A Study on the Integration Method of Sports Practice and Video Games

Abstract

It is difficult for recreational players to continue practicing sports, which they know is important to improve their technique and get more enjoyment. Therefore, we propose utilizing a concept of “toolification of games”, which enables players to perceive the effect of practicing while playing a game. Few papers have focused on sports training while playing a video game, but some sports players benefit from a training strategy similar to playing particular video games. This benefit suggests the possibility of using a video game for sports training. The proposed method will contribute to making monotonous training more enjoyable by “improving their sports skill while playing a game.” In this study, we focused on badminton training and playing Tetris together. When practicing badminton, the player is often required to hit the shuttlecock to different parts of the court anywhere they want to. This way of practicing is similar to a general strategy used when playing Tetris—the player attempts to distribute Tetriminos (block units in the Tetris game) to every row without bias. This paper describes experimental results from badminton training practice using Tetris compared with practice using conventional visual feedback methods.