Clear some floor space: Playstation Move video games get you off the couch

I’m more of a group gamer. So I’m loving all the options for non-gamers like me that encourage group activities that are off the couch. This is why I recently attended an event at Playstation’s New York City headquarters to experience their new line of games for the Playstation Move system.

Taking a look at the newest family-friendly games, they all coordinate with the console to determine and encourage movement. SingStar Dance not only tests your karaoke skills, but also plays the music video and provides dance moves to get you singing and dancing at the same time. It’s no wonder how well young rock stars stay in shape!

Another game, Get Fit with Mel B, features “Scary” Spice Girl as your personal in-home trainer. Without the cost or atmosphere of a gym, she energizes you with different workouts to tone and work your muscles, and recipe ideas to keep you on a healthy eating track. By holding the controller, the console can scan your body movements and then awards you points and tracks your progress based on how well you do the exercises.

A kid-friendly game used the controller to move obstacles in a cave out of the way of “Sackboy,” an adorable but lost sock puppet, from LittleBigPlanet 2. Playing with two people gets kids to work together to move through the levels, one paving the way for Sackboy and one making him leap, turn, and run through the cave.

Although I’m not an avid gamer, these all made me giggle, get to know the people I played with, and definitely got me up and moving. For the hot new system out there, Playstation definitely takes family-friendliness to heart.

Allison Parker is an Account Manager at Mom Central.