Nintendo Celebrates US Launch Of Wii Fit

Today will see the release of whats tapped as being the nation’s next video game blockbuster.

Nintendo’s remit is to produce new and innovative games that whet our appetites and show us what untapped potential there is in the video gaming of today and tomorrow. It’s with this in mind that the company bring us Wii Fit, the in-home personal trainer that has the potential to cut obesity levels in gamers and non-gamers alike.

Similar to Wii Sports, which comes bundled with the Wii, Wii Fit encourages active gaming with the use of the console’s latest nifty peripheral, the Wii Balance Board.

Unfortunately, more often than not Wii Sports ends up as something you just pull out of the cupboard at parties and it’s not yet clear whether Wii Fit will meet the same dusty demise in the back of the entertainment unit in your living room.

The company has honed in on a way for people to tone up and exercise in the comfort of their own homes, without the prying eyes or athletes foot infested pools indigenous to the local gym and it sales suggest the world is dying to get in shape with Wii Fit.

Wii Fit will hit US shelves after a more than warm reception in Japan. Selling over a quarter of a million copies in its first week, Wii Fit passed the 1 million sales milestone within one month of its December 1, 2007 release.

Following its release in the United Kingdom last month, Nintendo UK stated they are working hard to ensure that enough stock is available to meet demands. The statement came after retailer, Woolworths claimed the title was selling at a rate of 90 copies per minute.

The worries of perserverance and continuous use aside, it looks as though sales certainly won’t be a problem for Wii Fit in the US. According the Associated Press, online stores such as Amazon.com, GameStop and Wal-Mart were all sold out during the pre-launch sales.

Wii Fit retails at $89.99 and is available as of today (19th of May).