Nintendo: Wii Fit steps into US May 19, WiiWare launches May 12
by Ludwig Kietzmann 
{ Feb 20th 2008 at 8:00AM }
The Wall Street Journal reports that Nintendo's highly anticipated and equally exhausting balancercise board and game, Wii Fit, will arrive arrive beneath American feet on May 19th. The exercise program and peripheral, a result of designer Shigeru Miyamoto's habitual monitoring of his own weight, has sold over a million units in Japan following its launch in December.
The article, which predicts an official announcement from Nintendo later today (see update above), also pins the launch of the WiiWare service to May 12th. WiiWare will be a new download service offering smaller, independent games from developers such as Steel Penny Games and doublesix.
[Via Wii Fanboy]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
qo_op @ Feb 20th 2008 8:28AM
HEll yea, maybe now we wont have to shield our eyes at you fat ass americans LOL
The Artist formally known as Jesus @ Feb 20th 2008 8:34AM
To me, the fat ass Americans are much more pleasing to the eyes than the anorexic ones.
License to ill @ Feb 20th 2008 8:34AM
Do you think anyones going to lose weight with this shit.
I am curious to see how this thing sells in the US....
qo_op @ Feb 20th 2008 8:49AM
Maybe they should make a XXL version for the states
FidliousWong @ Feb 20th 2008 9:08AM
Dude, people thought you could lose weight with WiiBoxing.
"No, no, you're losing weight because your heart rate increases and you get winded." That's cardio, you fucking moron. But Cardio itself in short spurts is ineffective. It's maintaining the cardio (40-50 minute WiiBoxing match without a single break...) that reaps the benefits.
PSN: KillaKornbread @ Feb 20th 2008 10:27AM
FidliousWrong said it best. most of us Americans have such a warped view of what "exercising". after playing my Wii for the first time when i can home form college, my mom went out and bought a Wii for the house so they could "use it to exercise". now i dont want to mock them cause i love them but i played college football and know a thing or two about working out. just getting winded does not cut it lol. you need to be winded for at least 20 minutes straight to gain anything and even then you should aim for an hour in the least.
i seriously wonder what the weight limit is on this thing because i can see people trying to sue Nintendo or something cause the board cant support them.
Roger @ Feb 20th 2008 8:36AM
i know that things gonna break the second i set my foot on it.
mr mobius @ Feb 20th 2008 9:04AM
I completely agree. It looks like it could easily break. Wonder what the maximum weight its been tested to is. If it's for people under 12 stone it's losing a large amount of its market.
WiiWare is more what I'm interested in at the minute until I have proof otherwise that WiiWare will be good and not end up wasting money on two 1/2 Wii Balance Boards.
Chyld989 @ Feb 20th 2008 8:38AM
I was REALLY hoping both of these would be launching a little sooner, especially WiiWare. I'm looking forward to Wii Fit, sure, but I'm more excited about new (cheap) games, and the possibility of downloadable content.
FOXHOUND @ Feb 20th 2008 8:47AM
At last, a gaming serving tray while I lounge back and watch tv.
James @ Feb 20th 2008 8:58AM
To sell a lot.
naxe @ Feb 20th 2008 9:01AM
where are you from?
ive never seen someone so Jealous of the States. unless you live in japan. the Euro or the states; you dont matter.
Just curious as to where all that hate is steaming from.
i guess you need to buy this to get any use out of your wii. and they say sony makes useless products.
FidliousWong @ Feb 20th 2008 9:09AM
Oh god, enjoy you flaming....
samfish @ Feb 20th 2008 9:54AM
And I've never seen such randomly improper use of capital letters.
naxe @ Feb 20th 2008 10:03AM
My deepest apologies, I had no idea writing a quick comment had to be grammatically correct. I'll keep that in mind.
FidliousWong @ Feb 20th 2008 10:13AM
Saddest part: You think the grammar is the biggest issue with your post...
Should I really do this? Well, just call me Johnny Storm because it's flame on time...
"where are you from?
ive never seen someone so Jealous of the States."
Jealous of what. Hey look everybody. We actually have a Nintendo of America doing it's fucking job. *golf clap*
"unless you live in japan. the Euro or the states; you dont matter."
One South African here will end you... Ludwig Defense Force Assemble!
"Just curious as to where all that hate is steaming from."
Steaming from? Emotions don't "steam." Trust me, I've been trying forever to buy some Vick's Malice Rub.
"i guess you need to buy this to get any use out of your wii."
March 9th is rapidly coming... and when it does, fights will break out in the streets...
Besides, aren't we past the whole "_____ has no games" phase? It's bullshit, and you know it.
"and they say sony makes useless products."
EyeToy: Kinetic...
Exercise program of 16 weeks... okay.... 16 weeks then this $50 software becomes invalid. Doesn't scale to performance... just 16 weeks...
naxe @ Feb 20th 2008 10:25AM
Hey it's very nice that you want to stick up for the wii and all. I have a wii too; that's why i have earned my right to (flame) it.
My comment was for the dude that first posted about americans being to fat to use this. i was asking why all the hate, but seeing how joystiq always screws up the posts. my reply turned into its own comment.
I have nothing against any of the big three. in my opinion we all need to let BS go. enjoy your games on your console of choice. I just feel nintendo tries every gimmick in the book to appeal to the masses. the board is a good idea but too gimmicky. much like the wii steering wheel.
Johnny there was no need to flame on.
Jack @ Feb 20th 2008 12:29PM
Naxe,
Every country hates America.
Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Feb 20th 2008 9:52AM
Recently I've been getting more interested in keeping myself fit(need to build up my guns) so I'm exactly even more excited for this game. Sure I know I need to do other things, but I think Wiifit will happy. And yes I think this game will be fun, unlike the elitists that populate the internet.
Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Feb 20th 2008 9:54AM
happy? I meant fucking help. How the hell did that happen?
FidliousWong @ Feb 20th 2008 10:06AM
I'd say you're used to DBZ level dialogue and it creeped into your post.. but then that would be dickish of me and then I'd have to backtrack or point at a convenient shiny object thrown in a random direction by my person....
But is all seriousness, look into local gyms. I'm paying $5 a month for mine and work out three times a week at about an hour and a half. You'll get much better results than WiiFit by Nintendo's own admission.
Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Feb 20th 2008 10:08AM
As I also said in original post, I realize that I need to do other things besides Wii-fit. But it wouldn't hurt to try it.
Jonathan Tran @ Feb 20th 2008 10:31AM
Gotta keep working out if you want your power level to even register on a scanner.
Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Feb 20th 2008 11:08AM
WiiFit is a basic balance and weight tracking software. Its not your total workout. It replaces your scale and excel spreadsheet, and also comes with some proof of concept mini games (like downhill ski-ing).
I for one will be picking it up because I've become increasingly conscious of my tightening pants, and its time to trim up.
George @ Feb 20th 2008 10:09AM
Sweet - my wife wanted something for home exercise/yoga for after her pregnancy and I wanted an excuse to buy this :D
treqie @ Feb 20th 2008 10:29AM
Where's the "Everybody's Nintendo Channel" then? Nowhere in sight.
PSN: KillaKornbread @ Feb 20th 2008 10:32AM
Wii Fit will probably sell like hot cakes over here with all the mothers trying to help their obese kids but they will be quite upset when the thing breaks cause they are too fat. im not sure at all what the weight limit is but it sure doesnt look like it could hold much, maybe 250lb and that may be stretching it. plus i doubt people would stick with it long enough to see any difference in it anyway. just play til they get winded and then go re-energize with a double cheeseburger.
im much more excited for WiiWare im just not sure where im going to store all these games. i hope Nintendo comes up with a solution for that. letting us store games on SD cards would probably do the the trick for a while.
Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Feb 20th 2008 11:09AM
I think it has a weight limit of 300 lbs, just like your bathroom scale. If you've got KIDS who weigh 300 pounds, its time to get their stomach stapled.
PSN: KillaKornbread @ Feb 20th 2008 12:43PM
get their stomachs stapled or tell them to put down the damn fork.
and your 300lbs makes sense, i actually thought of bathroom scales right after i posted that.
Geist @ Feb 20th 2008 1:09PM
I've been reading the internet too much. I read "I think it has a weight limit of 300 lbs, just like your mom" before I had to reread it again to see what it actually said.
cold school @ Feb 20th 2008 10:37AM
heres some alternatives for all the non-Wii owners out there;
http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?search_constraint=0&search_query=scales&ic=24_0
Fernando Rocker @ Feb 20th 2008 11:24AM
Here are some alternaties for the whole PS3... http://igrillwithgeorge.com/new.html
John McPoop @ Feb 20th 2008 11:53AM
@fernando Rocker
Such a cute little troll you are bashing the PS3 and Sony at every turn. Thw Wii fit is a glorified scale and balance board. And the 360 would be better served as a grill you know the way it always overheats and all. The wii on the other hand probably wouldn't have enough under the hood to use a blender. You would need to wave your hands around in a belnder like motion. But then again thats a better form of control and interaction rather than just pressing a button to do the action.
Be a fan of games and not consoles Trollnando....
FYI I own all 3 consoles....
Wake me up when Nintendo releases Mario kart or Smash Brothers Brawl because other than first party games or Capcom releases the rest are a craptastic pile of waste.
Geist @ Feb 20th 2008 1:18PM
Dude, John. Chill. Fernando's reply is trollish, but its a perfect counter-response to cold school's trollish comment, so all is fine.
religiousjedi @ Feb 20th 2008 10:48AM
1.) Wii Ware: May 12
2.) Wii Fit: May 19
3.) My Birthday: May 21
Those three reasons are why May is the best month of the year... ;)
Mr.ESC @ Feb 20th 2008 11:39AM
So is there going to be a *skate game or at least a generic skateboarding game for this thing or Am I looking at the Wii's equivalent of the eye toy?
(Seriously no one is going to lose weight with this, you are going to look like a jerk on that thing and people buying this at launch are probably Apple costumers)
Donald @ Feb 20th 2008 12:00PM
There's already a skiing game out in Japan that uses the Balance Board.
Martez @ Feb 20th 2008 1:14PM
I've never heard Nintendo say this will help you lose weight. It helps with balance, as well as keeping track of your weight over a period of time. That's like saying your bathroom scale helps you lose weight. It's not a solution to weight loss, it's a supplement. I really don't get why that is so hard to get through people's heads.
Geist @ Feb 20th 2008 1:25PM
Square Enix has noted that they might have some interest in developing something for this.
Also, I'd buy it because it can help with some stretching and whatnot. I'm not going to get an uber-buff build from it, but it's better than sitting on my arse all day.
cg @ Feb 20th 2008 1:03PM
Glad I dont own a Wii I would be ashamed if that was coming to my console...I dont know what the wii is besides a kids fad, but it certainly is not a games console.... Nothing about it interests me. Wii Fit is more nintendo non game garbage for "soccer moms"
Martez @ Feb 20th 2008 1:18PM
"Wii Fit is more nintendo non game garbage for soccer moms"
You mean that demographic that Microsoft and Sony wanted to break into but never could because it gaming was perceived as a boy's club? The demographic that Nintendo has won over giving them record profits? How dare they release a game for those people!
I don't understand why people without a Wii are so bitter towards it. You still get your crappy Turok games, quit fucking whining.
License to ill @ Feb 20th 2008 2:08PM
Don't sweat it they get wiifit and we get all the AAA third party titles...
Mr Khan @ Feb 20th 2008 4:19PM
Not "all"
http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/10/ps3-monster-hunter-3-cut-due-to-high-dev-costs/
not all
JRM @ Feb 20th 2008 2:35PM
My friends who have this--in Japan--tell me it's lots of fun. It has little to do with losing weight though, more with yoga/flexibility. More "twister" than an actual workout.
PojoMofo @ Feb 22nd 2008 10:55AM
Tony Hawk Sim for Wii confirmed