wiifit posts (Subscribe to this feed)
Obesity experts frown on Wii Fit's fatty-labeling, Nintendo apologizes
by Griffin McElroy 
{ May 17th 2008 at 1:45PM }
Video games can occasionally be the source of some pretty disheartening self-realizations -- like the time Rock Band revealed that you've been lied to your entire life about your angelic singing voice, or when Vampire Rain made you realize that you have incredibly poor taste in video games. However, something tells us these revelations are a bit less heartbreaking than those about to be unleashed by Nintendo's latest best-seller, Wii Fit -- especially when the heart in question is the fragile, butter-soaked heart of an overweight child.
Or an average-weighted child, for that matter. You see, Wii Fit measures the user's Body Mass Index (BMI), a weight/height ratio commonly calculated by physicians, though the use of BMI measurements in children is criticized by many dietitians for its frequent inaccuracy. Nintendo recently issued an apology following an incident involving the hurtful labeling of a "solidly built" 10-year-old girl. So, it's like an electronic, $90 version of our fifth-grade gym teacher? We're sold!
Walmart pushing Wii Fit pre-order for Mother's Day
by Alexander Sliwinski { May 2nd 2008 at 10:30AM }
Kelly Thompson, Walmart.com's chief merchant, says the initial sales have been "extremely strong." Due to the fact that the system doesn't come out until a week after the holiday, Thompson recommends giving the $10 online gift card as a present. That's a great idea! We can see it now: "Hey mom, the passive-aggressive gift telling you that you're a fatty mcfat doesn't come for another week. Oh, in the meantime, here's a $10 gift card to Walmart.com." Somehow a nice brunch and flowers sounds like a better option.
GameStop offering free Wii Fit promo DVDs
by David Hinkle { Apr 30th 2008 at 1:30PM }
For those of you who like to collect promotional DVDs, know that GameStop is giving away free DVDs that show off Wii Fit. Our best guess is that the footage on the DVD is things you've already seen (here at Wii Fanboy, we hope), so if you're intending on picking it up and catching something new to watch to hold you over until the bundle is released, then perhaps that might not be the best plan in the world.
Instead, we suggest you approach this as an opportunity to show it off to someone in your life who doesn't know what the 411 is. Show the game off to your mom, your English teacher or simply get a bunch of the DVDs and throw them around like ninja stars. That used to be fun with those AOL 3.0 CDs back in the day.
Gallery: Wii Fit
Don't sweat Nintendo, Wii Fit rules UK sales charts
by Alexander Sliwinski { Apr 28th 2008 at 3:15PM }
The sales eclipsed the record-breaking launch of Mario Kart Wii, which saw a 62% drop in sales but still managed to stay in second place on the sales chart. In terms of money, the Wii Fit launch is the third biggest in UK history, behind GTA: San Andreas and Halo 3 (in fairness, it is £70, instead of £45 or less like many games). We can only imagine how the exercise system did in the rest of Europe ... or how it'll do next month in the glorious land of fat: America.
Pachter: Wii Fit to raise Wii demand, keep shortages going
by David Hinkle { Apr 16th 2008 at 1:30PM }
On Pachter's part, this is a pretty safe play to make. The preorders at Amazon are going through the roof and with Wii Fit being on Good Morning, America recently, we're sure the public is very receptive to the product. We're still not sure about that price tag, though.
Gallery: Wii Fit
Wii Warm Up: The price of fitness
by David Hinkle { Apr 16th 2008 at 9:00AM }
Gallery: Wii Fit
Separated at birth: Wii Fit Balance Board and Aperture Science turret
by Zack Stern { Apr 16th 2008 at 6:55AM }
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
Wii Fit Balance Board
Pachter: Wii Fit could keep Wii shortage going
by Alexander Sliwinski { Apr 16th 2008 at 6:00AM }
Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pacter states that after attending a recent Nintendo event that he now believes in the sales power of Wii Fit. He thinks Nintendo's fun for the fatties system could "cause a new boom in demand for the Wii." Adding that Nintendo's marketing campaign will aim directly at casual players and make the already scarce system even more difficult to find.
Pachter retains a "Buy" rating for Nintendo's stock and maintains the company's profit guidance is conservative. He believes Nintendo's momentum isn't stopping anytime soon. Wii Fit is available in North America beginning May 19 for $90.
Amazon opens preorders for Wii Fit
by David Hinkle { Apr 15th 2008 at 8:02PM }
So for those of you who find the idea of parting with such a large amount of money irrelevant compared to the exercise the title will offer, then you might want to head on over and check out the page on Amazon. If you don't want to get it there, let us know where you plan on picking it up!
Gallery: Wii Fit
[Thanks, Justin!]
It's pricey to be Wii Fit
by David Hinkle { Apr 15th 2008 at 12:45PM }
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: Wii Fit
Joystiq impressions: Wii Fit mini-games
by Zack Stern { Apr 15th 2008 at 9:00AM }
Sure, Wii Fit is about health and lifestyle, but I'm looking forward to the games; I sampled some of the lesser-known modes at the recent Nintendo Media Summit. We've already played with the hula-hoop, soccer, ski-jump, and other basics, so I jumped straight to tightrope walking, floating in a bubble, and other later unlockables. But first, I warmed up with jogging.
Gallery: Wii Fit
Pachter says 3-4 million for Wii Fit in 2008
by David Hinkle { Apr 2nd 2008 at 12:00PM }
"Wii Fit will sell 3 million to 4 million in the US if they market aggressively," Pachter said. Well, if Pachter read Wii Fanboy, he'd know that they are putting a lot into their marketing of the game. And, if Pachter's lack of reading game blogs are any indication, the man is woefully under-prepared to make any kind of prediction.
Gallery: Wii Fit
[Via Gamespot]
U.S. boxart for Wii Fit celebrates diversity
by David Hinkle { Mar 20th 2008 at 4:40PM }
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: Wii Fit
[Via NeoGAF]
Sega's Yakuza 3 tops Japanese sales charts
by Ludwig Kietzmann { Mar 13th 2008 at 8:15PM }
While the game's setting has been flung back to the 17th century, Sega's latest Yakuza title has successfully found a place on a modern console, with the PlayStation 3 saga hitting the top position in the Japanese software sales charts last week. Gamasutra notes that Ryu ga Gotoku Kenzan! (Yakuza 3) sold approximately 181,000 copies during its debut, both in and outside of a special PlayStation 3 bundle.Those not entranced by old-fashioned violence ensured a second place spot for Super Smash Bros. Brawl, which shifted about 50,000 copies in its fifth week on sale. Fellow Wii title Wii Fit rounded out the top three, despite its documented opposition to all things round. Other Wii newcomers to the top ten were Metroid Prime 3: Corruption in fifth place and Minna no Joushiki Ryoku TV in tenth. The latter translates to "Everybody's General Knowledge Training TV," which either imparts useful trivia or advice on how to survive one of those insane Japanese game shows.
Wii Fit makes Australia sweat May 8
by Alexander Sliwinski { Mar 11th 2008 at 11:00AM }
Wii Fit has already sold over a million units in Japan and is ready to feel the burn in Europe beginning April 25 for £69.99 in the UK, and €89.99 for everyone else. The US has a scheduled release of May 19, but no price has been set.
