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Arielle on Nintendo Wii Fit: Wealthy vs Poor Americans and Overweight

By: Daniel Chubb | July 23, 2007 | 2 Comments

Nintendo Wii Fit

This is another follow-up on what people are saying on the Nintendo Wii Fit, we featured a comment the other day from adam where he spoke his views about the Nintendo Wii fit and overweight issues.

Now here is a comment from Arielle about the points that Adam raised:
Actually, Will, although I find your argument compelling, the whole part about other countries in comparison to the U.S. wasn’t really needed. As for the “all countries where Wii Fitness will be sold and all countries where the majority of people are healthy,” do you really think people living in African villages will buy this? No.

How about any of the third-world countries you mentioned, like certain parts of Russia and Brazil? I doubt that, too. Also, you say that people are “healthy” there. While their diets tend to consist of less fat, many people from the poorer parts of those countries will die far before the average, middle-class American with health insurance.

The wealthy people from those areas you mentioned might get it, but otherwise, those aren’t the only places where it’ll sell. The U.S. will most likely have an interest in Wii Fit since they can afford it and want a fun way to lose their extra pounds. Not all of us are slobs, nor are we all overweight. Other than that, I agree with you. Just calm down a little.

Also, Geoff, “abundance of wealth” isn’t entirely why Americans are overweight. Lots of poor people are overweight because all they can afford are $5 worth of fast food every day. They often can’t afford to buy healthier foods at a grocery store because it is far more expensive, especially if you go every week or two.

I personally think Wii Fit is a great idea. I find regular exercise to be quite boring and tedious, and I’m currently just bouncing on a trampoline so that I don’t dread having to go on the damn stationary bike in the basement. If I could mix that with some Wii Fit time as well as being able to monitor my improvement on-screen, I could definitely see myself in better physical condition. I’m certainly not overweight (115 pound female at 5′2″,) but I do like to keep in shape, and Wii Fit is attractive to me in that sense.

Wii Fit will be the next “Brain Age” phenomenon, only this time it’s for the body and not the mind.

Read Adams post here or leave comments below.

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  • http://nintendoblogcartridge.blogspot.com troy

    I agree wholeheartedly, Wii Fit is something that was clearly designed with people’s best interests at mind. Creator Shigeru Miyamoto has said that he was moved to create it by his own interest in physical health, something which has been growing within him, and such organic creations are seldom the work of a profiteering mindset. Nintendo is in a unique position. They are a company which has existed for over a hundred years but they are also at the forefront of what is current and essential represents the zeitgeist of the modern times. They have history as well as clearly a say in our future. I have been a Nintendo fan for over 17 years and I can honestly say that we have not seen anything yet. I trust in the leaders of modern Nintendo: Shigeru Miyamoto, there from the start and a complete artist as far as I am concerned, the man works from a ‘results’ standpoint, a ‘what will the audience see this as’ standpoint, which, when coupled with original thought and creative knack, can only mean greatness, the underrated Satoru Iwata who started as a gamer, became a game-maker, and is the number one most brilliant choice for Nintendo president, who better can understand the intricacies of game making and game business at the same time? I never realized what was going on when the business was family run by the same people who began it in the 1800′s, trying to find a niche where it could succeed, but as much as it made its mark during those times it is only now with Satoru Iwata at its helm that Nintendo has become what it could be, and is being driven by a person who can truly take it to new heights. And who can forget Reggie Fils-Aime, who is certainly the best leader Nintendo of America could hope for, and who very well could be largely responsible for capturing the hearts of the hardcore while possessing the honesty, integrity, and talent needed to bring Nintendo of America where it needs to be.

    Wii Fit is a declaration: that interactive entertainment doesn’t need to follow any set formula, or ascribe to any set pattern. What is relevant, helpful, needed, or -fun- is what can and must be created.

    Nintendo are genius: The Wii balance board can be used with a quote-unquote ‘Non-Game’ like Wii Fit but also provide an extremely revolutionary extra form of input in very traditional games, from the obvious skateboarding titles to first-person shooters, RPG’s, and beyond. The Wii already had the most revolutionary, natural form of input to begin with. The Wiimote is the most inventive piece of technology to come to videogames in ages. Now, with the Wii Balance Board, Nintendo are showing more than ever what makes them different.

    Microsoft has not even announced any product that adds motion sensitivity to the Xbox 360′s features. The Wii, with its massive lead, is already adding to the ‘natural input’ that it began with. Perhaps it is not as obvious to the folks who have spent the last 10 year with controllers with over 12 buttons, but the closer video games come to completly natural control schemes, the more valuable and entertaining they become to everybody.

  • NinjaRooster

    I fully agree with troy. Wii Fit could indeed be the next Brain Age. I know I’m considering buying it.