WII just love getting in shape

USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education), July, 2008

We love the way Nintendo's Wii system has transformed patently passive video gaming into an active experience. Following the axiom that "the path to fitness begins with a single step," Nintendo, Redmond, Wash., has launched Wii Fit, which combines fun and fitness in ways that will have people getting up off their couches, moving around, and maybe even breaking a sweat. Wii Fit ($89.99) comes packaged with the Wii Balance Board accessory, a precisely engineered platform that senses both weight and shifts in movement and balance. The Balance Board connects wirelessly to the Wii console and serves as the centerpiece for more than 40 activities that challenge users in areas like yoga, aerobics, strength training, and balance. Helpful virtual trainers in the game talk users through the different activities and make suggestions for improvement.

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Wii Fit starts with a simple measurement that calculates an adult's Body Mass Index, or BMI. From there, the Balance Board can be used as a platform for twirling a virtual Hula Hoop, shredding on a snowboard, performing leg extensions, or doing a downward-facing dog yoga pose. Wii Fit contains a wide variety of fun games and physical activities that target the body's core. Different people in the household can use it and track their progress separately. Users' Mii caricatures even reflect their fitness levels and change as people become more proficient at the activities.

Wii is the first video game system ever included in the President's Challenge, a program of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports that encourages all Americans to make physical activity a part of their daily lives. Wii Fit builds on that by encouraging people to keep their bodies moving and is designed to make enjoyable physical activities a part of our daily routine. It lets people see how they have improved while challenging them to better their scores and stay motivated to keep going.

Visit www.wiifit.com for more information about Wii Fit.