Increased awareness of BMI
With its unique innovation, Nintendo aims to get the gaming world moving. Given rising obesity levels and its associated health risks in the developing world, awareness of fitness and body mass index (BMI) is more important than ever. Keeping individuals and families motivated is now easier as the programme allows up to eight people to track progress and monitor performance.
The pressure sensitive Wii Balance Board first scales the individual's weight, and asks for their height measurement in order to calculate the BMI. The board also uses the individual's weight distribution to calculate the centre of their bodily balance and conducts a balance test in order to work out their "Wii Fit Age". Once exercising begins, it monitors the duration of the exercise undertaken and takes note of the category.
The board is used for an extensive array of activities, including aerobics, yoga, muscle stretches and games based on balance. Many of these activities focus on providing a "core" workout, similar to Pilates, an exercise method gaining in popularity that emphasises slower, controlled motions.
The four training categories, Aerobic Exercises, Muscle Workouts, Yoga and Balance Games aims to develop bodily balance control, burn fat, help tone and condition muscles, as well as increase aerobic stamina. In addition, other fun activities within these categories such as Hula Hoop, Ski Jump, Press-Up Challenge, Rhythm Boxing and classic Yoga poses make getting strong engaging and even amusing.
With Wii Fit's training programme, along with helpful tips and encouragement from the on-screen trainer, which responds to the physical performance as triggered by action on the Balance Board and the Wii remote, families can both sweat and giggle at the same time.
"Wii Fit is a breakthrough product ... bringing with it an unprecedented level of body-awareness to gaming," says Matthew Grose, General Manager of Core Gaming, South African representatives of Nintendo. "Essentially, your 'bathroom scale' becomes your fitness instructor, your progress report and your exercise regime all bundled into one."
Since its launch in Japan in December 2007, Wii Fit has already sold over 1.83 million units to date, making it one of the fastest selling Wii titles in Japan.
Available in South Africa from the first week of May, Wii Fit retails at R999, and the console retails at R3,599. For those who already own the console, the game is considered a relatively cost-effective way to commit to a fitness programme.
"Wii Fit will keep the whole family motivated to work out, without the struggle of finding the time and the determination to drag everyone to the gym," concludes Grose.
