Martin Graf asked: Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock somewhere, chances are you’ve heard the buzz about Nintendo’s latest creation, Wii Fit. If you haven’t, here’s a concise rundown. Wii Fit is the new lifestyle product for the Wii Console that combines the fun of gaming with the benefits of exercise. The Wii was a revolution in itself in the way that it allowed users to interact with games using wireless motion touchy controls that were fun and easy to use, attractive to both gamers and non-gamers alike. Wii Fit takes this idea one step further with the introduction of the Wii Stabilize Board which comes bundled with the game.
The Wii Stabilize Board
The Wii Stabilize Board looks a lot like an oversized bathroom scale but it actually contains four pressure sensors that permit it to very accurately decide a user’s weight and their position on the board. This information is sent wirelessly to the Wii Console, allowing games to interpret a entire new range of motions and provides a completely new gaming experience. Wii Fit is the first game to take advantage of the Wii Stabilize Board and features over forty different exercises and games including yoga, muscle workouts, aerobic exercise and stabilize games.
Wii Fit is an Immediate Hit
Wii Fit was launched in Japan at the beginning of December 2007 and it was an instant hit, selling nearly 1.8 million copies in the first four months. It was then released in the UK on the 25th April 2008 and nearly immediately topped the UK gaming charts. Within days, retailers had sold all of their initial inventory allocations and it was estimated that over 200 000 copies of Wii Fit were sold within the first week. In fact, one high street chain claimed to be shifting 90 copies a minute on launch day. Wii Fit is scheduled for launch in Australia on the 8th May 2008 and in the US on the 19th.
What’s Next after Wii Fit?
There’s no denying the success of Wii Fit even before its US launch which will no doubt be massive, but I estimate that ultimately it’s the Wii Stabilize Board that’s going to be the huge hit in 2008. Wii Fit has taken Wii from being just another games console to being an actual lifestyle product that wouldn’t appear out of spot in the average home and this will mean a potentially gargantuan increase in the gaming market. As the buzz and excitement of Wii Fit dies down, many Wii Fit owners will start to ponder what else they can do with their Wii Stabilize Boards, and that’s when things will really begin to get tantalizing.
Upcoming Wii Stabilize Board Games
Accurate now (1 May 2008), Wii Fit is the only game available for the Wii Stabilize Board but that will definitely alter in the coming months. Namco Bandai has already confirmed the release of We Ski in the US on May 13 and 2k Sports have Don Emperor’s Prizefighter scheduled for June and the list will grow. In fact, Nintendo US COO, Reggie Fils-Aime, confirmed that over 10 games were already in development.
No other games have been confirmed but there are already rumours spreading of Nintendo snowboarding, EA Skate, Rayman Raving Rabbids and even future Mario titles. Like I said, nothing’s been confirmed but whatever the case, Wii Stabilize Board games are definitely going to be a large hit in 2008.
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