Wii has health potential
by Zack Stern 
{ Dec 29th 2006 at 7:35PM }
New York Times columnist, David Pogue discusses the Wii's fitness potential in an online post. After witnessing his family burn calories while gaming, he thinks the Wii is one of the best possible indoor activities for kids. Pogue also has no sympathy for the "nerds who haven't moved their bodies in years" who claim muscle aches and broken furniture.We like this one-two punch from the mainstream press -- albeit, not in print -- exploring the health benefits of the system and dismissing the over-hyped Wii injuries. We look forward to fitness being a byproduct of active games like DDR; where's the Wii version of Samba De Amigo? Exercise games may have less appeal, but they may also work well; will we see Wiimote ankle holders to measure footwork?
[Via digg]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
vadermaggot @ Dec 29th 2006 7:42PM
Nice Gut!!
Night Elve @ Dec 29th 2006 7:45PM
Ah ooooooook right ...
Harold @ Dec 29th 2006 7:57PM
Wii Sports boxing is definately a workout!
rom @ Dec 29th 2006 8:16PM
I'd hit that.....with a bat!
edd @ Dec 29th 2006 8:33PM
pro level tennis certainly gets my blood pumping and I, too, have little sympathy for fools who cant keep a grip on the wiimote
Mark @ Dec 29th 2006 8:49PM
"Hey Bob, I saw your fat ass on the news."
"Aww crap. Now I can't wear that shirt ever again."
NETNAVI @ Dec 29th 2006 8:57PM
A Wii DDR would be great! No more clumsy space consuming pads.
And how about a new track and field? There are really a lot of possabilities!
Grey Acumen @ Dec 29th 2006 8:57PM
I think rather than ankle holders, it'd be better to have them rest on the foot and strap around the ankle and instep, which would allow them to not only track the location of the foot, but also the angle of the foot for better sensitivity.
The nice thing about the foot sensors for the wii is that even though they would only really work for that one game, they would still be cheaper than the metal DDR pads that are available, would suffer less wear and tear (it's sensing motion, not actually stepping and jumping on buttons) and can not only detect steps, but also detect the lift and direction of the foot, allowing for even more precise dance steps.
and yeah, I realize I probably think too much about this, but I don't care, I want to see this for the Wii
JohnQAnonymous @ Dec 29th 2006 9:05PM
No, there really aren't that many possibilities.
Ask anyone who's ever used ankle weights, and they'll tell you that there is no way you can strap anything to you ankles and expect it to stay there.
Due to the jumping, the expansion and contraction of the muscles in your leg, and a number of other factors, you'd have Wiimotes flying all over the place if you ever strapped them to anyone's feet.
The only workout potential the Wii has is some third party developer making weighted Wiimotes.
Tamago @ Dec 29th 2006 9:09PM
If you think Wii sports boxing is a workout i suggest you put on some clothes, shave, get a haircut and open your front door and do a little excercise.
Leto @ Dec 29th 2006 9:17PM
Since when is moving your arm considered a workout? You don't even have to play the Wii standing up, it's possible to play while sitting down.
Spuky @ Dec 29th 2006 9:19PM
@ Tamago
but i dont want to shave!!
Tamago @ Dec 29th 2006 9:23PM
Forgot to mention you should probably brush the cheeto crumbs off your beard and gut first.
Psaakyrn @ Dec 29th 2006 9:26PM
to #11 Leto
"You can play that way. But it makes you a fucking toolbox." - Quote from Penny Arcade strip 11/13/2006
Spuky @ Dec 29th 2006 9:32PM
brush??
Eirinn @ Dec 29th 2006 10:06PM
Not just DDR. A lot of people have exercise bikes at home. A wiimote strapped to the leg or foot would be able to detect the speed of cycling and you'd very easily have a cycling game!
Sure it might not be that much fun but it's better than cycling with no game.
Jinkin @ Dec 29th 2006 10:49PM
You could just as easily play Wii Sports or any other game while on an exercise bike instead of just sitting down. Cordless controllers are a plus.
Silver @ Dec 29th 2006 11:16PM
"If you think Wii sports boxing is a workout i suggest you put on some clothes, shave, get a haircut and open your front door and do a little excercise."
Sounds like someone hasn't played Wii boxing...
Tamago @ Dec 30th 2006 1:37AM
Or perhaps i engage in actual physical activity several times a week. Working up a small sweat while you cram down cheetos doesn't qualify it as a good workout.
KC @ Dec 30th 2006 1:13AM
@18
Yeah man. First day I got the Wii I played Boxing for a hour or so. I was sweatin like mad and I'm in good shape!
JPRacer @ Dec 30th 2006 1:30AM
This is ridiculous. If you want a real workout go to the gym. People that think this is an exhausting workout are really in terrible shape.
KC @ Dec 30th 2006 1:38AM
JPRacer
If you want a real workout you don't have to go to a gym. You can get a great workout without having any equipment.
I personally think it's GREAT to use the Wii as a workout device. A lot of people don't like working out(I know I don't), but if you can make a game out of it, it will certainly get us to do it.
I personally would never do something like tae bo, for instance. Punching in the air. But put me infront of the Wii and a virtual opponent and I'll gladly do the motions.
Using the Wii you can make it as exhausting as you want. Throw hard punches. Don't just flick the controller(though thats all it really takes). I like how the Wii gets myself and others moving. It's only a good thing. And yes, its very easy to exhaust yourself if you continuously throw punches in the air. Try it if you dont believe me.
Dukhat @ Dec 30th 2006 5:23AM
Another useless article written by a mentally-retarded Ivy-League graduate by the liberal, second-rate journalism of the New York Times.
Go read the economist or a British publication and avoid all the edutainment nonsense force-fed you by elitist liberals.
Big Fat Gamer @ Dec 30th 2006 5:32AM
That woman's fat gut turns me on. Is that wrong?
Kesh @ Dec 30th 2006 9:58AM
The patronising nannies who tell us that we should comply with lifestyle no. 146 should really reread the latter half of the column. The whole idea is that we can have fun and get some health benefits at the same time. Sure this may not be the fastest way to achieve that perfect definition of health. Perhaps, though, the nannies are more interested in bossing the average joe around. Or perhaps they get their kicks out of reciting 'No pain, no gain!' every 5 minutes.
Lisa @ Jan 3rd 2007 2:27PM
I have daughters and they live in front of the Disney Channel--we got the Wii for Christmas and I LOVE they are now jumping all around the living room trying to hit a tennis ball. This isn't tae bo, but between their Heely's and the Wii-no more Disney Channel!!
Clayton Wheat @ Jan 7th 2007 11:03PM
Try the Wii boxing game with wrist and ankle weights, I do. It's better than going to the gym.
Lois @ Jan 7th 2007 1:53PM
Sounds like this Wii would be pretty kewl for those who hate to exercise alone. If I could afford it I'd get one. I could play tennis or run or what ever the game entailed within reason. I'm a active country gal till back injuries have limited me in what I can do I miss alot of activities that kept me in shape. A Wii would work great for me I think. Anyone have a money tree I could get a clone from? A country gal from Maine
gypsy @ Jan 7th 2007 2:40PM
WOW ,,,you want this added so it can also see the angle of your foot,,,,you want that added ,,,you want more realism in the movements you want realism,,,GO OUTSIDE AND DO RATHER THAN PRETEND TO DO!! you people are NUTZ
Felice @ Jan 7th 2007 9:21PM
I want to thank Nintendo. As a past Nintendo player, always enjoying Tetrus and Dr. Mario, the Wii game now provides physical activity and fun. My son, who received a permanent injury during his freshman year of high school basketball, hasn't excercised since. He's now a senior. This is a teenager who played sports his whole life. I have worried greatly about his inactivty. But now we have Wii and he is training and playing and working out with no harm to his injury.
I love it as well. I can't play tennis anymore, due to tennis elbow. BUT I can on Wii.
THANK YOU NINTENDO!!!
Heather @ Jan 7th 2007 1:21PM
People are getting much too upset about this. Let me make it simple. Anything we can do to make Americans active = Good. Especially kids. Some people do not have the drive to get excercise. If you can make a person active while entertaining them what is wrong with that? I run every day on a treadmill for an hour, its great excercise but its not extremely fun. If I had the option of doing something more entertaining while running I would. I think the wii is great and I would love to see it expand into a soccer, or feet-related sport. Not one of you can tell me getting American kids to want to do something active is bad.
Chelsey @ Jan 7th 2007 1:40PM
I am sorry but I have to laugh at you people in everyway possible. My mother showed this to me because I work at a video game store and thought I would find this entertaining. I will admit that this system does get kids moving around more than any other system but I would never this system a way foe people to get up and exercise.
Oh ya boxing against a computer is really a workout, playing golf sitting down while just shaking the remote...LETS GO EXERCISE!!!!!!