Tag Archives: wii fit

Happy New Year. We’re glad we shut down over Christmas. You didn’t miss a whole lot.

By far the most important story over the break was news that Free Radical cut its workforce by 140 to just 40.

The developer was confirmed as being in administration just before the Christmas holiday.

Speaking to 1UP, Cameron Gunn of administrators ReSolve Partners said, “We made around 140 employees redundant yesterday, effective 31 December (the date up to which they had been paid). We’re still trading on with the remaining 40 or so employees, have advertised the business for sale and have received some strong interest.”

News broke mid-December that staff had turned up for work only to be locked with a notice on the door telling them to adjourn to a nearby hotel.

Free Radical aside, other noteworthy Christmas news included confirmation that Mistwalker JRPG Cry On has been cancelled.

“AQI decided to cancel the project after analyzing the current market environment and forecasts for the future. We deeply apologize for troubling those who were awaiting its release,” said a company rep.

Cry On was apparently part of “Hironobu Sakaguchi’s triumvirate of Xbox 360 titles,” says this 1UP piece (the other two being Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey), and for those of you who don’t know, the game “was to be an action-RPG featuring a Nobuo Uematsu soundtrack [and] character designs by Kimihiko Fujisaka.”

Full round up below.

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Call of Duty: World at War is celebrating a month at the top of the UK charts, MCV writes.

The Activision shooter’s looking good for Christmas number one, although FIFA refuses to drop off, taking third place this week.

Last week’s chart here. Data below for the week ending December 6.

1. Call of Duty: World at War
2. Mario Kart Wii
3. FIFA 09
4. Dr Kawashima’s Brain Training
5. Need For Speed: Undercover
6. Tomb Raider: Underworld
7. Fallout 3
8. Wii Fit
9. Wii Play
10. Guitar Hero: World Tour

By Mike Bowden

The GlobeAndMail‘s published the top 20 software chart from last night’s Canadian NPD for August, although there are no figures to be had, sadly. Wii Fit won it. No idea on hardware. Hit this for all the news from the US NPD release.

1. Wii Fit – Wii
2. Mario Kart Wii – Wii
3. Madden NFL 09 – Xbox 360
4. Wii Play – Wii
5. Madden NFL 09 – PlayStation 3
6. Soul Calibur IV – Xbox 360
7. Too Human – Xbox 360
8. Guitar Hero: On Tour – Nintendo DS
9. Rock Band: Special Edition Bundle – Wii
10. New Super Mario Bros. – Nintendo DS
11. Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day – Nintendo DS
12. Soul Calibur IV – PlayStation 3
13. Mario Party – Nintendo DS
14. Super Smash Bros: Brawl – Wii
15. Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day – Nintendo DS
16. Rock Band: Special Edition Bundle – PlayStation 2
17. Mario Kart – Nintendo DS
18. Pokemon: Diamond – Nintendo DS
19. Super Mario Galaxy – Wii
20. Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock – Wii

Wii Fit bounced back to the top of the UK software this week, knocking last week’s leader, Ubisoft’s Soulcalibur IV, off the top spot. Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games is still hanging in there too. Wonder why?

Data for week ending August 9 is as follows:

1. Wii Fit
2. Soul Calibur IV
3. Mario Kart Wii
4. Big Beach Sports
5. Wii Play
6. Guitar Hero III
7. Guitar Hero: On Tour
8. Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games
9. Wall-E
10. Dr Kawashima Brain Training

By Mike Bowden

Edge has awarded Halo 3 its award for Interactive Innovation at the Edinburgh Festival earlier today.

Bungie’s opus shooter staved off competition from the likes of Grand Theft Auto IV, Portal, Rock Band, Super Mario Galaxy and Wii Fit.

“We hand out this accolade to the title released in the last 12 months that does most to further the creative culture of gaming – in other words, to mark out new directions for the form,” says the piece.

Well done, Bungie.

By Mike Bowden

Looks as though Lego Indiana Jones has had its chips, dropping down to fifth from the top spot a week ago. Wii Fit has obviously been restocked. Last week’s charts here. Data for the week ending July 26.

1. Wii Fit
2. Wall.E
3. Mario Kart Wii
4. Guitar Hero: On Tour
5. Lego Indiana Jones
6. Wii Play
7. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games
8. Super Smash Bros. Brawl
9. Brain Training
10. Guitar Hero III: Legends Of Rock

Genius. US firm AMR has started producing Balance Board covers emblazoned with cannabis leaves, as you can see here. You’ve made it, Nintendo. These are probably going to end up in the living rooms of every 19 year-old materials student in the western world. “Cool”.

Chart-Track has released the latest UK charts revealing that Nintendo’s Wii Fit has taken over from its other big seller, Super Smash Bros. Brawl to go top of the UK software charts.

Last week’s charts here. Top ten below.

1. Wii Fit
2. Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures
3. Super Smash Bros: Brawl
4. Top Spin 3
5. Battlefield: Bad Company
6. Big Beach Sports
7. Wii Play
8. Beijing 2008
9. Kung Fu Panda
10. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games

By Mike Bowden

It’s debatable as to whether or not Wii Fit owners are dropping pounds, but 64percent of them are certainly dropping something else: the game.

According to Kotaku, a Japanese poll conducted by IT Media revealed that 64 percent of 1,000 polled don’t even step on their Nintendo-branded living room scales any more.

For whatever it’s worth, though, the poll also found that 22 percent use Wii Fit every day, which is better than nothing, we suppose.

Now, if this were an ideal world, the anti-Wii Fit 64 percent would be spending their former Wii time at the gym, which would be great! But this is the same world that needed to disguise exercise as game, so we have our doubts.

By Nathan Grayson

Alisa Miller – a trainee nurse, from the look of it – dropped us a link to her article on how to use Wii Fit in an actual proper way earlier. And here it is. Alisa writes:

To say that Wii has been a popular pastime is an understatement, but the release of Wii Fit this year has sent Wii’s popularity skyrocketing. Maybe it’s because Wii Fit has gamers and non-gamers alike intrigued and challenged with the fun fitness activities. Regardless of why so many are picking up their Wiimote, this game offers a unique opportunity to have fun with your console and get a start on better fitness. If you’ve decided to use Wii Fit to help you get in shape, take advantage of these suggestions to enhance your workout.

How can you not read that? Do the woman a favour.

Nintendo’s launched a Feel Great Britain website and a tour of the UK to promote Wii Fit.

“We’re on a mission to get Britain in shape and feeling great,” said Nintendo. “During the Feel Great Britain Tour, everyone will have a chance to experience the benefits of an active lifestyle. Pop in, try out Wii Fit, and visit our Health Hub for a free health & fitness check.”

The tour will include tips on training with your Balance Board and the chance to an active holiday in the Lake District, which includes mountain climbing, canoeing and abseiling. Amazing.

Thanks, Balance Board Blog.

According to this Balance Board Blog story, UK insurer Sheila’s Wheels has revealed that Wii Fit users have caused upwards of £20 million damage to their homes while using the game.

There’s no source on this, and it sounds salty to say the least, so read into it what you will.

UBS analyst Ben Schachter has called for higher profile third party titles for the Nintendo Wii following the May NPD software numbers.

“While overall hardware and software trends for the Nintendo Wii continue to be strong, we would like to see more third-party hits on the platform,” said Schachter.

“To date, Guitar Hero III, Sega of America’s Mario and Sonic: Olympic Games, and TTWO’s Carnival Games are the only third-party Wii games that have sold more than 1 million units to-date according to NPD, and there are many third-party Wii exclusives that have come-and-gone with minimal reaction from the market,” he added.

“Nintendo’s share of software dollars on its platform has approximated almost 50% since the Wii was introduced, and reached an all-time high in May of 68%.”

The statement comes after it was revealed that Spielberg’s Boom Blox only sold 60k, although NPD analyst Anita Frazier puts the poor performance down to EA’s puzzler being released in amongst “Super Smash Bros. Brawl, GTA IV, Wii Fit, Mario Kart and the upcoming Metal Gear Solid 4″.

Thanks GameDaily.

By Mike Bowden

Nintendo chose to lead on Mario Kart and Wii Fit sles in its response to last night’s NPD data, with gigantic hardware figures taking a back-seat – winning in the console space is becoming normal for the firm, clearly.

“The Wii Wheel and Wii Balance Board accessories make game play fun for new gamers while presenting new challenges for those who have been playing a long time,” said NoA marketing head Cammie Dunaway.

“The diversity of the seven Nintendo games represented in NPD’s top 10 for May demonstrates how Nintendo has something for everyone.”

Not to waste the opportunity, obviously, the firm remembered to detail the fact that Wii represented 63 percent of all current-generation consoles sold in May, DS showed 71 percent share of the portable market in the US last month, lifetime sales of Wii now stand at nearly 10.2 million and lifetime DS sales are now at more than 20 million.

As you do. Press release after the link. Read the rest of our NPD coverage here.

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Nintendo’s claimed it had nothing to do with a YouTube movie showing a 30 year-old woman hoola-hooping to Wii Fit in her pants, the Daily Mail reports.

The video’s now been viewed more than 1.8 million times.

Giovanny Gutierrez filmed his girlfriend, Lauren Bernat, writhing around in her underwear on his phone and put it on the internet without her knowing.

“She was furious when she found out. She called me on the phone screaming her head off and then hung up on me,” said Gutierrez.

“But she now finds herself laughing about it and enjoying her 15 minutes of fame as the Wii Fit girl. It’s just crazy how it’s blown up.”

Good for you, love. Video after the break.

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Wedbush Morgan’s Michael Pachter has explained that Wii Fit can’t be bought for love nor money in the US for two reasons: the weak dollar, and the fact Americans aren’t getting any thinner.

“The shortage demonstrates one consequence of the weak dollar,” the analyst told the LA Times. “We’re seeing companies ignore their largest market simply because they can make a greater profit elsewhere.”

“They know that Americans will be just as fat a few months from now” when Nintendo will have more units available, he added.

Don’t ever mince those words, Michael. The world would be far more boring if you did.

According to this Wii Fit stock checker, Wii Fit is currently unavailable everywhere in the UK.

You can but it from eBay for over £120, but other than that you’ll just have to wait.

That could explain it’s disappearance from the UK Top Ten. In fact it’s lying currently at number 40 in the retail charts.

Popular game innit.

By Mike Bowden

According to this XGN report, a chap’s been told by Wii Fit that he’s heavy to play the game.

“Well yesterday was a bummer for me,” said the unnamed gamer. “I finally got a chance to step on the balance board to play Wii Fit. As soon as I was beginning the process creating profile, it said that I exceeded the board’s 330 lbs weight limit and cancelled the registration. At 6’8”, I’m not terribly overweight and it’s not that hard for someone that size to weight that much.”

The man in question weighs 350 lbs, apparently.

Wii Fit appears to be good at telling people they’re too big. Still no report of someone being told they’re too thin yet. The year’s still young, though.

This isn’t going away. The UK girl branded “overweight” by Wii Fit has appeared on the BBC News with her mother, who has called for a warning to be put onto the game.

“I was mortified,” said mum, talking of 11 year-old Tobia’s request to go on a diet after the incident. “You can see she’s just lovely and tall and slim, and I was really upset. I think there should be an age limit on the BMI calculation on the game.”

She added: “She’s at a very impressionable age. She’s growing up. She’s starting high school in September and I don’t want her going on a diet. She’s got a lot of growing left to do, and I don’t think children should be told they’re overweight or obese.”

“The whole process of labelling a child as overweight or obese is not helpful,” said the program’s ‘Doctor Jonty’.

“It’s a shame, because we have a problem with childhood obesity and we want to do is to be encouraging children to take more physical activity, and, sadly, having to do that through electronic means, through the Wii, may be a good way of doing that. So the fact that Tobia was doing it is great: she was taking some physical activity. What we don’t want is children worrying excessively about their weight at such an early age, because then you’ve got the risk of eating disorders in the longer term.”

The girl’s mother did go on to say that she’d have no problem letting Tobia continue to play Wii Fit as it sounded “fantastic”, but reiterated the point that there should be a warning on the product for parents.

Nintendo has already released a statement on the matter, offering an apology “to any customers offended by the in-game terminology used to classify a player’s current BMI status, as part of the BMI measurement system integrated into Wii Fit.”

Watch the video here.

Wii Fit launched in the US yesterday, and you can see press images of the New York retail event on GoNintendo. There’s Tiger Woods buying his Balance Board. Good old Nintendo. There’s a big Flickr set here from the launch as well. Fill your boots.