One doesn’t need to be a professional to understand that the face of sports and fitness has undergone a rapid shift. Technology now has a central role to play in the world of sports, as the Brad Pitt starer, Moneyball demonstrated quite beautifully. While there are professional, state-of-the-art gadgets and devices which enhance the performance of teams and individuals, there are also some cool gadgets which make fitness more accessible and less cumbersome to the common man out there. We are talking about exciting products like fitness inspired games which have added some much needed spice to the world of fitness.

Here is a list of some cool and exciting fitness video games which every fitness freak would love to have:

1. Wii Fit Plus- Wii Fit, which was the original version of this game pioneered the category of fitness video games. The Wii Fit Plus comes with a balance board which measures your weight and Body Mass Index (BMI) at regular intervals. This game incorporates close to 40 kinds of workout routines including different levels of cardio exercises, strength training, yoga sessions etc. You can also customize workout routines according to your requirements. To liven your otherwise tiresome workout session, Wii Fit plus also has some balance games which help out in weight loss as well.

2. Your Shape: Fitness Evolved- Your Shape is Xbox Kinect’s answer to Wii Fit Plus. Unlike its competitor, it follows the instructor-student model as trained instructors guide you through the details involved in yoga, muscle training and cardio workouts. It also tracks your performance regularly as instructors rate your performance after every session. The game works well for starters and hardcore fitness freaks simultaneously.

3. EA Sports Active 2- If you are looking for really intense workout sessions, the EA Sports Active 2 is ideal for you. Make no mistake, the workout are definitely hardcore. It works with Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii, and it comes with an arm sensor which monitors your heart rate regularly. Workout sessions involve a personal trainer and focus independently on different body parts. The entire fitness program is 9 weeks long and it incorporates a variety of physical exercises.

4. Zumba Fitness- This is one of the best fitness video games which use dance forms as exercises. The appeal is quite obvious- it combines the enjoyable activity of dancing with physical fitness. The best part is that none of the two aspects are compromised. The workout sessions are combinations of Salsa, Hip-Hop, Rumba, Calypso, Flamenco etc. The game comes with detailed tutorials to familiarize you with these dance forms. As a word of caution, if you thought this game is just about casual dancing, you are in for quite a shock. The schedules are just as intensive as a regular cardio work out session. As an added advantage, you get to learn some very exciting dance forms even as you lose weight simultaneously.

Apart from these, there are several other fitness games that you can choose from- Fit in Six, The Biggest Loser, Kinect Sports, NewU Mind Body Yoga and Pilates and many more. A fitness video game is a godsend for people who can’t go to the gym regularly or who are just too bored of them. Get yourself one of these games and for once, you will actually enjoy working out.

1: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

While it isn’t actually out yet, it would be a great disservice to the Wii NOT to mention it. Nintendo has always been about franchise games (many people buy the Wii just to play the new Mario, Metroid, or Zelda games). Skyward Sword should be available later this year, and is expected to live up to all of the hype.

2: Conduit 2

As one of the most recent games released on the Wii, Conduit 2 is one of the most popular right now, though it has not received the most flattering reviews. Production values feel a bit cheap, with more than a few glitches and shortcomings, but overall game play is still enjoyable. Plus it brings a somewhat Halo-like multiplayer to the Wii.

3: Mario Sports Mix

While nowhere near as in-depth as Madden NFL 11, or any other serious sports game for that matter, Mario Sports Mix still provides some fun and energetic game play for all ages. The best and worst thing about it is that it really requires no skill to play.

4: Lost in Shadow

Lost in Shadow is a puzzle platformer that was popular in Japan and recently released in the US. The concept of the game is fun and new, but sadly offers very little else, often becoming difficult and frustrating as it drags on.

5: de Blob 2

De Blob 2 is an enjoyable puzzle platformer at an even more enjoyable price. It’s a cute game, definitely intended for a younger crowd, but still has a fun little storyline.

Really none of the Wii’s currently released 2011 titles stand up well against last year’s games, like Donkey Kong Country Retruns, Kirby’s Epic Yarn, and Metroid: Other M. It’s likely that developers have started to switch their focus to the upcoming Wii U. All of the Wii’s most popular games can be viewed in our Wii Games Section.

Press Conferences

Before E3 even started this year, both Microsoft and Sony held press conferences on June 6^th. Microsoft went first, and unlike Sony and Nintendo, Microsoft didn’t have any new hardware to show off and chose to focus only on games. Starting with one of its most anticipated titles, Microsoft demoed Modern Warfare 3, following it with Gears of War 3, Mass Effect 3, and Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Future Soldier. Above all else, Microsoft showed how well these titles integrate with Xbox Kinect’s motion and voice based commands.

Sony’s press conference revolved around its NGP (Next Gaming Portable), finally giving it an official name: The PlayStation Vita. With demos showcasing its 5-inch OLED touch screen, rear touchpad, front and rear facing cameras, and Sixaxis motion sensing, the PlayStation Vita gained a lot of attention. It also features an industry first quad-core processor, capable of producing over 133 million Polygons per second, roughly half the performance of the PS3. Sony hopes to release it in time for the 2011 holiday season, and given its exciting start, the PlayStation Vita is expected to be one of the hottest selling devices this year.

Nintendo held its press conference on the first official day of E3 2011. It was all about the new Wii U, which quickly became the star of the entire E3 show this year. The Wii U brings a much needed hardware upgrade to the Wii, allowing it to display 1080p content over HDMI. Its graphics core has also been overhauled, which judging by the tech demo, now outperforms both the Xbox 360 and PS3 by a wide margin. But all of that wasn’t even the interesting bit. What really stirred things up was the new controller, featuring a 6.2-inch full color touch screen, accelerometer/gyro, front facing camera, and of course the traditional buttons. The built in screen allows for additional views when playing certain games, and even the capability to stream gameplay directly from the console itself, negating the need for a TV screen. The only downside to the Wii U is that it won’t be launching until at least April of 2012.

The Games

Games are always a big part of E3, and this year was no exception. Among the most popular titles was Duke Nukem Forever, which was finally released just the other day. Despite demanding the majority of the attention during E3, Duke Nukem Forever is receiving rather poor reviews now that it has launched.

Bioshock Infinite was by far the most loved and best received title at the event. It stays true to the feel of the original Bioshock, while introducing a stunning new environment (a city in the clouds), some slightly refreshed graphics, and optional extras (such as compatibility with PlayStation Move).

Other titles included Uncharted 3, one of the best looking games at the expo; Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, sure to become one of the best selling RPGs of the year; Batman: Arkham City, a potential candidate for Best Action/Adventure Game of the Year; Rayman Origins, a great blast from the past and worthy platformer; and Star Wars: The Old Republic, an up-and-coming MMO RPG.

Taking a look at some of the top Wii games on alaTest, don’t be surprised that many of them are legacy titles.

Top Games for Nintendo Wii

Super Mario Galaxy 2

The age old Mario series lives on! The Princess has been kidnapped (again) and it’s up to Mario to save the day. Much like the first Super Mario Galaxy, you find yourself floating from planet to planet, collecting stars and solving puzzles, yet the game still feels fresh and exciting. No wonder it currently holds a perfect alaScore.

Metroid: The Other M

Yet another legacy title, but this Metroid takes on a bit of a different direction from the earlier titles. Rather than the lonely exploration of a desolate and hostile planet, Metroid: The Other M takes on a more action-oriented demeanor. It doesn’t quite feel like the Metroid titles we’ve grown to love, but it has been done extremely well and lives up to the expectations one would have for the best of the Metroid games.

Monster Hunter Tri

The Monster Hunter franchise is immensely popular in Japan, and with Monster Hunter Tri, it has certainly caught the eye of the rest of the world. It is an action RPG, and as the name suggests, you focus is the capturing and hunting of monsters, from small cute ones to enormous dragons. The game play is quite addicting, and with very impressive online multiplayer and co-op modes, it is especially hard to put down.

Kirby’s Epic Yarn

Kirby makes a return as a new 2D side-scroller with a bit of a twist. It’s the same Kirby game play we’ve always loved, but this time his world is made entirely from yarn! It’s a style somewhat reminiscent of titles like Paper Mario, in which the graphics are a derivative or how the story is being told, in this case, woven into a fabric of yarn. It’s a cute approach to an even cuter game; who can’t love Kirby?

GoldenEye 007

Though it’s not exactly a legacy, GoldenEye 007 is a remake of the vastly popular title for the N64. Apart from the storyline, the game is really nothing like the original, with redesigned levels, and significantly changed game dynamic. Those expecting a graphics refresh of the original title will be disappointed; however, as a game on its own, the new GoldenEye has everything you’d want in a fast paced first person shooter.

We of course couldn’t go into detail about all of the great games for the Wii (that would have taken ages). Instead, take a look at our Wii Games section, and let us know in the comments which are your favorites.