The "Gauntlet" looks like it would be too chafing. I don't want to work out only to have rashes and bruises in my armpits and wrists.
Launch HN: Quell (YC S20) – Immersive gaming and combat workout
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Re: Launch HN: Quell (YC S20) – Immersive gaming and combat workout
#12This is amazing! Really excited to see where this goes, good luck :)
Re: Launch HN: Quell (YC S20) – Immersive gaming and combat workout
#13That's pretty dope! Any plans for adding VR at some point?
I assumed VR when I read "immersive". Is that just me?
I thought the same thing, and there's no way using a resistance band feels anything like an actual punch. It looks like what DDR is to dancing, which to be fair, is how I lost a good amount of weight in high school.
Re: Launch HN: Quell (YC S20) – Immersive gaming and combat workout
#14Looks good, good luck with it! I know for me I'd get pretty bored with doing just one thing (here, boxing, Peloton bike riding, etc.), even if the online "experience" varies things. Also, while it's good for burning calories, it's just hitting (har!) one set of muscles. I'm doing a broad range of exercises through a streaming video service, including various weights/resistance training, and a yoga/tai-chi/pilates cla…
Thanks! After the past few months with our heads down it's been so great to share what we've been doing with the world!
Variety is absolutely something to shoot for. Personally I've always been big on 'adventure' sports - I find that the distraction from the fact I'm working out allows me to have fun, and still stay (reasonably) fit! Not so easy to do when I'm back around home though - all these activities require time away...so building Quell allows for a more exciting workout whilst staying indoors (something that became a lot more relevant this year!)
One thing to note is that whilst the Gauntlet delivers resistance to upper-body motions, boxing is very much a full body workout. We're exploring a few different ways to maximise the core and lower-body elements of this within the game, but this is no case of skipping leg day!
Which streaming video service are you using? Any key parts of it that you think make it stand out against everything else you've tried?
Re: Launch HN: Quell (YC S20) – Immersive gaming and combat workout
#15So....it's like an over priced version of the wii version Punchout with a built in heart monitor?
Why would i get this instead of just buying a used wii or a vr system?
No offense, i thought the Peloton was stupid too and their ads were horrible. I was so happy when i stopped getting ads for that thing.
Re: Launch HN: Quell (YC S20) – Immersive gaming and combat workout
#16I absolutely LOVE this. Really considering backing the kickstarter.
Some thoughts I had off the top of my head:
- This seems feels like a good use case for VR to have something totally immersive. Not sure how steady VR headsets are these days though...
- Are there mechanics to "level up", like an RPG? I think that type of structure motivates a lot of people to keep playing and "grinding"
- What about P2P? It seems hard to pull-off, but could be really cool & entertaining on twitch!
Excited to see where you all go!
Re: Launch HN: Quell (YC S20) – Immersive gaming and combat workout
#17Looks fun, I have a Vive VR and enjoy workouts on it. Few questions:
I know next to nothing about being fit and working out, but would this workout target pretty much a single muscle group with resistance?
If it's all running on the phone, hows battery life? Between running the game and processing motion data what's the specs required?
I'm guessing a motion tracker in both hands and in the body to detect motion, but that'd drift if you allow movement. Are you planning on using any body-tracking ML with the phone's camera? Otherwise it sounds like the game will be a linear rail-road.
Finally, given it's elastic, how easy is it to hit yourself in the face if your arm gives out at full stretch?
Re: Launch HN: Quell (YC S20) – Immersive gaming and combat workout
#18Yes yes yes! Super excited for this, but... Make sure you get the balance between game and fitness program right. I tried the zombie run audio program a few years ago and didn't like it, it was just a regular fitness class but they would make zombie noises and yell at you to run harder bEcAuSe ThE zOmBiEs ArE cOmInG . I want to play a game that has a side-effect of a fitness program. I'm not looking for a cut beach b…
I use Beat Saber and Pistol Whip on the Quest as my go-to lockdown workout. I break a sweat within 5 minutes most days, and before I know it it's been a 30 minute session. I'm not sure any fitness trainer would approve, but it gives me an excuse to get my arms and legs moving and get my heart rate up without me ever dreading the morning workout.
Re: Launch HN: Quell (YC S20) – Immersive gaming and combat workout
#19So....it's like an over priced version of the wii version Punchout with a built in heart monitor? Why would i get this instead of just buying a used wii or a vr system? No offense, i thought the Peloton was stupid too and their ads were horrible. I was so happy when i stopped getting ads for that thing.
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.
Re: Launch HN: Quell (YC S20) – Immersive gaming and combat workout
#20How do you think this compares to Nintendo's Ring Fit Adventure?
We actually love Ring Fit! Have you tried it?
We managed to get one of the first copies available after it had sold out through the lockdown, and have put in a good few hours over our lunchbreaks to benchmark against it. In our opinion Nintendo has done a really good job, and we even managed to break a sweat playing it.
That said, Ring Fit Adventure is limited to Switch users, and the game itself was not compelling enough to build a real fitness routine around (if Peloton and Zwift are too far in one direction, then RFA is too far in the opposite). It's taught us a lot about how important certain aspects from the game design will be as we continue building the Quell game world though...and anything that is encouraging people to look after their health gets a big thumbs up from us.