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Jeff Bakalar/CNET Networks)
CNET was more than happy to attend an exclusive roundtable Q&A regarding Wii Fit with Nintendo mastermind Shigeru Miyamoto on Thursday afternoon at the Le Parker Meridien in New York. Miyamoto led the presentation with an in-depth look at the origin of Wii Fit and the challenges that came along in developing such an ambitious platform.
Interestingly enough, Wii Fit was conceived by Miyamoto in the process of his own personal awareness of his body weight. By graphing his weight over a period of time, he was able to see a visual representation of how it fluctuated. With his family encouraging him to keep in shape, Miyamoto did so by creating a personal game out of the whole thing--as a result, Wii Fit was born.
What separates Wii Fit from other "working-out-can-be-fun" concepts is that it creates a game around each person who plays it. Nintendo hopes that this personalized experience will attract people who would otherwise not be playing video games--and we think they're on to something. By making Wii Fit an easy-to-use, practical, and accessible device, it can appeal to just about anyone who can stand on a scale. Wii Fit may not have you dropping pounds as fast as intense exercise and dieting would, but it can definitely make keeping track of your progress a whole lot easier and definitely more entertaining. Miyamoto explained that Wii Fit makes you more aware of your body, which is the first step toward improving your health. Wii Fit is already starting to pop up in gyms across Japan and we'd imagine a similar response here in the states. ... Read more
(Credit:
Nintendo)
Rumors have been circulating for several weeks that the upcoming Nintendo interactive fitness game, Wii Fit, which comes bundled with the Wii Balance Board peripheral (pictured), would be priced at $89.99. Well, now that number has become official along with the not-so-secret May 19 launch date.
According to Nintendo's press release, Wii Fit boasts, "A dynamic mix of more than 40 yoga, aerobics, strength training, and balance activities, Wii Fit provides consumers with a fun, easy, and affordable way to incorporate exercise into their daily routines. Using the included wireless Wii Balance Board accessory, every member of the household can step up and stay active, setting individual fitness goals and tracking their progress over time."
If you happen to live in or around New York, it's worth noting that from April 18 through 20, the "first 1,000 consumers who place a $5 deposit for Wii Fit at the Nintendo World store in Rockefeller Plaza will receive a limited edition Wii Fit T-shirt featuring the image and reproduced autograph of legendary Nintendo video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto."
Nintendo says it's already sold 1.4 million Fit kits in Japan and chances are the bundle is going to do very well in North America. Will Fit match the success of Guitar Hero and Rock Band, which also carry somewhat hefty price tags? Hard to say. What do you guys think? Can casual gaming translate into buns of steel?
Nintendo has announced Wii Fit, a fitness game for the Wii game console. The game doesn't center on the Wiimote, but on an entirely new controller, the Wii Balance Board.
(Credit: Caroline McCarthy/CNET News.com)Ever since Wii Sports got gamers off their couches and onto the floor in front of their couches, the Wii has been a big deal for health-conscious gamers. The Wiimote's motion-oriented controls keep players active as they swing, slash, and roll in different games. Now Nintendo is taking the next step in making the Wii fitness-friendly, and they're not even using the Wiimote to do it.
At a press conference today, Nintendo announced Wii Fit. Like its name implies, Wii Fit is a fitness game for the Nintendo Wii. Like Brain Age used the Nintendo DS to exercise your brain, Wii Fit will use the Wii to exercise your body. The game will offer 40 different activities, ranging from aerobics to balance, to help keep you physically fit. Just like Brain Age and Wii Sports, Wii Fit will record and track various performance statistics, so you can watch your progress over time.
Shigeru Miyamoto introduces the Wii Balance Board.
(Credit: Caroline McCarthy/CNET News.com)Surprisingly, Wii Fit centers on not Wiimote, but an entirely new controller, the Wii Balance Board. The WBB is a flat surface you lay on the floor that wirelessly connects to the Wii, just like the Wiimote. Stand on the board and it will measure your weight and balance, letting the game track just how you're standing, leaning, shifting on your feet, or otherwise moving. It seems like a combination of the Wiimote and a Dance Dance Revolution pad.
Nintendo hasn't announced a hard release date for Wii Fit, though we'll probably see it hit stores by first quarter of 2008, around the same time as Nintendo's other major game announcement, Mario Kart Wii, is scheduled to ship.
Update on Thursday morning: To see a video of Wii Fit in action, click here.
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