subject: Wii Fit for Wii Home Console [print this page] Wii Fit for Wii Home Console Wii Fit for Wii Home Console
With the negative press relating to video games turning our children into mindless zombies it's great to see Nintendo (as usual) taking different approach with their new 'Wii' console which I covered in a previous article ahead of its official UK release date. The point that separates this console from the crown is that it user the players physical movements to control the game rather than relying upon a traditional gamepad.The basic package comes with a 'Wii remote' and 'nunchuck' - these are held in either hand then your hand movements get translated in to on screen actions. In the mini games supplied with the console these actions are used to simulate playing a game of tennis, ten pin bowling, golf or cricket.The combination of movement and cute characters lead to an experience that is a lot more innocent and physically involving than usually seen. I'm not the kind of person who tries to pin the problems of our society of computer games and videos, however it is refreshing to see that the majority of titles for this console are physically involving, non violent and not to mention sociable games that encourage the entire family to play together.Just recently whilst shopping we decided to treat ourselves to a new game called 'Wii Fit' which through the use of a supplied 'balance board' adds a whole new twist to the way that you use your console. Although not cheap at 69.99, the board allows the game to detect your actual weight along with monitoring how you are standing or moving at any given point in time. By using these readings along with some user supplied information such as height it is able to determine your BMI (Body Mass Index) and put you though your paces with various training exercises. Your performance and weight will be monitored as you use the board so that over time you can work on improving your BMI and Wii Fitness Age.The activities that Wii Fit will have you performing fall in to four categories; Aerobic Exercise, Muscle Conditioning, Yoga Poses and Balance Games. The activities within these categories include but are not limited to the following - Snowboarding, Step Aerobics, Tightrope Walking, Push Ups, Boxing, Jogging, Ski Jumping, Lunges and soccer headers. The difficulty of these activities increase as and when the game feels you are ready.In the gym themed exercises you are given your own virtual personal trainer who talks you through the exercise and critiques your performance; for example, when performing a "Muscle Conditioning" exercise due to the way the balance board operates it will be able to tell if you are wobbly or moving your centre of gravity. Rather pathetically I am yet to come anywhere close to beating my trainer's push-up challenge she gave me earlier this week.The Wii Fit board could never a substitute to some real exercise at the gym and to pitch a video game as the best way to a healthier life would be ruthlessly misleading. Please bear in mind that there is no way you could use 'Wii fit' to do any form of resistance training as you would doing weightlifting or spending time on a rowing machine. Wii Fit in my eyes however is perfect for encouraging a healthy lifestyle especially I would hope in the younger generation.
