That being said, I have a history with Nintendo. A year or so ago I hosted a Wii launch party for them at the Old Rockhouse, photos here, in which their reps ended up driving me and Chris back to our house where the rest of the revelers joined us. They asked me to host another party for them in anticipation of their Wii Fit game, just released. I got to invite eight close friends to my house and Nintendo would bring the food, drinks, and the games. In exchange, I'd write about what it was like on my site - good or bad, just what my experience was.
One evening last week we pushed my dining room furniture to the sides of the room and Nintendo set up three monitors and in front of each monitor, a Wii Fit balance board. It looks similar to a home plate and uses Bluetooth technology to communicate with the system. It's super sensitive and measures your weight, reaction, and balance. Before you begin you have to establish your BMI, determined by your weight and height, and your Wii Fit age, determined by BMI, balance and agility on the board. One of my best friends was a champion swimmer and I studied ballet for a frillion years; we assumed that our awesomeness would bust the game and it would explode and shoot springs across the room. Except that we did those things some ten years ago and um, we sort of are not as "agile" as we were in high school. After the Wii Fit told me I was nearly underweight, weak, and that "balance is not my forte," it presented me with a Wii Fit age of 37 years. DO THE MATH. Lesson one: The Wii Fit doesn't sugar-coat. It also notices if you've gained or lost weight since your last workout and will interrogate you as to why you've gained a pound, or why you didn't work out yesterday, it was hear saving a towel for you. It's almost like mom.
You can get a full workout with the Wii Fit as it offers strength training, aerobics, yoga, and balance exercises. I know some people have clucked at the yoga, saying that it wasn't akin to walking into a yoga studio and doing a full-on relaxing workout but hi! I have children! And literally two dollars in my wallet right now! When do I have time to go into a yoga studio and do an hour-long session? I only have time to do it at home - and I like how I have the board and the cyber trainer to tell me that my balance is off and guide me through the exercise. You can do push-ups, sit-ups (and others which I've yet to unlock), in the strength training portion of the game; a cyber-version of a step class, jogging (the remote monitors your pace and can be worn in your pocket or held in your hand), and more in the aerobic portion; there are also games to improve your balance. Just because the workout is on a computer doesn't mean that it can't still kick your ass. I did the super hula hoops and I was seriously sore from stripper-swiveling my hips afterwards. I think this is one of the first games ever where accomplishment is achieved through both the desire to be healthier and pure physical vanity.
Nintendo took over my kitchen with boxes of catered goods from Whole Foods; we had an endless supply of fruit smoothie shots, snacks, beef and chicken skewers, white wine sangrias; at the end of the night they gifted us with Wii Fit swag including a yoga mat, athletic bag, and tracksuits which is the most flattering thing I've ever worn in my life and I'm not ashamed to say that I've worn it two days in a row. NOT ASHAMED.
I've actually kept up with the workouts, too. You can track your progress on a calendar and I've got four days under my belt so far. Because of the lives we lead, with the kids and their homeschooling, our work, etc., it's impossible for me to make a gym commitment either in time or money. I like this as it's a much lower-cost way for me to get the same results without pitting out trying to achieve the same in a public gym.
Even though you couldn't come to my party (I could only invite eight! Honest!) you still have a chance to get some swag. Nintendo is letting me give away one Wii gaming system with one Wii Fit. I would like to give it to a family, a person, someone in need - and I want you guys to nominate a deserving party in the comments (no emails, please and try to keep nominations slightly brief, if possible). Maybe it's someone who's had a rough time recently, a family down on their luck, an older person who could use some exercise but can't get out as much as they would like; there are no restrictions on who can win except that I'd like for it to go to a person who normally wouldn't have the means or opportunity to obtain a Wii.
So, how will this move you?
(View more photos here.)
** Let's get all nominations in by this Friday, May 23rd, by 5 p.m. CST. I'll close comments for this thread at that time. I'll announce the winner on Monday, May 26th, barring any emergencies chez Loesch.
I have a long standing relationship with Nintendo, too....I buy what they put out! I'm their perfect customer, and I've stuck with them...even when they weren't #1 in sales. They've ALWAYS been the best game authors, in my book.
This is a great way to give away a Wii. I don't have the PERFECT name right now, but I'm going to think about this. When's the deadline?
Good idea! Durr me! Post updated at the bottom.
I am in love with the Wii, and am now considering drive by workouts at your place until I can afford to get one of my own :)