EA plans a Wii Fit-slaying exercise game?

The Wii Fit might have some competition brewing, if Men's Fitness magazine is a publication worthy of the public's trust, that is. The details are vague, to say the very least but, here's what we "know": Dave Kushner, executive producer at EA Sports, told the magazine that the company is planning an 'unnamed fitness game' with a 'new peripheral' which will connect the Wiimote to the player's body, enabling all sorts of newfangled measurements, movements, and exercises barely dreamed of before. Sounds totally awesome, right? Well, if and when it materializes, we'll be sure to rush to the store, buy one, then sadly rue its unused, guilt-inducing existence every day thereafter.

[Via Nintendo Wii Fanboy]

[lowdef @ Oct 31st 2008 2:48AM]

i can only imagine the ways nintendo will come up with to connect a wiimote to the human body.

[YoYoYo @ Oct 31st 2008 7:41AM]

Ouch?

[waiownsyou @ Oct 31st 2008 2:53AM]

EA Stepping Board? WAT?

[High Ranks make you sterile @ Oct 31st 2008 8:32AM]

Wii Fit and this game have two things in common:

The boards look exactly the same (I know it's a photoshop)
You can find just as many of these on store shelves as you can Wii Fits

OH

[MemphisNET @ Oct 31st 2008 10:35AM]

Since Nintendo can't get the damn product on the shelf, I don't mind this one bit so long as it's 100% compatible.

[phanbouy @ Oct 31st 2008 9:54PM]

WAT? WAT? WAI?

WAI SAY WAT

let's keep it on 4chan

[You are North Dakota. @ Oct 31st 2008 2:54AM]

That would require EA to get a working knowledge of the concept of 'fun,' which I don't believe them to be capable of just yet.

[Uncontrol @ Oct 31st 2008 3:11AM]

look how dumb you are

have you not been paying attention to EA for three years or something

[You are North Dakota. @ Oct 31st 2008 3:22AM]

"look how dumb you are" ?

You realize we're talking about EA Sports, right? Not any of EA's other branded arms or amalgamated developers. EA Sports.

If you like NASCARs or Madden, I guess they might be fun.

[Orpheus @ Oct 31st 2008 3:16AM]

Nintendo, EA etc ARE actually interested in solving the problem of obesity. The aim seems to be to make these fitness games so freaking boring that people actually turn off the console, go outside and end up getting some exercise.

[Nick @ Oct 31st 2008 3:52AM]

Looks like a really bad photoshop jobby to me. See lack of perspective on EA logo and use of Copperface font... which no self-respecting designer would ever do.

:P

[Poom @ Oct 31st 2008 4:01AM]

Obviously, Engadget or someone else photoshopped it to be put in the article, if you read what the article says... EA did not mention anything about the peripheral being a board.

[engadget @ Oct 31st 2008 4:02AM]

Hopefully, it'll be a nice "run through the forest away from the crazy guy with the chainsaw" type FPS .. or FPR (Runner) game.

[Ellianth @ Oct 31st 2008 6:39AM]

OMG! your avatar is my phone's brother!!

[MuGaTu @ Oct 31st 2008 7:24AM]

It's an ankle/wrist-band that holds the Wii-mote, not another stepping board.

[EdgeOne @ Oct 31st 2008 7:38AM]

RE: the last sentence
I impulse bought a Wii Fit but thinking about returning it before opening because the it looks too much like a gimmick. One could say that about the Wii system. Wii Fit is selling for only $25-$30 over retail on eBay so with shipping & fees it doesn't seem worth it.

[Jon Acheson @ Oct 31st 2008 10:44AM]

I've played with it and IMHO, it IS a gimmick. It doesn't work very well, either: the laggy response time made the games unplayable. It also doesn't interface at all with any other exercise you may be doing, like riding a stationary bike or jogging.

If you want to get more fit, take the same amount of money and shop around for a gym. You can probably get a deal on an introductory membership that will land you three months of gym time for the same price, which is two months and three weeks longer than you'll be using the Wii Fit.

[tech guy @ Oct 31st 2008 11:36AM]

Been using the Wii Fit since Labor Day and have lost 23 pounds in that time. I always found exercise boring and too cheap to spend $70 per month for a gym. This has a large variety of exercises that keep me engaged and I can do it in my home. I'm not saying it's for everyone, but it works for me.

[htd @ Oct 31st 2008 7:54AM]

create an improved version of 'yourself!fitness' and I am sold.

[Bones3D @ Oct 31st 2008 8:26AM]

This isn't all that surprising that EA would have an interest in this. Having their sports titles know your weight and how your center of gravity shifts as you follow through with certain motions could make their games feel more realistic.

Another option they could consider, a usb device that could be used across multiple platforms that would track a series of reflectors or glyphs attached to the player's body that would allow their games sense the player's movements accurately without having to risk a wii-remote through the tv screen... or constantly having to replace batteries.

[slarity @ Oct 31st 2008 8:26AM]

I'm suprised no company has done this with the PS3. Especially since the sixaxis might be that extra set of measurements.

[NHAnimator @ Oct 31st 2008 8:28AM]

E...A...Fitness... It's really lame.

[Silverfrog @ Oct 31st 2008 9:17AM]

EA, way to capitalize on a trend. Unfortunately, this trend will not last long. After this fad ends, people will store their Wii Fit and EA Fitness right beside their AB lounges and other unused workout gear.