60% don't use their Wii Fit

[Raven]

Microsoft: 60% of Wii Fit Purchases Go Unplayed
by Aaron Linde Aug 07, 2008 10:00pm CST tags: Wii Fit, Microsoft
Speaking at Microsoft's GameFest UK keynote, Xbox Europe VP David Gosen claimed that some 60% of Wii Fit owners played Nintendo's fitness-oriented, balance board-equipped title once and shelved it soon thereafter, noting that developers should be wary of pushing gimmicks in the place of solid gameplay.

"We've seen some research that says 60 percent of people who bought a Wii Fit play it once and don't play it again. So we have to get the balance right, because what we are doing is bringing new consumers into the market for the first time in their lives sometimes—and we have to treat them with respect," Gosen told attendees.

The executive later expanded on his comments, telling Develop that "what Nintendo have done with the Wii is truly fantastic—there is no question about it. But I think sometimes there is a thin line between gimmick and great gameplay."

The runaway success of Nintendo's motion-centric Wii console has prompted many software and hardware developers to look into motion-sensing control schemes. Earlier this year, rumors that Microsoft was planning a Wii Remote-like peripheral of its own were heavily circulated, though the device did not appear at following trade shows.

Gosen added in his keynote address that new user interfaces were important to the industry, but stressed that peripherals had to be designed with utility and longevity in mind.

"At the end of the day that comes back down to creativity... They are not good if they are gimmicks. There is a challenge for us to make sure that all new user interfaces are deep and are rewarding to the end user," he stated.

E3 2008 didn't pass without a new peripheral announcement from Microsoft, however. At the conference the company officially unveiled Lips, a karaoke-dancing hybrid title which comes packed with a pair of light-equipped, motion-sensitive wireless microphones. Gosen believes that the title fills a vacant niche.

"If you look a what people don't like about existing karaoke games it's that you've got wired microphones which look like they've come out of a toy shop and a fairly restricted song base," he said.

Developed in cooperation with Elite Beat Agents (NDS) developer iNiS, Lips is expected to hit retailers this coming holiday. Wii Fit, meanwhile, has sold more than five million copies worldwide since its debut earlier this year.

Isnt it the same with most 'innovative' add ons, fads?

[killacalvin]

not suprised really a few of my mates got them and they dint use em for long. probably they wont last long if they was used a lot anyway lol.

[MuNk]

hehe im one of the few that uses mine often ^_^ , love the sking and snow boarding =]

[QueenB]

I'd love to try one out, for the skiing and snowboarding rather than......keeping.......fit .

I would be worried about how 'strong' they are though with me bouncing around on it .

[poisonpixel]

The game with karaoke microphones sounds a little boring, I dont really get it. Why would a karaoke game need motion detectors? lol

[Mommy Munch]

I intend to buy it as soon as we have the available funds. The main reason for me getting it will be the reason why it was made in the first place. Trying to lose weight here. Relying on boxing on Wii Play to keep the heart rate up during gameplay gets kind of tedious after a while. I need variety.

I feel that the real reason for 60% of people who have purchased Wii Fit don't play it is because when you see something that you want that has low availability, once you finally do get it the excitement of the "chase" is over and they move onto something else. Don't buy it if you won't play it. There is enough information out there now about it that will tell you if you will like it or not. Don't waste money on something you won't play. People who go out and buy games without finding anything out about them and then get the game home and don't like it have no one to blame but themselves. Read about it if you can find the information. Rent the game if you can find it at a rental store. Don't just go and buy it, not like it, and then bitch about it.

This isn't aimed at anyone in particular. It's just to people in general.

[celly]

It doesn't surprise me. Go out and play or go to the gym. When your all done, come home and play some video games on your Wii. Mixing the two is lame.

[MuNk]

As long as you execise in some sence it dont matter how or where you do it.

Wiifit is just a different way and after playing on it for a hour or two you will notice you have been doing somthing.

[mutevict1m]

I wouldnt buy this...ever i think its stupid