ExerBeat is a Rhythmaction game available on the Wii. It can be played in Competitive Cooperative Sharedscreen modes.

ExerBeat is a Rhythmaction game. Rhythm action games combine the enjoyment that comes from creating music with the challenge of video game scoring. The player is usually tasked with dancing on a mat, tapping a touch screen, pressing a button, singing into a mic or strumming a fake guitar controller in time with the music.

ExerBeat can be played in a Competitive mode. Competitive Multiplayer games provide experiences where players compete against each other and the computer. Obviously lending itself to sports and team games, these competitive engagements have also dominated the shooting and fighting genres because of the direct combat and expertise involved in each. Although these games were originally played in a split screen style, more recently they are played online via services such as PlayStation Network, Xbox Live and the Nintendo Wireless Connection.

ExerBeat can be played in a Cooperative mode. Cooperative Multiplayer games provide an experience that is played symaltaneously by multiple players. Unlike the simple arena competitive multiplayer style games where players try to kill the most enemies, true co-operative games are designed to take a group of players through a campaign experience together. This will involve sections where players have to work together to proceed - either from the sheer difficulty as in Halo 3 on 360 or by the design of levels such as LittleBigPlanet on PS3.

ExerBeat can be played in a Sharedscreen mode. Shared Screen Multiplayer games create a multiplayer experience where players all share the same screen space. Rather than splitting the screen into portions for each player the game scales to fit each player in view even when they are a long way apart. Football and fighting games often take this approach as the shared view doesn't impede the players ability to take part in the action.

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ExerBeat

ExerBeat is Namco Bandai's fitness game aiming to deliver exercises for all ages. Just Dance influences on the exercise game may be no bad thing, as is the use of Mii's. The main novelty here is an increased focus on rhythm and timing in each of the 150 exercises.

Videogames have long been the target of media vitriol for their adverse affect on children's health. Namco Bandai joins the bandwagon of developers eager to redress the balance with ExerBeat for the Wii. Offering over a hundred and fifty exercises from eight disciplines, including pilates, yoga, karate and a variety of dancing styles, ExerBeat focuses on rhythm to create an entertaining workout anyone can enjoy.
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Alex Beech