Reggie Fils-Aime on Wii Fit pricing, launch details |
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Nintendo of America's president, Reggie Fils-Aime, was recently interviewed by IGN regarding the status of Wii Fit. He let slip a few interesting details that Wii owners based in North America might be interested in.According to Fils-Aime, they plan on launching Wii Fit on May 19 in North America. Even bigger news is the fact that they plan on releasing both the board and software for under US$ 100.
It might be interesting to note that Wii Fit was introduced to Japan for US$ 83, and that Nintendo of America plans on matching that price if it can. However, the final pricing will still depend on the exchange rate and all of the costs inherent with the Balance Board.
While the product being sold for under US$ 100 is a pretty big thing, that still represents a sizable investment. However, Fils-Aime assured the consumers that it will be fully supported by Nintendo and is worth every single penny:
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.
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Comments [refresh]
I'm guessing 99.99 then?
Reggie Fils "Hisbuthole" Aime is back for more promotional lies! Let me disprove them one by one like always.
IGN: In Japan, it was around $83. Do you think you'll be able to release at a comparable price?
Reggie Fils-Aime: We do. And again, it really all comes down to the exchange rate and all of the costs inherent with the Balance Board. It's a heavy piece of equipment but certainly from a consumer standpoint, it's going to represent a fantastic value.
Since the Wii balance board is nothing more than a plastic board with an analog stick attached, It can't cost much to make. I'm guessing $5. So how is that a fantastic value?
IGN: How important is Wii Fit to Nintendo this year?
Reggie Fils-Aime: Wii Fit is extremely important, just as Smash Bros. and Mario Kart for Wii are important. Wii Fit specifically in our mind is the follow-on title for the expanded audience -- a way for them to take their gaming experience one step further after they've played with Wii Sports and after they've played a little Guitar Hero. This is something that will continue to expand their gaming experiences and from that standpoint it's critically important to have a successful launch here.
Of course it's important, more crap to sell on a console severely lacking in software. Like Reggie said, you can play Wii Sports, Guitar Hero, then Wii fit, or you can get a real game console with far more games that are better and provide entertainment.
IGN: We don't think you will have any trouble hitting the casual sector, but what about the hardcore? Are you going after them with Wii Fit, too?
Reggie Fils-Aime: We absolutely will. We've seen the core consumer have just as much fun playing Wii Sports as the casual gamer. We expect the core to be thrilled with Wii Fit because it has such a wide range of experiences. It's more than just the aerobic or stretching exercises -- there are quite a number of other mini-games, if you will, embedded in the software that we think will speak to the core consumer.
Yes let's all have Wii fit gaming night. We can do push ups on the balance board since it makes it much better, yoga on it since it isn't possible without it, and simulate doing hula hoops since it costs about $80 more than a real one. That's hardcore gaming!
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.
Uh oh, once Oprah has Wii fit on her show, it's all over. All she has to do is say "buy this." Nintendo probably already has bribe money on the way.
IGN: Do you foresee a time when you finally will have a steady stream of supply to meet demand? With Smash Bros. Brawl right on the horizon and then Wii Fit and Mario Kart right after that, it just seems like consumers are going to continue to find Wii sold out.
Reggie Fils-Aime: Our goal is to get to the point where supply is in line in demand and you're absolutely right, Matt, that Smash plus Wii Fit plus Kart plus WiiWare and all of the other initiatives that we have going on just in the first half of the year, we will be quite strained to get as much product into the marketplace to meet that demand.
Basically the "shortage" was stretched out for the "big" releases this year to make it drag on even longer to help sales. Nintendo wants to make sure there won't be any Wii consoles on shelves until shortly before the holidays aparently.
IGN: Do you see Wii Fit as a game or an exercise program?
Reggie Fils-Aime: We see it as both. It combines fun and fitness in a way that's never been done before.
How about neither? Standing in certain positions exercise? Fun? No and no.
IGN: Have you done any kind of studies to determine how effective Wii Fit is as a weight loss or dietary solution?
Reggie Fils-Aime: We have seen consumers make up their ow
100% right
IGN: Have you done any kind of studies to determine how effective Wii Fit is as a weight loss or dietary solution?
Reggie Fils-Aime: We have seen consumers make up their own exercise routines just as with Wii Sports. Our expectation is that with the four different types of activities provided in Wii Fit that it can absolutely be a critical part of person's healthy regime.
Way to avoid that question Reggie. Of course no studies show positive exercise benefits, that's why you have to combine it with REAL exercise and dieting.
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.
Yes you get one of those channels. Not only is it impossible for Wii fit to accurately measure BMI based on a balance board analog stick, but the "progress" posted is also fake. It will keep you using it and reccomending it after all.
There you have it, the expert liar tool from Nintendo promoting another completely useless product.