Yourself!Fitness
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| Yourself!Fitness<tr><td colspan="2" style="font-size: 100%; text-align: center;">Image:Yourselffitnessbox.jpg</td></tr> | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | responDESIGN
<tr><th style="background-color: #ccccff;">Publisher(s)</th><td>responDESIGN</td></tr><tr><th style="background-color: #ccccff;">Engine</th><td>RenderWare</td></tr> |
| Release date(s) | October 8, 2004 (Xbox), February 2, 2005 (PS2), March 5, 2005 (PC) |
| Genre(s) | Physical fitness |
| Mode(s) | Single player
<tr><th style="background-color: #ccccff;">Rating(s)</th><td>ESRB: Everybody (E)</td></tr> |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 2, Xbox, PC
<tr><th style="background-color: #ccccff;">Media</th><td>1 x DVD-ROM (PS2/Xbox) |
Yourself!Fitness is an exercise program developed and published first for the Microsoft Xbox, and later for the Sony Playstation 2 and personal computers by responDESIGN. Like previous "games" before it, such as those which used the Nintendo Power Pad, its intention is to create an atmosphere that will encourage regular game players to use their consoles to promote their own health and engage in regular exercise.
In the program, a digital aerobics instructor named Maya (possibly a pun referring to the Maya graphics program, and who is voiced by Yumi Lee) serves as the player's guide in leading him or her in a series of exercises that is specially tailored to the player's current health and specifics. This is achieved by dynamically tracking their progress on an ongoing profile using the hard drive (or the PS2's memory card), setting up a schedule to be followed, and Maya making suggestions to the player using computations being made by the program. Maya, herself, leads the exercises in a variety of locations and to the tune of several genres of music, all of which are selected before the workout by the player, and more of which can be unlocked by keeping to the schedule.
The game boasts over 500 types of exercises (although it should be noted that some exercises with multiple directions or emphases are counted as separate in this tally) that encompass a wide range. Yoga, Pilates, strength training, flexibility, cardio, and weight loss are all available to the player to be a part of their daily regimen; furthermore, if the player own an exercise ball, hand weights, an exercise step, or a heart monitor, Maya can incorporate these into the program at any time. Through the workout, Maya will stop to ask how the player is doing; their reply will affect whether the program strengthens, weakens, or leaves the current regiment as it is.
Due to the program's use of profiles, any given member of a family can tailor Yourself!Fitness to his or her own specifications while leaving other users' settings alone, something not normally possible with a workout video. The program has earned some respectable acclaim for this feature, as well as the general user-friendly nature it possesses. Maya is especially lauded for her realism, and her helpful and informative nature. However, several male reviewers of Yourself!Fitness were discouraged by the program's presentation; despite support for users of either gender, the game's menus, general appearance and dialogues often point to a very clear appeal to women, as does the inclusion of loading-screen tips by Prevention magazine. While responDESIGN has said that more programs would follow Yourself!Fitness with perhaps a more male-oriented direction, no new entries has been officially announced as of June 2006.
In a recent fitness promotional campaign with the popular fast-food chain McDonald's, purchasers of an "Active Meal" (consisting of a salad and a bottled water) can receive one of four Yourself!Fitness DVDs, playable in a standard DVD player, which contains a rigid workout regiment also led by Maya. Each disc is dedicated to a certain theme -- Yoga, cardio, strength training, or "core" training -- and contain workouts that are 15 minutes in length.
