About the Wii Fit
The Wii Fit Balance Board is a new accessory from Nintendo, which, following almost two years of intensive development by a full-scale Nintendo team, is now available on the shelves in Japan, with the European release date scheduled for 25 April 2008. Australian and North American release dates are set for 8 May 2008 and 19 May 2008 respectively.
Nintendo Wii Fit Balance Board
To use the Wii Fit Balance Board, the user stands on the board and controls the on-screen action with their movements. Essentially, the Board is a highly accurate set of scales which measures body weight and tracks the user’s centre of gravity. The initial concept for the board was inspired by sumo wrestlers who, because they are so heavy, need to use two sets of scales to weigh themselves.
To get started, each user creates a unique profile for themselves using a Mii which is updated with the individual’s height and age information. Using these details, the Wii Fit calculates a Body Mass Index (BMI) for the user, a measure of body fat based on height and weight which is the standard used by agencies such as the World Health Organization and the National Institute of Health.
Nintendo Wii Fit - Body Mass Index
Wii Fit Channel
The profile can be used to keep track of your Wii Fit Age, a basic balance test that assigns you an “age” based on how well you can control your left and right balance. You can then track your daily progress in a similar way to the daily Brain Age tracking in Brain Training on the Nintendo DS. If you want to check your training progress or other quick tasks, there is even a Wii Channel especially created just for using with the Wii Fit.
Nintendo Wii Fit - Game Screenshot
What games work with the Wii Fit?
A range of software containing over 40 activities and exercises, enabling you to play or work out, are bundled with the Wii Fit accessory. These include strength training, aerobics, yoga and balance games. There are even snowboarding and skiiing exercise games down slalom courses, amongst many other activities that are aimed at the casual games market. Nintendo are obviously hoping to appeal to a wide age-range as usual.
Wii Fit features four main categories of exercise training and games to choose from: Strength Training, Aerobics, Yoga and Balance Games. The more time you spend exercising, the more Fit Credits you can earn. These unlock additional exercises and activities within these categories.
Nintendo Wii Fit - Skiing Game Screenshot
It is interesting to note that some of the Wii Fit games are very similar to Sony Eyetoy games dating back several years. Soccer Heading, Ski Slalom, Ski Jump, Table Tilt, Tightrope Walk, Balance Bubble, Penguin Slide, Snowboard Slalom and Lotus Focus.
Is it really going to make me fit?
Nintendo’s tag-line for the Wii Fit is
“Step onto the Wii Balance Board and into a fun way to get fit.”
Nintendo Wii Fit - Game Screenshot
On the official Nintendo Wii website, at the end of their description of the product, they say
“This will allow families to have a friendly competition to exercise and get fit.”
Ultimately, as with any get fit scheme or programme, it will be down to yourself to get into the habit of exercising regularly and of course your diet and current level of fitness will both play major parts in how regular Wii Fit use will affect your weight and fitness. Nintendo say that the main aim of their health-orientated product is to make people more aware of their bodies as opposed to creating nations of uber-fit Nintendo athletes.
Did it go down well in Japan?
Wii Fit sold over 250000 in its first week, and passed 1 million sales in just one month since its December 1, 2007 release.
Nintendo Wii Fit Game Box
