Get in-game bonuses for NBA 2K17 by exercising in real life
I'm not sure I've seen anything like this before, but 2K has announced a partnership with Fitbit to give in-game bonuses to players of NBA 2K17 for reaching a goal of 10,000 steps per day. The health initiative will reward real world activity with temporary +5 attribute boosts to their MyPlayer's agility, layups, and dunks for the next 5 games played that day. So get off that couch and start walking, so you can get back on that couch and keep playing. I think it's a really cool idea and would love to see it implemented in more games. Gamification of everyday tasks is a winning strategy and seeing it applied to healthy lifestyle choices is a no-brainer.
Additional details can be found in the press release below.
#1 NBA video game series* becomes the first to use Fitbit wearable activity data to reward gamers based on their real-world activity
New York, NY – November 15, 2016 – 2K today announced that NBA® 2K17, the latest iteration of the top-selling and top-rated NBA video game simulation series*, has partnered with Fitbit (NYSE:FIT), the leader in the connected health and fitness market, to reward healthy activity amongst gamers through in-game rewards. In a first-of-its-kind integration, gamers around the world who achieve 10,000 steps in a day tracked with their Fitbit device will receive a temporary attribute boost to their MyPLAYER in NBA 2K17, enhancing their MyPLAYER’s performance on the court.
“Any athlete will tell you that a healthy lifestyle is a major key to success and by rewarding gamers for healthy lifestyle habits we hope to help motivate them to achieve their goals in life and in-game,” said Alfie Brody, VP of Marketing for NBA 2K. “Our brand is synonymous with breaking down boundaries of what a game can achieve, and we are thrilled to continue that tradition through this Fitbit integration.”
“It’s exciting to see Fitbit and 2K working together to reward gamers like me in a unique way,” said Harrison Barnes, Fitbit Ambassador and professional basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks. “It’s an extra incentive to get my target steps per day because not only am I getting a physical edge, but a gaming edge, too in NBA 2K17. Now my friends and family will have to step up their game to keep up with me.”
Starting November 25, 2016 the all-new NBA 2K17 feature will make it easy for players to boost their MyPLAYER by keeping active in the real world. Once users connect their Fitbit tracker with NBA 2K17 on Xbox One and PlayStation®4, their real-world step activity can start working toward the 10,000 steps per day goal for receiving in-game boosts. After users reach the steps milestone, the game will prompt them to apply temporary +5 attribute boosts and success rate to their MyPLAYER in categories like agility, layups and dunks, and more that will significantly improve performance for the next five games played that day.
“As a former video game industry executive, I’m excited to help shape the first-of-its-kind integration between a wearable and a console video game, motivating gamers of all ages to be more active throughout the day by giving them in-game rewards for their real-world fitness activity,” said Tim Rosa, Senior Vice President of Global Marketing at Fitbit. “This partnership speaks to the long history of innovation from both of our brands. We think it’s just the beginning of what’s possible as we create new ways to keep our community engaged and motivated to be healthier and more fit.”
With this integration, 2K is added to the growing list of brands that are part of the Works with Fitbit program, which lets developers, brands and users seamlessly connect the Fitbit platform to popular health and wellness apps, services and hardware products, and now games and interactive entertainment making it easier for consumers to achieve their wellness objectives.
NBA 2K17 is now available in both digital and physical formats for $59.99 on Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment systems, and Windows PC platforms. The integration between NBA 2K17 and Fitbit will be enabled for all users globally starting November 25 just in time for the holiday shopping season.
Developed by Visual Concepts, NBA 2K17 is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB.
Follow @NBA2K on social media and look for the hashtag #ThisIsNotAGame for the latest NBA 2K17 news.
*According to 2008 - 2016 Metacritic.com and The NPD Group estimates of U.S. retail video game sales through October 2016.
2K is a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO).
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About Take-Two Interactive Software
Headquartered in New York City, Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. is a leading developer, publisher and marketer of interactive entertainment for consumers around the globe. The Company develops and publishes products through its two wholly-owned labels Rockstar Games and 2K. Our products are designed for console systems and personal computers, including smartphones and tablets, and are delivered through physical retail, digital download, online platforms and cloud streaming services. The Company’s common stock is publicly traded on NASDAQ under the symbol TTWO. For more corporate and product information please visit our website at http://www.take2games.com.
About 2K
Founded in 2005, 2K develops and publishes interactive entertainment globally for console systems, handheld gaming systems and personal computers, including smartphones and tablets, which are delivered through physical retail, digital download, online platforms and cloud streaming services. 2K publishes titles in today’s most popular gaming genres, including shooters, action, role-playing, strategy, sports, casual, and family entertainment. The 2K label has some of the most talented development studios in the world today, including Firaxis Games, Visual Concepts, Hangar 13, and Cat Daddy Games. 2K’s stable of high quality titles includes the critically acclaimed BioShock®, Borderlands™, Mafia, and XCOM® franchises, the beloved Sid Meier’s Civilization series, Evolve™, Battleborn®, the popular WWE 2K franchise and NBA 2K, the highest rated* annual sports title of this console generation.
2K is headquartered in Novato, California and is a wholly owned label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO). For more information, please visit www.2k.com.
*According to 2008 - 2016 Metacritic.com
About Fitbit, Inc. (NYSE: FIT)
Fitbit helps people lead healthier, more active lives by empowering them with data, inspiration and guidance to reach their goals. As the leader in the connected health and fitness category, Fitbit designs products and experiences that track everyday health and fitness. Fitbit’s diverse line of award-winning products includes Fitbit Surge®, Fitbit
Fitbit and the Fitbit logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Fitbit, Inc. in the US and other countries. Additional Fitbit trademarks can be found at www.fitbit.com/legal/
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