Shadow boxer: a physically interactive fitness game

This paper presents a prototype implementation of a physically interactive fitness game called Shadow Boxer. The game is controlled by body movements and it utilizes a web camera to detect the player's movements. A user study was conducted to study the playability and the effectiveness of the game as an exercising method. The results showed that playing the game significantly increased the participants' heart rate and for most of the participants, the heart rate was at the optimal exercise level after playing the game. Thus, the game can be effectively used as an exercise method. Generally, the participants enjoyed playing the game and thought of it as a possible method for training. Additionally, the study revealed ideas for improving the game experience and the usability of the interface.