Gadget Adviser Get off the couch with Xbox, PS2

Over the summer, I'm going to get in shape using a variety of gadgets. I'll tell you all about what works and what doesn't, and if you have questions or suggestions, e-mail me so I can address them in a future column.

Speaking of what works, I recently turned my PlayStation 2 and Xbox into personal trainers with two software CDs that are more than video games.

From warmup to cool down, "EyeToy: Kinetic" for the Sony PS2 and "Yourself! Fitness" for the Microsoft Xbox let me tailor programs to my needs: cardio, flexibility or toning. Both programs benefit couch potatoes and sports fiends looking for a workout at home. (Don't forget to consult a doctor before beginning any fitness program.)

Unlike "Dance Dance Revolution" and other rhythm games that get your legs moving, "Kinetic" and "Yourself! Fitness" get your whole body into action. I found arm exercises, yoga positions and even nutrition tips.

Before I did any sweating with these programs, each asked me to fill in my height, weight, how much I wanted to lose and other variables. I set the workout time for 30 minutes and entered the kind of workout I liked: cardio.

"Kinetic" and "Yourself! Fitness" both have animated characters who had me stretching and hopping around my home office, so I didn't have to change into my best-looking workout gear for a drive to the gym. Plus, at home I'm the boss, so I could yell and curse and grunt my way to better fitness.

With both, it was great having an interactive workout program, as opposed to a static exercise tape or DVD.

"Kinetic" ($49.99 at www.sonystyle.com or at Game Stop or EB Games retail stores) is the better of the two. It comes with a small camera that plugs into my PlayStation 2 and sits atop my TV. If I stand far enough away from the camera, I see myself on the TV screen (You'll need a 6-foot-by-6-foot well-lighted space, clear of obstacles).

While I worked out with "Kinetic," balls dropped from the top of the screen, and Matt the trainer (there's also a female trainer, Anna) urged me to punch and kick them in time to the music to get my heart rate up. The camera senses the area I'm punching to determine whether I hit the virtual ball. I got points and positive feedback when I did and some "you can do better" comments when I didn't. If I fouled up too many times, the routine stopped, and the trainer showed me how to use footwork to get to the balls. He also urged me to make up some fancy moves and spins to add variety to my workout.

I'm not fond of hitting the gym, but I can chase a tennis ball or a basketball for hours. "Kinetic" turns exercise into a game, making it easier for me to stick with it.

If you have an Xbox (or an Xbox 360), you can get a great workout with "Yourself! Fitness" (out of production, but copies can be bought at Game Stop or EB Games stores for $14.99; call your local store for details). If routines became too, well, routine, I could buy a step bench or an exercise ball, then tell Maya the computerized trainer that I had added the tools to my workout. Maya then could come up with routines using my new equipment. Nice!

During the workout, the program asked me how well I was doing and let me dial down or increase the intensity.

Maya also gives you a "Where have you been?" if you've skipped a workout or two (the Xbox's system clock remembers when you've told "Yourself! Fitness" the days you prefer to work out), and the program offers a meal planner with recipes, grocery lists and preparation instructions. That's great for a food slob like me, but I'm not about to let a computer tell me what to do.

Ultimately, that's what's great about "Kinetic" and "Yourself! Fitness": I can tell the program what I want and ignore what I don't, so each gives me exactly what I want.

These programs include warmups, cool-downs and heart-pumping exercises that had me sweating. More than once I had to slow down the pace, but I know that as I keep using them, I'll develop more stamina.

And I want to keep using them, because it's like having a personal trainer who works on my time and isn't charging $60 an hour. During the "Kinetic" workout, I got instant feedback on how many balls I kicked or avoided, just like with a human trainer. At the end of each "Yourself! Fitness" session, I got an on-screen graph showing me the sets and reps I was supposed to accomplish. (This program requires you to be honest about how well you did, as Maya can't tell whether you kept pace.)

After working out for a week with each, I felt that "Kinetic" had the edge because its EyeToy camera let me correct my form and motivated me to lose weight to look better.

But in future editions of either program, I'd like the ability to add my own music, so I don't tire of the generic tunes. "Kinetic" and "Yourself! Fitness" already let you change your workout venue (try that at your local health club), so the ability to add your own music would be a bonus.

That quibble aside, "EyeToy Kinetic" and "Yourself! Fitness" will get you off the couch.