Wii Fit set to outpace Grand Theft Auto IV -- gamer geeks weep, gnash teeth

Unafraid to incite elitist gamer geek unrest, respected video game industry analyst Michael Pachter has supported a prediction by GigaOM that Wii Fit will outsell Grand Theft Auto IV this year. Yeah, you read right: the latest entry into what is arguably the biggest hardcore video game franchise around is gonna get whooped by an exercise tool -- we're not shocked, we're just laughing. GTA4 was dominating at first, but with time interest has waned while Wii Fit and its included Balance Board peripheral have stayed hot despite supply shortages. Nintendo's hardware-focused strategy seems to be working; the Balance Board install base is approaching 12 million, or roughly 30% of all Wii owners. You can bet it'll be put to good use in future games and other, less mainstream applications even after folks have given up on losing weight and resigned themselves once more to lifelong loneliness.

[Adam @ Oct 21st 2008 10:37PM]

Socks? Seriously?

[greg @ Oct 21st 2008 10:37PM]

That is just plain wrong.

[Sofunnytom @ Oct 21st 2008 10:40PM]

i want a pair of those socks.....

[Reader @ Oct 21st 2008 11:18PM]

I believe that just might be a picture of Ryan Block on the Wii Fit, back from when he was supposed to do the 30 day thing with it.

[OneLove @ Oct 22nd 2008 11:28AM]

Glad to hear that a gaming device is making people healthy and that they are interested in trying.

[Sofunnytom @ Oct 21st 2008 10:41PM]

that was meant for the post above........ i hate this comment system

[Tim @ Oct 22nd 2008 1:19AM]

I know I'm in the minority, but the balance board and balancing games have been a huge boon to my physical therapy; I think its rather nice to see a video game like that outsell GTA, which isn't quite as productive for those not studying up on the finer points of gang-violence. So maybe not just plain wrong.

[Philippe @ Oct 21st 2008 10:37PM]

That picture makes me dizzy.

[Ryan @ Oct 21st 2008 11:30PM]

I know what you mean, i feel like I'm gonna fall forward...which is a weird feeling to have while sitting.

[pattman247 @ Oct 22nd 2008 12:30AM]

oh thank god, i thought I felt the same way lol

[Saad Rabia @ Oct 22nd 2008 6:01AM]

You are totally right! OMG, you guys took the words out of my mouth!

Now would someone explain, because this is kind of freaky!

[SewerShark @ Oct 22nd 2008 7:02AM]

It's too early in the morning for me to see a picture like that, I was getting sick already =X

[Marlon @ Oct 21st 2008 10:43PM]

You mean to tell me something that appeals to the lowest common denominator is outselling something aimed at a specific and passionate core group? That's outrageous!

I'm glad this sort of thing doesn't happen with music, movies, cell phones, laptops, cars, food...

[John @ Oct 21st 2008 11:12PM]

Remind me what part of Grand Theft Auto appeals to a small and passionate core group

[Freakin Ijit @ Oct 22nd 2008 6:44AM]

> You mean to tell me something that appeals to the lowest common denominator...

If my wife and daughter read that they would break your thumbs...

[NHAnimator @ Oct 22nd 2008 8:02AM]

"Remind me what part of Grand Theft Auto appeals to a small and passionate core group"

The part about senseless violence, sex, and drugs. I agree with Marlon. GTA isn't for everybody. Wii Fit doesn't appeal to me either, but it does to a much broader group of people (albeit not so many GTA players).

[Stefan @ Oct 21st 2008 10:45PM]

I do not have a wii and dont want one.But i know why it sold as much.It's because of that commercial with the girl doing gym in front of the camera!

[Killian @ Oct 21st 2008 11:03PM]

doing gym? really?

[Kinger @ Oct 22nd 2008 12:25AM]

I love doing gym

[Amz @ Oct 22nd 2008 12:44AM]

I am Gym

[Eh @ Oct 22nd 2008 12:45AM]

Must have been a european commercial, theyd never show a commercial with a girl doing gym on american tv.

[Robot Overlord @ Oct 22nd 2008 9:36AM]

Google "wii fit girlfriend"

[jorvay @ Oct 22nd 2008 9:52AM]

I used to be a big in the rave scene and I did a lot of gym. I still have gym flashbacks to this day.

[ifalldownstairs @ Oct 22nd 2008 5:20PM]

what i hate about wii fit is it convinces nintendo that there really isn't any point in pursuing there actual gaming franchises and simply pumping out shit like this, wii play, wii sports, and wii music is all they need to do.

[hans @ Oct 21st 2008 10:46PM]

Wii Fit and GTA IV both suck.

[Chris Are @ Oct 22nd 2008 12:27AM]

FALSE.

[Kinger @ Oct 22nd 2008 12:30AM]

FAIL

[Jon Acheson @ Oct 22nd 2008 11:13AM]

It comes off as a knee-jerk reaction when you put it that way, but in my experience, both were disappointing games.

And as a fitness tool, Wii Fit is a useless gimmick. You can get two months at a health club for what it costs, and the health club will do you far more good.

[Ozzman_79 @ Oct 22nd 2008 11:47AM]

and 2 months at a health club helps you HOW exactly once those 2 months are up? Wii Fit lasts for as long as you don't break it. Longer-term investment.

[Link2877 @ Oct 21st 2008 10:48PM]

Seriously are they just making up the supply shortage now, because I was at target last night and saw about ten of them on the shelf.

[phil @ Oct 21st 2008 11:47PM]

"Seriously are they just making up the supply shortage now"

Like Yoda talks you do why?

[Link2877 @ Oct 22nd 2008 12:32AM]

@phil

yaaa last time I checked "now shortage the up making just they are seriously" doesn't sound like Yoda at all. Yea I should have put a ? at the end but really what are you talking about.

[phil @ Oct 22nd 2008 1:00AM]

Yeah, I saw that after I posted... At first I just read it as a straight sentence and it just didn't parse right. It wasn't until after I hit "add comment" that I thought, "Phil, you boob, it was probably a question minus the punctuation." Meh. It's late. Yeah, that's my excuse....

[ryan @ Oct 21st 2008 10:50PM]

Save your tears for when Wii Music sells twice as much as Wii Fit.

[Rosario @ Oct 22nd 2008 12:42AM]

From what I read Wii Music is not selling as well as they hoped over in Japan. It sold 50k the first day which is good but compared to other games (from nintendowiifanboy) its kinda low.

Super Mario Galaxy: 130,000 on day one*
Super Smash Bros. Brawl: 500,000 on day one *
Wii Fit: 254,000 in first two days
Mario Kart Wii: 594,000 in first four days
Wii Sports: 176,167 in first two days
Wii Play: 175,297 in first two days
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess: 139,011 in first two days
Wario: Smooth Moves: 63,954 in first two days
* Source is Japanese industry blogger Sinobi, and is thus classed as rumor.

At least this shows that just because it has Wii in its name it doesnt sell like crazy.

[RyogaHibiki @ Oct 21st 2008 10:55PM]

I have a wii fit and I use it regularly. Although I probably would of stopped if it wasn't for my whole family using it too. Lots of people using it kind of encourages everyone to keep going. I would be easy to quit if I was alone.

[phil @ Oct 21st 2008 11:49PM]

"...would of stopped..."

The word you are looking for is "have". Would've != Would of. Would've = Would have.

[michas_pi @ Oct 21st 2008 10:58PM]

Oh God, I hope not.

I don't even have a 360 or a PStriple but I'll buy three copies of GTV IV for both systems just to fix this statistic.

[Zelatio @ Oct 21st 2008 11:01PM]

Prove it.

[Reader @ Oct 21st 2008 11:20PM]

Send 'em to me.

[djpurpose @ Oct 22nd 2008 12:06AM]

I'm buying the pc version for sure. I don't have a console but I'll be buys a new vid card just to make sure I can get my 1920x1080 gaming on.

[jorvay @ Oct 22nd 2008 11:24AM]

Because god forbid that two great games with two very different styles and audiences both have amazing sales. Yes, come to think of it, the fact that a Nintendo game sold a tonne of copies will mean that there will never be a next generation of xbox to replace my 360 because a 360 title only sold...a tonne of copies.
It's only a matter of time before Nintendo will enslave us all! They've already kidnapped Kim Jong Il and will introduce him as our new world leader in a matter of days. He'll use the Wii Fit to train us all for North Korean-style parades. Our only hope is to buy more copies of GTA4!!!

[oneclick @ Oct 21st 2008 11:04PM]

The Xbox needs a fit game.
I am not about to buy a stinking Wii just to have a fitness game.

[Mr Awesomer @ Oct 22nd 2008 12:10AM]

It's called Yourself!Fitness for the original Xbox, it's backwards compatible, can probably be had used for $5, came out a million years ago and has the same metacritic score as Wii Fit.

[Kinger @ Oct 22nd 2008 12:29AM]

why did he get low ranked for suggesting there be an Xbox fit game? it's not a terrrrrible idea.

[Paulmichael @ Oct 22nd 2008 2:03AM]

DDR can provide for a good workout...Though it doesn't focus on any one area, you really look like a fool when playing it, and the music sucks more than half the time...So yeah I suppose the Xbox (PS3 as well) could use something like this!

[iEye @ Oct 21st 2008 11:06PM]

Good good.

I'd rather have a society of young attractive fit people walking around than a bunch of mushy wanna-be incompetent car-jackers to be!

or perhaps you would like all our children to purchase the latest copy of Drug 'N Thug for Playstation over a family game...

[Nomi @ Oct 22nd 2008 8:42AM]

Ya unfortunately most people I know that have Wii Fit don't use it anymore....so is it really useful if people don't use it? Its like any of the millions of exercise machines that end up being used as coat hangers....

[MY @ Oct 21st 2008 11:11PM]

"...hardcore video game franchise"

Hardcore? As a video game elitist I seriously doubt the GTA series as "hardcore" in the gaming sense. In content, sure it's hardcore. But Games like Madden, GTA, and Halo aren't what should eb considered "hardcore."

[Reader @ Oct 21st 2008 11:21PM]

After reading that I was going to comment the same thing. GTA is far from hardcore gamer material.