Staying fit by playing a video game. That dream of humankind, possibly second only to losing weight by eating, is the object of Nintendo’s U.S. launch Monday of the Wii Fit exercise game.

Nintendo said its new product “combines fun and fitness in ways that will have society getting up off their couches,” possibly even “breaking a sweat.”

Yoga, Aerobics, Strength Training, Balance

With a suggested retail price of about $90, Wii Fit includes a balance board accessory and software. The board connects wirelessly to a Wii console, and it senses weight as well as shifts in movement and balance. More than 40 activities offer challenges in yoga, aerobics, strength training, and balance.

The Wii Fit begins the exercise program by measuring an adult user’s BMI, or Body Mass Index. that is a common measurement of body fat based on height and weight.

The board can plus be used as a platform for twirling a virtual hula

hoop, “shredding” on a virtual snowboard, doing leg extensions, or undertaking a down-facing dog yoga pose. As a user progresses and as proficiency increases, his or her Wii caricature, which every user can create, reflects fitness levels.

whether you slack off during an exercise routine, virtual trainers can talk you through different exercises and invent suggestions for improvement. Users’ progress can be tracked via scores.

‘Interactive Release Party’

Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of sales and marketing, said the new product “will get you moving whether you’ve been playing video games for years or that is your first instance.” To help with its launch in the U.S., Nintendo was to have “an interactive release party” in the southwest corner of New York City’s Central Park, with celebrity trainer Ashley Borden on hand to have attendees “get on board.”

In Japan, more than two million customers have gotten…

Original post by Top Tech News