Wii Fit Makes Gaming Aerobic

Nintendo’s Wii console was the sleeper success of the last couple years in the video gaming market. Today is the American launch of a new game called “Wii Fit,” which has gone like gangbusters in Japan. Retailing for $90, it comes with a “balance board” that can do body mass index calculations and other useful exercise things. There are about 40 different activities, from push ups to yoga. It’s more than just a game; it’s the makings of an at-home gym.

In all, there are 4 basic sets of activities: yoga, strength building, balance games and aerobics. The appeal here is that one can do these exercises without turning up for a class. Yoga, for example, can be done anywhere in a few minutes, but having to carve out a block of time to go to a gym (with its monthly membership fee) is a bit much for someone who doesn’t even know if yoga is worthwhile.

Personal trainer and fitness expert Robert Dothard noted, “"I had a real difficult time training people in front of what I called 'God and everybody' -- with the whole gym looking. If someone is not in good shape you know and they are in the public gym and they're not performing well it's an uncomfortable feeling.”

One reviewer said, “Initially, Wii Fit for Nintendo's game system feels downright hokey. Standing in front of your TV and gyrating over a thick slab of plastic doesn't seem like the logical first step toward a lifestyle makeover. But as you push yourself to hit 500 virtual hula hoop rotations in under 90 seconds, enlightenment begins to dawn: it's actually hard--and fun. That's the genius of the Wii Fit. It's a deceptive piece of technology that turns the monotony of exercise into a charming game. Most of the activities aren't quite as zany as hula hooping. The variety and, most important, the scorekeeping draw you back for more.”

Nintendo is at pains to point out that this new game is not a substitute for a regular exercise program. But for a nation (and world) that spends too much time sitting and watching, it can be an excellent addition.

© Copyright 2008 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Fedora Linux.

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