Get In Shape With UFC Trainer

Online, April 11, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Unless you've been living under a rock you've heard of the UFC and mixed martial arts. Whether you're a fan of the sport or repulsed by it's violent nature the training it takes to get in shape for a UFC match may help people get in shape. It could also be a fun and alternative way to running on the treadmill.

"While fitness products like "EA Sports Active" and "Wii Fit" have been clear-cut sales winners, the products have primarily been designed for and pushed towards a female audience.

But will guys put down a controller and pause their "Call of Duty" online battle long enough to jump around their room and work up a sweat?

That's the gamble THQ and the UFC are taking with "UFC Personal Trainer," the first fitness game targeted toward the male gamer looking to lose a few pounds while at the same time learning to kick a little ass.

I caught up with "UFC's" lead designer, Troy Sheets, as well as THQ's director of production, William Schmitt, to get the goods on the new game. Here's what they had to say.

Jon Robinson: Why do you think UFC is the perfect partner for a fitness-style game?

Troy Sheets: The first thing we looked at is that all the other fitness-style games out there tended to be really soft and catered toward the female audience. They also all tended to be developed by game designers rather than fitness professionals. So with the partnership THQ already had with the UFC, it seemed like a logical step to actually enter the fitness realm, hitting strong with a very powerful message along with the hottest sport that's out there. We have partnerships with both the UFC and the National Academy of Sports Medicine who is our governing body that gave us the content."

Read More: espn.com