By Get Game Smart

On April 30 in Washington, D.C., Get Game Smart partner the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition (PCFSN) and other industry leaders launched the Active Play Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA) Challenge, an initiative that uses video games to promote healthy living.

Xbox was onsite for the day’s activities along with Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, members of the President’s Council, and Drew Brees and Dominique Dawes, celebrity co-chairs of the initiative. The first part of the day took place at the Walker Jones Education Campus, where local students were on hand to demonstrate the PALA Challenge video games, including Microsoft’s “Kinect Sports: Season Two.” Council members and other guests also had their turn trying out the games, experiencing firsthand how these fun games get families moving.

The activities then moved to the Smithsonian American Art Museum, where industry stakeholders could tour the “Art of Video Games” exhibit and experience “Kinect Sports: Season Two” and other participating “exergames.” New Orleans Saints’ quarterback Drew Brees stopped by the Kinect station and played football on “Kinect Sports: Season Two,” leading his team to victory!

The day ended with remarks from Secretary Sebelius, President’s Council celebrity co-chair Drew Brees and ESA president and CEO Michael Gallagher who discussed how video games can be a key component of an active lifestyle and help Americans earn the President’s Active Lifestyle Award.

The Active Play PALA Challenge is open to people of all ages who want to get moving in a fun, interactive way. Click here to learn more about the new challenge and how “Kinect Sports” can help you reach the specified fitness goals.
 

In March and April, the Get Game Smart team hit the road again to show off Xbox 360 Family Settings and the hottest fitness games for Kinect for Xbox 360. At four national women’s shows in Seattle, Raleigh, Nashville, and Novi, Michigan, we met with parents and families to demonstrate how using Kinect for Xbox 360 can help them stay fit while offering a fun experience for the entire family to enjoy together. Many parents were also interested to learn about tackling issues related to online and video game safety, including setting up parental controls, educating their children about appropriate media use, and keeping up-to-date on the latest industry topics, such as privacy and cyber bullying.

At the shows, the Kinect for Xbox 360 booth drew in thousands of women and families as the team demoed fitness games like “Dance Central” and “Kinect Sports,” walked parents through the set-up process for Xbox 360 Family Settings and gave attendees the chance to win a Kinect for Xbox 360 Fitness Bundle each day. Those who jumped in and tried Kinect were surprised at how simple it was to use their entire body to play Kinect, with many attendees exclaiming, “Wow – this is really a workout!” Many others were excited to learn about the Family Timer feature that allows parents to set time limits on the console by day or week.

Here are a few more quotes we heard from parents:

• “I LOVE that I don’t need a controller to play Kinect. This is amazing!”
• “My son is always playing way too much … I am so going to set the Family Timer.”
• “This is so cool, it’s like magic!” 
• “Because you guys were here last year and showed me all the Family Settings options, I went right out and bought one for my kids!” 

We enjoyed another great opportunity to meet and talk with thousands of families across the country. Thanks to everyone who stopped by our booth!

Learn more about the hottest fitness games for Kinect for Xbox 360.