Shouldn't this be titled - 5 reasons why MY MOM won't use the Wii? Or 5 reasons why 50-60 (just guessing) year old women won't use the wii?

If people do ANYTHING more then what they are currently doing it is good. The Wii is a HIT with older people (retirement homes are buying Wii's to play bowling).

I think your wrong simply because a lot of people dont like to go to the latest fad gadget workout zones, and with other companies releasing fitness games for the wii balance board, with a more western feel, they'll come,and the difference from workout video's is obvious its interactive. nuff said.

Afraid I have to disagree, Tara. Wii Fit has already sold insane amounts in the UK, Europe and Japan, and if early nationwide shortages are anything to go by, it's doing exactly the same in the U.S. Although your assertion that "video games and exercise have traditionally been the ultimate paradox" may hold some weight, Wii Fit isn't targeting traditional gamers.

This whole article reaks of stereotypes. Women don't play games and don't know how to use technology? Bah. My vagina and Game Design degree would like to talk to you. My mother is also going to buy a Wii and using getting the Wii Fit as an excuse. Couoldn't tear her away from my own Wii when I got it either...

I know these are your opinions, but they seemed to be uninformed. I think you should give it a try (maybe through a friend or store demo) to see if it matches your low expectations.
1) You don't have to be technologically sophisticated to use the Wii Fit. If you can stand, read, and push a button you are good to go.
2) This is a home device, but it can be used by more than one person and it keeps track of everyone's accomplishments. You can even connect with other Wii users through the console if you choose. That's much more social than a workout DVD.
3) As others have pointed out, this is targeted to women and casual gamers, not to "gadget junkies."
4) Mom's worry about their kids sitting around all day instead of being active, and violence in video games. The Wii Fit is non-violent and *active*! I think any mother would love her child having fun and becoming healthier.
5) The difference between the Fit and a workout DVD is the interactivity and games. I've used both and the Wii Fit is far superior, letting me choose exercises based on my needs and showing me how to do exercises from various angles. It also provides encouragement and actually shows you when you are making progress, whether it be in having better balance or losing weight.

The title of the list was the first thing to leave an impression for me, "5 reasons why women won't play Nintendo Wii Fit:". This seems like a rather concrete and rather offensively generalized statement that just leads into a list of stereotypes and presumptions based on the writers' mother.

My wife absolutely loves Wii Fit, and the day it was released she took her lunch break to track a copy down. Now, I'm lucky if I can get a chance to play my own games.

I know at least for my wife, the social aspect of Wii Fit vs. a gym membership is not a problem, rather she prefers to exercise alone. As far as the third item on the list about mastering the gadgets and getting to higher levels of exercise only appealing to men, I have to disagree. You would only have to see the way my wife acts when she tops my Wii Fit records to see that accomplishments are rewarding to men and women.

It would be nice to see some actual reference to the game-play in an article condemning the Wii Fit to failure, but I suppose it's too much to ask for journalistic integrity and objectivity in a blog.

Wow! This was a pretty offensive article! As a 43 year old mom of four who has never played a video game in my life, I am the one who sought out the wii a year ago in anticipation of getting the wii fit. I pre-ordered the wii fit and have used it every day since then.
I do not consider myself technologically inept, either. I have a full complement of digital gadgetry at my fingertips.
I belong to several mom's boards with no teens or dads on them and the wii fit has been a HUGE topic of conversation....so if women need the social component for meeting fitness needs, we are apparently pretty adept at seeking them out.
Maybe since the product has been out for a few weeks now, you will have had an opportunity to experience it yourself and discover how much fun it can be.

Think you got this one well wrong. Wii Fit is selling at about double the RRP in the UK - if you can get your hands on one! My wife can't wait until she gets hers.

I am 77 years old and you can learn anything if you really want to. I installed my DVR, high-speed cable, DVD/VCR and learn something new every day on my computer. Come on - all you "old" ladies! Give some of this stuff a try! I found if you just read the instructions, you can do almost anything in this area.
Gramma from Texas

I'm a 77 year-old great-grandmother and I installed my high-speed cable, DVR and 2 VCR/DVD units. You can learn anything if you really want to. Most of the instructions are pretty simple. I learn something new every day on my computer and love doing it!
Give it a try, grandma!!

Grandma from Texas

I love the comments. Totally agree with the people saying that this article is maybe just for you and your mum, but not for everyone else.

Not all women aren't into electrical gadgets and they can master how to switch from the DVD to the TV and so forth. I love gadgets. My mum (who is in her 60's) is more gadget and computer literate than my dad.

Stepping aside from all these stereotypes, one of the key failures in my opinion after testing my friend's Wii Fit is that it doesn't seem to really keep track of what you do on the Wii Fit. What I mean by this is that I was kind of expecting a Trainer to tell you how long you are supposed to be doing the exercise to get down to that BMI level that you set.

Sorry Tara, I think you really have underestimated women these days. I am a mother of two in my late 20s. My husband and I have been doing Wii fit now for 80 days straight. I have a friend who is in her mid 40s and she has a Wii fit. She uses it every other day. I think technology and people have come a long way. This sort of thing may have been taboo for generations past, but remember, most of us don't remember a time without computers. My four year old has benefited greatly from the Wii fit. When it's rainy outside or too late to go out and play, he can burn off some steam with it. He has seen my husband and I take an initiative to be more healthy and he loves working out with us. His favorite part is the jogging. We wear polar heart monitors to make sure our heart rate is in the zone, but I think nintendo did a marvelous thing in trying to get us and our families up off the couch.

I think the Wii fit is wonderful, It is a wonderful work out tool plus it offered more then I bargained for, it gives your weight; BMI;charts out goals for you to me and you can track yourself aswellas adjust your excise training according to your age. You can choose the excises that most fit your purpose and concentrate on them or you can do them all. I love the running excise...its so real like and the hula hoop it focuses on areas that women especially are concerned with. I joined curves and it did not work it just a social envoronment and for the most part you could do those same excercises without the machines and the overhead cost. Even the so called curve trainers were more social then trainers. Wii Fit allows you the privacy of excicising in your own home its fun, its practical and its rewarding you can do it at your own pace. Another thing curves like all the other diets promotes their own food and vitimins which is also very costly. With Wii Fit you don't have all that which is good. You just change your eating habits by diciplining yourself and eating healthy balanced meals and you will notice a remarkable difference in your weight. Remember there is no quick fix to weight loss, it takes discipline and an attitude to change. Any food filled with perservatives cannot be healthy and when you stop eating those foods you gain all the weight right back. I look forward to Nitendo adding more excises for the Wii Fit. Hope this helps someone out. Wii is an excellent investment if you just use it for the Wii Fit alone.

She never gave five reasons why Wii Fit will fail because there is no reason that Wii Fit will fail. Failure is a permitted response that you have contol over. If you have the Wii Fit use it and it will not fail you.

Sunshine

If we go by certain predictions, Nintendo plans to maintain a Wii Fit shortage, so as to make consumers buy Nintendo Wii Fit.PLease Check
http://buynintendowiifit.weebly.com/blog.html

Geez, I was somewhat uncomfortable reading the blog. Seemed very sexist and demeaning towards women, which really surprises me coming from a female author. Your assumptions towards women (such as their inability to comprehend new technology) are much too broad. To each their own with utilizing the Wii for exercise. If you can get in good shape using it, that's great!

You make some valid points, but I must tell you that the Wii Fit was one of the first things in fitness to get and hold my wife's attention. She enjoys it very much and although it isn't the end all to be all in fitness, something it better than nothing. My wife enjoyed Curves, but wasn't always able to get there, now she comes home and when she is ready, Wii Fit is there. She often states that the workouts seem comparable in difficulty. The Wii Fit isn't for me as a man, but I was surprised to see you felt it wasn't for women either after the experience we have had with it.

I don't necessarily agree about myself, but definitely about my mum. Personally, if I could afford it, I'd use it, I'm embarrassed to go to a gym. My mum on the other hand, is still terrified by the internet. Thanks for the smile!

I think you make valid points too, but I will tell you that it was the only thing I could think of to get my dad and stepmom exercising. My dad was told he needed to exercise, but knew he wouldn't go to the gym. They have fallen in love with the Wii Fit, and make Fri. night dates to make sure they're on the system at least once a week. Yes, he is older (75) but many of us that are younger in the family like it a bunch too.

Good points. I considered buying this, but didnt think i would use it. Plus, it is pricey!

From a woman's perspective of one who owns Wii Fit and actually likes it, I have to say that it's not much of a fitness thing for me; it's more for fun. I really enjoy playing those balance games and I think it's great that my body is moving while I'm doing it. Of course, I probably would get more of an exercise walking my dog, but I really do like the game.

i would have to say that i agree with you on this one. sometimes the truth hurts people, but the idea from wii was a good try.

1. I am a woman.
2. I LOVE the Wii Fit
3. This article was pointless and not on track with the title.
4. The Wii Fit has been selling out like crazy since it has been released. It took me a few months to find one. I refused to pay crazy eBay prices for one.
5. I have honestly not met ANYONE who has purchased one, and doesnt like it!

It's funny that there are comments discussing whether or not Wii Fit will/won't/has/hasn't fail/failed. It was a huge success immediately. There hasn't been anything to discuss in ages. The predictions in the article couldn't possibly have been more wrong. End of story.

es interesante me gusta este tipo de jurgo , no es el tipico juego que te deja sentado varias horas , un sedentario ..