Village Gamer

Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. has announced that the company’s worldwide sensation – DanceDanceRevolution – will move its way into Edmonton schools with the Canadian debut of DanceDanceRevolution Classroom Edition, a PC based DanceDanceRevolution game developed specifically for schools and fitness classes. The interactive game is part of the Edmonton Catholic School District’s Transformation Initiative and will be used in classrooms as part of the Active Exergaming Project.

DanceDanceRevolution Classroom Edition is an interactive video game that combines real physical activity with energetic music and visuals, connecting up to 48 wireless mat controllers to one PC. The system allows teachers to track vital information about student’s health and progress including steps taken, body mass index (BMI) and caloric burn rate. Offering interactive fun, students won’t realize how active they’re being while moving to the beat.

DanceDanceRevolution has been recognized by leading researchers, schools, and doctors as an innovative and fun solution to promoting a healthy lifestyle and fighting childhood obesity. Being overweight is a leading risk factor for Type 2 Diabetes, with a growing number of cases in children due to an increase in childhood obesity. With November being Diabetes Awareness Month in Canada, this new initiative underscores the importance of keeping students active and motivated to take part in physical activity. Studies have shown 40 minutes of playing DanceDanceRevolution is equivalent to a 5k run.^[1],[2]

The Active Exergaming Project will kick off with a dance party at St. Teresa Catholic Elementary School in Edmonton on Friday, November 15, 2013 at 6:30 p.m., showcasing DanceDanceRevolution Classroom Edition for the first time in Canada to the local school community. This project, involving seven other schools and more than 100 student leaders, will bring the excitement of physical activity, video gaming, and active living to more than 2500 students and staff in the Edmonton Catholic School District over the duration of the seven month project.

For more information on DanceDanceRevolution Classroom Edition please contact ddrschool-at-konami-dot-com.

Footnotes:

[1] J. Adam Noah, David K. Spierer, Atsumichi Tachibana, Shaw Bronner. “Vigorous Energy Expenditure with a Dance Exer-game.” Journal of Exercise Physiology, Vol. 14, Number 4 (Aug. 2011): 13-28

[2] Atsumichi Tachibana, J. Adam Noah, Shaw Bronner, Yumie Ono, Minoru Onozuka. “Parietal and temporal activity during a multimodal dance video game: An fNIRS study.” Neuroscience Letters, 503 (2011): 125-130