The Wii Fit Plus Weigh-In
Wii Fit Plus Review – See Video Broadcast here
For those worried about putting on some weight this holiday season, perhaps a new video game could be the answer.
Nintendo released an updated version of its fitness-focused video game, Wii Fit, on October 4. The original game was released in the U.S. on May 19, 2008, and costs $89.00.
The basic format of the two games are the same: players still use the Wii remote and Balance Board (a platform with two advanced scales that measures weight and center of balance) to perform yoga, strength training, aerobics, balance games and Wii Fit Age body tests. In a sense, the player’s body becomes the primary controller in all the activities by shifting his or her weight on the Balance Board.
When Nintendo developed the original Wii Fit, one of their top video game designers, Shigeru Miyamoto, said the company wanted to bring the entire family together with one game through health and fitness, and they have certainly succeeded. Parents no longer sit back and watch their children play; they are now active participants. With my own family, we encourage each other to play Wii Fit Plus daily and lower our weight and Wii Fit Age. Even our pet dog has been tracking his weight!
During the Wii Fit Plus announcement at the E3 2009 press conference, Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of sales and marketing, said the main difference surrounding Wii Fit Plus is its ability to personalize individual fitness routines and goals.
“We’ve been looking at ways to make Wii Fit easier to apply to your daily life,” said Dunaway. “This next version moves in an added direction – helping find a specific workout routine that’s exactly right for you.” See video of conference here.
In the section My Wii Plus Fitness, players can create their own regular workout (My Routine) by selecting and arranging what types of exercises or games they want do. Choosing one of the customized workouts that target four specific areas: lifestyle, health youth, and figure, is a helpful alternative when I can’t decide what to do.
The best new feature is the calorie counter on the pig-shaped fit bank, which shows how many calories I burned after each activity. When I exercise, I like to know the total amount of calories spent because it feels like a great accomplishment afterward. Also, I can set a personal calorie burn goal based on food equivalents. Once my goal is set, I can monitor my progress.
As for tracking my overall progress, Wii Fit Plus does a better job than Wii Fit by including on the graph waist size records, activity log of non-Wii exercise and step count records. It still measures weight, body mass index and Wii Fit Age the same way.
The downside to this new version is a lack of varied activities. The majority of the games and exercises are the same in Wii Fit. Even some of the newer games are quite similar to the originals with slight changes. The yoga and strength training sections have only three new exercises, but the Training Plus section holds 15 new balance games of which I prefer Obstacle Course and Driving Range.
In Obstacle Course, I step in place on the Balance Board to run on moving platforms, dodge large swinging balls and jump over rolling logs. It feels like I’m actually exercising, and it’s not as dull as the running-in-place aerobics. With Obstacle Course, I have to constantly be on guard for obstacles.
Driving Range acts as an exercise as well as an instructor. Every time I swing, the game tracks my center of balance and my weight as it shifts between legs. By clicking Swing Analysis, Wii Fit Plus graphs my swing and tells me how to improve. I get 18 chances to hit as close to the hole as I can and correct my swinging form.
The Wii Fit Plus is a little more than its predecessor with a bundle cost of $99.99 (includes Balance Board). It is well worth the price for fun exercise, is cheaper than paying for a gym membership and would be a fine Christmas present. Those who already have Wii Fit do not have to toss out the old for the new, for Wii Fit already has all the basic necessities. Still, one can buy just the Wii Fit Plus game for $19.99, and all one’s data can be transferred over from Wii Fit. Having played with both games, I prefer Wii Fit Plus, but I would not would not buy it if I already had Wii Fit. Regardless of the version, I’m still getting my daily exercise in and having a fabulous workout, which is what really counts.
