Get Kids Off the Couch and Moving in 2014 with the New Zumba Kids -- Available for the Kinect for XBox 360 or Wii (Video Game Review)

Disclosure:  I was sent a review copy from the vendor in order to write up an honest review.  All views shared are mine and mine alone.

ZUMBA® KIDS, THE ULTIMATE ZUMBA® DANCE PARTY FOR YOUNGER PLAYERS, IS NOW AVAILABLE ON KINECT FOR XBOX 360 AND Wii™

Buy now for either the Kinect for Xbox 360 or Wii from Amazon for only $29.96.

Majesco Broadens the Zumba Brand with Targeted Content for the Kids Market

"Majesco Entertainment Company (NASDAQ: COOL), publisher of the leading Zumba® Fitness video game franchise that has sold more than nine million copies worldwide, announced today that Zumba® Kids is available now in North America on Kinect for Xbox 360 and Wii™. Zumba® Kids, based on the popular Zumba specialty program that inspires kids to express themselves through movement, gets families moving together with 30 high-energy routines, imaginative mini-games, and diverse dance styles set to rockin’ hits from artists like Justin Bieber and Willow Smith!

“The Zumba Kids specialty program translates perfectly into an interactive video game given its focus on fun, creative play and movement,” said Jesse Sutton, chief executive officer, Majesco Entertainment. “We are excited to extend our best-selling franchise into a custom-designed experience for a new generation of Zumba fans.”

Created for younger players age 7-11, Zumba® Kids features kid-friendly choreography that encourages freeing movement, builds self-confidence and enhances coordination.  Kids will discover new rhythms as they move to 20+ easy-to-learn dance styles, including hip-hop, swing, surf, disco and salsa. Zumba® Kids also supports a full set of gameplay modes that offer multiplayer fun, mini-games and classes in varying lengths.  Kids receive positive reinforcement via layers of unlockable rewards--bonus videos, healthy lifestyle tips plus stickers and badges kids can collect in a customizable in-game scrap book. Rounding out the experience is an energizing soundtrack highlighted by contagious hits like Justin Bieber’s “Beauty and a Beat” and Willow Smith’s “Fireball,” classics like “Wipeout” and “Boogie Wonderland,”  along with a range of Zumba original songs. 

“With millions of children facing weight issues around the world, we are introducing a high-energy video game to the market that we hope will help decrease the global obesity epidemic and provide kids with a new opportunity to move and get fit," said Alberto Perlman, CEO and co-founder of Zumba. "Zumba® Kids makes exercising fun and is the perfect opportunity to replace snacking on chips and soda with something healthy and entertaining.”    

Developed by Zoë Mode and rated E for Everyone, Zumba® Kids is now available on Kinect for Xbox 360 and Wii™ for $29.99 SRP. To watch the launch trailer and find out more, please visit the official site at zumbafitnessgame.com. "

----

My Thoughts:

Have you joined the Zumba craze yet?  You know it is popular when my mom signs up Zumba and can't stop talking about it.  :-)  I was born with two left feet, so anything that has to do with dancing, including cardio and other fitness classes that have a dance component, I shy away from.  My mom is the same way -- so, I was surprised to hear that she had signed up, and liked the classes.  She said she was finally able to get control of her hips and find the rhythm. And, whenever she would come and visit the girls, they would break out into mini Zumba workouts.  Well, Savannah and Bella would mainly run in place, as Nana tried to show them some of the new Zumba moves she learned.  

My mom kept saying that she wished they would have Mommy and Me classes, or classes where you could take young kids for Zumba, as she found it was a great way to get kids moving, learn coordination and build self-esteem.  Like I said, our family is not known to be dance stars, but after taking Zumba, my mom is more fit, has confidence when it comes to dancing in front of others, and is getting her up and moving.  

I couldn't wait to show her the new Zumba Kids for Xbox 360 and Wii, which recently released, when she came to visit during Thanksgiving.  Not one for technology or video games, I had to put the video game on and walk my mom through the screens so that she could play this fun dance party type game with the girls.  But, once they were up and running, all I could hear from the family room was laughing and singing.  With 30 chart topping tracks from artists like Justin Bieber, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Surfaris, once the music started, so did everyone's feet.

This fun new video game really is a great way to get kids off the couch and get them moving.  And, what is great about Zumba is that you don't have to be a dance pro.  As long as you are willing to have fun and let loose, you are free to express your dance movements however you choose.  And, with a house full of adults and kids during Thanksgiving, this game was constantly on, and had families in front of the television playing the multi-player mode.  Who knew that a dance-fitness party could be so much fun?  With over 20 different dance styles to dance along and learn, players are in for a treat when they pick up and start playing the new "Zumba Kids".  Like I said, this game, available for the Kinect for XBox 360 and Wii, can be played in multi-player mode, as well as solo.  So, you can play this game whenever you want.  But, I will say that it is much more fun when you have a group of people together moving and grooving, singing and dancing along, as you play this fun fitness video game.

And, with the holidays fast approaching, this new video game would definitely make for a great stocking stuffer gift, in place of some of the other video games that have kids sitting in front of the television for hours, only moving their hands on the controller.  This high-energy game is a great alternative for sure!

###

ABOUT MAJESCO ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY

Majesco Entertainment Company is a provider of video games for the mass market. Building on more than 20 years of operating history, the company is focused on developing and publishing a wide range of casual and family oriented video games on all leading console and handheld platforms as well as mobile devices.  Product highlights include Zumba® Fitness and Cooking Mama™. Majesco is headquartered in Edison, NJ, and the company's shares are traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol: COOL.  More info can be found online at majescoent.com or on Twitter at twitter.com/majesco.

 

ABOUT ZUMBA FITNESS, LLC

Zumba Fitness is a global lifestyle brand that fuses fitness, entertainment and culture into an exhilarating dance-party workout. Known as the ultimate “fitness-party”, Zumba® classes blend upbeat world rhythms with easy-to-follow choreography, for an effective, total-body workout. Founded in 2001, the company is the largest branded fitness program in the world – reporting more than 15 million weekly participants, in over 200,000 locations across more than 180 countries. In addition to its original Zumba® program, the company also offers a variety of specialty classes, including: Zumba® Step; Zumba Gold® (active older adults); Aqua Zumba®; Zumba® Kids/Zumba® Kids Jr. (ages 4-11); and Zumbini™ (ages 0-3). The Zumba® lifestyle is rounded out by the company’s many consumer product offerings, including DVD sets, music collections, multi-seasonal apparel and footwear, video games and Fitness-Concert™ events. For more information about Zumba Fitness programs and products, or to find a live class, visit zumba.com. Find us on Facebook, Twitter.

Disclosure:  I was sent a review copy from the vendor in order to write up an honest review.  All views shared are mine and mine alone.