Wii Fit

Infobox VG
title=Wii Fit


caption=Wii Fit European boxart
developer=Nintendo EAD
publisher=Nintendo
series="Wii Series
designer=Shigeru Miyamoto
engine=Wii Sports (modified)
version=
released=vgrelease|JP=December 1 2007cite web|url= http://wii.ign.com/articles/826/826132p1.html|title=Wii Get Fit in December] vgrelease|EU=April 25 2008cite web|url= http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=33321|title=Wii Fit set for April release in Europe |accessdate=2008-04-06 |author=Phil Elliott |date=2008-02-20 |work=GamesIndustry.biz |publisher=Eurogamer] vgrelease|AUS=May 8 2008cref|bcite web |url=http://games.nintendo.com.au/title.php?id=1691 |title=Wii Fit |publisher=Nintendo |date=2008-03-17 |accessdate=2008-04-06] vgrelease|NA=May 21 2008cref|a
genre= Fitness game
modes=
ratings=vgratings|CERO=A|OFLCA=G|ESRB=E|PEGI=3+
platforms=Wii
media=Wii Optical Disc
requirements=
input=Wii Balance Board, Wii Remote and Nunchuk

"Wii Fit" is a video game developed by Nintendo for the Wii console. ["Wii Fit: Exergaming the World," "GamePro" 235 (April 2008): 19.] It is an exercise game consisting of activities utilizing the Wii Balance Board peripheral.

The balance board measures a user's weight and center of gravity. The software can then calculate the user's body mass index when told of his or her height. The game has roughly 40 different activities,cite web|title =E3 2007: Nintendo E3 Media Briefing Live Blog|publisher=IGN|date=2007-07-11|url= http://uk.wii.ign.com/articles/803/803335p1.html|accessdate=2007-07-11] including yoga poses, push ups, and other exercises. Furthermore, "Wii Fit" allows its players to compare their fitness by using "Wii Fit"'s own channel on the Wii Menu.cite web|title=Upcoming Wii game release dates|publisher=GoNintendo|date=2007-07-11|url=http://gonintendo.com/?p=21101#more-21101|accessdate=2007-07-11] The game tracks a user's "Wii Fitness Age" through a body test basing the result on the user's current age, weight, and balance. Like the rest of the Wii Series, "Wii Fit" integrates Miis into its presentation and gameplay.

"Wii Fit" was released in Japan on December 1, 2007, and in other regions in April and May 2008. it was realesed in the USA on May 19 2008.

History

Previously revealed under the name "Wii Health Pack", [cite web|url= http://uk.wii.ign.com/articles/804/804113p1.html|title=E3 2007: Feet-on Wii Fit|publisher=IGN|date=2007-07-12|accessdate=2007-07-13] it was announced under its current title at Nintendo's E3 press conference on July 11 2007 by famed video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. [ [http://www.consolewatcher.com/2007/07/stay-fit-with-nintendo-wii-balance-board/ Stay Fit with Wii Fit] "Console Watcher"]

At Nintendo's media briefing, it was demonstrated by Miyamoto, Reggie Fils-Aime and other participants.

"Wii Fit" was first revealed as "Wii Health Pack", by Shigeru Miyamoto, during a conference in mid-September 2006.cite web|url=http://wii.nintendo.com/iwata_asks_vol4_p1.jsp|title=Part 1 - A Truly Ground-breaking Collection of Games|author=Satoru Iwata|publisher=Nintendo|accessdate=2007-02-21] Then described as a "way to help get families exercising together", the game idea had first been included in Miyamoto's original design document for the whole Wii Series, the entirety of which was scribbled onto a sheet of paper.

As with other games designed by Miyamoto such as "Nintendogs", the design of "Wii Fit" was influenced by activities in Miyamoto's daily life.cite web|first=Jeremy|last=Parish|title=Miyamoto Roundtable full transcription|date=2007-07-13|accessdate=2007-07-14|url=http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=8258756&publicUserId=5379721] Miyamoto states that he and his family had become more health-conscious, going to the gym and tracking their weight. He found that it had become "fun over time to talk about these things", and as weighing yourself "didn't make much of a game", they decided to build games around the idea to mesh with the concept.

In an interview with "Game Informer" at E3 2007 Miyamoto revealed that "Wii Fit" had been developed with a "full-scale" team for a year at the time.cite web|url= http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200707/N07.0718.1839.37207.htm?Page=1|title=Nintendo's Busiest Man: The Shigeru Miyamoto Interview|date=2007-07-18|accessdate=2007-07-19|first=Billy|last=Berghammer|publisher=Game Informer] The Wii Balance Board had been worked on for "almost two years", and was inspired by sumo wrestlers' need to weigh themselves with two scales.

Gameplay

"Wii Fit" uses a unique platform peripheral called Wii Balance Board and center of balance. The software can then calculate their body mass index when told the user's height. The game has about 40 different activities,cite web|title =E3 2007: Nintendo E3 Media Briefing Live Blog|publisher=IGN|date=2007-07-11|url= http://uk.wii.ign.com/articles/803/803335p1.html|accessdate=2007-07-11] including yoga poses, push ups, and other exercises. Furthermore, "Wii Fit" allows its players to compare their fitness by using "Wii Fit"'s own channel on the Wii Menu.cite web|title=Upcoming Wii game release dates|publisher=GoNintendo|date=2007-07-11|url=http://gonintendo.com/?p=21101#more-21101|accessdate=2007-07-11]

"Wii Fit" tracks a user's "Wii Fitness Age" through a body test basing the result on the user's current age, weight, and athletic ability.

According to Shigeru Miyamoto when speaking to IGN during an interview at E3 2007, there were no plans to integrate WiiConnect24 functionality into "Wii Fit".cite video|people=Shigeru Miyamoto (Interviewed)|date=2007-07-12|title=E3 2007: Shigeru Miyamoto Video Interview|url= http://uk.media.wii.ign.com/articles/804/804464/vids_1.html|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2007-07-13] He did note, however, that there could be possibilities to take advantage of the WiiConnect24 in the future, such as using the service to keep in contact with a doctor to help with rehabilitation, or with a fitness specialist to help with training exercises.

Activities

Training on "Wii Fit" is divided into four categories:yoga, strength training, aerobics, and balance games. The activities provide a core workout, emphasizing controlled movements rather than overexertion. Activities include:

*Yoga
*Strength Training
*Aerobics
** Jogging
** Step aerobics
** Hula Hoop and Super Hula Hoop
** Rhythm boxing - similar to step aerobics but including the Wii Remote and Nunchuk to throw punches.

*Balance games
** Ski jumping
** Ski and snowboard slaloms.
** Heading footballs/soccer balls
** Table Tilt - Where the player shifts their balance to get balls into holes.
** Tightrope Tension - The player must cross a tightrope avoiding the snapjaws.
** Balance Bubble - The player attempts to navigate down a river in a bubble without bursting it on the sides.
** Penguin Slide - The player has to catch fish while balanced on a piece of ice.
** Lotus Focus - The player must remain motionless while looking at a flame.

New activities can be unlocked by gaining 'FitCash', which are accumulated in the 'FitPiggy', a small piggy bank dedicated to keep track of time spent in Wii Fit. Minutes of FitCash are equal to the number of minutes doing an activity rather than the number of minutes of overall game play. At certain stages, new yoga poses or muscle workouts are unlocked based on the total time spent working out. Being the best at an activity with a 100% score, or playing an activity a certain number of times unlocks more rigorous versions of that activity.

Activity log

"Wii Fit" also allows a player to keep track of activities outside of the game, which are then added on to the player's activity log, but not included in the daily exercise time. These are divided into three categories:

*Light - guitar, piano, stretching.
*Medium - cleaning, gardening, walking. painting
*Heavy - sports such as football, tennis, swimming, cycling.

The time allotted to these are given a multiplier to show how they should affect the player. Light activities are multiplied by 0.5, medium activities by 1, and heavy activities by 2.

Units

The Australian, European and North American Wii Fit releases contain support for both imperial and metric units. In the Australian and European editions if the user location is set to the United Kingdom then imperial units are used, with weight shown in the traditional British style of stones and pounds, otherwise metric are used. In the version for the Americas, US customary units are used if the language is set to English. If it is set to Spanish or French, then the Metric System is used. There is no way to change the unit set of the game without changing these Wii localisation settings.

Reception

VG Reviews
width = 25em
rev1=1UP.com
rev1Score=B+cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3167774&p=44|title= Wii Fit Review|publisher=1UP.com|accessdate=2008-05-30]
rev2="Computer and Video Games"
rev2Score=6.8/10cite web|url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=187102&skip=yes|title=Nintendo Review: Wii Fit|publisher=Computer and Video Games|accessdate=2008-05-30]
rev3=Eurogamer
rev3Score=8/10 [cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=132546|title=Wii Fit Review|publisher=Eurogamer|accessdate=2008-05-30]
rev4=GameSpot
rev4Score=7.0/10 [cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/wii/sports/wiifit/review.html?tag=tabs;reviews|title=Wii Fit for Wii Review|publisher=GameSpot|accessdate=2008-05-30]
rev5=IGN
rev5Score=8.0/10cite web|url=http://wii.ign.com/articles/875/875214p1.html|title=IGN:Wii Fit Review|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2008-05-30]
rev6="X-Play"
rev6Score=4/5cite web|url=http://www.g4tv.com/xplay/reviews/1779/Wii_Fit.html|title=Review: Wii Fit|publisher=G4|accessdate=2008-05-30]
rev7=Game Revolution
rev7Score=C+cite web|url=http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/wii/wii_fit|title= Wii Fit review for the WII|publisher=Game Revolution|accessdate=2008-05-30]
GR=80%cite web|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/942009.asp|title="Wii Fit" Reviews"|publisher=Game Rankings|accessdate=2008-05-30]
MG=81/100cite web|url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/wii/wii-fit|title=Wii Fit|publisher=MobyGames|accessdate=2008-10-05] "Wii Fit" holds an 80% score on Game Rankings, aggregated from the scores of 52 media outlets, and got an average score of 81 on MobyGames.

While the playful balance and aerobics minigames have generally been praised as simple fun, criticism for the game is aimed at its limitations in offering a serious workout regimen. In 1UP.com's review, one such limitation was attributed to the lack of structure the game imposes on the player, stating that while having "complete freedom to choose what you want to do, you might find yourself cheating, despite your best intentions." "X-Play" also noted that the brief activities are separated by menus, making it difficult for one to keep up a constant heart rate. Some have also pointed out a lack of Nintendo's usual charm in game design, specifically in the yoga and strength training exercises which take place in a muted setting that one critic referred to as "the world's most lifeless, depressing gym."

Despite these limitations, the game's friendly front-end and amount of activities are cited as appealing features to those who are perhaps seeking an introduction to daily exercise. In a review on IGN, "Wii Fit" was said to create "an environment in which working out is less daunting and as a result enjoyable -- fun, even."

There was minor controversy regarding "Wii Fit" in the UK, where two parents complained after the known limitations of BMI led to their healthy daughter being labeled as overweight. [cite web|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/lincolnshire/7410800.stm|title= Parents' anger at keep fit game|publisher=BBC|date=2008-05-20|accessdate=2008-05-21] Nintendo apologized over any offense caused by the terminology used in-game.

ales

"Wii Fit" sold over a quarter of a million copies in its first week, [cite web|url= http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=31293|title=Wii Fit misses out on Japan number 1|publisher=GamesIndustry.biz|date=2007-12-06|accessdate=2007-12-06] and despite not being released outside Japan, "Wii Fit" reached the one million unit sales milestone by January 62008, after being released on December 1 2007. [Cite web|url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=31970|title=Wii Fit sells 1m in Japan|author=Matt Martin|publisher=GamesIndustry.biz|date=2008-01-09 |accessdate=2008-05-29] [Cite web |url=http://www.mcvuk.com/news/29273/JAPAN-Wii-Fit-sells-one-million |title=JAPAN: Wii Fit sells one million |author=Ben Parfitt |publisher=Market for Home Computing and Video Games |date=2008-01-09 |accessdate=2008-05-29] As of July 13, 2008, the game has sold 2,353,000 copies in Japan. [http://www.gpara.com/ranking/mediacreatebn/ranking_20080717.php]

Prior to release, consumer reaction was also positive in the United Kingdom, with some retailers having to stop taking pre-orders due to its increasing popularity. [ [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/connected/main.jhtml?xml=/connected/2008/04/21/dlwii121.xml Wii-fit: Stock shortage looms for new Nintendo game] from "The Daily Telegraph"] Reports in the United Kingdom state that the Wii Fit launch had seen lines form nationwide. [ [http://www.videogamer.com/news/25-04-2008-8124.html Queues form nationwide for Wii Fit] from VideoGamer.com] Woolworths claimed that the game was also selling at a rate of 90 copies per minute. [ [http://www.webuser.co.uk/news/news.php?id=254185 Wii Fit selling 90 per minute] from "WebUser"] Nintendo UK have stated they are working hard to ensure that enough stock is available. [ [http://blog.wired.com/games/2008/04/wii-fit-sells-o.html "Wii Fit" Sells Out in UK] from "Wired"] In its first week of release, "Wii Fit" was the best-selling video game in the week, topping the all-format chart. Despite the game being sold at a higher price than average (£70, compared to an average of £35-40) it became the UK's sixth fastest selling console title according to Chart-Track/ELSPA and garnered over £16 million in sales. [ [http://www.mcvuk.com/news/30373/UK-CHARTS-Wii-Fit-takes-16m-as-it-hits-No1 UK CHARTS: Wii Fit takes £16m as it hits No.1] from "MCV"] During the week beginning the 19 May 2008, "Wii Fit"'s sales in the UK fell from second in the all-formats chart to dropping out of the top 40 altogether, believed to be caused by Wii Fit being completely sold out. [ [http://www.mcvuk.com/news/30681/Wii-Fit-drops-out-of-UK-Chart "Wii Fit" drops out of UK Top 40] from "MCV"] Subsequently, Nintendo UK promised to rectify the stock problems plaguing "Wii Fit" and vowed "We will end Wii Fit stock shortage". [ [http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/gaming/a96938/nintendo-we-will-end-wii-fit-stock-shortage.html Gaming - News - Nintendo: 'We will end Wii Fit stock shortage' - Digital Spy ] ] [ [http://www.denofgeek.com/games/60624/where_on_earth_is_the_wii_fit_stock.html Where on earth is the Wii Fit stock? - Den of Geek ] ]

In the United States, pre-launch sales of "Wii Fit" have been reported to have sold out at retailers Amazon.com, GameStop and Wal-Mart. [ [http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5i2Te_mW_ztXfIWx4AefoobVwlpDwD90MUFI05 Nintendo's latest game wants you off the couch] from Associated Press] After the initial release, reports showed stores selling out of "Wii Fit" nationwide. [Cite web |title=Resistance Is Futile |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/25/arts/television/25schi.html |first=Seth |last=Schiesel |publisher="The New York Times" |date=2008-05-25 |accessdate=2008-05-29 ] Michael Pachter, an analyst with Wedbush Morgan Securities, estimated that Nintendo shipped only 500,000 copies of the game in North America as opposed to as many as 2 million units to Europe. According to Pachter, the "Wii Fit" units were allocated by Nintendo to maximize profit, by prioritizing Europe over North America, taking advantage of the strong value of the euro compared to the U.S. dollar.citation |last=Pham |first=Alex |date=2008-05-31 |year=2008 |title=Breaking a sweat just to find Wii Fit; Nintendo's careful approach makes the fitness video game tough to track down |periodical=The Los Angeles Times |publisher= |pages =C.1 |issn= |doi= |oclc= |accessdate=2008-06-02] According to the NPD Group, "Wii Fit" sold 690,000 units in the US in May 2008, making it the country's third highest selling title for the month. [cite web |url=http://blog.wired.com/games/2008/06/may-npd-gta-iv.html |title=May NPD: GTA IV, Wii Top Charts Again |accessdate=2008-07-31 |last=Kohler |first=Chris |authorlink=Chris Kohler |date=2008-06-12 |work=Game!Life |publisher=Wired] The "Wii Fit" debuted in the United States at a suggested retail price of $89.99 for the base system unbundled with other accessories. As with the Wii Game Console itself, the demand for the "Wii Fit" has far outstripped the supply. The perceived shortage has created a secondary market for private sellers to purchase the "Wii Fit" at retail outlets are sell the product for inflated prices. In June 2008, the "Wii Fit" was reported to be selling at an average of $175 per unit on Amazon.com and EBay. [ [ http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/06/16/shortage-ebay-vendors-drive-price-wii-fit Wii Fit selling for more than doube MSRP] from The Industry Standard]

As of June 30, 2008, Nintendo has sold 5.27 million copies of "Wii Fit" worldwide. [cite web |url=http://www.videogamer.com/news/30-07-2008-8955.html |title=Wii sales near 30 million worldwide |accessdate=2008-07-31 |last=Orry |first=James |date=2008-07-30 |work=Videogamer.com |publisher=Pro-G Media] According to the NPD Group, GfK Chart-Track, and Enterbrain, the game has sold 1.433 million units in the United States, 624,000 in the United Kingdom, and 1.547 million in Japan, respectively, for a total of 3.604 million units as of August 1, 2008. [cite press release |title=Leading Market Research Firms Join Forces to Provide First Multi-Continent View Of Video Game Software Sales |url=http://www.npd.com/press/releases/press_080821.html |date=2008-08-21 |accessdate=2008-08-23 |publisher=NPD Group, GfK Chart-Track, Enterbrain]

Notes

References

External links

* [http://www.nintendo.com/wiifit/launch Official site]
* [http://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/hoiNtus4JvIcPtP8LQPyud4Kyy393oep Official Nintendo site]
* [http://us.wii.com/soft_wiifit.jsp Wii.com site]
* [http://us.wii.com/wii-fit/iwata_asks/vol1_page1.jsp Creation of Wii Fit] - Interview with Shigeru Miyamoto and Satoru Iwata
* [http://press.nintendo.com/e32007/wii/wiifit.zip Press Room File from E3]
*dmoz|Games/Video_Games/Sports/W/Wii_Fit|"pagename"