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iTech Fitness and Softkinetic Collaborate on XRKade

 
iTech Fitness and Softkinetic Collaborate on Groundbreaking Active Gaming Project for XRKade
Unique active gaming experience at Club Industry 2008 combines XRKade’s games and experiences and Softkinetic’s 3D gesture recognition technology

CHICAGO - Oct. 16, 2008

iTech Fitness, the industry leader in active gaming development, and Softkinetic, the leading 3D gesture recognition software provider, today announced a partnership to develop the future of Active Gaming experiences. For the first time ever, users can exercise in a virtual world by simply moving their bodies, without the use of any game controller or peripheral.

The innovation will premiere at the Club Industry 2008 conference and trade show in Chicago, which kicks off Oct. 16 at McCormick Place. For more information on Club Industry 2008 please visit: http://national.clubindustryshow.com.

The first-ever collaboration brings the advanced gesture-based 3D gaming technology from Softkinetic onto iTech Fitness’ XRKade active gaming platform. The result is a unique, immersive active gaming experience.

“Our goal is to make our active gaming experiences as real and as fun as possible. Softkinetic’s gesture recognition technology is a natural fit for XRKade platforms and games,” said Mike Hansen, CEO of iTech. “We are excited to unveil our first use of this technology into an active gaming application.”
In the game, the user enters a virtual boxing gym. Your “avatar” (you in the game) punches workout bags, following your own movements in real time – without the need for any special equipment or controllers. This active gaming breakthrough was achieved through revolutionary gesture recognition middleware from Softkinetic, a depth sensing camera, combined with the XRKade immersive fitness platform developed by iTech Fitness. The game itself was developed by Softkinetic and iTech Fitness’ talented game studio.

“We believe that the exergaming market has a very bright future. Exercise has to be fun and only by eliminating the use of tools and controllers can you make the experience engaging and intuitive,” said Michel Tombroff, CEO, Softkinetic. “Our software platform has that ability to create a natural interface with the virtual worlds and we are looking forward to develop this exciting market with a leading exergaming partner such as iTechFitness.”

About iTech Fitness
Based in Aurora, Colo., iTech Fitness develops, manufactures and markets the fitness, recreation, and entertainment industries’ most comprehensive active gaming product suite. With its long history of delivering innovative solutions to the exergaming and active gaming industries, XRKade, a division of iTech, has formed the largest community of active gaming users through its international network of partners, distributors and owner/operators of fitness, recreation and entertainment facilities. The XRKade brand was first-to-market and is driving a fundamental societal shift in consumer mindsets by making fitness and games fun. For more information, visit www.itechfitness.com or www.xrkade.com or call 303-371-5800.

About Softkinetic
Based in Brussels, Belgium, Softkinetic is the leading provider of natural interfaces that transform the way people interact with the digital world. Softkinetic enables a fully immersive, transparent and intuitive user experience by providing a 3D real-time gesture recognition middleware to Interactive Digital Entertainment, Consumer Electronics, and Serious Games companies. Softkinetic, iisu, and Interface Is You are trademarks or registered trademarks of Softkinetic S.A. For more information on Softkinetic please visit http://www.softkinetic.net.

Lisa Everitt, Metzger Associates for iTech Fitness
303-786-7000 x2311
leveritt@metzger.com

Rachel Steinberg, TriplePoint for Softkinetic
415-955-8504
rachel@triplepointpr.com