EA Sports Active Blog

If you haven’t heard, last Monday at E3 in Los Angeles, it was announced that EA SPORTS Active 2 is in development for Kinect for the XBOX 360.  It will incorporate the Total Body Tracking System, including our innovative Heart Rate Monitoring system.  Using the Kinect camera will allow you to navigate your menu screens, journals and workouts with hand gestures and voice recognition.  This also means is that you will be totally hands free during your workout, just like on the PS3, and you will be able to incorporate your own resistance bands and dumbbells into your workout, allowing you total customization.  The Kinect camera not only detects your upper and lower body movement, but also detects your entire body, which makes it a natural fit for EA SPORTS Active.  It can track 1:1 movements that are seamless and fluid as well as provide an in depth feedback system from your trainer.  Now we can detect the speed of movement, and also depth.  Push ups, for example, is an exercise we will be able to detect whether or not you go all the way down or all the way up!  Sorry…no more half reps as you won’t get credit for reps you don’t complete the full range of motion for.  But that’s ok, as who would want to cheat on a fitness game…right? You’d only be cheating yourself.

Like on the Wii and PS3, EA SPORTS Active 2 for Kinect for the XBOX 360 will ship with EA SPORTS Active 2’s heart rate monitor.  No chest strap required here.  Just put on the left arm strap and watch your heart rate as it is displayed on screen (If you watched the EA Press conference, you saw mine elevate pretty quickly as I boxed on stage!). We want you to know how hard you are working. This lets you know how your body is responding to the exercise at that exact moment and allows you to optimize your workouts.  In addition, through a weekly fitness test we will measure your heart rate recovery time, and track the data for you on our new website.  Here, you’ll see your data trend down over time, as this lets you know that your heart is getting stronger and fitter, as you’ll be able to do higher intensity workouts, and exercise for longer durations and get more fit, and burn more calories.

The XBOX 360 will give you the opportunity to connect online like on the Wii and PS3.  We’ve included features like Workout Groups, where you can join, or create new groups to keep you motivated to reach your fitness goals, or support others in their fitness journey on EA SPORTS Active 2.  Send them messages to congratulate them, or a little nudge to get them back on track.   In addition, you will have access to DLC (downloadable content) where you can download workouts, and exercises to keep your exercise routines fresh (XBOX 360 and PS3).

EA SPORTS Active 2 for Kinect for the XBOX360 will also ship with our 9 week program, like on Wii and PS3.  We’ve swapped a couple of exercises and fitness activities but the fitness benefits from the program will still be the same.  You will focus on improving muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility and aerobic capacity.  All of which will lead to improved body composition when combined with healthy lifestyle choices.

So there you have it.  The opportunity grows larger for people to experience EA SPORTS Active 2.  Now more people will be able to embark on an incredible fitness journey.  It’s coming to you on Wii, PS3, Kinect for XBOX 360, iPhone, and iPod Touch.  Plus there will be a brand new website to act as a centralized hub for your social fitness community.  I can’t wait for November 16…as that’s when EA SPORTS Active 2 will hit shelves!

Gerard Recio, B.Sc. (Kin) C.S.C.S.
Strength and Conditioning Specialist
EA SPORTS Active

Hey Everyone, today we announced that EA SPORTS Active 2 is in development for Kinect™ for Xbox 360. And yes, that means that on November 16th, EA SPORTS Active 2 will be available on the Wii, PS3, iphone, ipod touch and for Kinect™ for Xbox 360. We've had a great year and established such a supportive community with the launch of EA SPORTS Active for the Wii and now we're excited to be expanding to these new platforms and grow the incredible EA SPORTS Active family.

You guys can check out the official press release for more info.