Ten minutes after we turned on the Nintendo Wii Fit, my 17-year-old daughter and I reached a verdict: This thing is crazy fun and plausibly healthy. You may be hankering for one of these machines already—there has been no shortage of fuss since the late-May release of the Fit—but I’m here to validate the hankering. I’ve never bought a video game—until now.
To play you stand on the Wii Fit’s 330-pound-capacity multisensor plastic “balance board” (about $90, if you can find one) and face the TV, which shows games from the Wii console (about $249, if you can find one). Subtle shifts in weight detected by the board allow you to control a personal avatar as she or he skis down slalom runs, walks a tightrope between buildings, heads soccer balls, dodges flying pandas, or plays intricate balance-the-ball games.
If the board were simply another game controller—albeit clever—that would be fine. But the Wii Fit, embodied on-screen by a squeaking icon (think Pillsbury Doughboy) seemed genuinely interested in my health, and offered yoga, balance, strength-training, and even aerobic programs—after reminding me that my BMI is not optimal and making my on-screen avatar look rather pudgy. (There was a bit of controversy in the U.K., when the machine called a 10-year-old girl fat, though her father said she was “solidly built but not fat.” Given the imprecise nature of BMI, this does seem like a risk.)
In yoga mode, a soothing instructor takes you through, say, the sun salutation series of poses, while you try to maintain your center of gravity within a narrow range traced by a red dot on the screen. The stretching is real and, for my yoga-practicing daughter, the balance monitor gave great feedback. In aerobic mode, you use the balance board as a step-class device and boogie along with silly characters. Switch to jogging mode and you step off the board and run in place on the floor (the motion-sensitive Wii remote control measures your pace) following an encouraging little fellow as he scampers through an urban park. If you speed up, he speeds up, which was a definite heartbeat booster for me. The console allows you to track goals, and the machine rewards progress by unlocking more games.
The thoroughly Japanese brilliance of the Wii is its total silliness, total sincerity, and happy user interface. If there is competition for Apple in the world of consumer electronics, it’s here. Wii Fit is the iPhone/iMac of interactive gaming: not cool, just ridiculously fun. It’s no substitute for a run in the park or 60 minutes of real yoga, but for couch potatoes, it could be a real health boost. The only problem, assuming you have the money to spend, is chasing one of these units down: a console/Fit combo with extra controller was selling for $600 online this week, almost double the suggested price.
(PHOTO: NINTENDO)
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Comments (16)
We just got a Wii Fit a few weeks ago and it’s a lot of fun. My husband and I belong to a gym and we use it after the gym or on days we don’t go. It’s a good way to get up and use some muscles that I don’t usually hit (Hula-hooping!) It’s not enough to replace the gym, but it’s definitly another way to get some exercise in.
I’ve been contemplating this too for a little extra fitness time at home. Maybe I’ll wait a bit longer and then jump in!
We got a Wi last year and we love it! I really wanted it for the long winter evenings after dinner. Found us staying up too late for a work week. Turned the TV off and the Wi on!
We would love to get the WiiFit but everyone sells out within an hour of the store receiving it–and they receive sooo few! It is very frustrating! And our sensor bar stopped working after 2 weeks of use. So over the high prices and Nintendo ‘keeping up the demand’ by keeping supply down. Check out the message boards on the Nintendo site. If I had read that first, I probably would have held onto my money!
My boss got me the Wii for Christmas and then I bought myself the Fit for Mother’s Day (OK, the card said it was from my husband!). We love it! I’ve bought more games (darts is a lot of fun). We do the fit now, but I’m sure it will get a lot more use this winter…we never got into the video game craze when we bought all of them for the kids, but now that the kids are grown and gone…this one is ours!!! It is fantastic…a lot of fun! Also fun at the adult (45+) parties!
Between work, kids sports, and helping out at the schools I just don’t have time for the gym. We are an active family so I get plenty of fresh air. Yet sometimes you still need a bit of cardio. I loooove the Yoga and going for a jog after to get my heartrate up. This is a wonderful invention and so much geeky fun!
My co-worker talked me into buying the Wii when it first came out. After much convincing, I bought it. Love the bowling, tennis and got exhausted from the boxing. Then, my son bought the Wii Fit for Mother’s Day. Wow! I am hooked. I love the yoga, hoola hooping, not so good at the head butting soccer balls. Every time I say I’ll just stay on it for a quick 20 minutes…it turns out to be over an hour later and I’m still hooked. I have talked most of my co-workers into purchasing one. Thanks
I bought my Wii Fit on ebay for just a little above the suggested price and it was WORTH IT! I LOVE EVERY GAME I PLAY. THe Wii Fit is an excellent source for a little calorie burning and entertainment. If you’re looking for a non-workout game the Mario Kart is AMAZING!!!!
Has anyone figured out how the Wii fitness could be used for a person that uses a wheelchair and can’t stand?
I purchased it in April and I love it too the maxx my son think its his I have to remind him its mine, but we enjoy and have hours of fun . Thank You very much.
I really loved the WII, but after repeated use, I now find myself at the chiropractor everyother week as my back is out. Word from the Doc – - be careful.
I got the Wii for Christmas and love it – the sports games are a great way to get you to move. I agree with Tracy that it’s not enough to replace the gym – I use it on days when I can’t get to the the gym. I haven’t tried Wii Fit yet because it seems to be out of stock everywhere but I hear it’s pretty good as well.
After letting my husband purchase the Wii last Christmas, he thought he’s be clever and get me an “early birthday present that he couldn’t wait to have me open” it was the Wii Fit. Should have I taken this the wrong way? Who knows, but we have a blast. It is really funny to watch him hula-hoop. I’ve never really enjoyed yoga until now, and this morning my abs hurt in places I’d never had hurt before. The jack-knife is a killer!
I love the wii fit. The Wii Fit has helped me lose weight and enjoy exercising. My body is more toned and my lower back pain has nearly disappeared. We got one almost as soon as it came out to help with my back. If it wasn’t for the yoga, I think I would still be in a tremedous amount of pain.
We love our wii fit! My 6 year old grandson and I play on it all the time, neither one of us even realizes how long we have been “playing” and what a workout you can get! I think it is great for family fun, everyone can play no matter the age and everyone has fun while getting in some exercise! Well worth it!
The Christmas days are coming soon .There are various fish in the pond, so it is necessary to find good Wii Fit finder for us