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Video games have long been blamed for the ill health of children and adults. The stereotypical gamer sits alone, pasty-skinned, and socially inept when, in reality, nothing could be further from the truth. Everybody now games, and like the kilos shed while playing the fitness games that have taken the market by storm, the once-assumed image of gamers has fallen away. We recently chatted with THQ’s Troy Sheets about punching and kicking at the TV with the company’s upcoming fitness game based on the popular bloody sport.

GameSpot AU: Where does UFC Personal Trainer fit into the fitness genre?

Troy Sheets: UFC Personal Trainer is an unparalleled mixed martial arts (MMA)-based fitness product backed by the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and designed, in part, by leading MMA training experts. Built around training concepts used by real UFC fighters and their trainers, UFC Personal Trainer is positioned to help individuals set personal goals and achieve real results. Compared with other products in the fitness genre, UFC Personal Trainer is more authentic, intense, engaging–and more fun!

GS AU: Given that the exercises in UFC Personal Trainer are a lot more intense than, say, Wii Fit, are you worried about scaring off potential buyers?

TS: During the initial development phase for the product, we found users familiar with the interactive fitness genre were all looking for something that was more challenging. While there may be some people who are put off by the challenge, we believe our target audience has been waiting a long time for a product that is able to help people produce real results.

GS AU: How did you decide what exercises to put into the game?

TS: We worked closely with three leading MMA trainers–Mark DellaGrotte, Greg Jackson, and Javier Mendez–as well as NASM, to establish the core components of training, adapting what they teach into exercises and activities for our product. During the development process, we also reached out to, and worked with, a number of UFC fighters to round out the overall fitness experience.

GS AU: A lot of focus has been on the Xbox 360 version of the game, and how it uses Kinect, but how different are the PlayStation 3 and Wii versions of the game?

TS: Each platform’s motion-sensing controls have their strengths and limitations, so when comparing one with another, users will notice there have been some modifications to each of the exercises and activities for the various platforms. We tailored UFC Personal Trainer to best take advantage of the hardware in each case, and, in the end, the overall experience is very similar across the board.

GS AU: You’ve consulted with both UFC fighters and coaches for the game; what was the difference between working with the two groups?

TS: When developing UFC Personal Trainer, the fighters and trainers both showed us the dedication and discipline that goes into getting real UFC bodies. We obtained similar information from both groups, but one of the great aspects of the trainers, in particular, is their dedication to the crafts they teach. Mark DellaGrotte became a world-class Muay Thai instructor as a result of his own ability. Javier Mendez won kickboxing championships during his own fighting career, and Greg Jackson has a reputation of out-working his own fighters running the legendary sand dunes in New Mexico. Our trainers are incredible athletes in their own right, and go through the same rigorous training they put their fighters through.

GS AU: How have you designed UFC Personal Trainer so that it doesn’t get overly repetitious and boring?

TS: For many, traditional workouts can become repetitive or boring after a while. We focus a good portion of the product on activities that get the heart rate going and ultimately keep the user engaged in the experience. By combining the activities in mini-game formats with scoring and multiplayer challenges, users will not be thinking about counting reps and slogging through workouts; they are competing for high scores and achievements. Also, we keep each individual activity under five minutes, so in the course of a workout, users will experience several different things. Not only does this deliver a great workout, but it keeps the user’s mind occupied.

GS AU: A lot of people who buy fitness games don’t stick with them for very long; what’s UFC Personal Trainer doing to keep them at it?

TS: UFC Personal Trainer is incredibly fun. The product has so many different options to meet individual needs and interests that if users get bored with pre-made routines, they can focus on an individual activity or even create custom workouts. Versatility and variety will keep people engaged. Also, our trainers and fighters put in countless hours of dialog. Their personalities and motivational encouragement are well showcased throughout the entire product.

GS AU: Will you be looking at merchandising UFC Personal Trainer-branded fitness products outside of the game?

TS: We have no plans at this time for branded fitness products. However, our partners at Century Martial Arts have created a great line of UFC-branded workout equipment that can easily be utilised in conjunction with UFC Personal Trainer.

GS AU: Troy Sheets, thanks for your time.

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GameSpot’s Xbox 360 News, Screenshots, Movies, Reviews, Previews, Downloads, and Features

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GameSpot’s Xbox 360 News, Screenshots, Movies, Reviews, Previews, Downloads, and Features

Foxtel head Kim Williams (left) with Microsoft’s David McLean.

Who was there: David McLean, Microsoft Australia’s head for the Xbox 360 business down under.

What they talked about: At the Gametech conference held in Sydney this morning, the head of the Aussie Xbox 360 business David McLean used his speech to the assembled delegates to outline Microsoft’s view of the connected future.

McLean began his speech by giving props to the Halo series, saying that without it, the Xbox business may not have been here today. In the 10 years since the first game’s launch, however, McLean says that the games business has changed dramatically, with people’s experiences no longer exclusive to any particular medium. Consumers are becoming more complex and connected, and now have a higher expectation about content, who provides it, how it’s delivered, and how it’s consumed.

McLean says that the gaming audience is at the forefront of this change, making use of both local and global statistics to bolster his argument. In Australia, for example, he cited that one in five people accessed the internet through a gaming console, while 15 percent watched television through their gaming devices. Globally, he reiterated the statistic that 40 percent of activity on the Xbox 360 is not game-related, and added that close to 30 hours of video are consumed on Microsoft’s home console every month.

Focusing even further on the Australian experience, McLean said that roughly 50 percent of Xbox 360 users down under are connected to Xbox Live. He also revealed an interesting statistic about Foxtel On Xbox, the pay TV service launched on the 360 late last year: McLean says that the Foxtel application for the 360 was downloaded more than 170,000 times, a number that he expects to grow significantly given the recent announcement of unmetered Foxtel via 360 on Telstra BigPond.

Finally, McLean confirmed the recent announcement that Aussie Kinect users will be able to use their voice to control the 360 before the end of this year, although no tighter timeframe was disclosed.

Takeway: Microsoft sees the future of entertainment as being on multiple screens, and says that consumers want to be able to access their content anywhere, any time.

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GameSpot’s Xbox 360 News, Screenshots, Movies, Reviews, Previews, Downloads, and Features

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GameSpot’s Xbox 360 News, Screenshots, Movies, Reviews, Previews, Downloads, and Features

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GameSpot’s Xbox 360 News, Screenshots, Movies, Reviews, Previews, Downloads, and Features

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GameSpot’s Xbox 360 News, Screenshots, Movies, Reviews, Previews, Downloads, and Features

In April, Madden series creative director Ian Cummings and EA Sports CTO Richard Wifall left the EA Sports Tiburon studio to head up a fresh outfit, Row Sham Bow. Now another longstanding studio member has reportedly left the Florida shop.

The Madden franchise has lost another longtime employee.

According to a “reliable source” speaking to sports gaming blog Pasta Padre, Madden executive producer Phil Frazier has left EA’s Tiburon studio. Frazier been with the shop since 1997 and has worked in both design and production positions on the Madden NFL series in his time there.

It is not known where Frazier is headed, and as of press time, neither Frazier nor EA Sports have responded to GameSpot’s requests for comment or clarification on the matter.

Madden NFL 12 is due out for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, PSP, and Wii on August 30. Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis adorns the game’s box art, following a fan-voted decision process. The game is also reportedly getting serious about concussions.

For more on the upcoming title, check out GameSpot’s most recent preview of Madden NFL 12.

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GameSpot’s Xbox 360 News, Screenshots, Movies, Reviews, Previews, Downloads, and Features

Score: 6.0 / fair

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GameSpot’s Xbox 360 News, Screenshots, Movies, Reviews, Previews, Downloads, and Features