on the screen have been destroyed you’ll progress to the next level.
Protector is an unpredictable and agile workout that makes use of protection training procedures and defensive techniques. Continuous play will lead to improved awareness of the environment, and greater high speed coordination.
Aim: The objective of the game is to protect the moving orb destroying incoming projectiles.
Scoring: Projectiles appear from the corners furthest away from the moving orb’s position, these can be destroyed with a single hit. Neither you nor the projectiles are allowed to come into contact with the orb. For every projectile you destroy your score will increase. If you or the projectiles do come into contact with the orb, your score will be reduced.
Progression: The more projectiles you destroy, the higher level you’ll progress to and the greater score you’ll achieve. As you progress to higher levels more projectiles will be fired at once.
Sidewinder is a rapid, high endurance workout inspired by upper and lower body kick boxing training. Repeated play will lead to long term reduction of fatigue levels and an increase in overall cardiovascular fitness.
Aim: You must protect the central target from orbs and projectiles that are fired towards it.
Scoring: Orbs and projectiles appear randomly from either side of the screen. The more orbs you remove from the screen the faster your score will rise. Orbs can be removed with a quick succession of shorter jabs, while projectiles can be destroyed with a single hit. Their only purpose is to disturb your rhythm of movements and they do not affect your score. If orbs or projectiles come into contact with the central target, your score will be reduced.
Progression: The more orbs you destroy, the higher level you’ll progress to and the greater score you’ll achieve.
Precision is a highly active workout that uses multiple targets to aid in combat training. Repeated play helps to develop improved reflexes through precision hitting at high speed.
Aim: Sets of pads will become highlighted around you. The objective of the game is to destroy these pads before another set becomes highlighted.
Scoring: For each set of pads destroyed, your score will increase. If you come into contact with a pad which is not highlighted, your score will be reduced.
Progression: The more sets of pads you destroy, the higher level you’ll progress to and the greater score you’ll achieve. As you move up to higher levels more pads will become highlighted at once.
TONING ZONE
The Abdominal Exercises toning sequence has been designed specifically to target your various abdominal muscles. The exercises contained within the sequence use consistent, controlled movements that will increase the strength and tone of your abdominal muscles and aid in the overall balance of your body.
Aim: To increase strength and toning of abdominal muscles and lower back.
Progression: As you progress through the routine you have to undertake more complex and demanding abdominal exercises that work the many muscles that make up the abdominal muscle group. Harder difficulty levels reduce the rest times between exercises and increase the number of repetitions of each exercise.
The Upper Body Exercises toning sequence has been created specifically to target the upper body muscles. The exercises contained within this sequence will lead to increased strength and tone of your upper body muscles. These controlled movements will also help to improve the overall balance of your body.
Aim: To increase strength and toning of upper body muscles including triceps, biceps and pectorals.
Progression: As you progress through the routine you will undertake movements that work the main upper body muscles, with each exercise for a particular muscle group being more intense and demanding than the last. Harder difficulty levels reduce the rest times between exercises and increase the number of repetitions of each exercise.
The Lower Body Exercises toning sequence has been produced to exercise the lower body muscles. By undertaking this sequence, the strength and tone of your lower body muscles will be increased. The overall balance of your body will also improve due to the slow and steady movements produced.
Aim: To increase strength and toning of lower body muscles including quads, glutes and hamstrings.
Progression: As you work through the routine you will take on exercises that work the main lower body muscles, with each exercise for a particular muscle group growing in intensity and difficulty. Harder difficulty levels reduce the rest times between exercises and increase the number of repetitions required.
MIND AND BODY ZONE
Equilibrium encourages carefully considered intricate movements of the legs and arms and is inspired by Tai Chi exercises. The extended movement of both legs and arms helps to build up strength and improves balance throughout the body.
Aim: Equilibrium is all about focused movement and balance. Discs appear on screen, and open to reveal a beam of light. Break the beams of light by placing your hands and feet through them at the same time.
Scoring: If you break all the light beams on screen at the same time, your score will improve. If you touch the sides of the disc, your score will be reduced.
Progression: The more beams of lights you successfully break, the higher level you’ll progress to and the greater score you’ll achieve. As you progress to higher levels there are more beams to break and your image will occasionally be reflected.
Reactive is an intricate workout that demands high levels of hand/eye coordination. The continuous and controlled movements produced will help to improve both precision and posture.
Aim: In Reactivate you are surrounded by a number of discs. Some of these discs will light up in a set sequence. You have to copy the sequence before the next one is displayed.
Scoring: Correctly repeating the sequence of highlighted discs will increase your score. If you touch an incorrect disc, your score will be reduced.
Progression: The more sequences of highlighted discs you correctly repeat, the higher level you’ll progress to and the greater score you’ll achieve. As you progress through the game, the number of discs highlighted in each sequence will increase.
Energyflow is a calming and relaxing workout that takes inspiration from moves and stances from various Tai Chi based disciplines. Undertaking this workout regularly will help to increase concentration and focus.
Aim: A trail will appear and begin to move around the screen. A target and a disc will then appear on top of the trail. The target will automatically begin to follow while the disc will remain still. The objective of Energyflow is to guide the disc over the trail, keeping it positioned above the target.
Scoring: If you successfully guide the disc to the end of the trail your score will increase. If the disc is moved away from the target and trail, your score will be reduced, and you will be required to begin the trail again.
Progression: The more trails you successfully complete, the higher level you’ll progress to and the greater score you’ll obtain. As you progress to higher levels the trails become more complicated.
Outbreak is a captivating and immersive workout, inspired by contemporary movement techniques for balance and posture. Undertaking the workout regularly will increase both precision and concentration levels.
Aim: Small green orbs begin to randomly move around the screen. You have to capture the green orbs in a net. To begin the net, you’ll need to move the hand quickly over one of the rings on the screen, then carefully guide the net in the direction of your choice by moving your entire body, and then close the net.
Scoring: The more green orbs you capture the faster your score will increase. If you do not close the net by the time it deactivates you will catch nothing and have to begin a new net.
Progression: The more green orbs you successfully catch, the higher level you’ll progress to and the greater score you’ll achieve.
The Yoga Sequence is designed to harmonize body, breathing and mind via a series of moving stances and postures. The movements involved in this continuous sequence help to increase concentration and focus of the mind as well as balance, posture and flexibility of the body.
The Tai Chi Sequence is used to help train the body and at the same time calm the mind through controlled coordinated movement. This particular sequence originated from the Hong Kong branch of the Yang Family and has been adapted specifically for EyeToy Kinetic.
The Meditation Sequence is designed to produce a state of deep relaxation and sense of balance. It is based on the principle that people who meditate regularly have been shown to feel less anxiety and depression. Meditation is thought to increase blood flow and lower the heart rate leading to an improvement in general health.
Lastly let’s add some pro training tips:
* Warm up and stretch before training.
* Cool Down after training. The game also helps you check your heart rate after training.
* Relax.
* Wear comfortable clothes and footwear which do not restrict movement.
* Breathe naturally, avoid forcing the breath.
* Drink plenty of water, especially during a heavy workout.
* Avoid drinking cold water while training.
* After workout or in between when taking breaks avoid sitting down while still buffing heavily or if the heart is beating fast, walk or move around gently until the breathing and heart rate return to normal.
* To get the maximum benefit, be consistent and train regularly.
* Listen to your body, don’t over train and push yourself too hard at the beginning stages. Progress gradually.
* Eat right, get enough sleep and plenty of rest.
* The best time to do a workout is early in the morning.
* Avoid having a big meal before workout and don’t eat just before a workout, eat at least two hours before training and allow at least one hour after a workout.
Nike Motionworks fitness experts explain EyeToy Kinetic and perform exercises. Watch the promo and demo trailer here:
As a conclusion let’s rate this game on its fun-basis.
FUN FACTOR – 9.0
Get in shape with an engaging and challenging workout all in the comfort of your own home. The PlayStation 2-exclusive EyeToy Kinetic is a unique and innovative fitness product that acts as an in-home personal trainer to create authentic customized exercise routines with real-time performance evaluations and advice for more effective workouts. Utilizing the revolutionary EyeToy technology for motion-controls, EyeToy: Kinetic offers players an all-in-one fitness program of cardio, mind and body, and strength exercises inspired by Aerobics, Capoeira, Kick Boxing, Yoga, Modern Dance and Tai Chi.
At some point I became one of those “no time” and “too expensive” people at the gym who kept going less and less every week after keeping it up for years. The cause being that I was bored to tears (and probably got a bit lazy). So when I quit the gym, I picked up EyeToy Kinetic at the price of a one month gym fee, and I’ve never looked back. While I’m sure you can do both at the same time — I try to add weights training, running, biking or swimming on top of EyeToy Kinetic — it’s definitely a full training package as long as you keep up with the personalized 12-week training program that’ll require you to exercise 6 days a week. Honestly, when you start out that muscle ache throughout your body is telling you you’re getting somewhere, so if you’re giving this a try… Do keep up with the kicking, punching, ducking, diving, etc., you’ll thank yourself after nearly 3 months of progress. Best of all is that it’ll feel like you’re playing fun games, when you’re actually doing many varied exercise routines to improve your health. Of course you know you’re training, you’ll either be losing weight or tightening up all the right areas, but the point is that it’s entertaining while you’re doing it. Definitely a win-win situation!
Graphics – 7.0
All the training environments are very clean looking and will help you get through each exercise without any hassle. All your progress will be tracked on simple graphs. The overall presentation is very goal-oriented and easy to follow.
Audio – 8.0
Before each exercise you’ll be able to choose between a few different songs to listen to while training. The music is ok and adds to the exercise zones by being either a selection of mellow and/or upbeat songs, but if you don’t like it you can turn it off. The sound effects are simple. Before each exercise starts one of the two trainers you chose will introduce you to the game and it’s shown how to play it. The voiceovers are fantastic coaches, obviously real coaches or live classes will be better at correcting you, but the virtual trainer’s guidance consists out of lots of helpful tips and encouragements. At the very least it’s a major improvement over those workout videos.
Ingenuity – 9.0
The most important things to keep in mind with EyeToy games is that they require:
1. Plenty of room around you, an arm/leg’s length at least, so you don’t accidentally kick and punch your room into a big mess. Clear as much space around you as possible.
2. A well-lighted area to fully detect the player’s body is needed most of all, and not just that, you need to look at the background that’s being played against so your cloths colors don’t accidentally blend in with the background (or change your cloths so you stand out from the background). Then you need to stand back 3 to 4 steps from the TV (with the camera on top of it) and set the camera’s focus and sensitivity.
All of those are important notes, because otherwise the game will have trouble picking up your body movements. Once the EyeToy camera picks up your movements, it’s really fun as the game does a decent job translating your movements into on-screen action, essentially making you become part of the game. The variety of exercise games will give plenty of fun to those of you willing to go all out and achieve every highscore and at the same time improve your fitness level. Without the need for a PS2 controller, the ease of use for this motion controlled game is fantastic. You can even pause the game instantly by covering the camera lens with your hand.
To create a more interactive and robust workout experience, the innovative EyeToy technology measures the force and direction of the players’ movements, analyzes them and provides real-time performance evaluations. Whether players are fitness fanatics or looking to rev up their workout routine, EyeToy: Kinetic provides a fun, personalized fitness experience custom tailored to each players’ fitness level, schedule and overall objectives.
Replay Value – 9.0
While you can play random exercise games for the fun of it. If you bought this game, you’ll want a real challenge by doing the 12-week training program to see your highscores (and thus your health) improve on each zone. My guess would be if you have half an hour to over an hour every day for 6 days a week to train, then you’ll be motivated and entertained by EyeToy Kinetic for at least three months to over a year if you ramp up the difficulty.