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