Virtual Fitness Coach from Ubisoft Boosts Videogame Fitness

The well known videogame company Ubisoft, will soon have a virtual fitness coach to inspire videogamers to get into shape.

"Your Shape" ramps up the healthy videogame genre with a custom camera that puts people on-screen and under the scrutiny of an animated coach devoted to making workouts go strong.

"This is a great way to personalize a fitness experience," Ubisoft senior vice president of sales and marketing Tony Key told AFP while providing an early glimpse at the videogame in San Francisco.

"We feel we have a great opportunity to take the fitness game to the next level with the camera."

Ubisoft cameras plug into Nintendo Wii videogame consoles so people can see themselves work out and an animated version of Playboy-model-turned-actress Jenny McCarthy can be a coach, leading routines and encouraging proper form.

Each copy of the videogame will be packaged with a camera and carry a price tag of 70 dollars.

Ubisoft's previous fitness games for the Wii require players to use balance boards made by Nintendo. The boards, similar in size and shape to bathroom scales, sense weight and balance.

"It's a completely different approach than what the balance board offers," Key said. "The camera is putting you on the screen and analyzing your movement next to the coach."

During a test of the game by AFP "virtual Jenny" coaxed a player through an aerobics routine, quickly correcting missteps and even offering to take breaks to practice vexing moves.