Wii Fit
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Namco Bandai's 'Family Ski' compatible with Wii Balance Board
We were wondering if Wii Fit's Balance Board peripheral would be good for anything other than yoga, and it looks like we have our answer. Famitsu reveals that Namco Bandai's Family Ski -- which originally utilized only the Wii remote and nunchuk combo for its downhill action -- will now be compatible with the Wii Balance Board, adding an extra level of realism to the adorable, super-deformed family-friendly skiing title. Obviously, the game will still be 100% playable without the peripheral.We haven't reported much of anything on Family Ski, instead letting our buddies over at Wii Fanboy do all the legwork. Still, the game is definitely on our radars now. Family Ski is due for a Winter 2007/2008 release in Japan. Here's hoping localization is a breeze; it would be a tad odd to rock the slopes in the summertime, no?[Via Nintendo Wii Fanboy]
Wii Warm Up: Let's get physical
We know that the Wii has the potential to help people shed pounds, but we wonder how often it actually has. We suppose it's a question of dedication, but still, we're curious -- how many of you have benefited physically from the Wii? We're pretty much as lazy as we ever were, but we want to know about you. Do you use Wii Sports regularly as a means of exercise? Or are you perhaps waiting for Wii Fit to get your glutes into shape? Let us know whether or not the Wii has inspired you to get physical.
Nintendo robot ladies demo Wii Fit for us
Look at them. Cool, calm, expessionless; the cyborgs models in the latest Wii Fit videos just find the non-game an absolute breeze. To an almost disconcerting degree, in fact.More doughy types such as ourselves won't look quite as graceful while negotiating Nintendo's fitness title -- we doubt anybody but these women could achieve that -- but that doesn't mean we won't enjoy ourselves as we perspire, pant and grimace our way through ski-jumping, heading soccer balls, and spinning hula hoops. Perfect for the post-Christmas weight loss drive.There's another five videos after the break, jam-packed with some very serious Wii Fit action.
Japanese Wii Fit trailers show snowboarding, jogging, more
GameTrailers has uncovered a whole buttload of Japanese videos for Wii Fit that show off some previously unknown game modes. A snowboarding game, shown above, has the player turn the board perpendicular to the screen and lean left and right to navigate a simple slalom course. For those less inclined to "X-TREME" sports, the jogging mini-game simulates the, er, thrilling world of jogging, complete with fellow joggers to keep pace with. Interestingly, the beginning of the jogging video shows a Wii remote being placed in a pocket, possibly to detect vertical movement (and setting up a surprising answer to the old query, "Is that a Wii remote in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?")An extended Japanese trailer for the game shows more scenes from the above game modes, as well as some short snippets of a previously unknown tightrope-walking game and some sort of boxing trainer. Check it out after the break..
Nintendo of Canada lames up gaming with Get Up and Play site
Aside from the occasional oddity, it's not commonplace for video games to actually involve, well, getting up off the couch. With Wii Fit and Wii Sports in Nintendo's entourage, however, the company seems determined to develop games that involve physical activity.Nintendo of Canada decided to go a step farther with this approach by creating a website called "Get Up and Play." Not only is the site designed to inspire movement, but also a thing you may have heard of called family togetherness.The site boasts weekly challenges on the weekends, with printable "Victory Certificates" (um, yay?). Things at stake include taking out the garbage, or setting the table for the week. Oh, and don't forget to "eat healthy snacks like dried fruit and granola bars" while you play.We're completely in support of healthy lifestyles, but we don't need "Family Challenge Badges" and other crappy things for inspiration. That kind of stuff is just scary. In fact, we're very, very afraid. Please hold us.
Wii's lead in Japan getting narrower
The Wii outsold the PlayStation 3 by 2-to-1 in Japan during October. No biggie, right? Happens, like, every month. That's just how the Wii rolls. But here's the thing: the console's lead in its homeland appears to be steadily dissolving.Back in June, you may recall how Nintendo's box outsold its bigger and blacker rival by 6-to-1. Such a resolute thrashing didn't bode well for the competition, but a cheaper PlayStation 3 has since nibbled away at the gap, and now Japanese information well Enterbrain has revealed that October saw 110,415 Wii sales, compared to 47,183 for the PS3. Those figures, fact fans, mean October was the fourth consecutive month in which the Wii's lead was snipped.Sure, it's not time to hit the panic button and head to the bunkers just yet, and we appreciate that such statistics can be manipulated to suit alternative perspectives, but there definitely seems to be a steady shift occuring in the attitudes of Japanese consumers. Needless to say, we await November's figures (not to mention the impact of Wii Fit in December) with bated breath.
Wii Warm Up: Is Wii Fit the next Wii Sports?
You might have heard that Wii Sports recently dominated the BAFTA awards. The game has also won some other stuff, too. We wonder if Nintendo knew what a monster Wii Sports would become when they added that little pack-in to U.S. consoles, but we doubt it. Nobody could have predicted that a demo sports game would take off the way Wii Sports did.Nintendo may not have meant for it to happen, but we're sure that they're (very, very) pleased. Now, with the introduction of Wii Fit, it seems like they're trying to strike gold twice. We're a little skeptical that Wii Fit can follow in Wii Sports' footsteps, but we were also skeptical the first time around (and look how that turned out). But, what do you think? Will we be hearing the praise of Wii Fit at the BAFTA awards this time next year? Or do you think Wii Fit will never even get close to reaching that kind of success?
Wii Fit boxed, screened, and put in motion
It's been a while since we've seen anything on Wii Fit, but Dengeki Online has an update that includes several screens, a shot of the boxed set, and a video preview of the fitness title. The Japanese release date is getting closer and closer, and we can't wait to gauge public reaction to the title. Critically, of course, the nongame continues to be lauded; Popular Mechanics recently named it one of the top ten "gadgets" of 2007, and it's not even out yet!Jog on past the break to get a peek at the box -- but to see the video, you'll have to head over to the source. %Gallery-4745%
Wii Fit gets price and release date for Japan
Wii Fit received a price and release date for the Japanese public today, following suit with the rest of the updates Nintendo dropped on all of us. Requiring an entrance fee of 8,800 yen, which comes to $75, we're sure most of you will see this as a fair price for the new peripheral and software. Hey, you can't put a price on your well-being, right?As for the question of a release date, the title will hit retail shelves in the region in time for the holidays on December 1st.
New channel blowout: Everybody's Nintendo, Mii Contest, and more
If you've been wondering what to do with all that space from Wii channels you don't use so often, you can stop -- you're about to start spending a lot more time clicking around the home screen. This latest enormous press conference unveiled an avalanche of channel-related content that will should satisfy even the pickiest of Nintendo fans.From DS demos to strutting around with your Miis, channel content is about to blow up ... at least, in Japan. We can only hope that the new channels are soon to follow for Wii owners in the rest of the world. Until release dates are confirmed, however -- or even rumored -- we'll have to settle for checking out what's to come, and we've got a ton of information for you after the post break.
Nintendo's Wii Fit December 1st for $75 (in Japan)
Wii Fit, out in December. Great news huh? Thing is, the ¥8,800 (about $75) Wii Fit is only announced for Japan so far. The kit features the Wii Balance Board which enables gamers to interactively head soccer balls and ski jump while partaking in other activities like yoga and aerobics typically thought to be cigarette-free. But you're at home moms, so feel free to sneak a few while pulling into a Downward-Facing Dog, we won't tell.[Via Joystiq]
Wii Fit coming Dec. 1 in Japan for 8,800 yen
Nintendo Wii owners in Japan will soon be able to stretch their way to healthy lifestyles (or perhaps cheat the system), as the company just announced at their press conference (via IGN) that Wii Fit is coming on December 1 for 8,800 yen. That translates to approximately US $75. No word on a release date for other regions, but given that the product is presumably done and it's not very text-heavy, we imagine Nintendo could potentially make the holiday rush if they really want to jam in another title to their already busy schedule (Japanese Wii owners just got a downer reprieve since Smash Bros Brawl has been delayed in the territory until January 2008).
Wii Warm Up: Warming up to Wii Fit
Wii Fit may seem shiny and new, but not only is it a concept that console-makers and game developers have tried before, but it's part of a philosophy Nintendo has long tried to pursue. Over at Water Cooler Games, Ian Bogost recently spent some time remembering the Joyboard, a peripheral for the Amiga -- which boasted a single retail game -- that is similar to the balance board that is set to release with Wii Fit. Of course, it's not the only example; many of us still have dance pads for Dance Dance Revolution lying around, and some of the old-schoolers may even have old NES Power Pads tucked away in a closet, collecting dust, while gamers fondly recall Dance Aerobics and Track & Field. What Bogost doesn't address -- which we think is a fascinating issue -- is Wii Fit's potential to succeed in the current market environment. Quite rightly, he calls upon gamers and critics to look back over the history of the industry in order to gain a better understanding of how we reached this point, and we agree with him that people should be less shocked by Wii Fit than they have seemed to be. Nintendo is no stranger to "non-games" and unusual peripherals. Particularly now, when the Wii has the potential to move even beyond the ubiquitous past presence of the NES and get into every home in America (and perhaps the world, huzzah!), it's no surprise that Nintendo is again angling to break the market wide open and offer something for everyone. Does Wii Fit surprise you? Obviously, we knew a health pack of some sort was coming, but this is rather expanded upon what we expected. We know some of you don't like the concept -- while others, like this blogger, think it's the bee's knees -- but does it surprise you? What other market-expanding ideas do you think we'll see from Nintendo?
Rumor: Wii Fit priced at $69.99?
Considering that the game won't be released on American shores until early 2008, it's probably much too early to consider any announced price for Wii Fit to be definite. Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime even stated that the company still needs to research the cost of its Balance Board controller before pricing can be accurately determined.Wii Fit's product pages at EB Games and GameStop, however, list a placeholder price which is pretty much in line with what we're expecting -- $69.99. That might seem like highway robbery to those who naively hoped for the usual $50, but when you compare it with the expensive fares people will be paying to play games like Guitar Hero 3 or Rock Band, the bundle's pricing doesn't seem too unreasonable. Our only concern is that $70 might be too much for the casual audience Nintendo is hoping to attract with Wii Fit.%Gallery-4745%[Via Digg]
Wii Warm Up: How long before someone cheats at exercise?
Not even one whole day of Power Pad ownership had passed before we were on the floor, drumming on the pad with our fists, flagrantly breaking the implicit rules of World Class Track Meet. Our other favorite move? Extending our long jump by simply stepping off of the pad. Yes, we are overweight now.There's a new Power Pad in town, although it has fewer buttons and a more solid-looking construction. And it's meant more as an exercise tool than a game controller, really. But we're gamers, and we can't help the way we are. Some of us are going to cheat. Do you think you have what it takes to play it straight, or will you take the hands-on approach to Balance Boarding?
Joystiq tries out Wii Fit and Wii Balance Board
While we were only able to check out Wii Fit and the Wii Balance Board from a distance, our pals at Joystiq found some time to kick off their shoes and see just how much of a workout the game/device combo provides. As far as the peripheral goes, Joystiq found the Balance Board to be "a lot lighter and sturdier" than they had anticipated, and they feel that it should hold up to a lot of force. It also apparently proved to be quite responsive during the three demos they were able to try, which also provided ample opportunity for them to embarrass themselves in front of a crowd. They were slightly less impressed with the Wii Fit game itself though, finding it appealing in a Brain Age sort of way but somewhat lacking as an actual game.
Wii Warm Up: Surfin, skatin, potential heartbreakin with the balance board
Yesterday, the air was filled with wanton speculation about potential uses for the Wii Balance Board that will be packaged with Wii Fit. Now we're looking to get all those ideas down in one place -- specifically, here. We've heard some things already, like surfing, snowboarding, and skateboarding sims, and maybe for boxing games, but what else can you think of? Feel free to be both outrageous and creative. Also, are you interested in trying out something like surfing with an interface like this?
E307: Get body conscious like the Cho Aniki dudes with Wii Fit
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/nintendo_wii/Wii_Fit_an_in_depth_look_and_why_gamers_should_care'; Or maybe not. We're not insinuating anything here, because we love you no matter what. You know what else we love? That's right: Wii Fit. While it's funny to quip that this is a perfect game for moms across America, we recommend that everyone take a closer look at the versatility of Wii Fit. How many of you own a treadmill or other exercise machine? Those things take up space. Maybe you'd like to own something like that, but you live in an apartment, like many Americans, particularly those under thirty who maybe haven't bought a house yet. Then space becomes a real issue, as this blogger well knows from years of apartment-living. But with Wii Fit and the balance board peripheral, suddenly working out with gear can take a lot less space -- and you get the added benefit of monitored results, which we always thought was an excellent feature.Working out with the Wii has already become a popular hobby for many gamers -- the addition of this software just makes it that much easier. Maybe some gamers would have liked to have seen less focus on the title during Nintendo's keynote, but this kind of thing is rapidly becoming a cornerstone of Nintendo's winning strategy, and we all better get used to it. The Wii is to Americans what the DS is to the Japanese, it seems; it's an all-in-one device that can fit anyone's needs, and Wii Fit is a strong part of that.%Gallery-4745%
Wii gets healthy, gets Fit
This is the megaton your mom has been waiting for. Wii Fit is the next kinetic game targeted to the casual games market. The game comes packaged with yet another Wii peripheral, a mysterious white pad that appears to track your center of gravity, or a big touch pad ... for your feet. Various athletic activities will be packaged in the game, and will provide an estimated BMI to make sure you're keeping in line with your athletic goals.When Reggie took the stage to try out Wii Fit, he received a less than ideal BMI. He quipped that muscle weighs more than fat -- a comment to which Miyamoto responded, "Good excuse."
Nintendo Wii Balance Board gets you stepping in upcoming Wii Fit title
Nintendo's Wii Zapper and Wii Wheel are great and all, but what's really going to get those casual gamers flocking is this here Wii Fit game and its accompanying controller. A sort of Wii counterpart to Nintendo's brain-sharpening DS thrust, the Wii Balance Board is a Reebok Step look-alike, with dual sensors that can detect your weight and balance on each side as you exercise to the various on-screen Wii activities in Wii Fit. The board is wireless, and holds the potential of full-body games involving the Wiimote and the Wii Balance Board simultaneously. If you've had enough gaming, you can also have the Balance Board diagnose your body mass index. Or not. No word on when these two will launch, or for how much. Plenty of action shots after the break.
