DailyTech - Wii Fit Date Announced for North America, Europe

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Software Wii Fit Date Announced for North America, Europe
Marcus Yam (Blog) - February 21, 2008 9:12 AM

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31 comment(s) - last by Integral9.. on Feb 25 at 9:20 AM

Fitness routines brought to you by the Wii Fit (Source: Nintendo)

Wii Fit Balance Board upgraded to withstand additional heft for western markets

The Nintendo Wii has become quite the unexpected fitness phenomenon. With each console bundled with Wii Sports, some players find that they are able to shed a few pounds by wildly flailing the Wii Remote controller.

Building upon the health benefits of having a motion controller, Nintendo launched in Japan last year the Wii Fit Balance Board hardware accessory and game. The package allowed Wii owners to partake in various fitness and balance-related movements.

At GDC 2008, Nintendo announced that Wii Fit will launch in North America on May 19. Additionally, Wii Fit includes access to the Wii Fit Channel, an interactive channel that lets users check in each day to track their fitness progress through weight and BMI.

European gamers, who are accustomed to usually being the last to receive new gaming products, may be surprised to learn that Wii Fit will arrive in Europe on April 15.

The Wii Fit software includes four training categories including Aerobic Exercises, Muscle Workouts, Yoga and Balance Games that allow users to try over 40 different activities such as Hula Hoop, Ski Jump, Press-up Challenge, Rhythm Boxing, Rowing Squat, Lunge and classic Yoga poses such as Half Moon, Tree and Crocodile Twist.

While Nintendo never explicitly explained the delay between the Japanese and western releases, the Wii Balance Board in Japan supports up to 136kg, while the one intended for Europe and North America can handle a heftier 150kg.

In Japan, Wii Fit has sold more than 1.4 million units since its December 1 launch, making it one of the fastest selling Wii titles in the territory.

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Hmmm.

By Mitch101 on 2/21/2008 9:31:35 AM , Rating: 6

quote:
the Wii Balance Board in Japan supports up to 136kg, while the one intended for Europe and North America can handle a heftier 150kg.

I cant help believing they are trying to tell us something.

RE: Hmmm.

By jadeskye on 2/21/2008 9:36:25 AM , Rating: 5

*munches on mcdonalds* i dunno whaf joo meanf...

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RE: Hmmm.

By Hieyeck on 2/21/2008 9:41:00 AM , Rating: 3

I can see the class actions already. "Why doesn't the balance board support my 400lbs?!"

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RE: Hmmm.

By robinthakur on 2/21/2008 9:46:17 AM , Rating: 2

Yes perhaps they should bring out a reinforced adamantium version ;) I sincerely hope its shatter proof. Does look like a lot of fun though, can't wait!

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RE: Hmmm.

By thornburg on 2/21/2008 10:47:27 AM , Rating: 2

quote:
I can see the class actions already. "Why doesn't the balance board support my 400lbs?!"

Your comment is funny... but also ironic, because they really aren't that far off from 400lbs...

Google says: 150 kilograms = 330.693393 pounds

So unless you're really heavy or an NFL linebacker, it should hold you. And actually, I think even among linebackers you'd have to be on the heavy end to pass the 150kg limit...

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RE: Hmmm.

By mikecel79 on 2/21/2008 11:54:23 AM , Rating: 3

Not many linebackers are over 250 lbs nevermind 330 lbs. Linemen very well could be but not linebackers.

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RE: Hmmm.

By Samus on 2/21/2008 1:30:39 PM , Rating: 2

DDR machines are only rated for 180lb individuals. I see 250-300lb (near-obese) kids on it all the time and the maintenance is still minimal.

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RE: Hmmm.

By CKDragon on 2/21/2008 4:22:16 PM , Rating: 5

Maybe it's just me, but if I saw 250-300 pounders doing DDR "all the time", I'd really stop looking at the DDR machines. :P

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RE: Hmmm.

By JasonMick

(blog) on 2/21/2008 9:41:57 AM , Rating: 2

Hahaa...

Good reads:
http://www.diet-blog.com/archives/2007/01/30/how_t...
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/02/15/health/m...

No wonder the Japanese developed the Wii Fit -- to try to counteract their adoption of SAD!! The SAD permeating the world...what a beautiful thing.

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RE: Hmmm.

By robinthakur on 2/21/08, Rating: 0

RE: Hmmm.

By Screwballl on 2/21/2008 10:47:17 AM , Rating: 2

150 kilogram = 330.693 pounds

Not really that light and I guess they figure if anyone is over this weight, they need more than just an unused exercise board to make themselves feel good (it usually is a double quarter pounder with super sized fries and diet coke.)

Most people buy a Wii for games, not for exercise so I am curious how badly this will do in the US...

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RE: Hmmm.

By edborden on 2/21/08, Rating: -1

RE: Hmmm.

By mikeyD95125 on 2/24/2008 6:33:09 PM , Rating: 1

please...

...please don't add to our embarrassment

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RE: Hmmm.

By masher2

(blog) on 2/21/2008 9:58:22 AM , Rating: 4

The Japanese aren't always that light either:

http://elvis.phys.lsu.edu/svoboda/post/figs/SumoWr...

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RE: Hmmm.

By BrownJohn on 2/21/2008 12:27:41 PM , Rating: 2

i hope that guy doesn't plan on using the wii fit anytime soon.

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RE: Hmmm.

By thedlr on 2/21/2008 10:46:59 AM , Rating: 2

150kg = 330 lbs ... That seems to match what most scales go up to.

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RE: Hmmm.

By helios220 on 2/21/2008 11:34:48 AM , Rating: 2

I won't deny that Americans are on average more likely to be overweight than the average Japanese.

However, I suppose you could also consider that the average height of a Japanese male is 5' 7.8". The average height of an American male is around 5' 10.2".

There are other factors that contribute to weight, but still to weigh 150kg and not be overweight you'd likely have to be pretty effing tall.

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RE: Hmmm.

By Screwballl on 2/21/2008 11:59:35 AM , Rating: 2

as I am 6'5" tall and around 220lbs, I am average. To be 300 pounds and average, you would have to be over 7 feet tall.

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RE: Hmmm.

By jajig on 2/21/2008 1:28:40 PM , Rating: 1

quote:
There are other factors that contribute to weight

Do you mean larger breasts and penis's?

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RE: Hmmm.

By agentjka03 on 2/21/2008 6:18:24 PM , Rating: 2

quote:
I cant help believing they are trying to tell us something.

Yeah, Japanese people are skinny.

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Looks like fun!

By Spivonious on 2/21/2008 9:36:43 AM , Rating: 2

I think this will be a big hit.

From Wikipedia

quote:
Yoga exercises
Push ups
Step aerobics, including a game in which the player must step on and off the Wii Balance Board in rhythm to the background music
Heading on-coming soccer balls and avoiding other objects by leaning forward and back
A ball-rolling mini-game
Hula hooping
Ski jumping, whereby the player squats as low as possible, whilst maintaining his or her balance, and then quickly stands as fast as possible in order to gain a good jump
Jogging
Tightrope walking

Ski jumping sounds like it could be a lot of fun.

RE: Looks like fun!

By ajvitaly on 2/21/2008 10:15:28 AM , Rating: 2

Anyone who doesn't exercise their legs regularly will be noticeably sore the next day after playing ski jumping for 10 minutes or longer.

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RE: Looks like fun!

By AlphaVirus on 2/21/2008 12:19:22 PM , Rating: 1

I dont think this will be such a hit but it is a very interesting product.
Here is why I dont think it will be a hit.

quote:
Yoga exercises

Ever watch FitTV?

quote:
Push ups

Unless they make it fun (which I dont doubt), most people wont care to do this.

quote:
Step aerobics, including a game in which the player must step on and off the Wii

You can watch infomercials without having to purchase anything.

quote:
Balance Board in rhythm to the background music

This does sound very entertaining.

quote:
Heading on-coming soccer balls and avoiding other objects by leaning forward and back

I can see this causing injury to people that are clumsy or overweight since they have a harder time with balance.

quote:
A ball-rolling mini-game

Huh? No comment.

quote:
Hula hooping

could be fun for the kids.

quote:
Ski jumping, whereby the player squats as low as possible, whilst maintaining his or her balance, and then quickly stands as fast as possible in order to gain a good jump

Might be fun for 30min but not sure how long that excitment factor will last.

quote:
Jogging

This would be the best option but, I can already do this for free outside. Bring my mp3 player and I am good to go.
Sometimes video games are not a very good substitute for real life workouts.

Lets hope, for the sake of getting rid of childhood obesity, this thing sells well.

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RE: Looks like fun!

By HrilL on 2/21/2008 3:13:42 PM , Rating: 3

How about stop feeding your kids junk food and don't just let them sit and play video games or watch tv all day. Make them go outside!

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Sweet

By clovell on 2/21/2008 10:13:46 AM , Rating: 2

I'm really looking forward to this one. The thing for me about exercisizing is that I find it really boring. I've had a lot of success dieting (lost 35lbs. in 8 months), but I need to start exercising. I think this will be a lot of fun.

Any word on the expected street price? I'm thinking they'll jack it up because of the extra peripheral, and because it's more than just a game...

RE: Sweet

By mmntech on 2/21/2008 12:10:53 PM , Rating: 2

Play-Asia sells it for about $130 US for the NTSC/J model. I expect it will probably sell for around the same when it comes here.

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RE: Sweet

By clovell on 2/21/2008 12:19:40 PM , Rating: 2

Whoa - my wallet is going to need therapy as that sticker will surely leave a scar...

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Gimmicky or not, it's great for people like me

By jhinoz on 2/21/2008 9:35:21 AM , Rating: 2

Who don't run unless they are being chased...

RE: Gimmicky or not, it's great for people like me

By mooncancook on 2/21/2008 1:43:41 PM , Rating: 2

yep, I played the import version and it can be quite a workout for me, well, unless you decided to cheat. I'll certainly pick one up when it's available, if not my wife definitely will.

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Top Gear

By fuser197 on 2/21/2008 3:22:31 PM , Rating: 2

This reminds me of the Top Gear US Road Trip Special, where they had the American cousin of "The Stig" test their beater cars, they kept referring to him as "Fat Stig" or "Big Stig".