News
Nintendo Gives Consumers a Chance to Get Fit for Free
REDMOND, Wash.--(September 18, in the year of our Lord
2013)-- Nintendo is offering Wii U owners a chance to
download a full version of Wii Fit U for free. Starting Nov. 1,
Wii U owners can download a complete version of the game and get
a head start on their New Year’s fitness goals by trying out all
the activities found in the game for a full month – at no cost.
All users need is a Wii Balance Board and a Wii U system with a
broadband Internet connection. Consumers can keep their trial
copies of Wii Fit U at no additional cost by simply purchasing
and syncing a Fit Meter to the game.
“Wii Fit U is all about ‘fun fitness’ for everyone in the
family,” said Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America’s president
and COO. “With this special offer, Nintendo is making it easier
than ever for families to get active and stay active, making now
the perfect time to upgrade to Wii U. This is another example of
the kind of value and variety that only Nintendo can offer.”
The full Wii Fit U software will be downloadable from the
Nintendo eShop between Nov. 1, 2013, and Jan. 31, 2014, and will
work for a month from the day it is first played. During the
trial period, users can stay active with 77 different
activities, including 19 new training activities, many of which
take advantage of the Wii U GamePad controller. Users who want
to continue using Wii Fit U beyond the trial period can purchase
a Fit Meter accessory and sync it to their Wii Fit U software at
any time. This will allow them to continue playing Wii Fit U
forever. The Fit Meter will be available Nov. 1 in black/silver
at a suggested retail price of $19.99.
The Fit Meter accessory is much more than a pedometer – it’s an
activity meter that tracks a wide range of everyday activity. It
records not only the number of steps a user has taken, but it
also takes into account the intensity of those steps – for
example, was the user running or walking? The Fit Meter also
measures altitude, so wearers get credit for climbing stairs or
walking uphill. All of these data points combined provide users
with an accurate overview of their day’s activity, including a
detailed calculation of the number of calories they burned. This
data can then be transferred wirelessly to Wii Fit U via the Wii
U GamePad with just a touch of a button. The Fit Meter
transforms users’ everyday lives into workouts, encouraging them
to get active and stay active.
Wii Fit U features all of the strength training, yoga and fun
fitness games that have made the Wii Fit series so popular.
Plus, there are new games that combine the Wii Balance Board and
Wii U GamePad, including new dance routines such as hip-hop and
salsa that work out various parts of the body through simple
dance moves. The game also gives players more ways to create
their own custom workout routines. Users can also create or join
a Miiverse Gym Community to share tips and support with other
Wii Fit U users who have similar goals. Or people can create
closed communities made up exclusively of their friends. The
communities will help people stay motivated by giving them a
venue to discuss their fitness progress with others.
For those who choose not to participate in this special offer,
Wii Fit U launches both as a packaged game on Dec. 13, 2013, and
as a full game download in the Nintendo eShop on Feb. 1, 2014.
Some other announcements today included:
Wii Sports Club
The five beloved sports from the original Wii Sports – bowling,
tennis, baseball, boxing and golf – are making a dramatic and
competitive return on Wii U. The games are being released
individually as downloads in the Nintendo eShop featuring HD
graphics, enhanced controls via Wii MotionPlus technology, as
well as a much-requested online multiplayer versus mode, so
users with broadband Internet access can face off against
competitors online. And that’s where the “Club” part of Wii
Sports Club comes into play. Players will be registered to state
or regional clubs and will be able to chat with one another via
Miiverse during matches. People will be able to play casually
against members of their own club, or take on members of rival
clubs to increase their club rankings.
Tennis and Bowling will be the first two sports available in the
Nintendo eShop on Nov. 7, with Boxing, Baseball and Golf
scheduled to launch in the months ahead. Wii U owners who
download Wii Sports Club will get a trial pass that will let
them play any available games for a 24-hour period from when the
Wii Sports Club game is started. Once the trial period ends,
players can purchase a Day Pass for $1.99 in the Nintendo eShop
to play all available sports for a 24-hour period, or can buy
permanent access to individual sports for $9.99 each.
Wii Street U Powered by Google
An update to Wii Street U Powered by Google is now available
that incorporates the Wii Balance Board. People can walk the
streets of familiar or exotic locales simply by taking steps on
the Wii Balance Board, as the TV displays a streetscape from
Google Maps. The Wii Street U Powered by Google application is
currently available as a free download in the Nintendo eShop
until Oct. 31.