Burn calories and play video games? I’ll believe it when I sweat while playing Bass Champion Fishing. But that’s what Powergrid claims with their KiloWatt SPORT game controller. “Play longer, Get Stronger” is their motto, but it was hard to push the doubts out of my mind that this giant controller would be a giant waste of $800. However, something about this device promises a complete change in the way we play video games. Note to self: Blood blisters on hands from applying 1600 pounds of pressure even as I became a bigger nerd IS A GOOD THING.

Attack of the KiloWatt
The monstrosity that is…(*echo voice*) the KiloWatt SPORT (*end echo voice*) is not for amateurs. You’d buy this baby in place of a treadmill or a stationary bike, only because it takes up just as much room. The SPORT looks like a cross between Tony Little’s Gazelle and a normal-sized Xbox controller, and what’s really strange is that it has no moving parts! This makes assembly a snap. A total of five screws hold the whole thing together. The main console area is a standard controller which supports Xbox, PS2, GameCube, or PC, and this universal interface is surprisingly easy to get used to. Score one for the KiloWatt SPORT.

Resistance is Futile
Now it’s time to mount the KiloWatt. Swing one leg over the bar and put your hands on the controller. If you feel like you’re riding a horse…you’re ready to play! To move your in-game avatar, apply pressure to the controller in any direction. How much pressure, you ask? Enough to fight off Tyra Banks, Heidi Klum, and Kate Moss after you show them your new body. But when you wanna start fighting off the likes of Rosie O’Donnell and Kirstie Alley, it’s time to up the resistance level. There is a display window on the SPORT that lets you adjust the resistance and tells you how long you’ve been working out (playing a game).

I Can’t Control Her, Captain!
Once you get the hang of controlling the KiloWatt, your race car, Master Chief, or Playboy bunny will go to it...unless you didn’t configure the controls correctly. This is my only complaint with the SPORT: the controls were never what I wanted them to be on every game I tested. Each time, I had to go into setup and change things arbitrarily, hoping they would be correct in-game. I wish I knew which parts of the KiloWatt corresponded to which joystick or button on a regular controller *ahem* Powergrid *ahem*. When this transition between game and KiloWatt SPORT is seamless, the product will be a real gem.

The KiloWatt Revolution
Add two cups ease of use, one cup price reduction, a half a cup of good press, and stir vigorously. This is the recipe that will make the KiloWatt successful. The SPORT is a life-changing product, but people don’t know about it yet. Once you get past the initial setup and become accustomed with the controls, it’s an exciting and immersive gaming experience. Any game can be played on it, from Halo to Gran Turismo 4 to Bass Champion Fishing, and depending on the resistance, any game can make you sore in the morning. Powergrid could smash the “lazy gamer” stereotype, but we just have to give them a chance. The revolution is coming…do you want to be part of the KiloWatt Resistance?

Pros: Full-body video game experience; plays any game; burn fat while playing games!
Cons: Configuring controls for each game takes some time

Rating: