Jump Rope Challenge

Jump Rope Challenge is a fitness video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. In the game, the player is encouraged to "jump a skipping rope", by performing motions using the Joy-Con controllers, every day a prespecified number of times.

Jump Rope Challenge
A cartoon anthropomorphic brown rabbit in yellow sports attire jumps while a skipping rope flies over its head. Above the skipping rope is a cartoon-style drawn yellow logo reading "Jump Rope Challenge". All of this is on a plain green background.
Developer(s)Nintendo EPD
Publisher(s)Nintendo
EngineUnity[1]
Platform(s)Nintendo Switch
Release
  • NA: June 15, 2020
  • WW: June 16, 2020
Genre(s)Exergaming
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

The game was developed by a small team to keep active at home during the stay-at-home orders of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was released for free on the Switch's Nintendo eShop in June 2020. It was originally intended to be removed from the eShop three months subsequent to release, but Nintendo later announced that the game would remain available until further notice.

Gameplay

In Jump Rope Challenge, the player uses Joy-Con controllers in a basic skipping rope motion in conjunction with jumping up and down to emulate jumping a skipping rope.[2][3] The in-game screen displays an anthropomorphic rabbit character skipping alongside the player, as well as counting the number of jumps the player does. Initially, the game sets the player the task of reaching at least 100 jumps every day, although this goal can be manually increased.[4][5][6] The player's total jumps for each day are recorded in a timeline, allowing the player to see how much they have progressed.[7] Jump Rope Challenge can also be played in multiplayer with 2 players, each player holding one Joy-Con.[2][6][8]

Development and release

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Nintendo developers were to work from home due to stay-at-home orders.[9] Because of the orders, some developers were not able to exercise as much as they would before the pandemic. Jump Rope Challenge was developed by a small team of developers working at home to be able to keep active in their houses during the pandemic.[2][3]

Jump Rope Challenge was released over digital distribution on the Nintendo eShop on June 16, 2020, after a surprise announcement from Nintendo on Twitter.[2][8] The game was released as a free download, and was intended to only be available for a limited time, as Nintendo planned to remove it from the eShop on September 30, 2020.[10] However, on the day, the company announced they would keep it on the store until further notice.[11] Nintendo stated that over 200 million jumps had been performed in the game three days after release,[12] and 2.5 billion after three months.[11]

A free update to the game, released on July 1, 2020, adds the ability to double-under as well as new backgrounds and costumes for the rabbit to wear based on Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Toad, Bowser, and Wario from Super Mario, Link from The Legend of Zelda, Samus Aran from Metroid, Isabelle from Animal Crossing, the Inklings from Splatoon, and the Arcade Bunny from Nintendo Badge Arcade.[13][14]

Reception

The game was reviewed positively by Ollie Reynolds of Nintendo Life, saying that using the Joy-Con as a skipping rope felt authentic, while also praising the game's visuals and the game being free, though criticizing the game not keeping the player's attention and the sound effects that played on the game's cat background.[15]

See also

References
  1. "Jump Rope Challenge for Nintendo Switch - Nintendo Game Details". Nintendo. Archived from the original on October 23, 2020. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  2. Yin-Poole, Wesley (June 16, 2020). "Nintendo surprise-launches free Switch skipping exercise game Jump Rope Challenge". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on June 16, 2020. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  3. Lawler, Richard (June 16, 2020). "Nintendo's 'Jump Rope Challenge' is a free workout game for your Switch". Engadget. Archived from the original on June 16, 2020. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  4. Porter, Jon (June 16, 2020). "Nintendo's free jump rope game is a simple way to exercise with a Switch". The Verge. Archived from the original on October 23, 2020. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  5. Vjestica, Adam (June 16, 2020). "Nintendo's Jump Rope Challenge is a free fitness game for Switch – and it's available now". TechRadar. Archived from the original on June 16, 2020. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  6. Radulovic, Petrana (June 16, 2020). "Surprise free game from Nintendo revives the thrill of jumping rope". Polygon. Archived from the original on June 16, 2020. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  7. Yeo, Amanda (June 16, 2020). "Nintendo's free Switch game 'Jump Rope Challenge' is good for keeping active but terrible for your neighbours". Mashable. Archived from the original on June 16, 2020. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  8. Doolan, Liam (June 16, 2020). "Nintendo Just Launched A New Game And You Can Download It For Free Right Now". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on June 16, 2020. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  9. Humphries, Matthew (June 16, 2020). "Nintendo Developers Stuck at Home Create a Free Switch Game". PC Magazine. Archived from the original on June 16, 2020. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  10. Bankhurst, Adam (June 16, 2020). "Nintendo's Jump Rope Challenge Is Available Now on Switch for Free". IGN. Archived from the original on June 16, 2020. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  11. Doolan, Liam (September 30, 2020). "Jump Rope Challenge Isn't Going Anywhere Just Yet, Will Now Be Available "Until Further Notice"". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on October 23, 2020. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  12. @NintendoAmerica (June 19, 2020). "In just three days, more than 200 million jumps in #JumpRopeChallenge have been made by players around the world! Thanks to all for playing and getting active! Download for free now" (Tweet). Archived from the original on June 19, 2020. Retrieved June 21, 2020 – via Twitter.
  13. @NintendoAmerica (July 2, 2020). "A free update for #JumpRopeChallenge is now available, adding new costumes, backgrounds and even the ability to double-under!" (Tweet). Archived from the original on August 29, 2020. Retrieved July 2, 2020 – via Twitter.
  14. Doolan, Liam (July 1, 2020). "Jump Rope Challenge Gets A Free Update - Adds Nintendo Costumes, New Backgrounds, And A New Ability". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on October 23, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  15. Reynolds, Ollie (June 23, 2020). "Mini Review: Jump Rope Challenge - A Noble Attempt To Get Switch Owners Active". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on October 23, 2020. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
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