Ubisoft Partners With Gold's Gym For Cardio Workout

Ubisoft announced a a partnership with fitness chain Gold's Gym to create Gold's Gym: Cardio Workout, a Wii-exclusive game promising a "personal training experience." Due March 31st, the game will feature support for the Balance Board accessory included with Nintendo's own exercise software, Wii Fit. Cardio Workout offers a variety of in-game activities, such as cardio boxing, running, and sit-ups. It will also offer multiple training modes and fitness levels, and track burned calories and body weight evolution. The title is licensed by Rocket Co., who shipped a very similar game in Japan last October titled Shape Boxing Wii de Enjoy Diet. That release also supported the Balance Board, and enabled players to punch robots and cut-outs of bears. Though Ubisoft did not disclose whether Cardio Workout will be a localized and re-branded version of Shape Boxing Wii with Gold's Gym logos, screenshots released so far indicate that is the case. The Gold's Gym title joins a growing list of fitness games seeking to capitalize on the success of Wii Fit and its Balance Board, those games including Electronic Arts' EA Sports Active, Majesco's Jillian Michaels Fitness Ultimatum 2009, and Ubisoft's own My Fitness Coach. As part of Ubisoft's partnership with Gold's Gym, each copy of the game will include a one-week free trial to a real-life Gold's Gym location. Cardio Workout will be features throughout Gold's Gym clubs, with demos available at some facilities and the trailer displayed on the Gold's Gym Broadcast Network. "As a leader in personal training, we are thrilled to collaborate with Gold's Gym on a new cardio workout game," said Tony Key, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Ubisoft. "In order to provide an authentic Gold's Gym experience the game will incorporate gym signage and dialogue into the game."