Nintendo has announced the official launch date for its much-anticipated Wii Fit home fitness title for its Wii game console—and it’s May 21, only two days from now. The game, already highly successful in Japan, is another in Nintendo’s efforts to create new markets for its gaming products. Instead of letting players blast aliens, solve puzzles, or engage in online play, Wii Fit is about getting players moving, stretching, and exercising, and tracking their progress as they improve over time. The game is built around a new innovative Balance Board which connects wirelessly to the Wii console and acts as a launching pad for more than 40 game activities in areas like aerobics, yoga, balance, and strength training.
“Wii Fit will get you moving whether you’ve been playing video games for years or this is your first time,” said Nintendo USA’s executive VP of marketing Cammie Dunaway, in a statement. “Wii Fit is easy for anyone to try and is yet another example of how Nintendo continues to expand the world of video games to new audiences.”
Nintendo hopes that Wii Fit will be a hit with adults, seniors, and other non-traditional gamers, much as Wii Play has found traction amongst senior citizens. With the Balance Board, players can do everything from swing a virtual Hula Hoop and ride a snowboard to performing yoga poses and stretches, while the Balance Board tracks balance, weight shifts, and movement. The game tracks user’s progress, and even reflects players’ fitness levels in their Mii caricatures.
Wii Fit goes on sale throughout the U.S. May 21 at a suggested retail price of $89.99.
