As previously rumored EA is taking their fitness game EA Sports Active to the PlayStation 3 with the announcement of EA Sports Active 2.0. The game is also set to appear on the Wii once again along with versions for the iPhone/iPod Touch. Oddly enough EA Sports Active 2.0 (which is a working title) wasn’t announced for the Xbox 360 even though it was indicated to be in development for the platform based on a LinkedIn profile.
EA Sports active 2.0 will once again feature the same sweat inducing and heart pumping workout regimens along with several new features such as a new leg and arm straps that are now powered by motions sensors along with a heart rate monitor which in some cases will show how out of shape you truly are.
Like its predecessor, EA Sports Active 2.0 will feature workouts which use leg and arm straps but this time the game is also backed by what EA boasts is an “innovative” wireless control system. The system promises that users will have complete freedom of movement but aside from that it wasn’t revealed what we can exactly expect from this newfangled control system.
In addition to the new motion control system (which oddly didn’t explicitly mention the PS motion device) the game will also have the aforementioned heart rate monitor. EA says that this device will help “monitor intensity” along with actually showing relevant on-screen information. Is it me or does the prospect of wearing leg straps, arm straps and a heart rate device all while possibly holding the PS motion controller sound a bit disconcerting? After all, how will I be able to eat my pizza while I play?
Aside from those hardware based additions the game also has a new online hub which will allow users to share data, interact with groups and send messages to one another, which to me sounds like this is going to be a virtual version of The Biggest Loser or something . More importantly users will also be able to download new workouts on the PlayStation 3 version of the game which should prove to be a rather nice feature.
EA Sports Active 2.0 (don’t forget it’s a working title) is set for release on PS3, Wii, iTouch and iPhone this Fall. In all seriousness I’ve heard nothing but good things about the Wii version especially from a friend of mine so it’s nice to see that EA is giving the PS3 owners some fitness love.
