Nintendo celebrates Wii Fit NY launch in Central Park

Nintendo is really rubbing in its NY-only launch date for the Wii Fit. Not only do New Yorkers get the Fit a whole two days prior to the rest of America, they also got to try it out for free alongside celebrity trainers in Central Park. Despite the threat of rain, we saw quite a few folks out enjoying the device, from young to old. Many of older set wasn't even aware there were two products in play, the Wii and the Wii Fit -- and some of the trainers seem to have trouble explaining that concept -- so it seems to us that a bundled SKU could do good things for Nintendo. Not that it won't sell like gangbusters anyways. Video of people exercising is on the way. You have been warned.

Update: Video has been added.

Gallery: Nintendo celebrates Wii Fit NY launch in Central Park

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[nathan.wong @ May 19th 2008 3:31PM]

OH, but of course it won't be widely available.

[Low Ranked @ May 19th 2008 3:32PM]

Hurry up with the excercise video please.

[Flashpoint @ May 19th 2008 3:35PM]

Yet another gimmick in Wii's library of underpowered, boring hardware line - to complement its lackluster FIRST PARTY titles.

I find it hilarious that the WiiFit can only be used by people weighing less than 350 when its the people. People who would most likely lose weight quickly if they'd just get off their couches and go outside for a walk.

The programs in WiiFit SUCK. You can cheat at exercises and you can't make your own fitness program.

Yes I know the wiifanboys are already downranking this comment but since there is no HIGHEST RANKED anymore, any stupid comments posted in reply will only get a Highly Ranked.

GO FOR IT !

[lowbot @ May 19th 2008 3:41PM]

Im not sure if youre trolling but why would you cheat at a fitness program?

If I decided to count my calories I'm not going to put 'chocolate cake' at 50 calories. That only hurts me.

Youre being downranked because youre making stupid arguments, stupid generalizations, and type in ALL CAPS, like youre shouting.

[Shadowise @ May 19th 2008 3:45PM]

Gimmick or not, it's been completely sold out in the UK since release and I expect the same thing to happen in the states.

Nintendo may have strayed from what made them sucessful in the beginning, but you can't deny that they know how to market their products.

[Cal @ May 19th 2008 3:51PM]

"Im not sure if youre trolling but why would you cheat at a fitness program?"

Does Wii Fit even count as a fitness program? People need real exercise to get fit, not a game and pressure sensitive board.

[Bakari @ May 19th 2008 4:20PM]

Please Flashpoint, tell me what system you approve of us playing. I'd hate to upset you by playing such a clearly inferior console. Oh Wise One, please enlighten us foolish peons!




You are an ass.

[LC @ May 19th 2008 4:22PM]

Why buy a fitness game and hardware if you are going to cheat at it? Wii Fit certainly isn't the only excercise equipment one could cheat on. Hell, why complain about people who buy barbells who would cheat by not putting the weight on?

The Wii may not have the power that the XBOX or PS3 has, but it makes up for it in some pretty fun games. I have an XBOX 360 and a Wii and I enjoy both.

I love how fanboy meatheads feel that if they pick one system, all the others must suck.

[Drew @ May 19th 2008 4:24PM]

You're a douche. Get a new argument. The "The Wii is underpowered and a gimmick" one is getting old. Can't we be a little more original?

[kidcanuck @ May 19th 2008 5:16PM]

And there still is a "Highest Ranked", just click on the date on the comment.

[robert @ May 20th 2008 1:14AM]

"The programs in WiiFit SUCK. You can cheat at exercises and you can't make your own fitness program."

I don't think that anyone who is trying to exercise is going to cheat at the exercises, since they're doing it because they want to...

[Brian @ May 19th 2008 3:37PM]

My wife actually wants one of these...I might give it a try.

[Pochi @ May 19th 2008 3:41PM]

This probably should have launched in one of the super fat cities first.

I'm talking to you, Houston.

[Jim @ May 19th 2008 3:43PM]

don't forget Memphis

[Pochi @ May 19th 2008 3:49PM]

Don't worry, I haven't forgotten Memphis.

And lord knows I try.

[itlnstln @ May 19th 2008 3:50PM]

Or Philly, or, in my hometown, Fat (San) Antonio, TX, YEEEEHAAAAWWWWW! Now give me a large fries!!!

[Idlemind @ May 19th 2008 5:21PM]

I was at this launch.. and it was situated near the popular walk area.. and a few people stopped to try it out and I heard them turn these two ladies away....

and then i saw the sign (350lbs max)

ouch

[Quikboy @ May 19th 2008 11:06PM]

I don't know what part of Houston you've seen, but in the NW area, we're really not that fat. Despite being suburban.

Also, Men's Magazine recently ranks Houston #10, with Las Vegas being #1 : http://www.mensfitness.com/city_rankings/fattest25/

[Quikboy @ May 19th 2008 11:07PM]

I don't know what part of Houston you've seen, but in the NW area, we're really not that fat. Despite being suburban.

Also, Men's Magazine recently ranks Houston #10, with Las Vegas being #1 : http://www.mensfitness.com/city_rankings/fattest25/

[Quikboy @ May 19th 2008 11:08PM]

I apologize for the double post.

[alexhrose71 @ May 20th 2008 9:11AM]

Don't let it happen again

:P

[Pochi @ May 20th 2008 9:26AM]

"...we're really not that fat. Despite being suburban.... Also, Men's Magazine recently ranks Houston #10..."

So, you're the tenth fattest city in the fattest country.
My statement stands.

[gabe @ May 19th 2008 3:42PM]

this is great -

a gamer who actually might lose some fat.

[Esat Dedezade @ May 19th 2008 3:44PM]

Nintendo Wii.

It prints money!

[T H @ May 19th 2008 3:46PM]

Eats it too!!

[Rohit Kapur @ May 19th 2008 3:45PM]

Good for Nintendo.

Now Paul, could you ask Ryan to post an update on *his* Wii Fit adventures? ;)

[Steffen Jobbs @ May 19th 2008 3:55PM]

OMG. Lard alert. New York is filled with overweight chubsters. The first thing they do after exercising is head toward some eatery and shove the most high-calorie and fat-filled foods they can find into their oversized gobs. They burn off 100 calories only to consume 2000 calories. Wii Fit is a waste of time in the Big Apple.

[jefffaucher @ May 19th 2008 4:19PM]

Dude, you have OBVIOUSLY never been to Milwaukee. Even Homer knows that Milwaukee is one of the fattest cities in the country. NYC is anorexic compared to the midwest.

[stickmanfc73_ @ May 19th 2008 4:55PM]

Don't most New Yorkers walk around everywhere anyway? And hell, if you are walking in Central Park, isn't that a good sign that you are already thinking about your fitness. New York doesn't know about being fat like the Midwest does. Hell, Detroit is a damn test market for McDonald's.

The fact that Nintendo chose NY over any other American city shows how gimmicky the product is. I'm not saying it won't be a hit but it's not going to be a wonderkid (did I use that right) for fitness. And a 350lb limit? Please. Maybe in Japan and Europe... Not here.

[Ethan @ May 19th 2008 5:02PM]

I think the point of Wii fit is so people don't notice the exercise and hence don't binge afterwards.

[Cal @ May 19th 2008 7:21PM]

I thought the point of Wii Fit was to try and capitalise on people wanting an easy way to kid themselves into believing that they are getting into shape, allowing Nintendo to rake it in for providing this service...

[Bakari @ May 19th 2008 4:16PM]

Anything that gets anybody off of their fat, lazy asses for more than 10 minutes is good news. Why don't you people see any good out of this?

Walking in place on a Wii Board or walking on your sidewalk, it doesn't matter, you're walking. Something gained, nothing lost. I welcome more Nintendo-esque thinking from an industry that's done so much to enlarge asses worldwide.

[LC @ May 19th 2008 4:27PM]

Bingo!!!

People really don't understand that any exercise it better than none. It also depends on how you use it as well.

Take the boxing game that came with the wii for example. Sure someone can do well at it just by doing fast hand motions and nothing else, but if you stand up and box like you are really in the ring, you work up quite a sweat.

[Matthew @ May 19th 2008 4:38PM]

You take this concept and it may take a gamer who has never really exercised before and get them into an exercising mindset, and after doing the WiiFit program (although not the most cardiovascular workout) they may find a desire to exercise and eventually up themselves to a higher level... everyone has to start somewhere, and if WiiFit is that place, i for one welcome it

[Lyle @ May 19th 2008 4:43PM]

It was on the shelves at Target today in Minneapolis.

[Paris @ May 19th 2008 5:06PM]

The sad part about the Wii Fit is that some people might actually believe that they are getting enough exercise from it when that is not even close to the truth. The same people who believe that Brain Academy makes them smarter and Sight Training improves their vision.

[Frabba @ May 20th 2008 9:51AM]

The only thing I will comment on as an owner of Wii Fit, is that it doesn't seem to communicate to the user the importance of proper diet. At least, I haven't noticed alot mentioned about it in the hour or so I've played thusfar.

[Bill @ May 19th 2008 5:22PM]

I wish Nintendo would build a car; an all-white subcompact with a 70-hp diesel engine, getting about 80 miles to the gallon.

You could use the Wii-Wheel to steer it from any seat in the car, and use another wand to increase speed. Maybe you could strap it to your head and just leaning forward would increase speed, while leaning back would slow you. Throwing your hands up in the classic defensive posture, while turning your head as if away from an impending crash, would lock all four brakes.

You could have a removable floor so all passengers could lower their feet and propel the vehicle along flat roads or small hills.

I think I'll patent the 'wii car' and sell the idea to a patent troll company.

[Idlemind @ May 19th 2008 5:25PM]

its gotta start someplace, so why not at home. Once they get going and lose a few and gain some confidence, they can join the ranks of the other folks that decided to get out there and see the outside....

As long as there's no "Couch Potato Hero" in the works, we should be fine.

[alexhrose71 @ May 20th 2008 9:16AM]

Lots of criticism in here about the actual exercise regime you can get with this from the current WiiFit disc. However, I thought it is plainly obvious that the WiiFit board is going to get more software - WiiFit disc 2,3 .... just like Brain Age and DDR etc. etc.

I'm sure they'll add stuff like custom workouts, new exercises. Also, I would expect third parties will use it too. Frankly, I think its a great product. It doesn't replace a full gym but its a great start, perfectly targetted at people that don't have the interest in a gym membership but want to tip their toes in some non-threatening exercise routines.

[m0m0 @ May 19th 2008 11:39PM]

I just sold my wii yesterday. Never would have thought that I would be feeling so happy getting rid of a game console. Yes, wii fit is going to sell tons, make hiroshi yamauchi the richest man on the planet before he dies, and yada yada yada... but i still think that nintendo sold it's soul for marketshare and a shitload of money. good for them, good for their so called non-existent "casual gamers". But, i'm definitely not amused by the crap load of shovelware, replacing great traditional nintendo games, that are becoming an anomaly on wii.

[Michael @ May 19th 2008 11:55PM]

I for one am a fat ass. I have barely worked myself out in the past 8 years and have tried all kinds of diets. I look forward to the Wii Fit. I recently started walking on the treadmill 30 minutes a day and getting some muscle strengthening in would do me wonders! (By muscle strengthening I'm of course referring to the Yoga type exercises.)

I think that this will be a great stepping stone for people like myself because you are distracted by something entertaining (a game, like the "roll the ball into the hole" part), you are given instruction by a "personal trainer" via the game (such as in the yoga demonstrations) and you don't have to leave your house to do it. Plus, it's fairly inexpensive compared to some other methods of attempting all of this (such as joining a gym or getting a real personal trainer).

[bigd7387 @ May 20th 2008 12:35AM]

Who cares again. When Nintendo quits manufacturing a self imposed shortage for the Wii then I may pick one up but you know that if they wanted they could make enough for everyone.

Most people I know have dust on theirs since Wii Sports and a couple of N games is all that is really any good.

Just like Heavy Metal and Rap the Wii will go the way of Oatbran as another fad.

[evangelistwithiphone @ May 20th 2008 5:43AM]

Blah blah blah

I love my wii .......,..and my iPhone

[Xander @ May 20th 2008 5:59AM]

Use the WiiFit for almost a month now (received it on the release date in the Netherlands on a pre-order) and I sincerely enjoy it.

Yes, I know it is not a complete substitute to real exercise. But it certainly beats doing nothing at all, and doing WiiFit exercise regularly is a lot easier to keep up with than the sport school. And, as I said, it is fun doing and trying to beat my girlfriend doing the same exercises.

I have a PlayStation 3, a full rig gaming PC and a Wii, and I have to say, the Wii is used most.

And, also here, no store in the country that has not sold out its WiiFit inventory on the pre-orders alone, no stock anywhere in the country, so it is certainly selling.

[Xander @ May 20th 2008 6:12AM]

And 350 lbs as a limit is actually an issue in the US? Boy, thought I was overweight.

Assuming that I am correct in assuming that the 350 lbs is the same as the 150 kg in Europe I do not think that this limit will pose any issue here. It even leaves me quite some room ;-)

Anyway: in my experience the Wii Balance Board is really really solid. Would not be surprised that it would take a lot more than 350lbs/150kg, but that Nintendo just wants to cover itself before someone of 160 kg is crazy enough to jump hard up and down on the board in stead of balancing.
If even a claim of people crashing their Wiimote into their TV stands a chance in the US, they better make the weight maximum claim WAY lower than it actually is.

[Michael @ May 20th 2008 3:37PM]

I don't know if this applies to everything, but I was talking to a rep from Cheif (they make TV wall mounts) and he said that he acceptable weight listed is about 1/4 of the weight it can actually take. The idea is if someone trips and catches themselves on the TV, the mount won't come crashing down with all of that extra force. He said it's common practice to do this (and actually required by law) to save their asses from lawsuits and such.

I used this principle when I use my treadmill at home. I'm about 60 pounds over the weight limit, but my thought is that it was designed to support someone running full speed at the max weight, and since I'm just walking and not putting as much strain on it, it should be fine for me.

I would assume the Wii Fit board is designed on the same idea. If there is an exercise that asks you to jump on the board, say for jumping jacks or something, then at the weight limit of 350 it must be able to handle that. It would be safe to assume that someone that is 400 pounds can easily stand on it without breaking it as long as they don't jump.

However, the software must accept the high weight. Just because the board does, doesn't mean the software will. The software may have a 350 limit. (Or, it might be smart enough to say, "You have exceeded the limit of the board, please get off before it breaks, you fat ass. Just go outside and walk to the market instead. It'll be cheaper for you.")

[Mr.Tech @ May 21st 2008 4:41AM]

The reason Nintendo only launched their Wii Fit advertisement in New York 2 days before the launch day was to get the attentions of the New York stock brokers. There's a lot of big fishes around New York.

[SketchPad @ May 21st 2008 12:19PM]

You pretty much want to heed the 150 kgs limit set by the factory, simply because if you don´t - then you may risk injury if it suddenly breaks apart.

...And - honestly - if you weigh more than 150 kgs you´re in need of
way more exercise than this device will offer ;)

Next up - WiiLoss - the WiiFit Weightloss Program,
compatible with your WiiFit and sports an extra device to
measure blood sugar levels, breathalyzer, blood pressure and
temperature - all in one easy to swallow digital pill that you
can re-use over and over again - and practice that nifty muscle
that´ll let you export tastywheat in small rubber baggies.

(Whoot?)