Please support Game Informer. Print magazine subscriptions are less than $2 per issue
EA Sports Active 2 Detailed
During EA's booth tour at E3 we got a chance to check out EA Sports Active 2, the follow-up to the hugely successful fitness title that originally debuted on the Nintendo Wii. This time around the game will go multiplatform with Kinect and PS3 compatibility. The company shared details regarding new workouts, the Sports Active community website, motion control compatibility, and more.
EA noted some of the changes, including the fact that the game will no longer require a 30-day challenge and now also includes a 9-week program. You'll have a chance to set up a workout schedule that works around you. You can build your own program or use "trainer-generated workouts" that will create a customized plan based on data you input into the system regarding your current fitness level. If you perform any exercise outside the boundaries of the game you'll get points for them as well. From a jog to cleaning the house, activities outside your living room will be counted.
Not only will players get to burn a couple hundred calories with the title's exercises, EA Sports Active 2 will educate the user with fitness tips including the importance of hydration, what types of foods to eat, proper exercise recovery, and more to help achieve the best results.
One thing EA is really pushing is the compatible heart rate monitor. The device will be worn via arm band and you can track your heart rate on screen as you're doing the exercises. It lets you know how your body is responding to any given workout. Your heart rate data automatically uploads to EA Sports Active's robust community website that will trend your heart rate during sessions over time to see if your heart is gaining strength.
The website allows you to create an online profile that includes a ranking system. You'll earn points and level up as you perform more exercises. All data collected through a console with an internet connection will automatically upload to your profile for instant access. You can track your stats, get a 30-day view of your activity, compare your results with friends, and more. If you don't want to make your online profile publicly accessible there will be plenty of privacy settings so anyone who doesn't want to reveal their weight or other information can keep it out of the public space.
The EA rep used Kinect to show off the game. His likeness appeared on screen as he performed squat exercises and push-ups. There was also a cycling segment where he ran in place to pedal and jumped to make the on screen bike perform stunts. One possible issue with the game may be slow response time to movement. The reps movement didn't exactly sync with the movement on screen. Hopefully tracking accuracy will be adressed before the game ships, otherwise the number of features that will be included in EA Sports Active 2 can easily make this one of the best fitness games yet.
EA Sports Active 2 will ship with a resistance band on November 16 on 360, PS3, and Wii.
I’d like to ask you to support Game Informer’s continued coverage of games with a subscription. For less than two dollars per issue, we mail you a full year of 10 print magazines, each with cover stories and preview features filled with exclusive details about the most exciting upcoming games. We profile and interview game creators. We look back on the rich history of gaming, and we celebrate what’s next.
Here on the website, we offer much of our content for free, including game reviews, daily news, videos, event coverage, and more – all with minimal ads.
We do so with a small editorial team, alongside contributing paid writers from around the world – over 65 individuals from 9 countries around the world, just in the last couple of years.
It’s not possible without support.
In a time when game makers and games coverage have faced hard struggles and layoffs, the future of this 30+ year magazine and community is at risk. Our new standalone magazine subscription is the number one way you can keep us alive – and we believe you’ll get a pretty fantastic gaming magazine in your mailbox every few weeks for your trouble.
Thank you.
