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