Quitting the gym for your Wii - Nintendo Vs. Real Exercise
By Dave Parrack
Anyone who doesn’t already realise that the Nintendo Wii has gone beyond being a mere games console, and has become something new, and innovative need look no further than Wii Fit. Not only has the game sold in huge quantities, it is now proving itself as a viable alternative to going to the gym.
Wii Fit has been out in Japan for 18 months, and in Europe for a week. The game is due out in North America on May 19th, 2008. And it has already proved a massive hit, being the first game to truly prove the worth of the Wii since Wii Sports.
A writer at Product Reviews discusses how just five days after getting his hands on Wii Fit and the balance board peripheral, he has quit the gym, for good. He has used the game every day, and reports how his balance, and weight have both improved dramatically in that short space of time.
Although he admits that he’ll still be doing his jogging outside in the open air, he thinks “one hour of step, hula, muscle workouts, [and] yoga” using the game would be more than enough to “burn calories, increase muscle and strength and improve balance”.
This is pretty amazing for what is in essence a game made for a console. It has changed someone’s life, making them fitter, healthier, and with gym fees disappearing, probably saving money in the long term.
And it’s not just him who has been intrigued by the game. His kids, who normally don’t do much exercise, have been using it to get fitter too. And when he had friends around over last night, they ignored the newly released Grand Theft Auto IV in favour of having a go on the Wii.
While it’s questionable how useful Wii Fit will be for the general population, you have to hand it to Nintendo for at least trying to increase fitness levels. Okay, so they are making a ton of money out of it in to the bargain, but still.
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Tips N4G
May 1st, 2008
I doubt the Wii Fit will replace gyms… its a new way of being healthy… it would help us improve our balance and be more flexible… but I doubt it would ever replace the gym… nice game though…
May 2nd, 2008
God, I hate Wii Fit.
The thing about a gym is that you pay for a membership, and that often motivates people to keep up their workout schedule. Wii Fit has no such motivating factor, and once the novelty of it wears off, it will be just another useless Wii peripheral.[/opinion]
-Arvis
May 3rd, 2008
I want to try Wii Fit, not sure though if it would replace the gym workout though. It would depend on what you want out of an exercise regime - light exercise or a full on workout, Wii Fit could certainly contribute to your overall fitness and flexibility, probably suitable for the many who dont want to go the whole hog.