It’s here! No, not the Wii Fit. Well, actually… that’s here, too of course… but I’m talking about the review from our friends over at Consumer Reports (CR). Since Nintendo’s new fitness-themed addition to its Wii gaming console hit the market last week, it’s been hard to get your hands… or body on one. So, is it worth all the fuss?
First, a wee bit on the Wii Fit:
Basically, it’s software and a white “Balance Board” that senses the slightest shifts in weight and balance as you move. If features more than 40 games in four categories – aerobics, strength training, balance games, and yoga.
You can hula-hoop, ski, and learn to do a perfect pushup, just to name a few of the activities. You get a personal trainer to guide you through the yoga and strength training. And the system tracks your activity in minutes when you use it. To get started, you have to take the Wii Fit’s Body Test… then you can track your progress from there.
CR had 15 staff members try out some of the games - 10 women and five men, ranging in age from 24 to 69. Some were regular exercisers; others sedentary. Here are some of the preliminary findings from CR:
- Balance games win big. All 15 testers enjoyed the Fit’s balance games. It’s the only category to get a thumbs-up for fun from all the testers. Activities included a ski slalom, ski jump, and table tilt game.
- Some multitasking required. There is information on the monitor during the strength training exercises, so you have to read while doing them. Some panelists found this difficult; others said it was distracting.
- Good audio, video presentation. Most panelists appreciated the graphic presentation and audio aspects of the games… but the whistle sounds and tones used to mark the starting point of some games or announce scores got on some users’ nerves.
There will be a full report from CR in the next few days, so check back here - I will let you know what else the testers find. Does the Wii Fit motivate you to exercise? Do you really get a good workout? Hopefully, we’ll find out.
In the meantime, what do you think of the Wii Fit? Do you have one?
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Tags: consumer reports, exercise equipment, Reviews, Wii Fit
