Exergaming Theories: A Literature Review

Until recently exergaming was seldom a topic of research. The technology that makes exergaming possible was not available to consumers. In 2006, Nintendo released the Wii gaming system. This new system allowed for interactive physical movement beyond simple hand held play. The Wii system contained hardware and software that responded to movements of the player’s body through the tracking of hand held controllers and movements of the lower extremities using floor based hardware. Exergaming appears poised to continue its foray into popular culture for better or worse. After nearly a decade of research a single theory for exergames has not been suggested. Previous researchers have relied on existing theories to guide them. Over a dozen theories have been used by authors of research into exergaming. With all of this research and the many theories that have been used it is time for an examination of these theories as to their relevance for exergaming. This paper endeavors to review the existing literature to identify what theories are being used in research and to delineate what the components of each theory are. A literature review was conducted using the Trident International University online library. This library allowed access to the ProQuest Summon® Service search engine which allowed for a search of multiple libraries including Blackwell, Gale, LexisNexis, Academic, Sage, Springer, Emerald, ProQuest, Taylor & Francis, IEEE, and Project Muse resulting in a search of more than 6,800 publishers and 94,000 journal and periodical titles. There are over a dozen theories found in the literature on exergaming. This paper endeavors to examine how often each theory appears in the literature while providing a brief overview of each theory. In the final analysis, the theory chosen for exergame research will be determined by the type of study undertaken. Exergaming Theories: A Literature Review