Launch HN: Quell (YC S20) – Immersive gaming and combat workout

Re:Launch HN: Quell (YC S20) – Immersive gaming and combat w... by spanhandler on Wednesday August 19, 2020 @10:22AM (#24210643)

I found Wii Sports gave me nasty RSI in a way I'd never experienced before if I tried to play it "seriously" for any length of time. All that vigorous motion but with no weight or resistance was really, really bad. It also allowed a much faster pace of action than the real sports it mimicked, which probably didn't help—no stopping to fetch the ball or wait for people to get into position in tennis or baseball, for instance.

Waggling the controller with one's wrist was more effective in game and didn't hurt after 15-20 minutes like playing "for real" did. It also wasn't really any more fun than playing with a normal controller—so, fun, but nothing special.

I'd expect to hurt myself trying to get a workout with something like this, based on that experience.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Launch HN: Quell (YC S20) – Immersive gaming and combat w... by m_tweedie on Wednesday August 19, 2020 @11:51AM (#24211725)

Hi, Martin from Quell here. As someone who shares this exact experience, it's something we have been thinking about from day one when building Quell. If we make something that causes injury or can easily be "tricked" into thinking that the player has done something they haven't, we have failed in our core goal of making a fun, accessible workout that can be enjoyed at all fitness levels.

We're working in consultation with boxers and boxing trainers to ensure that the game teaches users proper form. To break through your enemies defences and succeed in the game, you'll need to perform precise, accurate strikes with good technique. In addition, our wearable prevents you from hyper-extending when throwing straight shots, which can otherwise cause injury.

[ Parent | on HN ]