Top Tips: Move Fitness

Martin Sahlin, creative director at Coldwood Interactive, shares his handy hints to help you get fighting fit in Move Fitness on PlayStation 3.

Right from the start of this project we knew that we wanted to make Move Fitness into a proper game, and not just a fitness product. There had to be something that kept you coming back for more, something that kept you healthy, motivated and entertained.

We've gone for full one-to-one control and physics based gameplay – what you do really makes a difference. You're controlling the action; you're not just waving along to pre-recorded moves. And since it actually matters how you play in this game, here are a few tips and hints from us at Coldwood Interactive to help you get the most out of your exercise, and out of your game.

First off, get moving!
Forget that you're playing a game, pretend that you're doing the real thing. When you're picking up balls in Basket, try to picture the balls on the floor next to you, and move so you can reach them comfortably. Don't bend at awkward angles and overcomplicate things, move like you would in real life.

Keep it real
There are a lot of exercises that mimic real-world actions, like boxing or dodgeball. It really pays off to play them as if you were doing the real thing. If you flick, stab or wave your motion controllers at the screen when you're boxing, you probably won't score that well. If you throw proper punches and put your weight behind them, you'll be rewarded for it.

Mix it up
You've got full one-to-one control, so feel free to try different techniques. The first way you try something might not necessarily be the best way, and most exercises are suitable for different play styles.

Practice makes perfect
There is an element of skill involved in all our game modes. They're easy to pick up and play, and because of the freedom you get from one-to-one control and physics based gameplay, there's always room to get a little bit better. Practise and you'll definitely see results.

Play a little, gain a lot
Cardio training is beautifully simple. Just getting your heart rate up for half an hour, a few days per week, is very good for you. Move Fitness is perfect for this. It's simple, it's quick and it's fun, and it's great for getting your pulse rate up. It can be as light or as hardcore as you want.

Maximum overdrive
When you're going for the really high scores, remember to pace yourself well. If you go all-in right from the start, you might not have the energy to last the entire round – try doing a full three minutes of Jump Squats at maximum pace and you'll see. Find a comfortable pace and wait for Overdrive to kick in. Then give it all you've got.

Respect the tech
This is a game where you run around, so there will likely be cases when you simply run to where the PlayStation Eye camera can't see you. If you stay out of view a lot it gets very tricky for the game to track you, which could have an impact on your score. There is a red LED light on your PlayStation Eye camera, and it glows whenever a motion controller is hidden from view. If you're seeing the red light for long periods of time, you should probably try to move to where the camera can see you.

Best with friends
If you've got friends who play Move Fitness, send challenges to one another and compete to beat each other's scores. Staying motivated is a huge part of staying fit, and friendly competition is great motivation.

Party fitness
To many people, fitness gaming and party gaming probably don't mix. We disagree, and we're speaking from personal experience. In Move Fitness we always show high scores and last session scores on-screen as you play, and that is a great motivator – it'll get everyone in a competitive mood. And it's super easy to pick up and play; it's a great party game.

Pick up your copy of Move Fitness on PlayStation 3 and get fitter, toned and into shape with PlayStation Move. Look out for Move Fitness on PlayStation Store or run down to your local high street today.