Nintendo’s popular Wii Fit, the first video game marketed as a serious fitness tool, has finally arrived at US retailers. The Fit is said to be selling briskly over the Memorial Day weekend, and has received an enormous amount of public interest.
The Fit comes with a special wireless balance board, which the user steps on and performs exercises with; the balance board is extremely sensitive, and can help users become more aware of their balance and coordination, as well as exercising the core muscles of the body — those most affected by balance.
Already, retailers expect that the Wii Fit is going to be a huge seller in the U. S., but can this miniscule video fitness game actually help American slim down? Most experts say yes, the Fit can help users get in shape, and develop greater muscle tone, coordination and balance. But it is important to emphasize that the Fit is simply one tool to help maintain a healthy body — not a panacea for the epidemic of obesity facing Americans.
The Fit has different categories of exercises, including muscle training, balance games and yoga. The balance board appears to do a really good job of detecting motion and pressure, and even the tiniest fluctuations are recognized on screen during the training process. Even better, the balance board’s pressure detection determines how much energy the user is putting into each exercise — or how much strength is being exerted.
With physical fitness related “games,” like Hula Hoop and Ski Slalom, is easy to see how the Wii Fit could become a useful part of anyone’s weekly workout routine. The games make exercising fun, and provide just enough distraction so that the user doesn’t constantly feel like they are working out. You can even go for a virtual jog with the Fit, and there is a two player option for running or working out with a friend.
Overall, the exercise and balance games are useful, though you are not likely to get any type of serious muscle training from the Fit. But for Americans who find it difficult to get off the couch and actually work out, the Fit could be a godsend. It provides just enough entertainment to make exercising fun and interesting, and by keeping users aware of their current fitness level, it could help to increase health and fitness consciousness among many people, something that is sorely needed in modern America.
I’ve tried this game on my wii system and it rocks. I get a good work out.
Comment by Joey — June 1, 2008 @ 1:08 pm