Is Your Wii Fit Collecting Dust?
So I saw a link to an article on the Yahoo home page that made me sad. It's called "The Truth About Wii Fit and Weight Loss" and basically says that while Nintendo's Wii Fit is still flying off store shelves, nobody seems to be using it. At least not according to Kotaku's own Brian Crecente, who is their primary source.
"I don't know a single person who has bought the game who uses it routinely after a month," he claims, stressing that getting results from the game requires dedication and real physical exertion. "What Nintendo did is they tapped into that desire people have to be healthier... Everyone wants to work out, but nobody really wants to put the effort into it."
They do admit that when fellow Kotaku editor Brian Ashcraft tried it for a month in order to review it, he felt like he was in better shape, but when the novelty wore off, he stopped playing. I don't see how that's any different from the people who join a gym in January and break their New Year's resolution by March. I mean, even I have a rowing machine I bought 15 or 20 years ago that is now a very useful clotheshanger.
But as far as Wii Fit goes, I would respectfully like to disagree. As any regular reader of this website knows, I did an extensive review of the game that lasted three months, and still continues with sporadic updates. That's right, I'm still using it. Granted, not as much as in the beginning, but I still do some of the exercises and weigh in with it to track my progress every single day. It may just be a videogame, and some people may call it a fad, but whatever you want to call it, Wii Fit motivated me to get up and moving and made me more aware of my eating habits. I lost 25 pounds using just the game alone, and was inspired to take up running, which made me drop another 15. I continue to run (just did a 4 mile race in Central Park this past Sunday) and watch what I eat, and am maintaining my weight at my "ideal" level (according to the BMI index). Wii Fit was a great motivational tool to get me off my ass and back into shape. Turns out all I really needed was the push.
Of course, lots of people bought into the hype machine and now have Balance Boards collecting dust in the corner of their living rooms. But lots of people join gyms and stop going, and they also buy workout equipment that rarely gets used. Wii Fit is not just a game, it's a tool. And tools shouldn't be blamed when people stop using them. Plus, I think I've got a whole bunch of other gaygamers over in the forums who are on my side!
The Truth About Wii Fit And Weight Loss [Yahoo! Video Games]
Wootini
Posted to Video Games on 3 February 2009
· Comments (16)
Other stuff like this: fad, nintendo, wii, wii fit
My Wii Fit was worth every drop of elf blood Santa invested in it. I actually got it a month before Xmas because I've never been known for my patience, and I used it for two weeks straight . . . and then stopped. Yeah, I gave up. It wasn't until the forum group here at GayGamer that I really got back into it. I suspect Wootini's blog updates about his progress gave him more encouragement to keep up with his Wii Fitting, and I find this forum group has the same affect on me. I know on Monday morning I'll have to report my progress and I'll be held accountable for it. It keeps me going.
Before Wii Fit, I would never have considered even trying a plank. I'd given up on pushups because I thought I was too out of shape to even try. Lunges just seemed stupid. Running on the spot? What is this -- third grade?
But it works. I'm losing 4 pounds a week so far. So the Wii Fit is just the first step. I believe that you can gain weight alone -- but you can't lose it that way. You need a community.
If I had any advice for Nintendo on how they're selling their Wii Fits, I recommend they build that community. That's why Wii Fit II isn't in high demand, when people could easily be chomping at the bit for it. That's what's leaving the Wii Fit as some old peripheral when it could be a revolution.
My Wii Fit was worth every drop of elf blood Santa invested in it. I actually got it a month before Xmas because I've never been known for my patience, and I used it for two weeks straight . . . and then stopped. Yeah, I gave up. It wasn't until the forum group here at GayGamer that I really got back into it. I suspect Wootini's blog updates about his progress gave him more encouragement to keep up with his Wii Fitting, and I find this forum group has the same affect on me. I know on Monday morning I'll have to report my progress and I'll be held accountable for it. It keeps me going.
Before Wii Fit, I would never have considered even trying a plank. I'd given up on pushups because I thought I was too out of shape to even try. Lunges just seemed stupid. Running on the spot? What is this -- third grade?
But it works. I'm losing 4 pounds a week so far. So the Wii Fit is just the first step. I believe that you can gain weight alone -- but you can't lose it that way. You need a community.
If I had any advice for Nintendo on how they're selling their Wii Fits, I recommend they build that community. That's why Wii Fit II isn't in high demand, when people could easily be chomping at the bit for it. That's what's leaving the Wii Fit as some old peripheral when it could be a revolution.
Wootini....
I thought you used the Wii fit and demonstrated the benefits of using it?
So why such a report?
Bit pointless huh?!
Oh! That's right, negative press equals good. my bad.
I used mine for about a month but stopped being challenged; and didn't want to spend an hour and thirty minutes doing moderate exercise when I could be getting more of a workout at the gym.
The Wii Fit was a $90 lesson that working out isn't a game; and it got back into going to the gym. So, for that it worked. As a gaming accessory, much like the Wii its self, it's collecting dust and merely a passing fad...
I think we'll need more shirtless pics of you before we're convinced Wootini.
My parents bought a Wii just for Wii Fit, and I kid you not: they have not used Wii Fit once.
This is Kotaku we're talking about, folks. For some reason or another, they've become a 'voice' of the videogame industry, perhaps one generation too late.
They're among the most unprofessional, biased, least-optimistic, foul-mouthed and PR-hungry scoundrels you can get when it comes to checking out what's hot/not. They pass judgment on unfinished games, crap on what they can't stand, and treat their readers like idiots who couldn't live without them.
Their 'leader' Brian Cresente is a tool, constantly exploiting his old/new/old job with a failed newspaper, not to mention showcasing his son whenever he feels the need to justify something. Is that child endangerment?
They don't speak for me, or the majority of the gaming community. When PR companies learn not to waste their time with a amateur gaming blog - owned by Gawker media - that does little foster goodwill towards ALL games, and not feel the need to consistently shit over those they know little about, or care to.
My WiiFit is still being used every day... as it has for the past 289 days. I lost a total of 7 kilos up until August last year, and use it now to maintain my weight of 75 kilos. It is a morning routine that keeps me conscious of what I put in me and what price I pay when I don't eat right.
All of those people who got one and stopped using it just never got what it was all about. Keeping healthy in a world where it's cheaper to eat at McDonalds isn't easy and it demands determination. You only get one body to use your whole life. Take care of it.
Aye absolutely true, I know of about a dozen or so people who rushed out to get this, two even buying overpriced Wii packages to own it and not a single one of them plays it.
Story of the Wii. Overselling and underplayed.
yawn, this again?
firstly, the "Wiis collecting dust" meme - completely debunked months ago: http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/news/wii-usage-consistent-yearround-says-nielsen/?biz=1 but i suppose this might exclude Wii Fit data for some random anomolous reason even thoough it's been on the market for a year now.
secondly, SuperDuper is right, since when do Kotaku speak for gamers? I'm not one of the gamers those elitist wank3ers speak to or for. Unprofessional and biased is built right in, among the huge Pachter pictures and all those loving hand-jobs for Ken Levine. They decided a long time ago that Wii was a joke and they can't do a 180-turn now and save face at the same time. Further, Crecentes evidence is purely allegorical (he doesn't know a single person etc etc).
thirdly, some of us continue to use Wii Fit. Not as much as i should, but then as Wootini pointed out, gym memberships and home gyms are prone to user-drift too... but they're way more expensive and nowhere near as interactive or interesting.
Kotaku, do us all a favour and stick your head further up Hyrb or Greenbergs a$$. Where it belongs.
"Wootini....
I thought you used the Wii fit and demonstrated the benefits of using it?
So why such a report?
Bit pointless huh?!
Oh! That's right, negative press equals good. my bad."
Oops I only read the first part of the story and got bored and pissed off :P But am a little tired of wii + dust = newsworthy story.
My aging parents have a wii and wii fit and its used everyday and they get just enough exercise from it to be of benefit, I also have wii fit but I don't use it as much as I should as I'm just too lazy.
That's actually one of the reasons I like this blog...and I'm not even gay! Its not as though treating the Wii - or any console - fairly and unbiased will hurt another person's experience...
Blogs like Kotaku and others seem to think they speak for the mainstream - they don't. Heck, they don't even speak for the hardcore anymore, unless hardcore has become codeword for elitist. Check the stats on the best-selling games, even those within the hardcore community. Most AAA-titles have been rejected by nearly everyone, as the communities have simply tired of the 'same-old' thing every year, repeat, repeat...
How blogs like Kotaku and others can disparage Nintendo for *GASP* trying something new like Wii Fit or even Wii Music, yet continue to suck the cockles (not as dirty as it sounds) of Microsoft, a company who's been shuttering perfectly good developers lately, is beyond reprehensible. Let them paint themselves into a close-minded wall and see how much influence outside the web they have... they have none.
P.S. if you bought and enjoyed Wii Fit, and lost weight, then fantastic! Brian Ashcraft is a xenophobic tool, his book was ridiculously written, and should know better than to let his personal experiences speak for everyone.
I agree, this is really lazy and shameless of Crescente. More and more I lose respect for Kotaku.
i may check it out...i've always wanted to take up yoga..and this might be the right tool for me to use..i try to live an active lifestyle when i'm not working...and the gym can be borring, especially when there are no cute guys around to keep my eyes busy...so this might be a good tool...wish me luck..i'm gonna get it..
Hey,
Interesting blog, I just came across it and I'm already a fan
I hope it's not too brash but I have just started documenting
my own weight loss(I lost 30 pounds in a month, so not bad
, and I was wondering if you could share
my diet for your blog readers.
My latest blog post is
weight loss supplement
If you're up to do a link exchange
that would be amazing because I want to discuss my weight loss success
with your readers. If I can lose weight then
anyone can. Whatever you do, never give up and you WILL
reach all your weight loss goals!
Thanks for reading,
Joan
Hi there,
Nice blog, I just stumbled on it and I'm already a fan
I hope it's not impolite but I have just started blogging
my own weight loss(I shed 30 pounds in a month, so pretty good
, and I was curious if you could post
the weight loss system I used for your blog readers.
My most recent blog post is fast weight loss diets
If you want to do a link exchange
that would be amazing as I want to discuss my weight loss success
with everyone. If I can lose weight then
any one can. Whatever you do, don't give up and you WILL
meet all your weight loss goals!
with kind regards,
Joan