28.01.08 - Nintendo plant die Auslieferung des Sportspiels Wii Fit im Zeitraum April 2007 bis Juni 2007 in den USA und Europa vorzunehmen. Das erklärten Firmensprecher auf einer Pressekonferenz in Tokio, die anlässlich der Bekanntgabe der Geschäftsergebnisse stattfand.
Wii Fit hitting NA & Europe between April and June
One more bit of information came out of Nintendo's Tokyo press conference. Release months for Wii Fit were finally confirmed. It was said that North America and Europe will get game sometime between April and June. No price points, or balance board modifications were discussed.
April in the US sets up a GTAIV v. WiiFit showdown. Smart move? I wouldn't think these games would be fighting for the same audience, either way April is already a big month for the industry and just got bigger.
edit: Crappy translation, the US isn't a sure thing in April, still Q2.
February 20, 2008 - According to a brief report by the Wall Street Journal, Nintendo is set to launch a Wii Channel for original downloadable Wii content, dubbed WiiWare, on May 12. Meanwhile, the anticipated exercise videogame Wii Fit will launch in America on May 19.
The Wall Street Journal elaborates that, "For games distributed over WiiWare, game makers won't need any approval from Nintendo, though they must get their games rated by an industry rating system."
IGN will have further details on WiiWare games in development and Wii Fit later today, so stay tuned.
As for what that other info for today could be, this was posted by Mr. Casamassina on their forum
Yeah, we'll have an interview with Reggie in the very early morn -- about five hours -- and some of your Wii Fit Qs will be answered.
Matt
Hopefully this means things like price, game breakdown, maybe even the weight limit of the XXL balance boards for America. And an update in Japan - sales are at 1.42 million in 2 months. So fit.
IGN: What exactly is Wii Fit's price and when will it release?
Reggie Fils-Aime: In terms of the release, let's start there. We're going to be announcing that Wii Fit will be launching on May 19. Price for the Wii Fit Board and the software is under $100 -- we're still working to finalize the price given currency exchanges, etcetera, but under $100 bucks.
IGN: Nintendo Japan gambled on just how well received Wii Fit would be in the homeland by shipping one million units for launch. Obviously, it paid off. Are you planning to ship a similar quantity of units for the U.S. launch?
Reggie Fils-Aime: We are. Our sights are set very high for the this product so our goal is to make sure we have over a million units available at launch to support it.
IGN: Wii Fit is a very untraditional title. What kind of untraditional avenues will you be exploring to get the word about the game out there?
Reggie Fils-Aime: You know, for the launch of Wii we executed a number of non-traditional programs and that thrust will continue with Wii Fit. You can expect to see it on morning national programs. You can expect to see it on female-oriented programs. There will be a broad Internet program leveraging Cammie's [Dunaway, NOA's executive vice president of sales and marketing] knowledge of that space. And there will also be traditional prime time TV advertising. It will likely be our largest launch of the year from a total dollar spend standpoint.
IGN: The big question is, can you get Wii Fit on Oprah Winfrey?
Reggie Fils-Aime: [Laughs] Oprah is a pretty tough customer, but we've had a lot of success and we're having very good negotiations and conversations with a range of different outlets, so hopefully we'll see Oprah working on her fitness with Wii Fit.
IGN: Is Wii Fit actually going to create a Channel on your system where you can monitor all of your progress?
Reggie Fils-Aime: Wii Fit does create a Channel on your Wii console. What that allows you to do is to track your progress and monitor your BMI activity, so you'll be able to see simple graphs to show you how you're doing.
IGN: Under $100 for another peripheral is still a chunk of cash to shell out. Do you have anything in line that will make further use of the Wii Balance Board?
Reggie Fils-Aime: I think what you're speaking to is, from a consumer perspective, help me feel good about this purchase. There are over 10 games in development that take advantage of the Balance Board. Certainly in terms of ongoing enjoyment, we believe that Wii Fit plus the Balance Board will provide that to the consumer.
Negotiations with Oprah confirmed.
Kotaku has the info on Europe and the new board. That's right, Europe is also getting the deluxe board for fatties which has a new weight limit of 150kg (330lbs). Nice to hear there's 10+ other games in development that use the board. Looks like we'll get burned on the price though, "under $100" makes me think $99.99.
Sony and Microsoft should just surrender now. Once Oprah is in the Nintendo camp, their victory will be assured.
What do you mean "assured"? Nintendo already won. This is just rubbing salt harvested from their respective CFOs' tears into the massive, gaping wound that is Wii sales...
But damn, Oprah? That's like holding the Soccer Mom's of the world at gunpoint and forcing them to buy Wii's. In fact, I'm pretty sure that whole gunpoint thing would be less effective...
Under 100 is marketing speak for 99 dollars, obviously.
Yeah, they played a similar game with the Wii "under $250".
Oprah shenanigans aside I think the best news out of this is the 10+ other games in development for the balance board. I have to assume a healthy share are 3rd party, no way does Nintendo devote enough resources for 10 BB games. Nice to know it won't be a one-shot peripheral, now we just have to hope 3rd parties know what they're doing.
Lots of hope judging from their previous Wii efforts.
toxk_02 on
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Captain ElevenThe last card is a kronkRegistered Userregular
What do you mean "assured"? Nintendo already won. This is just rubbing salt harvested from their respective CFOs' tears into the massive, gaping wound that is Wii sales...
Under 100 is marketing speak for 99 dollars, obviously.
Yeah, they played a similar game with the Wii "under $250".
Oprah shenanigans aside I think the best news out of this is the 10+ other games in development for the balance board. I have to assume a healthy share are 3rd party, no way does Nintendo devote enough resources for 10 BB games. Nice to know it won't be a one-shot peripheral, now we just have to hope 3rd parties know what they're doing.
Lots of hope judging from their previous Wii efforts.
its wii fit play another set of 10 minigames on one convenient disc
Iwata Asks: Wii Fit includes in-depth interviews with Shigeru Miyamoto, as well as various software and hardware designers who worked on the game and balance board peripheral.
I was already excited about Wii Fit, but after reading these revealing interviews I am extremely impressed with the balance board and its potential for inspiring new types of game play.
Some highlights for me were Miyamoto's half-joking suggestion of a 1080* Balance Boarding game, photos of early Balance Board prototypes, and Iwata's hope that Wii Ware developers will create new applications for the Balance Board.
Interestingly, both Miyamoto and Iwata state that the goal of Wii Fit is not necessarily to become physically fit, but to become more aware of your body.
You might think that Wii Fit was a reaction to the popularity of games like Wii Sports and Wii Play, but according to Wii Fit lead Takao Sawano, the health-centric game "existed in the center of Miyamoto's brain before the console was released."
Shigeru Miyamoto's notes on what was then known as "the Health Pack" didn't provide much in the way of direction to those on the hardware and software development side at Nintendo. He simply passed on to the team how much he enjoyed weighing himself everyday and monitoring his weight. "This is bound to lead to something interesting," Miyamoto said to what would become the Wii Fit team.
It wasn't until those on the game development side created the first test software, an early version of Wii Fit's balance test, that worked with a dual-scale prototype board using Nintendo 64 controller parts to gauge weight that things started to take shape.
"I think you might be onto something fun with this movement based play control," Miyamoto told the team.
Incidentally, that dual scale prototype was born of a spark of inspiration that Sawano had while watching sumo wrestlers grapple. The deputy general manager at Nintendo EAD wasn't concerned about their unhealthy porkiness, though. He was merely inspired by some sumos being so portly that they required two traditional scales to measure their weight accurately.
Always neat to see the inner workings behind games, starting with N64 controller parts of all things.
Also crazy news on the 'Super-Deluxe Balance Board For American Fatties' front: the US/Euro board can withstand 660 pounds before giving out, but it will only register 330 lbs on the scale. That's one sturdy board.
toxk_02 on
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Bloods EndBlade of TyshallePunch dimensionRegistered Userregular
edited February 2008
This isn't exactly Wii Fit related but it's Wii ware related and probably not worth it's own thread.
Well it's about a month away here in the states, 2 weeks away in Europe. Time for some new info:
WiiFit was featured on Good Morning America today where they announced the price would be $89.99. Coincidentally, Amazon started taking preorders today. Plus a dorky looking box:
2K Sports also announced today that Don King Presents: Prizefighter will use the Balance Board. Though for now it's just doing the training parts of the game, hopefully it'll work its way into the main fighting controls.
The Wii we're excited about, because everyone's craving a proper boxing game on the Wii where you can use the Wii Remote and the Nunchuk.
But in addition to that, we're bringing Wii Fit and the Balance Board - you'll be able to use those for training. So stuff like the jump rope game we have, you can be on the Balance Board and have the Wii Remote in your back pocket.
We have top boxing trainers putting together a workout routine, and using the BMI indicators that Nintendo put out you can actually get a boxing workout using Wii Prizefighter.
I dug up some previews that featured people using WiiFit for longer periods of time and their thoughts -
I just got an email from Gameplay.com to warn me I may be charged earlier than expected as they have so many pre-orders they're starting to process and pack them now.
I saw part of the GMA segment this morning, or at least one of them—didn't hear them say the price or see the box, but it was worth it to see a Chris Cuomo Mii. I knew as soon as I saw it that the marketing engine had begin to burrow out of the ground, and it'll only get crazier when Mario Kart drops in two weeks.
I say that instead of having a contest to predict the number of WiiFit sales we instead try to predict the number of people killed in the riots that result from the supply situation. I really don't feel like breaking my 0 key, you know.
lowlylowlycook on
(Please do not gift. My game bank is already full.)
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Dr Mario KartGames DealerAustin, TXRegistered Userregular
edited April 2008
I'm still actively disbelieving that there will be an immediate shortage on the grounds that there are supposed to be over 1 million units available for the U.S. launch
So apparently Joystiq is reporting that the first 1,000 preorders at the Nintendo World Store in NYC will also get a free WiiFit T-shirt with some kind of Miyamoto image ... is it terrible that this might convince me to go and preorder it tomorrow?
So apparently Joystiq is reporting that the first 1,000 preorders at the Nintendo World Store in NYC will also get a free WiiFit T-shirt with some kind of Miyamoto image ... is it terrible that this might convince me to go and preorder it tomorrow?
Shit! If I had known this I would have gone and preordered it on my lunch hour.
Wii Fit purchase limit policy
As you may know, the Nintendo Wii Fit is in great demand, and there are shortages of this product across the U.S. In an effort to provide as many customers as possible with the opportunity to purchase a Wii Fit, we are limiting the total number of Wii Fits that can be purchased. As a result, each household may only purchase up to 3 Nintendo Wii Fit units total. See additional policy details here.
Why would you need three?
The #3 game on that list is the first 3rd party game to use the balance board. So at least for today the board isn't a one-shot peripheral.
So apparently Joystiq is reporting that the first 1,000 preorders at the Nintendo World Store in NYC will also get a free WiiFit T-shirt with some kind of Miyamoto image ... is it terrible that this might convince me to go and preorder it tomorrow?
Shit! If I had known this I would have gone and preordered it on my lunch hour.
Don't worry, the free shirt offer doesn't start 'til this weekend: April 18 - 20
I'm so close to pre-ordering from amazon. Has anyone does this before? How good are they at getting your product to you?
I've never pre-ordered from Amazon before, but I've heard too many horror stories from people who reserved moderatedly popular games from Amazon, and it took weeks after release date for the purchase to finally be processed.
I was just about to make the same post. I never pre-order from anywhere online because I hate waiting to get the game, when I can just go get it in stores, and have it launch day.
But with the fact that the Wii is totally unpredictable as to what will be in stock ever, I really am debating amazon.
This game is going to be hilarious. This board is going to have discussions about push up contests, in the same manner people discuss how to best gold star Rock Band songs. Thats mind blowing.
mxmarks on
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If you're not wearing shoes and you don't actually jump, I doubt it'll make that much noise.
Shouldn't be any more than just walking around methinks
And the game tells you to not actually jump so you don't break the balance board
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April in the US sets up a GTAIV v. WiiFit showdown. Smart move? I wouldn't think these games would be fighting for the same audience, either way April is already a big month for the industry and just got bigger.
edit: Crappy translation, the US isn't a sure thing in April, still Q2.
Once again we get completely and utterly shafted.
Why does everyone hate us so?
PSN: SirGrinchX
Oculus Rift: Sir_Grinch
Also GoNintendo says that the shit in toxk's post above was mistranslated, and we still don't have a date more specific than Q2.
This is the best exercise yet: Meditation training. Although watching this chick snowboarding fills me with much hope.
What the heck is that meditation ad?! LOL
http://wii.ign.com/articles/853/853371p1.html
As for what that other info for today could be, this was posted by Mr. Casamassina on their forum
Hopefully this means things like price, game breakdown, maybe even the weight limit of the XXL balance boards for America. And an update in Japan - sales are at 1.42 million in 2 months. So fit.
The key bits:
Negotiations with Oprah confirmed.
Kotaku has the info on Europe and the new board. That's right, Europe is also getting the deluxe board for fatties which has a new weight limit of 150kg (330lbs). Nice to hear there's 10+ other games in development that use the board. Looks like we'll get burned on the price though, "under $100" makes me think $99.99.
That's nice, I've been looking forward to this.
You don't negotiate with Oprah. She tells the world if they should buy your product, and the world obeys. That is all.
That is also why Obama will be the next president. The Oprah cult demands it.
Switch - SW-3699-5063-5018
Sony and Microsoft should just surrender now. Once Oprah is in the Nintendo camp, their victory will be assured.
What do you mean "assured"? Nintendo already won. This is just rubbing salt harvested from their respective CFOs' tears into the massive, gaping wound that is Wii sales...
But damn, Oprah? That's like holding the Soccer Mom's of the world at gunpoint and forcing them to buy Wii's. In fact, I'm pretty sure that whole gunpoint thing would be less effective...
Nintendo Network ID: AzraelRose
DropBox invite link - get 500MB extra free.
Oprah shenanigans aside I think the best news out of this is the 10+ other games in development for the balance board. I have to assume a healthy share are 3rd party, no way does Nintendo devote enough resources for 10 BB games. Nice to know it won't be a one-shot peripheral, now we just have to hope 3rd parties know what they're doing.
Lots of hope judging from their previous Wii efforts.
Sigged for great justice.
its wii fit play another set of 10 minigames on one convenient disc
http://us.wii.com/wii-fit/iwata_asks/vol1_page1.jsp
Iwata Asks: Wii Fit includes in-depth interviews with Shigeru Miyamoto, as well as various software and hardware designers who worked on the game and balance board peripheral.
I was already excited about Wii Fit, but after reading these revealing interviews I am extremely impressed with the balance board and its potential for inspiring new types of game play.
Some highlights for me were Miyamoto's half-joking suggestion of a 1080* Balance Boarding game, photos of early Balance Board prototypes, and Iwata's hope that Wii Ware developers will create new applications for the Balance Board.
Interestingly, both Miyamoto and Iwata state that the goal of Wii Fit is not necessarily to become physically fit, but to become more aware of your body.
Kotaku has some info on the secrets behind the development as well:
http://kotaku.com/358966/miyamotos-plans-for-wii-fit-pre+date-the-wiis-release
Always neat to see the inner workings behind games, starting with N64 controller parts of all things.
Also crazy news on the 'Super-Deluxe Balance Board For American Fatties' front: the US/Euro board can withstand 660 pounds before giving out, but it will only register 330 lbs on the scale. That's one sturdy board.
http://www.telltalegames.com/community/blogs/id-303
Telltare working on episodic wii ware games
But not Sam and Max they say. Here's hoping it's some other point and click adventure game goodness.
WiiFit was featured on Good Morning America today where they announced the price would be $89.99. Coincidentally, Amazon started taking preorders today. Plus a dorky looking box:
2K Sports also announced today that Don King Presents: Prizefighter will use the Balance Board. Though for now it's just doing the training parts of the game, hopefully it'll work its way into the main fighting controls.
I dug up some previews that featured people using WiiFit for longer periods of time and their thoughts -
Chris Kohler at Game|Life has a one-week diary with the game, then a recap a month later: Diary: One Week Playing Wii Fit, Me And Wii Fit: One Month Later
A gentleman at 4 color rebellion kept a 7-week diary of the game: The Great Experiment, Final Report (Before & After)
The great series 'Iwata Asks' features WiiFit: Iwata Asks: Wii Fit
This is going to be HUGE.
If there were any doubts that this thing won't be fucking huge, that should erase them.
(Please do not gift. My game bank is already full.)
Don't worry, the free shirt offer doesn't start 'til this weekend: April 18 - 20
I've never pre-ordered from Amazon before, but I've heard too many horror stories from people who reserved moderatedly popular games from Amazon, and it took weeks after release date for the purchase to finally be processed.
But with the fact that the Wii is totally unpredictable as to what will be in stock ever, I really am debating amazon.
This game is going to be hilarious. This board is going to have discussions about push up contests, in the same manner people discuss how to best gold star Rock Band songs. Thats mind blowing.