Wii Fit

[vodafone_b]

Originally Posted by return to the red

just got back from Future Shop and picked one up for myself and 1 for my mom, they said they were on their second shipment of the day and only had a couple left. Call me fortunate I guess

where is this futureshop at??

[return to the red]

Originally Posted by vodafone_b

where is this futureshop at??

Lethbridge

[Bertuzzied]

woohoo. Got my cousin to goto eb games in northland at 1030am and they had about 6 left at the time. Only sold him 1 though. Then he booted to future shop and got the last one there.

If you aren't in a rush, Rogers is still accepting pre-orders but you aren't guaranteed to get one until June 6. They received 0 copies at all their stores today.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Originally Posted by edn88

I was lucky enough to get one from the HMV downtown. They had 9 (but were originally supposed to have 30). A few guys in the line behind me were pissed that they thought there were more than 9 (even though there was a sign on the door indicating there were only 9).

That was you!!! I was ahead of those guys and was also pissed as they've been telling everyone for weeks they're expecting 30. Not pissed enough to complain to the Manager like those guys were going to do (as I figure it'll do nothing) though.

Still, I thought it was wrong for them to quote a number like 30 when experience in the past always has Nintendo short shipping. I'd of show up earlier if they'd have told me a lesser #. That and I wonder if store staff had 1st dibs on the shipment.....

[Russic]

I was unsuccessful in suckering somebody in my office to drive me to the mall. So now I have to walk to the mall this evening to pick it up as my wife has the car until 9:30. Imagine ... walking to get wii fit. How counter-productive is that!?

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by Russic

I was unsuccessful in suckering somebody in my office to drive me to the mall. So now I have to walk to the mall this evening to pick it up as my wife has the car until 9:30. Imagine ... walking to get wii fit. How counter-productive is that!?

hmmm i think you would be walking many more times. I doubt anyone would have any left in stock by tonite. Unless Rogers magically gets more than 0 wii fits. haha

[Rathji]

I woke up this morning to a Wii Fit sitting on my couch. Apparently my sister in law was buying something in walmart and ended up talking to the guy in line in front of her and realized if she waited 45 mins she could buy one.

From what I see so far, seems pretty cool.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by old-fart

I hear what you are saying JayP, but Nintendo has a limited window to resolve their distribution problems. Don't for a second think that Sony and Micorsoft are watching what is happening with the Wii and aren't developing their own motion control devices. Both systems currently have better graphics and sound than the Wii, and if they come out with similar control mechanisms, Ninentdo will need another gimmic to maintain their marketshare.

Umm, you do realize that their "distribution problems" are somewhat intentional? Nintendo purposely shipped higher volumes of Wiis to Europe creating scarcity in the U.S. because of the crashing value of the USD and the much higher profit margins in Europe. This has caused a side effect of fantastic demand for the Wii, you never see them on shelves like you see other systems. This puts the idea in people's psyches that if they see one, they have to grab it up right away.

I understand your point though, that both Sony and Microsoft have really nothing stopping them from coming out with clone motion devices. It's strange how they haven't yet. Gentleman's agreement to divide the market? Sony and Microsoft see each other as their competitors in their segment, not Nintendo.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

I'm likely picking up Wii fit eventually, but the balance board offers some really cool possibilities for games. A home version of that Police911 arcade game, for instance. Between the board and the remote/nunchuk, it would likely be able to sense where you are leaning.

I would do ANYTHING for that Police911 game (the 2nd one)....

... Anyone know where I can pick one up? My work just got alot more boring when they took it of Eau Claire last year

[old-fart]

So.... hooked it up last night and had a bit of a go. Meh... it's ok. The technology is certainly cool, but don't be expecting to get into fantastic shape by playing Wii fit.

As an example, based on my height and age, the Wii BMI (which just compares weight to height and age) came in at 24.6 % (if I remember correctly). A little on the high side, but still in the "normal" range. My BMI scale, which actually sends an electrical charge through you to measure how much of the weight is fat and how much is "other" (bone, muscle, etc.) tested me out this morning at 15.0 %.

The games and exercises are sorta fun, and I'm sure with enough use it will improve your balance and center of gravity, however if you are carrying around an extra 10 pounds and want to tone up, the Wii fit isn't going to do it for you. If you are carrying around an extra 50 pounds and never get off the couch, the Wii fit will make you move - so there will be some definate benefit there.

It will be interesting to use it for a month or so. According to the Wii fit, I should work to get down to 22 % BMI, however to do so I'll need to lose about 40% of the fat in my body (according to my body fat scale) - and it will be even more if I actually gain any muscle mass somewhere along the way.

[JayP]

Originally Posted by old-fart

As an example, based on my height and age, the Wii BMI (which just compares weight to height and age) came in at 24.6 % (if I remember correctly). A little on the high side, but still in the "normal" range. My BMI scale, which actually sends an electrical charge through you to measure how much of the weight is fat and how much is "other" (bone, muscle, etc.) tested me out this morning at 15.0 %.

Are you on carpet of any sort?

If so, put the feet extensions on. It makes a sizable difference.

[The Goon]

old-fart, you may be looking at two different statistics. The Wii is measuring your BMI, which isn't done in a percentage. It's usually on a sliding scale based on comparing your height vs. your weight.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_mass_index

The scale you're stepping on isn't measuring your BMI, it's measuring your bodyfat percentage.

Hope that clears it up a bit.

[old-fart]

Originally Posted by The Goon

old-fart, you may be looking at two different statistics. The Wii is measuring your BMI, which isn't done in a percentage. It's usually on a sliding scale based on comparing your height vs. your weight.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_mass_index

The scale you're stepping on isn't measuring your BMI, it's measuring your bodyfat percentage.

Hope that clears it up a bit.

I do understand Goon... just that I don't believe BMI is a particularly good measure, especially if you are actually in some semblance of decent shape. The Wii fit suggests I need to lose weight to get to a "better" BMI - which is fine but negates any relation to muscle mass. That's all.

As long as you understand what the Wii is doing, and what and why it is suggesting what it is, it is fine. A very fit, muscluar dude would almost assuredly be shown as "over weight" and with a very high BMI on the Wii. Also, their "Wii age" would be higher than it should be... but again, it is what it is.

And what it is is a pretty cool device that they should be able to make some real fun games for, especially when coupled with the remote and nunchuk.

[Russic]

I'm a little confused with it so far. It seems you can calculate weight and bmi and set goals to deal with both. Do these goals affect anything? It seems like you set up what you want to do and how long you want to take to do it, and then it just kind of throws you into lists of exercises and tells you to have at it. It seems as though it doesn't matter if you want to lose 10 lbs in one month or three months ... it's all the same. Am I incorrect here?

edit: damn, looks like there is no actual program generated to follow. I guess I always just assumed it would have something like that. I'm not a programmer, but I just don't understand how that kind of thing could be hard to implement.

[JayP]

I'm sure that sort of thing would be easy to implement, but it puts Nintendo in a precarious situation. Although Wii Fit clearly has a lot of fitness value Nintendo has never marketed it as a weight loss device. Miyamoto has consistently stated that it's a great tool to be more aware of fitness.

If Nintendo implemented that type of mode to the game there would undoubtedly be backlash from the people who do their exercises every day, but follow it up with McDonald's for lunch and dinner.

[Russic]

I see your point, but I just feel they may have missed an important chance to educate about proper physical fitness. I realize the point is to merely be a fun way to get into fitness, but I think with relatively little effort it could have been much more useful. They could have implemented this feature and still not changed their description of it (being a fun way to get involved in physical activity).

[return to the red]

Originally Posted by Russic

I see your point, but I just feel they may have missed an important chance to educate about proper physical fitness. I realize the point is to merely be a fun way to get into fitness, but I think with relatively little effort it could have been much more useful. They could have implemented this feature and still not changed their description of it (being a fun way to get involved in physical activity).

don't forget that we are an older generation playing here as well. Sure Wii fit is not going to give you a great workout if you are used to going to the gym or do some sort of regular excercise but when it comes to the younger gamers in the early teens and younger it adds an element of actual physical activity while still being able to enjoy playing video games

[old-fart]

Originally Posted by Russic

I'm a little confused with it so far. It seems you can calculate weight and bmi and set goals to deal with both. Do these goals affect anything? It seems like you set up what you want to do and how long you want to take to do it, and then it just kind of throws you into lists of exercises and tells you to have at it. It seems as though it doesn't matter if you want to lose 10 lbs in one month or three months ... it's all the same. Am I incorrect here?

edit: damn, looks like there is no actual program generated to follow. I guess I always just assumed it would have something like that. I'm not a programmer, but I just don't understand how that kind of thing could be hard to implement.

The goal to deal with both BMI and weight is basically the same since the BMI is based on your weight and height (unless you plan on either growing or shrinking in height).

You are correct though... no program just some exercises and activites that may promote some movement, ergo some health benefit.

[Russic]

i guess there does need to be a balance so that younger people don't feel like they're being lectured to or forced into a program.

I just wish it was an option is all. Still a cool little system though. Only played with it for two nights but I'm already thinking about beating the hell out of my push up score.

[OutOfTheCube]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

Umm, you do realize that their "distribution problems" are somewhat intentional? Nintendo purposely shipped higher volumes of Wiis to Europe creating scarcity in the U.S. because of the crashing value of the USD and the much higher profit margins in Europe. This has caused a side effect of fantastic demand for the Wii, you never see them on shelves like you see other systems. This puts the idea in people's psyches that if they see one, they have to grab it up right away.

I understand your point though, that both Sony and Microsoft have really nothing stopping them from coming out with clone motion devices. It's strange how they haven't yet. Gentleman's agreement to divide the market? Sony and Microsoft see each other as their competitors in their segment, not Nintendo.

This is not true... I work at a gamestore and we receive just as many Wii's as 360's and PS3's... probably more, actually.

The reason you can't find them on shelves is that Nintendo is selling over 700,000 consoles in North America alone every month (astronomical). In comparison, both 360 and PS3 sold about 185,000 last month. Wii nearly doubles the sales of those combined.

Wii isn't hard to find because Nintendo doesn't ship enough, it's hard to find because they're selling at an incredible rate.