05/01/2008 - 06/01/2008

Home » Archives for 05/01/2008 - 06/01/2008

5.31.2008

Nintendo entering viral video market with Wii Fit?

At the time of writing, the following video is rocketing its way towards a million views on YouTube - Why every guy should buy their girlfriend Wii Fit.

Joystick Division is suspicious that the viral footage is a sneaky marketing stunt by Nintendo, but its uploader is adamanent that it isn't. Take a look and see what you think.

Shaun White Snowboarding controls detailed

The first details about how the Wii Balance Board will work with Ubisoft's recently announced Shaun White's Snowboarding have been uncovered following the firm's Ubidays event in Paris.

Standing on the Board, players will lean forward to go faster, backwards to slow down, and shift their weight onto their toes and heels to turn and carve their way down the game's snowy peaks. As for tricks, they're activated, reports MTV, by either a spring of the legs or a hula-shake of the body.

Not a whole world away from what you could guess the controls would be, so here's hoping they're pulled off impressively when the title is finally released later this year.

Video: First Skate It teaser trailer

Electronic Arts has lifted the wraps off the first teaser trailer for its upcoming Wii-exclusive, Balance Board-compatible Skate It skateboarding title.

It reveals that the game will be set in San Vanelona, a city devastated by a series of natural disasters, but leaving in its wake a deserted metropolis just perfect for ollies, kickflips, grinding and the like:

Skate it is scheduled for release on an unspecified date in 2008.

Four-player Balance Board games impossible

Any dreams that you'll be able to experience four-way Balance Board gaming in the future have been shattered by Ubisoft this week, who have confirmed that the Nintendo Wii interprets the accessory as the equivalent to two Wii Remotes.

Speaking to MTV Multiplayer Blog, a representative for the French developer explained that its upcoming Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party will support multiplayer for four Wii Remotes or one Balance Board user and two Wii Remotes.

That means that, in the future, Balance Board-exclusive multiplayer competition will be limited to two people.

Gutted? Let us know below.

5.30.2008

Am cry - New Wario Land lacks Balance Board use

Given the tradition of past Wario games to innovate (last seen with the Wii's Smooth Moves), when Nintendo announced last year that some ten games in development were supporting the Balance Board, many presumed that the next Wario game would be among them.

But nope, Wario Land Shake for the Nintendo Wii, confirmed yesterday, will not support the new device. Instead, it's a 2D platformer that will rely heavily on the motion-sensing magic of the Wii Remote.

We'd be lying if we weren't a bit disappointed (even if a new 2D Wario adventure is brilliant news), but we're sure Nintendo has a lot more up its sleeve where the Balance Board is concerned.

Nintendo responds to "too fat for Wii Fit" players

A number of sorry gamers have expressed their anger on the Internet recently, after the Balance Board weighed them and explained that they were too heavy to play Wii Fit.

Wary of their HQ being attacked by enraged obese individuals, Balance Boards in hand, Nintendo has published the following response to try and work around the unfortunate situation. Said Nintendo of America’s Jill Callahan:

“The maximum weight for both game and accessory is 330 lbs (150 kg), which is stated on the Wii Fit packaging. If this is a product that can not currently be used in your home, you may wish to investigate a possible return of the product to the retailer where you purchased it. Or perhaps you would like to give it as a gift to someone you know who would enjoy it. I hope you find these suggestions helpful.”

Not really a solution as such, but what do players really expect Nintendo to do?

Wii Fit Chat re-launches as Balance Board Blog!

Following exactly 200 news and feature posts in just over a month, Wii Fit Chat had quickly become the web's premier source for news on Nintendo's innovative exer-gaming title.

Now that Wii Fit has launched worldwide, the hype surrounding the game is beginning to peter out, just as excitement over new possibilities for the Balance Board accessory begin to take over.

And so, we've re-named and re-launched Balance Board Blog, which can be found at http://www.balanceboardblog.com/ (update those bookmarks!)

We're dedicated to bringing you the latest news, gossip and opinion pieces on everything to do with the Nintendo Wii's Balance Board in a simple, accessible and entertaining manner.

To those who've stuck by us from the beginning - thanks a lot! And to those just discovering us, welcome along.

Step on up, let's all enjoy the ride. =)

Balance Board Blog.

P.S - a big thank you to our friends at http://www.print-mate.co.uk/ for providing the blog's banner.

Video: Shaun White Snowboarding debut trailer

After a number of teaser trailers, Ubisoft has lifted the wraps off the debut gameplay footage of Shaun White Snowboarding, which we know will make use of the Wii Balance Board.

The first footage is from the Sony PlayStation 3/Microsoft Xbox 360 version of the title (obviously the Wii's isn't going to look as hot), but at least we can get a feel for what we can expect:

Video: X-Play discusses Wii Fit and Balance Board

The latest edition of X-Play is dedicated to Wii Fit and the Balance Board. It questions the classification of Wii Fit as a game, and what future uses we might see from Nintendo's newest accessory:

5.29.2008

Balance Board usage confirmed for Winter Sports 2, Ski and Shoot

The upcoming Nintendo Wii games that will make future use of the Balance Board accessory just keep on coming this week. Developer RTL Games is the latest to enter the fray, announcing that both Winter Sports 2 - The Next Challenge and Ski and Shoot will use the weight-sensitive device.

Sirus Ahmadi, CEO of Conspiracy Entertainment, who are publishing the titles said:

'Winter Sports 2' and 'Ski and Shoot' will both utilize the Wii Balance Board, a dual-sensor wireless board that can detect the weight and balance of its users. This added feature favorably positions us to fill strong and emerging market demand in the next evolution of the Wii."

There is no further information on either game yet (both which are set for release in the fourth quarter of 2008), although the potential for Balance Board innovation in both events is obvious. Sitting down to control the bobsleigh, anyone?

Exciting ideas for future Balance Board games

If the likes of Namco's We Ski and Ubisoft's Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party haven't already got you excited about the future potential of the Wii Balance Board, then perhaps the chaps at Cubed3 might help change your mind.

They've racked their collective brains to come up with a list of franchises that they think would be perfectly suited to the weight-shifiting sensitivity of the new accessory.

The ideas range from the obvious (shaking up Activision's Tony Hawks skateboarding series), to the more inventive (controlling the sticky ball at the centre of Namco Bandai's wonderfully kooky Katamari Damacy games).

For these and many more, check out the article here.

Rabbids TV Party includes Balance Board peeing

If Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party's sit-down, bum-controlled skiing mini-game wasn't strange enough, Ubisoft's Product Manager Loic Gounon has divulged that the upcoming title will include a game where players stand on the Balance Board to mimic urination. He told GameDaily:

“Pretty much, you pee like a man. What you do is stand on the balance board and you have to (mimicks shifting his body left and right) do is aim. So what you’re gonna do is (mimics stream of well, pee) and you’ll have to move front, back, left and right and you’re going to aim at stuff (laughs).”

Whatever next, eh?

GamesRadar impressed by TV Party's ass-control

Ubisoft surprised the gaming world yesterday with Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party - the first ever title that you control with your ass, thanks to the wonders of the Wii Balance Board

GamesRadar has already tried it out, and really enjoyed the unique experience. It writes:

"The control is actually very good, with smooth increments of steering accessible through fine balance control.

Fortunately there’s no need for clenching, and although it would have been fun to access the turbo boost through flatulence, it’s actually achieved through leaning backwards."

Let us know if you're gagging to try it out for yourselves.

Video: Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party ass control

Footage from the videogaming world's first ass-controlled title, announced as Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party for the Nintendo Wii, has now been released. Watch as a Lycra-clad Ubisoft employee sits on top of the Balance Board to guide a wildebeast down a steep ski slope, performing tricks along the way.

Click below for more footage in the form of the game's first official trailer.

Wii Fit continues its Australian reign

While Wii Fit shortages in the UK only helped to blight its chances of continuing to ride high at the top of the country's all format charts, the story couldn't be more different Down Under.

The latest sales information supplied by GfK Australia sees that Wii Fit is sitting pretty at the top of the pile for the third week running, beating off stiff competition from Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto IV on the Microsoft Xbox 360 and Sony PlayStation 3.

Babies Party announced for Wii - Balance Board supported

Ubisoft's pre-E3 announcements, we learn, bring information on a third Nintendo Wii title that will make use of the Balance Board, although, unlike Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party and Shaun White Snowboarding, we suspect the majority of adults will want to give this one something of a wide berth.

Babies Party (set in the 'famous' babysitting academy' includes 30 mini-games, that can either be played head-to-head or co-operatively, and are based on the typical day of a baby and its carer.

There are no specific details on which activities will utilise the Balance Board, although memory games, puzzles, colouring and cutting are all included, so take your best guess.

Babies Party is set for release this autumn. We can't wait.

5.28.2008

Shaun White Snowboarding announced for Wii

Brilliantly for those Wii owners looking forward to further games that will make use of the Balance Board, Ubisoft's second big announcement today - Shaun White Snowboarding - will also make use of the innovative accessory.

Developed in close contact with White, an Olympic and X-Games gold medallist, the upcoming title will allow players to use the Balance Board to carve, jump and grind their way down the mountainside.

“Shaun White Snowboarding will turn all of the traditional ideas and experiences of past action sports titles upside down,” said Tony Key, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Ubisoft. “The combination of Ubisoft’s innovation approach and the influence of Shaun’s lifestyle and perspective make this gaming experience like no other."

Like Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party, Shaun White Snowboarding will also arrive this holiday season.

Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party officially announced

As promised, here it is: Ubisoft has today officially announced Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party for the Nintendo Wii - including support for the Wii Balance Board.

As we reported just yesterday, the title includes over 65 mini-games, many of which support Nintendo's latest accessory, from sitting on your butt to control a wildebeest down a ski slope, to striking a variety of wild poses.

“The Rayman Raving Rabbids titles have been an immense success, entertaining the world over,” said Yves Guillemot, president and chief executive officer, Ubisoft. “The inclusion of the Wii Balance Board into the game was a huge source of inspiration for our development team and I guarantee you will see the Wii Balance Board used in ways that will be surprisingly unexpected!”

Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party will be released his holiday season.

Wii Exercise still at "early stage" of development

You may recall the mini article we wrote about Rocket Company's Wii Exercise, a title that is set to offer a more physically exhausting workout than Wii Fit, thanks to an emphasis on shadow boxing, sit-ups and push-ups.

Originally planned for a release in Japan this summer, Wii Fit Chat's correspondence with the firm suggests that this may now not happen. Rocket Company’s Hiroyuki Hashida explained that development of Wii Exercise was still in "an early stage" and was reluctant to reveal any further details about the exer-gaming title.

Wii Exercise was first announced in mid-2007, but was not originally intended to make use of the Balance Board; that feature was announced to be implemented later on.

Nintendo promises more Wii Fit stock ASAP

Finding a copy of Wii Fit anywhere is a near-impossible task at the moment, but Nintendo's UK arm has stressed that stocks of the game will be replenished "as soon as possible," reports GamesIndustry.

Wii Fit tumbled a total of 38 places out of the All Format UK games chart this week, a fact almost entirely down to availability of the title being so sparse throughout the land.

The Nintendo spokesperson added, "...there are pockets of stock shortages in areas of the UK... we are doing everything we can to replenish shortages as soon as possible."

"To this effect we are continuing to bring Wii Fit stock into retailers across the UK on a weekly basis."

Even as stock is shipped in, Wii Fit may still be difficult to find, just because it will likely be snapped up by eager consumers so quickly. Our advice? Keep nagging your local games store about incoming orders.

Want a Wii Fit yoga mat fot $3.95? Here's how

Chances are that you probably don't feel like shelling out any more money on Wii Fit after the rather expensive initial purchase, but you do really fancy one of those comfy-looking mats on which to perform the game's yoga exercises.

The official model, made by Hori, costs a whacking $30 USD, but The WiiCast has come up with a solution that will give you near-enough the same comfort for a fraction of the price.

The site recommends heading out and purchasing shelf liner, stuff that is made from the same material as Hori's yoga mat (and costs just $3.95 for 7ft in Walmart). Simply cut this to size and there you have it, a perfectly good Wii Fit mat for next to nothing.

Stick it to the man, indeed.

Wii Fit topples 38 places out of UK top 40

Despite launching in the country over a month ago, you've more chance of finding Shigeru Miyamoto stuffing his face with burgers at your local McDonald's than a copy of Wii Fit in the UK - and the latest UK all format charts reflect this.

Wii Fit, reports MCV, was sitting pretty at No.2 in ChartTrack/ELSPA's All Format top 40 last week, but has fallen a huge 38 places in just seven days, likely due to the shortage of stock that prevails nationwide.

Similarly, the exer-gaming title dropped to 15th position in ChartTrack's Wii-only chart.

The sparseness of Wii Fit stock marks a recurring trend on Nintendo's part, with many of it's biggest-selling titles seemingly impossible to find, even weeks after launch.

Raving Rabbids TV Party and butt-controlled Balance Board games confirmed

Okay, okay... we know we promised that the first details of Balance Board controls in the next Rayman Raving Rabbids game would be announced later on today, but Nintendo Power magazine has let the cat out of the bag a day early. Called Raving Rabbids TV Party, Ubisoft's upcoming Wii title includes over 65 new mini-games, many of which will make use of the Balance Board.

In a game where the zany Rabbids take over everything on the moving picture box, in one activity, reports GoNintendo, players will sit on the Balance Board, shifting their weight back and forth as they direct a wildebeast down an Olympic ski slope! Another, named Fashion Rabbidz, tasks players with striking different poses whilst stood on top of the weight-detecting accessory.

Mini-game categories include Balance, Rhythm, Combos, Acting, Precision and Stepping where the Balance Board is concerned, and in a cruel multiplayer twist, the person on the Balance Board can be picked on by other players.

Sounds great, no? We'll no doubt have more information for you tomorrow evening.

Balance Board used to surf Google Earth

We've already seen how Wii Fit is being used in innovative ways outside of gaming, with hospitals taking advantage of the Balance Board in the rehabilitation of poorly patients. These German guys, though, they've only gone and turned it into a virtual surfboard and linked it up to Google Earth:

Impressive!

5.27.2008

A Fanboy-ish Wii Fit Review for your delectation

There surely can't be too many Wii Fit reviews left to cover, what with the game now finally released worldwide (and given that we can hear our Reviews Round-up creaking under the strain of yet another summary being added to it). Here's another one for you to soak up, though, courtesy of NintendoWiiFanboy.

They award Wii Fit a it-ain't-bad-but-it-coulda-been-better 7.5 marks out of 10 and conclude:

"Wii Fit is definitely effective and definitely flawed, and that's frustrating. As with so many games, there's the lingering sense that this could have been just a little bit better and really been mind-blowing."

As mentioned, this one's been added to our Wii Fit Reviews Round-up.

Ubisoft to unveil Rayman Raving Rabbids 3 tomorrow

After teasing us with a trailer featuring a curious Rabbid getting 'cosy' with the Wii Balance Board, word has it that developer Ubisoft will unveil Rayman Raving Rabbids 3 (set to include compatibility with the weight-measuring accessory) tomorrow evening, at its Ubidays event in Paris - being held at the Louvre Museum, no less.

We'll bring you all the latest news on the firm's newest madcap mini-game compilation as soon as it breaks.

Naughty, naughty: Wii Fit's top 5 cheats and tips

A million and one companies (usually seen on late night infomercials) promise ways gain yourself a body to die for, with very little effort needed on your part. And like Wii Fit, the ripped and toned bodies, Lycra outfits and perfectly white smiles on show explain that their chosen method of exercise is an enjoyable one.

We're going to be cynical here and guess that there's harder work to a six-pack than these adverts are making out, and the same, we suppose, is true of Wii Fit. But... if you are intent on cheating (even if it is to unlock everything the game has to offer quicker than it would normally take), then the information is already out there if you know where to look.

Times Union lists five of the sneakiest and cleverest Wii Fit tactics available, from deliberately failing challenges to earn coins for your piggy bank, to making the long jog around WiiFitty Island a breeze.

Tut, tut, tut…

The secretive Wii Fit rival - Rocket's Wii Exercise

Ever since the official unveiling of Wii Fit, many a third party developer has expressed interest in making use of the Balance Board accessory in their upcoming games. Some of the most notable examples so far include Electronic Arts and THQ, who have confirmed that Skate It and All Star Cheer Squad will have gamers on their feet thanks to Nintendo’s new-fangled hardware.

In fact, EA has also announced that it is working on a direct rival to Wii Fit; a title that will offer a tougher, more "westernised" workout. However, they aren't the first company to divulge such intentions.

Say hello to Rocket Company's little-known Wii Exercise, a fitness game for the Nintendo Wii that was originally planned to hit stores ahead of Nintendo's globe-conquering title.

Originally announced in mid July 2007, Wii Exercise was intended to be a Balance Board-less fitness program for the Nintendo Wii, which offered players an aerobic workout by taking them through a variety of boxing moves (Wii Remote and Nunchuck controllers in hand). In addition, it planned to include a feature that allowed players to plan their own diet via the software, making their exercise and eating habits easy to monitor together.

However, following the official announcement of Wii Fit just a few weeks afterwards, The Rocket Company went right back to the drawing board, realising that their own game could be much more effective if it made use of the Balance Board accessory. After a few months of silence, the developer once again piped up about Wii Exercise - this time to announce that it would, you guessed it, be compatible with the Balance Board accessory.

In addition to boxing gestures, Wii Exercise, it was confirmed, would now include strength training activities such as squats, push-ups, and sit-ups, to buff up muscles and offer more of a full body workout.

Wii Exercise is said to be planned for a springtime release in Japan - although we have yet to hear anything of it since last Christmas, and no screenshots or video of the title have seen the light of day so far, which leads us to believe development has been delayed.

Could this be a true competitor to Wii Fit’s crown? Only time will tell.

Moms unimpressed by Wii Fit: Nintendo "don't know what girls like"

The way Nintendo's advertising for Wii Fit has been, it's clear that the firm has been, in the main, focusing its attention on luring women to the charms of its new title.

To see if they'd succeeded, Florida's Orange County Register invited a group of Mom-bloggers to their offices and gave them some playtime with Wii Fit. While a few of them enjoyed the experience, the majority came away feeling disappointed.

Referring to Wii Fit's developers, Jenny Angelici stated that Nintendo "don't know what girls want. They don't know what girls like."

Blogger Marcy Masura added, "I'm just not that impressed. I do love the concept, but the actual product has obviously disappointed me. It feels like something is missing – the games just weren't engaging enough for me."

Another Mom explained that after a while with Wii Fit, it's only the kids that'll be playing with it.

Wii Fit parody: One Man's Journey

Wii Fit: One Man's Journey is a short film documenting the trials and tribulations of a gamer has he anticipated, collects, and uses Nintendo's latest release - pretty funny it is too.

And if you're really keen, the copy of Wii Fit used in the film is available to bid for on eBay... here.

5.26.2008

Amazon: shortages in Wii Fit supply chain across US

It will come as no surprise to anyone in America who has hit the streets to try and find a copy, but Wii Fit is all but sold out everywhere.

Likely to be many consumers' first port of calls, Amazon has explained on Wii Fit's product page that there are currently "shortages" of the software nationwide:

"As you may know, the Nintendo "Wii Fit" is in great demand, and there are shortages of this product across the U.S. In an effort to provide as many customers as possible with the opportunity to purchase "Wii Fit" from Amazon.com, we are actively seeking more of this product from suppliers. Please check back soon to see if more are available."

The race is now on for Nintendo to re-stock as quickly as possible, but there's no sign yet as to when this will be.

Wii Fit: helping to save the US government billions

While, in the majority of minds, Wii Fit is seen as a fun and entertaining way to share a few pounds or tone up, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) in North America infers that the videogame might have a much larger and more serious role to play.

In a lengthy report about the state of health literacy, the organisation, reports Canada.com, has findings that show just 12 percent of American adults are mentally equipped to manage their own physical health and wellbeing.

It's a problem that's costing the US economy between $106 and $236 billion a year, estimated the University of Connecticut..

Wii Fit, however sizeable its impact, must be influencing to improve in a positive manner, helping to make people aware of their weight and general health.

Yes! It's another Wii Fit silicone sleeve

Are you finding that using the Balance Board with Wii Fit gets more difficult the sweatier your hands get? After all, the device isn't made of the 'grippiest' of material.

As well as keeping the thing clean, that's where anti-skid silicone sleeves come in, and the latest is from eToolscity. It's available from Amazon.com for $9.99 USD.

We've added it along with every Wii Fit accessory under the sun to our handy round-up.

Wii Fit Movement Tour begins in USA

Wii Fit's American launch kicked off in earnest last week, thanks to a huge celebratory bash in Central Park, New York. Don't worry if you couldn't make that, however, because Nintendo is on tour with the exer-gaming title across the US between now and the middle of June.

The Wii Fit Movement Tour will be stopping off at a variety of events across the USA, with special teams on hand to offer one-on-one demonstrations of the Balance Board and software.

From New York to Oregon (and many cities in between), click here to see if Nintendo is stopping off at a location near you.

Wii Fit comic: a turn of events

Videogaming, a hobby presumed to be dominated by men for so long has, it seems, reached a tipping point thanks to Wii Fit.

Any guy with a non-games-playing partner up until the release of Nintendo's revolutionary exer-gaming title will instantly be able to relate to 2P Start's latest comic strip, which depicts how, thanks to Wii Fit, the tides have so dramatically turned.

Click the image to enlarge.

CNET: "unethical" to choose any other console than Wii

Your relative's birthday is coming up soon, and you want to treat them to a brand new videogames console to mark the occassion, but which of 'the big three' (Nintendo Wii, Sony PS3 or Microsoft Xbox 360) should you plump for?

Well, if you're CNET Asia, there's only one choice and it's the Nintendo Wii... with Wii Fit being the deal clincher. The site's Michael Tan, in an overwhelmingly positive article about the exer-gaming title, writes:

"After this Wii Fit, it would be unethical and lying to recommend any other console other than the Wii to anybody asking for a console for his family. Way to go... just waiting for weights which can fit a Wii Remote for a full fitness center."

You're probably not the only one, Tan.

Nintendo: Wii Fit will be bigger than GTA IV

In what has to be one of the most fascinating face-offs in videogaming history, both Wii Fit and Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto IV happened to be released at the same time - two titles completely at different ends of the spectrum when it comes to target audiences.

Still, both have sold extremely well... but Nintendo is confident that Wii Fit will win out in the end. Asked whether Wii Fit would be bigger than GTA IV, Rose Lapin, Nintendo of Australia's Managing Director of Nintendo told The Age blog:

"Long term, it will absolutely be bigger. I'm quite open to say that. We will continue to support Wii Fit because its an important product for us and its an important product for our consumers now. Long term, definitely."

We're inclined to agree, especially where Wii Fit's long-term appeal is concerned.

Wii Fit Indy and NASCAR... the results are in!

Remember the story about a couple of NASCAR and Indy Car vehicles being branded in Wii Fit advertising? Well, this weekend they raced the NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 and Indy 500 respectively...

... Alex Lloyd finished in 25th out of 33 cars in the Indy 500 Memorial Day event, while Sterling Martin crossed the finish line in 31st position after 966 km of driving endurance at the Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Well done, chaps!

5.25.2008

Wii Fit's sequel: how it can be done better

Don’t get us wrong – as Nintendo’s first attempt at making exercise in the home an entertaining experience, Wii Fit has been a revelation. For all the millions of people who will forget it even existed after a few weeks, we’re sure there’ll be many, many more that will benefit from the Balance Board’s motivational charms.

That said, however, we still have grievances with Wii Fit; stuff that we’d love to see Nintendo change in any follow-up efforts, from ditching the BMI to banning user-made videos. Head below for our five choices, and let us know if you agree, by tip-tapping a response in the comments section.

Warm-ups and Warm-downs

Anyone who knows their beans when it comes to exercise will tell you that warming up beforehand and warming down afterwards, are as fundamental a part of the process as the activity itself. Given that, it's surprising that Wii Fit features neither. Of course, you're able piece together your own routine as a replacement (yoga stretches, for example), but we're sure making warming up and down essential for players is something Nintendo'll want to make a proper part of any sequel. It’d certainly save a lot of aching limbs, that’s for sure.

Custom Exercises

Building upon the previous point, the ability to users to build their own exercise routines, tailored to their own needs, is something notably lacking in Wii Fit. Not only would it benefit players more, but it would also help make the experience more seamless; not forcing players to have to return to the main menu each time they want to choose a new exercise (some of which are very brief indeed), their heart rate dropping and the sweat beads drying all the while.

Unlocking content = no

Having to work at a game to unlock all of its features is a staple of many titles, and for many it works as a (somewhat cynical) way of making sure players continue to plug away at it to see what’s around the corner. However, for Wii Fit, where the incentive to exercise should be the size of a player's gut or to tone up, and where users start at different levels of physical health, having to fill the Fit Piggy just to unlock extra and more difficult activities is unnecessary.

Ditch the reliance on Body Mass Index

..Or at least compliment it with the option for players to accurately input their body size and shape. BMI's shortcomings as an accurate measurement in the assessment of an individual's health have been well highlighted in the past couple of weeks (most notably by the "obese" little girl palaver). It might be one of the simplest ways to get players started quickly, but for those who want to take exercise matters seriously, it certainly isn't the best.

Ban ghastly Wii Fit YouTube videos

It might make a lot of people feel better about themselves, but stumbling across footage of severely obese children, clueless grannies and half naked, thong-wearing didn't half put us off our lunch. Ta.

Wii Fit to get Nintendo is a lot of legal trouble?

We've already hinted about the possible accidents and injuries that Wii Fit players could be faced with in a previous tongue-in-cheek article, but one columnist reckons that, as a result of said mishaps, Nintendo is going to be faced with a lot of legal trouble.

In his latest Page 2 blog for ESPN, Bill Simmons writes:

...Speaking of video games, there are few certainties in life but this is one of them: The Wii is headed for the biggest and most expensive class-action injury suit since Navin's eyeglasses made everyone cross-eyed in "The Jerk."

A lawsuit from someone complaining that Wii Fit called them fat when they aren't? We wouldn't say it was beyond the realms of possibility...

5.24.2008

Wii Fit hula in only a thong: truly the end of videogaming as we know it

Wii Fit is now on sale (well, if you can even find a copy in all of the world's biggest gaming territories. It's a title that has changed the face of gaming forever, as the following videos demonstrate... and not always for the better.

Wii Fit Chat has trawled the YouTube archives to find five of the funniest, cute, most bizarre and risque Wii Fit-related videos out there... beginning with Wii Fit... in a thong.

Think the release of Wii Fit sucks for the future of videogaming? Let us know in the comments section below.

Entertainment Weekly camps it up with Wii Fit

Entertainment Weekly has recently gotten to grips with Wii Fit, toiled through the most punishing of its exercises, and given its respectable opinion on the game:

It concludes that, while Wii Fit's exer-gaming offering is better than none at all, it's most useful as a companion to other healthy activities than a complete replacement.

Wii Fit used in hospital rehabilitation

We've heard previously about Wii Fit could be used to the benefit of those with certain physical illnesses, but this is the first we've heard of any establishment actually going ahead with the scheme.

Patients at the Lake East Hospital in the aptly named Painesville, Ohio, are being encouraged to get active again with the help of Nintendo's new exer-gaming software.

The hospital's Physical Therapist Nancy Ditzel, reports WKYC, explained that patients are more willing to exercise if they're enjoying themselves, and that she'd already noticed improvements in balance, endurance and strength in those taking part in the Wii-habilitation.

Keith Fat hopes to get Wii Fit

Countless individuals have pledged to use Wii Fit as an exercise program, before documenting their progress online for the world to see.

We've neglected to report most of them, but Keith Shaw, we like his style. He's fat, he knows it, and he's not afraid to show it. He also seems like a nice, amiable chap. He'll be using Wii Fit for a total of ten weeks, to see if it makes much difference to his health and physical appearance... which, at present, isn't fantastic:

Check out his introductory video above, and perhaps send a message to wish him good luck.

Wii Fit: nearly as good as running a marathon

One of the most often-asked questions about Wii Fit is whether it does actually work as a feasible method for keeping healthy and active, and what better way than to get all scientific on your be-hind by measuring how it tests your ticker?

Marathon runner and NuMetrex marketing director, Meg Burich, reports BusinessWire, played through Wii Fit's aerobic exercises and found that her heart rate rose to a maximum of 130 beats per minute whilst jogging around Wiifitty Island. Comparatively, Burich's heart rate measured between 145-155 during her running of the Philadelphia Marathon in November 2007.

"For an avid runner, the Wii workout offers the equivalent of a walking warm-up or a low-to-moderate exertion run on a flat surface," said Dr. Alinda Perrine, a personal trainer and heart rate expert, "...But for someone who is sedentary, overweight, or not exercising regularly, the Wii could elevate heart rate enough to offer some cardiovascular benefits."

5.23.2008

Microsoft: "Wii Fit is for wimps," announces aLive?

While we've already reported Microsoft's first steps in linking itself and the Xbox 360 to a healthy lifestyle by sponsoring the first annual Family Fitness Day, reports suggest that it is in the process of developing a more "violent" rival to Wii Fit.

TomsGuide writes that an exercise game called aLive was announced at a presentation in Redmond, Washington on Wednesday. The program is said to be subscription-based, available via Xbox Live from June and will cost from a teeth-gritting $200 to a truly wallet burning $2000 USD.

“Dance and yoga are fun, but violent actions are what get people in shape,” said Xbox-ercise aLive’s marketing director Todd Belham. “The Wii Fit stuff is for wimps. You burn a lot more calories smashing the controller into someone’s skull than stepping on and off the Wii Fit pad.”

Some kind of joke, maybe?

IGN shapes up with Wii Fit video review

Following its written review earlier on this week, IGN has published a video analysis of Wii Fit; an in-depth and balanced (no pun indended) summary of the title's best and worst bits:

Miyamoto: developing Wii Fit stressed me out

He's the inventor of Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, and Wii Fit (amongst many others) and a living legend in the world of videogames design, but even Shigeru Miyamoto admits that working on the development of his first exer-gaming product wasn't all fun.

Speaking to Time, the Nintendo employee explained that high expectations made working on Wii Fit a stressful period in the 55 year-old's life:

"There tends to be a lot of nervousness about working on a product like this," he said. "Video games have a lot of expectations, and developers tend to have stress to meet those."

May we suggest some of Wii Fit's yoga exercises as a way to relax, Mr. Miyamoto?

Nintendo to host We Ski Snow Party

If you've bagged yourself Wii Fit and want to get the most out of the Balance Board, then you may well want to set your sights on Namco's We Ski.

It was released earlier on this month in North America (it arrives in Europe on June 13), but the launch of Wii Fit gives Nintendo another chance to promote the skiing simulation, which is the only game available at the moment (other than Wii Fit) that supports the Balance Board accessory.

If you can get to New York on May 24, Nintendo will be hosting a We Ski Snow Party at the Nintendo World Store, where shoppers can sample the title. The first 500 people to snap up a copy of the game on the day will also receive an exclusive poster.

Luv'ly jubbly.

Wii Fit release makes Wii harder to find

The boss of US retail juggernaut, GameSpot, has explained that Wii Fit will be the most significant title to continue to drive the sales of the Nintendo Wii this year.

"We feel pretty damn strongly that Wii Fit itself going to be the most significant addition that will drive hardware sales," said Gamestop CEO Dick Fontaine. See?

"It's going to drive even more demand for the Wii, while we've been selling out everything that we get," he added, saying that encouraging the sale of Wii consoles wasn't a problem, "as long as we can get the supply."

While Nintendo has increased supply by 15 per cent, stores are still struggling to keep up with demand - a situation, we imagine, that Wii Fit is bound to worsen for consumers on a desperate hunt for the console.

Wii Fit sells 650,000 copies on first day in US?

Early, unconfirmed reports suggest that Wii Fit's first day on sale in North America has been a record breaking one for Nintendo.

VGChartz writes that the new $90 USD title sold more than 650,000 units during its first 24 hours on sale, raking in a total of roughly $60 million USD for Nintendo.

The previous record holder was another of Nintendo's 2008 titles, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, which sold some 950,000 on its first day, and earned Nintendo a cool $47.5 million USD.

Wii Fit top of the charts this week? You bet.

GameTrailers throws its muscle behind Wii Fit

As well as providing all of the latest videogaming trailers and in-game footage, GameTrailers also turns its hand to reviews at times. Its latest is a summary of what Wii Fit has to offer:

The site awards the exer-gaming title 7.7 out of a total of 10, and praises the way in which it motivates users to exercise on a daily basis.

5.22.2008

Intec's Wii Fit Workout Kit: the ultimate Wii Fit companion

There are more than enough separate Wii Fit accessories already on the market already, but if you're keen on acquiring all of the essential add-ons (and more) for Nintendo's exer-gaming title in one purchase, then Intec's Wii Fit Workout Kit may very well be the choice for you.

The Workout Kit features eight accessories, including a 5'6'' non-skid textured workout mat for your Balance Board, a rechargeable battery pack, and a charging cable to go with it.

Our favourite additions to the new set, however, are the Workout Kit's two soft grip 2lb. dumbbells, a workout towel, two wrist-bands, and even a water bottle to keep your body topped up with the water it needs.

The product is described as an all-in-one solution for all of your Wii Fit needs, and from the evidence in front of us, we have to agree.

Keep an eye out to snap up Intec's Workout Kit on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk soon, and we're sure you'll be the envy of all your Wii Fit-owning friends.

Nintendo: Wii Fit has lasting appeal

Anyone who has taken up a new diet or exercise regime will tell you how, despite being ultra enthusiastic on Day 1, by the time Day 7 rolled around, they'd resorted back to breakfasts of chocolate muffins and waffles.

The same worries have been directed at Wii Fit's lasting appeal, but Nintendo's VP of sales and marketing, Cammie Dunaway insisted to Kotaku that the exer-gaming title very much as staying power:

"Wii Fit incorporated the magic of video games," she said. "You get ranked, you unlock new levels, you can compete against each other, there's a lot of video game hooks that will help people stay motivated."

It's probably still a little too early to tell, but we know that some Europeans (the game was released there on April 25) are already tiring of Wii Fit...

From the beginning: A Wii Fit Timeline

Long before extravagant launch events, huge advertising campaigns and the resulting frenzy to bag a copy of Wii Fit, the ‘exer-gaming’ title was little more than a scribble in the notebook of Nintendo designer, Shigeru Miyamoto.

In fact, our best guess suggests that work began on Wii Fit (or Wii Health Pack as it was first known) as far back as 2005, when the title was originally planned for the Nintendo DS. A lot has happened since then, from the struggle of designing the Balance Board, to its enormous sales across the world, and even controversy over the BMI scale the software uses to rank players’ weight category.

Wii Fit Chat has compiled all of the most significant events in Wii Fit’s lifetime in the simple form of a timeline. Head below for everything you’ll need to know about what already looks like being one of the most significant videogame innovations of all time.

2005

Idea for Wii Balance Board brainstormed, inspired by sumo wrestlers needing two weighing scales to determine their weight.
Concept was first penned as an idea for the Nintendo DS, with players entering the nutritional value of food they ate into the console, in order to keep tabs on their diet.
Project switched to Nintendo Wii; Nintendo visits scales specialists to enquire about Balance Board-type accessory.

2006

July - Nintendo begins development of Wii Fit, with Shigeru Miyamoto divulging that there is a "full-scale" team dedicated to building it.
September - Shigeru Miyamoto announces in-development project called Wii Health Pack, described as a "way to get families exercising together."

2007

February - Nintendo reveals its Wii line-up for 2007 in Japan, including Super Mario Galaxy, Forever Blue, and of course, Wii Health Pack.
April - Rumours suggest that Wii Health Pack will feature mode to upload user data, via a new Wii Channel, to local hospitals for analysis; Nintendo release schedule pens Wii Health Pack in for July 2007 release in Japan - a date that would be missed.
July - Wii Health Pack unveiled as Wii Fit for the first time at E3 Expo. Nintendo of America president weighed by Balance Board and dubbed overweight. Fils-Aime had been asked to demonstrate the Hula Hoop activity, but refused.
October - December release for Wii Fit in Japan confirmed, priced at 8,800 yen (approximately $75 USD).

December - Wii Fit arrives in Japan on December 01; sells 261,000 copies during its first week and sits in second place in chart. Consistently high sales continue, with nearly 880,000 Wii Fits sold in Japan by year's end.

2008

January - Wii Fit sales top 1 million in Japan, little over a month after its launch; title reaches top spot in all format chart in the region for the first time on January 12. Stays in pole position for a further two weeks.
February - Nintendo officially announces that Wii Fit will arrive in Europe on April 25. It later confirms that the game and Balance Board will cost £69.99 in the UK and €89.99 across the continent's mainland; Nintendo confirms May release date for Wii Fit in US.
March - Wii Fit priced at $149 USD in Australia, and confirmed for release on May 08.
April - Play.com's Wii Fit pre-orders for UK consumers begin, and sell out in one day; others follow, with many major chains lacking any stock.

- Nintendo officially prices Wii Fit at $89.99 USD for North America; announces title will first be available in Nintendo World Store on May 19.

- Wii Fit hits mainstream in US when it is covered by Good Morning America.

- First UK commercials for Wii Fit emerge; Balance Board re-named Wii Board for region.

- Nintendo holds Wii Fit launch event in London, ex-Playboy model Nell McAndrew amongst celebrity guests.

- UK Woolworths stores report Wii Fit is selling at rate of 90 units per minute, many of its stores re-named 'WiiWorths' as part of promotion.

- Wii Fit becomes sixth fastest-selling videogame in UK history.
May - By the middle of May, the weekly sales charts reveal that Wii Fit is owned by a third of Japan's six million Nintendo Wii owners, having shifted an incredible 2,035,259 units.

- Amazon.com, Walmart, Best Buy and other run out of Wii Fit pre-order stock in US.

- Nintendo announces grand Central Park launch party for Wii Fit, celebrity trainer Ashley Borden roped in to promote game.

- Wii Fit advertising bombards America, including giant billboards in Hollywood and Times Square.

- Wii Fit calls young girl 'overweight', controversy reigns.

- Wii Fit launches in US; consumers queue; title sells out everywhere almost instantly.

We'll be updating the Wii Fit timeline as time goes on, following its inevitable success in North America. You'll find a link to it underneath the Features list on the Wii Fit Chat homepage.

Wii Fit vs Yourself Fitness - which is the best?

Wii Fit might be the most popular 'exer-gaming' title about, but it isn't the only one to have attempted to get players up, moving and breaking sweat.

Yourself! Fitness was released for the Microsoft Xbox, PC, and Sony PlayStation 2 back in 2004/2005, but is it better than Nintendo's latest effort? GameSpy takes a lengthy look at the two in order to pick a winner.

They conclude that Yourself! Fitness is a more serious attempt at introducing gamers to a fitness regime, but for everybody else, Wii Fit's novel and entertaining approach, the site writes, is more suitable.

Check out the full report here.

Moms and Dads interviewed about Wii Fit

Los Angeles' ABC Local News 7 hit the streets yesterday morning, to catch the very first people to buy Wii Fit from their local Best Buy.

Their vox pops show off two customers who wouldn't normally fit the traditional 'videogamer' mould:

"The Wii Fit, I wanted that. Family, we love to do it together, it's something we love to do together," said father, David Middleton.

Julie Tonks added, ""I've been trying to get one... I didn't realise you had to get down here so early to get it."

Click here to watch the full report.

Gamers bowled over by Wii Fit reviews rush

Today has seen a huge influx of new Wii Fit reviews, both from gaming-specific websites and national newspapers alike.

Rather than clog up the front page with a summary for each, we'll just let you know that the usual snippets from The LA Times, The Washington Post, GamePro, and Gizmag have all been added to our Wii Fit Reviews Round-up.

Click here to view the ever-growing list in all of its glory.

5.21.2008

Green Lake provides new Wii Fit accessories

Many of Wii Fit's accessories appeared weeks before its launch, in preparation for the hordes of customers waiting to throw their money at it. However, Green Lake Electronics has bided its time until now.

The firm has two Wii Fit-related products for sale on Amazon - a Wii Fit Sport Cushion Mat, which it promises is "very soft" and makes sure that the Balance Board doesn't slip when you're standing on it.

The other is an unofficial yoga mat, fashioned from non-slip-grip plastic, to help make some of Wii Fit's trickier exercises more comfortable to perform.

Each costs $22.99 USD, and we've added alongside the competition in our Wii Fit Accessories Round-up.

Running Moms stop at nothing to buy Wii Fit

Wii Fit officially launched across the US today, and it appears that everyone, established game players and not, are going crazy for it. But the most enthusiastic demographic? It's Moms.

Amongst the many stories of Wii Fit's launch day, comes the following from NeoGAF forum member 'jaydogg691', who explained what happened near him:

"I was at my local Target and there were a bunch of women waiting for Wii Fit. I was expecting things to go in an orderly fashion, but once the store opened, people started running their way to the electronics department....I knew Wii Fit was going to be big, but seeing Moms running like crazy to pick up Wii Fit was pretty weird."

Was Wii Fit easy to find where you are, and were you surprised about who was there to buy it? Let us know in the comments section below.

Ellen audience bags Wii Fit freebies

If you're in the US and have been trudging the shops all day in vane, trying to hunt down a copy of Wii Fit... well, then might make you even more frustrated.

Just before demonstrating the exer-gaming title, Ellen DeGeneres announced to her squealing audience that every single one of them would receive a free copy of Wii Fit, as well as a Nintendo Wii to play it on.

Click here to watch, and keep that stress ball handy.