Wii Balance Board

Unless you've been hiding under a rock somewhere, chances are you've heard the buzz about Nintendo's latest creation, Wii Fit. If you have not, here is a brief overview. Wii Fit is the new lifestyle product for the Wii console which combines the fun of playing with the benefits of exercise. The Wii has been a revolution in itself in how it allowed users to interact with games using wireless motion-sensitive controls that were fun and easy to use, attractive to both gamers and non-gamers well. Wii Fit takes this concept one step further with the introduction of the Wii Balance Board, which comes with the game

The Wii Balance Board

The Wii Balance Board is much like a large bathroom scale but it actually contains four pressure sensors that enable it to determine the weight very accurately a user and their position on the map. This information is transmitted wirelessly to the Wii console, allowing games to interpret a whole new range of movements and offers a completely new gaming experience. Wii Fit is the first game to use the Wii Balance Board and features over forty different exercises and games including yoga, strength training, aerobic exercise and balance games.

Wii Fit is an instant success

Wii Fit was launched in Japan in early December 2007 and was an immediate success, selling nearly 1.8 million copies within four months. He was then released in the United Kingdom April 25, 2008 and almost immediately topped the charts of games in the United Kingdom. A few days later, retailers have sold all of their initial stock allocations and it was estimated that more than 200,000 copies of Wii Fit were sold within the first week. In fact, a high street chain said to be shifting 90 copies a minute on launch day. Wii Fit is scheduled for launch in Australia May 8, 2008 and U.S. 19.

What's Next after Wii Fit?

One can not deny the success of Wii Fit before its U.S. launch, which will no doubt massive, but I predict that ultimately it's the Wii Balance Board will be the great success in 2008. Wii Fit Wii took from being just another game console to be a fashion product of real life that seems out of place in a house average, which would mean a potentially huge increase in the games market. As the buzz and excitement of Wii Fit subsides, many Wii Fit owners will begin to ask what they can do with Wii balance board, and that's when things will really start to get interesting.

Upcoming Games Wii Balance Board

Today (1 May 2008), Wii Fit is the only game available for Wii Balance Board, but will certainly change in the months to come. Namco Bandai has already confirmed the release of We Ski in the United States on May 13 and 2K Sports have Don King Prizefighter, scheduled for June and the list will grow. In fact, Nintendo U.S. COO, Reggie Fils-Aime has confirmed that more than 10 games are already in development.

No other games have been confirmed, but there are already rumors that have circulated Snowboard Nintendo, EA Skate, Rayman Raving Rabbids and even future Mario titles. As I said, nothing is confirmed, but whatever the case, the Wii Balance Board games are definitely going to be a great success in 2008.