Several studies have confirmed that motion-controlled games, a.k.a active games, are healthier than traditional games and that they are capable of giving their players enough exercises to stay fit. However, no such effect was seen among Wii or Kinect players outside lab environment.
A new study performed in Australia was able to uncover the reason behind the apparent contradiction: active games available in market are boring.
"At the moment, the current technologies aren't really engaging enough for kids to enjoy playing them so much that they would rather play the active game rather than the sedentary game," said Professor Leon Straker from Curtin University's School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science at a presentation delivered during Sports Medicine Australia's be active 2014 conference in Canberra.
Professor Straker noted that active games are "on the right track," but current technological limitations make it hard for them to engage players for extended periods. "[players] certainly were using more muscles, more movement and burning more calories when playing the active games when compared to 'press button' games."