Wii Fit Gets Priced: MSRP Set at $89.99
By Chris on Tuesday, April 15th, 2008 at 6:15 PM PST In Game Companies, Game Consoles, Game Platforms, Gamer Life, Games, Hardware, Nintendo, Nintendo
Nintendo finally has announced the price of Wii Fit in the US, just over a month away from its May 19 release. $89.99, which is what most guesses had predicted, will be the entrance fee to gain access to the Wii Fit movement. You’ll get both the balance board and game for that price, which is exactly what Guitar Hero III and an accompanying guitar will cost you on Wii – sounds fair, no? (That same amount will also get you a copy of Grand Theft Auto IV and a duffel bag which, by comparison, makes the Wii Fit price seem even more reasonable.)
So, $40 for the balance board which by all accounts is actually a solid peripheral. It seems likely that we’ll see other games released that take advantage of the board in the future, so it seems like a pretty fair investment for Wii owners looking to get active (I’ll take Chris Kohler’s word and say it’s not necessarily going to get you in shape).
Of course, that’s just my opinion. I’ll be picking one up now that I know it won’t be way overpriced; how about you?
Seriously, $90 is too much for me. I have to pay sales tax where I live, too. So it turns out like 95 or even 100 dollars. I can buy portable *consoles* for that.
I would buy it in a second, if I had a Wii. I agree that it won’t get you in shape, but it can help with other things most people don’t do. Balance and stretching is boring and doesn’t feel like it does anything. Mostly, it gets your mind focused and your breathing properly so that your muscles start to accept blood for a more rigorous workout. Flexibility, strength and cardiovascular all in one is a proper routine. WiiFit seems likely to focus on the flex and cardio but I am pretty sure a better cardio workout comes from running a mile or two. Pushups and situps are great but better strength training comes from a machine. If you want to really invest in getting fit from a total out of shape perspective, I think that WiiFit is a really good addition to a fitness kit, but not the be all, end all.
Good running shoes – $50-$70
Cheap home gym with a bench, preacher rest and leg machine – $50-$100
Plates and bars – Dependant on how much you need to start and how much you want to do in the future ($50-$200)
Grip gloves – $9
Quality padded lifting belt – $20-$50
WiiFit – $90
A base cost of around $270 gets you everything you need basically to properly work out and hit every major group you need. If you just do WiiFit, you won’t hit some muscle groups properly and your ass will end up sagging with loose skin (if you lose weight). If you just lift weights, you won’t get a built up endurance or blood flow and end up straining more than you need to and it will take longer to see results and be able to step up to the next level. Just run… well I think hard cardio training is just about the best thing but really difficult for the out of shape and even the more in shape who aren’t used to it.
Also keep in mind a lot of people who are big have social anxiety (heavyweights don’t run ever on my street for instance) to running and such and might not be able to cope with it long term so maybe a treadmill will be necessary which is more money.
I mean, in the end if you don’t give a shit about your health or weight due to circumstances you can’t control or just won’t control, WiiFit isn’t going to do anything except get used for a while then tossed in the closet just like 80’s housewives tossed their thighmasters and other crap in there. I do think it’s a very good addition to someone who already has a routine or a good initial buy to someone going for the complete kit to get in shape at all costs.
$90, some $19.99 TV product, even the complete setup won’t do shit without the drive to do it. And it fucking sucks sometimes to go running in the cold ass morning or be too tired to lift one day or other because of the day you had, but if you do it anyway, you feel real good.
Running in early in the morning is not a good idea in the Bronx. As big as I am running in public is not a good idea. People are mean. I got laughed at real bad in high school when I had to run a lap around the track. A lot of kids were sitting in the bleachers and the laughed their asses off at me. I haven’t been running since. Also why I can’t get the courage to go to the gym. Skinny bithches are evil…lol.
Can someone let me know what the maximum weight limit is on this thing? If anything it can be something my daughter does to help with her coordination and flexibility.