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Nintendo takes Wii Fit out for a run in the UK
Nintendo is bringing Wii Fit to the people, to convince the few UK residents who have yet to preorder the thing that they're disgusting sacks they could benefit from a fun exercise program. The Wii Fit tour is traveling to populous locations like universities and shopping centers from this week through June to get random strangers up and leaning. "If you loved the energetic nature of Wii Sports you'll love Wii Fit, which makes it easy for everyone to experience a fun and interactive way to exercise which launches across the UK on 25th April 2008," the press release states (weirdly). They're right -- playing it at one of these events is going to be a lot easier than trying to find the thing in a store.The tour starts this week at Mall Galleries in Bristol, where Wii Fit will be on display from the 18th to the 20th. The full list of dates and locations is after the break.%Gallery-4745%
Don King Presents: Another game that uses the Balance Board
Only in America! And probably Europe as well! The new boxing game Don King Presents: Prizefighter is going to have a lovely feature that will be welcome among Wii Fit owners: Balance Board compatibility. Unfortunately, you won't be wobbling on the board to bob and weave -- it's limited to training modes only.Those training modes do seem to be carefully considered, however, being designed under the guidance of a boxing instructor and intended to offer an actual challenge: "It's a workout - even the silly Wii Sports one is a workout. We intend to give you a real one with the Balance Board." The example included a jump rope game done on the board with the Wiimote in your back pocket -- though we hope it doesn't involve actual, Balance Board-crunching jumps. [Via NeoGAF]
Don King's Prizefighter gets Balance Board training games
When none other than Reggie announced that the Wii Fit Balance Board was being used in "over ten" games currently in development, we probably should have made the connection with Don King vanity project Prizefighter. Well, we didn't, but, luckily, the developers at Venom Games did, revealing in an interview with CVG that their game will include Balance Board-compatible training games designed by "top boxing trainers."The interview doesn't go into many details, but it does mention a "jump rope game" which involves bouncing on the Balance Board with "the Wii Remote in your back pocket." Developing a joke asking whether that pocket Remote indicates we're "just happy to see you" is left as an exercise for the reader.
Separated at birth: Wii Fit Balance Board and Aperture Science turret
Is Nintendo an ancestor of Aperture Science? A dummy corporation? We recently recorded the North American voice of the Wii Fit Balance Board, and it bears an uncanny resemblance to Portal's happy little turrets. Even the hierarchy of henchmen follows Portal. Aperture science has GLaDOS, and Wii Fit has a male- or female-voiced personal trainer.Yes, there are still a few differences. The Balance Board voice -- and we presume nefarious AI -- comes through the Wii and out a TV, while the turrets are all self-contained. Plus the balance board might not be trying to kill us. The verdict is still uncertain, but be warned.Aperture Science turret
It's pricey to be Wii Fit
Nintendo just sent us a press release confirming our darkest fears: Wii Fit is going to cost almost 1/3rd the price of a Wii at $90. Ouch, our wallets!Of course, we all pretty much knew this was coming, but it's one thing to think something and another to have it told to you. That sound you hear? It's our wallets breathing a sigh of relief, for they know that us lowly bloggers cannot afford such a costly package.With the bundle costing so much, we wonder if it'll do as well as some think it will?%Gallery-4745%
It's official: Wii Fit priced at $90
No big surprises here – Gamestop already let the pricing details slip out from under Nintendo's iron grip – but just as impressions of the game slash exercise peripheral are being published all over the web, the Big N has made it all official. Wii Fit (and the Wii Balance Board of course) will be released on May 19th for a suggested retail price of $89.99.But if you're not content with just a game and balance board peripheral and you happen to reside in or around the island of Manhattan, Nintendo has a special treat for you.The first 1000 people to drop a $5 pre-order for the gear at New York City's Nintendo Word Store from April 18 - 20 will be rewarded with a Wii Fit t-shirt featuring the likeness of game designer (and weight watcher) Mr. Shigeru Miyamoto. We're really hoping he's rocking the Richard Simmons short shorts, tank top combo.
Wii Fit preorders through the roof in Britain
Having already whipped Japanese consumers into lean, mean killing spending machines, Wii Fit debuts in the west later this month, when it hits Europe on April 25th. And, unsurprisingly enough, its impact is already being felt in the region, with Jersey-based UK retailer Play.com reporting that it sold through its entire allocation of preorders for the game in just one day, a company record."Wii Fit is going to be huge. Let's hope that we can keep up with demand." panted Play.com head of games Gian Luzo as he waded through his home, waist-deep in banknotes, before subtly hinting: "We are expecting more stock before launch." You've been warned, Brits: if you want the wobbly slab from day one, get those preorders in, pronto.%Gallery-4745%
Fresh bombardment of Wii Fit screens
Nintendo has released a comprehensive selection of 43 new Wii Fit screens, covering everything from aerobic workouts to breathing exercises to, well, pretty much every other mode and game that's available.We suspect this may yet keep us entertained for quite a while, but one thing's for sure: we'll never be seeing the above screen in person. With that said, if we're good and cut down our tiramisu and Coke intake, we just might get to within twenty years of that. It's a big "if," however.%Gallery-4745%[Via press release]
We like these new We Ski screens
Okay, we might be absolutely sold on We Ski. Despite our concerns over the game's boxart, the combination of a (hopefully) very affordable price and the chance to ski as a person in a cute polar bear suit ultimately win out. Consider us interested in Namco's Balance Board-compatible game. Other in-game activities we look forward to are riding the lift and smiling politely whilst hitting gnarly jumpage.For the rest of the new screens, be sure to hit up the gallery below.%Gallery-17418%
Yet another Balance Board cover, plus more Wii Fit accessories
Wii Fit owners will have a relatively wide selection of Balance Board covers from which to choose -- especially vast given that most will probably choose the option of no cover. It's no surprise -- as long as it's easy to produce, requires no electronics, and serves a mass-market game, accessory companies are going to be all over it. The Balance Board cover is the new fake tennis racquet.In addition to the perfectly-fine-looking "Silicon Fit" mat, the European accessory company Subsonic is also releasing two more Wii Fit-minded accessories. The "Fitkit" contains a battery pack for the Balance Board -- which we'd be too scared to try -- as well as a cleaning kit. The "Fitbag" is a carrying case for the Balance Board that includes space for the game and various other accessories. Plus it has a name that sounds totally filthy to us for some reason. %Gallery-19155%[Via GamesPress]
Wii Fit priced for $90 at GameStop, pre-order $10
According to a blurry GameStop release list image posted by WiiCast over the weekend, the charge for admission into the Wii Fit club will be $90. We've confirmed with various local GameStops that the game is listed in its system for $90. Pre-orders are being offered for $10 instead of the regular $5, but the two-fold increase is something we've heard has been in the GameStop pipeline for a while.Nintendo confirmed with Joystiq that the only thing released is that [Wii Fit] will be under $100 when it debuts on May 19. North America is the only announced region for Wii Fit without a confirmed price tag, with Europe and Australia ready to pay over $100 USD for the pressure-sensitive sweat board.[Via Wii Fanboy] Gallery: Wii Fit
Rumor: Wii Fit to lighten American wallets by $90
Nintendo did say that Wii Fit would come in at under $100. According to (a blurry snapshot of what looks like) a Gamestop release list, American gamers will be shelling out $89.99 for the game and the included Balance Board peripheral when it releases on May 19th. According to this semi-mysterious source, the preorder deposit for the game will be $10 instead of the normal $5.$90 is certainly a lot less than Europe and Australia will be paying for Wii Fit, and it seems like a fair price for the program and the hardware. But we can't help but feel slightly amused that we (and so many others) will gladly shell out almost $100 just to have our game consoles call us fat every day.%Gallery-4745% [Via GoNintendo]
U.S. boxart for Wii Fit celebrates diversity
The final package design for Nintendo's Wii Fit bundle (game and the Balance Board) does, in fact, feature diversity through not only the ethnic backgrounds of each individual on the cover, but also through their age, and even down to the different play styles one can enjoy Wii Fit with. It's a celebration of individuality and, also, a smart way to market a product. It just shows people, predominantly displayed as they participate in the activities the bundle offers. Nothing to read, nothing to think about, just a visual representation of what you're in for should you sign up. It's a good way to sell it to the mass-market crowd that the Wii has been such a success with.%Gallery-4745%[Via NeoGAF]
We Ski gets the Kirby treatment
The Japanese boxart for We Ski (Family Ski over there) used a simple ski-resort signage theme. It may not have been the most exciting boxart, but it's pretty nice-looking, and kind of serene. Very vacation-y. The American boxart dials the serenity way down and the excitement way up. We expect the totally extreme skiers here to be headed back to the lodge to slam some Chibi Mountain Dew. Except for the guy in the back, who just came along because there was an extra ticket, even though he doesn't really like skiing.The facial expressions remind us of Nintendo of America's frequent edits of Kirby boxarts. Nintendo knows that if we're going to buy a game about a spherical pink baby, he had better be one angry baby. A few examples can be found after the break.
Rumor: We Ski to be cheap enough for non-skiers
Yep, the sport itself might be the preserve of those wealthy enough to blow $800 on a jacket, but it looks like Namco Bandai may have paupers like us in mind when it comes to We Ski. The game just appeared on GameStop sporting a bargain-basement price of $29.99. That's our kind of sport!Of course, in skiing it's the extras which really hit your wallet, and that seems to hold true in the case of Namco Bandai's game. Throw in a Balance Board and enough Wiimotes and Nunchuks for all the family to get involved, and suddenly We Ski starts to sound about as expensive as skiing again. Oh well.[Via Go Nintendo]
THQ brings some pep to the Wii
Games publisher THQ announced today that they're adding yet another Wii game to their repertoire (how many is this now?). The subject of the game is, oddly enough, cheerleading, making it the first of its kind.Unless you're a six-year-old girl, All Star Cheer Squad sounds pretty terrifying -- there's really no other way to describe "squad competitions and one-on-one cheer-offs." The game will also utilize the Balance Board, making it only the third confirmed Wii game to make use of the peripheral.In case you're wondering what a cheerleading game might entail, it's probably what you'd expect: you learn cheers, make up a few of your own, practice them, and then perform. So, tell us, readers: how funky is your chicken?[Thanks, John!]
A trio of We Ski videos
GameSpot has uploaded three new movies from Namco's We Ski, depicting, well ... gameplay. That's what we all want to see, right? And considering that this title will make use of the Wii Fit Balance Board, we're doubly anxious to see how fun it is. While we sit around and wait for the game's release, we'll just have to settle for game footage. Check past the break for another two videos.
A week on the Balance Board
Not literally, of course -- really it's more like "A week containing many 30-minute sessions on the Balance Board." Game|Life's Chris Kohler has joined 4cr's Vinnk in long-term Wii Fit experimentation, though in a slightly different style. While Vinnk is updating us weekly with his weight loss progress, Kohler wrote up an entire week of gameplay in a detailed diary. Somehow he thought a week of exercise was a good idea immediately after GDC, which is basically crazy.In addition to providing some anecdotal data about the efficacy of the game (i.e. how sore is he after a week), Kohler's diary offers an excellent overview of the game's modes, since every activity and option he explored is detailed in this diary. Surprisingly, the game got Kohler more interested in exercising outside of the house even as he continued to play Wii Fit. Miyamoto must feel like he got a phantom tummy-rub just now.
We Ski relaxes at the lodge with some new screens
After hitting up the slopes for a few hours, some fresh screens for We Ski have settled down by the fireplace in the lodge. As we sip hot cocoa and enjoy the crackling fire together, we ask what kind of multiplayer features We Ski has. "4-player fun, you say?" we excitingly inquire, taking care to pour our eyes over every single last screenshot. You, too, may join us at the fireplace. All you need to do is check out the screenshots in our gallery below and you will be whisked away to a fantasy land of splendor. Or, you know, to a ski mountain.%Gallery-17418%
Namco's 'We Ski' coming to US in spring 2008
Narrowly avoiding the obvious and overused pun, Namco Bandai has announced intentions to bring its Japanese Wii title Family Ski over to North America as We Ski. Like the Japanese version, We Ski will be fully compatible with the Wii Balance Board, allowing players to shimmy and slalom their way down the virtual mountains.We Ski matches Nintendo's family-friendly aesthetic with cutesy customizable characters, and the option to import your Mii's and let them join in on all the snowy action. In addition to the standard ski modes, the game also includes free-style and photography modes, and allows up to four players to ski free on over a dozen courses.With the title announced for a spring 2008 release, and the Wii Balance Board making its way to North America on May 19, We Ski will undoubtedly become the unofficial companion game to the Wii Fit package, as the first third-party software to support the peripheral.
