Earlier today we shared some surprising news regarding the release of Wii Fit U, namely that it'll be available for a month free of charge, and that if you then purchase a Wii Fit Meter accessory — $19.99 in the U.S. with equivalent prices elsewhere — you can then keep your free download permanently. Essentially, if you have a Wii Balance Board and some hard drive space, you'll be able to get Wii Fit U at a budget price from 1st November.
On top of that we have Wii Sports Club, a new HD version of the original Wii launch title that will also have substantial online and Miiverse functionality — that launches on 7th November, with options to buy each sport for £8.99 / $9.99 or to pay less for day passes. There's also an update to Wii Street U powered by Google that allows you to walk around in a virtual world with the Balance Board, available for free today.
We have coverage live now and more on the way covering all of the details, but if you want to see the full Nintendo Direct broadcast — that was rather dropped on the world — it's below for your viewing pleasure, and the UK version is here. Enjoy!
Comments 61
Meh
Nintendo surprised us with this ND!
I really think it's a great idea using the wii fit and sports like that! Go Ninty!
I hope this one has the option to turn off game music. I am still a regular on Wii Fit Plus, so I am happy to finally see a sequel.
"Our bodies are sufficiently ready" priceless!
BTW: good to see Nintendo experimenting with different pricing models and freebies to get more customers.
That new bit of equipment looks pretty damn neat.
@DestinyMan
Yes!
Cool that´s way cheaper than i thought!!
It's that precise.
I have to say, I think this ND was great. Wii fit U seems like a good evolution, with good pricing, and what I see like a very generous trial.
The clubs in Wii Sports also seems like fun!
@DestinyMan
Two words for ya: Green Team. It's already confirmed.
Already commented on the Wii Fit U article but this ND was out of the blue, yes?
I hope Nintendo takes all this goodness and advertises it, they are finally on top of things here.
BTW - the first 1:18 of that video is about the best thing I've ever seen Nintendo do. Even the haters should watch it.
She sounds like Lyida from Skyrim.
Anyway...I did not buy Wii Fit, so I won't be getting this either.
@rjejr definitely a surprise announcement.
I am going to lose so many hours to online bowling and tennis. I would have liked to have seen double balance board support confirmed for 2 player skiing races etc. but I think the Fit Meter offer might be enough for me to get Wii Fit U. Did they mention a price for it?
Let me get this straight... If I buy the wii fit meter for $20 the digital copy is free? O.o
@Buduski Yep it is. (as long as you get it in that one month time)
I love what they've done with this... First with Wii Fit U only being $20 is a great price. Second, allowing us to download the Wii Sports games individually at budget price is great, too. Now i only have to pay $10 to play bowling with my family instead of paying full price for all 5, when i really only want 1 or 2 of them. Well done on this, Ninty.
And wii sport going online O.o
Mind = blown
It would seem nintendo is getting serious with online modes even if it is little by little
Wow, where was Club at launch? And why wasn't it the lead? And why did they waste 10 minutes on that guys day?
For anybody watching the video, watch the first 2 minutes and then skip the next 8 minutes and go to minute 10.
@ScorpionMG, yeah I just wanted to make sure thats what reggie said, I never bought any wii fit titles but I might give this download version a try just because my cousin has the balance board collecting dust at his house so he'll probably let me borrow it.
I hope they also "remake" the new games from wii sports resort - in particular, basketball and swordfight! However, paying 10$ for each off these games would sum up to a-hell-of-a-lot
She looks so creepy. Her model seems a bit smoother in Smash Bros. This one looks like it's straight from the Wii.
@rjejr
I also loved the opening.
I'm very interested in Wii Sports club. I'm really a sucker for the remakes I guess. Nintendo is getting quite experimental with its monetizing. Smart way to get "modern" in relation to the other online stores and mobile stores without having a phone or tablet.
Nintendo is really going to have a wide array of offerings by the time Holiday shopping in the US begins in earnest. There's some hope for the Wii U after all and it is all going to be about offerring the alternative to what the other two big guys are touting right now.
Wii U: Best Value, games for all ages, Nintendo nostalgia, and a proposition for interests outside of traditional gaming.
@rjejr Oh yeah... that was sooo boring, except for the picture of the shrine
Damn it, Nintendo. Now I got to go buy that pedometer thing so I don't miss the deal. My family is a sucker for this crap.
Offering it cheap for people who already have the Balance Board is sure to have people pull those white things back out of the closet.
The beginning is brutal! Good prices and stuff, I may get the tennis game, was really fun with the normal pad, I wonder how must be with the remote plus
Would have been nice to get prices on the full products. Each sport being $10 individually has me scared the whole package will be close to $50.
The opening was comedy gold XD
Look out Sony, we can now play Wii Sports in HD! Your PS4 sure is in trouble now. Why, I bet sales of the Wii U will jump 200% based on this news alone.
It almost made me interested in getting a Wii Fit. I can't wait to make my own "Club"!
New Wii Fit Trainer < Old Wii Fit Trainer < Wii Fit Trainer Fan Art
@Pachterkid its nice to see one of the big three do something new... Both Sony and Microsoft dropped the ball at E3. Showing us the same AAA fair we have already seen and played with a minor facelift.... If you like buying consoles just for a little bit more visual flair, more power to you.
I look for new experiences in gaming, thats what gets me to open my wallet, and so far Wonderful 101 is by far the most original piece of software I have seen released on any console in rougly 5 years.
This is ALL very good news!!
I hope this NintendoDirect goes to as many people out there as possible, since many may still have a BalanceBoard and weren't sure about upgrading to the Wii U yet. All of these titles offer A LOT for the small price!
Omg that was creepy
@LUIGITORNADO Wii Fit was before Skyrim
dat wii fit trainer
I would guess that we will be able to purchase multiple meters for each software user? Has this been confirmed anywhere?
We come to tell you that she has been removed from Smash Bros in favor of better Wii-oriented characters.
I know there are going to be many people getting Wii Fit U who don't own 3DS and this purchasing options really benefit the customer, but it would be much more practical to offer a virtual fit meter for 3DS owners as a paid download from the eShop (as another option, not instead of the physical meter). I like to carry as few devices as possible, and carrying 2 with very similar purposes from the same manufacturer (3DS and fit meter) would be redundant to me, 3DS has also clock, calendar, IR/Wireless, Mii, pedometer and six-axis motion sensor, which includes 3-axis accelerometer and 3-axis gyroscope (only thing missing is the temperature display which is a gimmick not a useful feature) plus better memory and visuals.
Also I think they didn't mention a release date for the standalone Wii Fit Meter, the colors available for balance boards and fit meters (so that it matches my WiiU) and if there'll be a physical version of Wii Sports Club, At 19:10 it reads "downloadable version" but its the only lead/hope I've for retail release. Did anyone spot that info? @ThomasBW84
I want it. All of it. Never thought I'd actually say that, but I do. Looks like I'll be buying another balance board sometime soon lol...
So this was the announcement that would be done close to release and that was not aimed at core gamers.
And this further pushes Nintendo's experiments with freemium, free to play, etc. models
Very nice of them. I can try Wii Sports Boxing to see if it works now. But Tennis, Golf and Bowling would be a must for me. I can buy one of them each month so the expense will be smaller.
@rjejr
With the Balance Board I feel like you with the Classic Controllers and W101. I spent the whole Wii's "lifetime" without one, to end up having to buy one for my Wii U.
@tripunktoj
The whole point is the device hooks onto your belt and has an altimeter for estimating stair climbs. Plus doing it for the 3ds does not aid sales of the WiiU which is badly needed before the console fails completely. A cheap meter is far better to carry around if you are a jogger too,
You can already get a Wii balance board in both black &=white so can match your wiiu.
My guess is once allc the sports are finished and released there will be a retail version. I bet it also ends up being given away with new wiiu console packs as soon as possible too
@ThumperUK thanks for replying. I understand the reasons behind the Wii Fit Meter, but it wouldn't harm having also the option I describe. I dont think I've seen black balance boards in America, but I could be wrong.
@tripunktoj
3DS is also missing the pressure sensor, which is not a gimmick, and probably one of the most vital components of this meter. It's needed to function properly.
@JaxonH Are you assuming it measures any of the data with a pressure sensor (cause I think all of the relevant data can be measured by the components I listed)? or did they explicitly talked about it (if so, I completely missed it, my bad)?
Giving the game away for the cost of the Fit Meter to existing Balance Board owners is a brilliant move. I was watching this pretty much disinterested until they announced that. Now I have to decide if it's worth $20 to give Wii Fit another try. Clever Nintendo...
@sinalefa - Yeah I gave my kid a Classic Pro for his birthday yesterday. I was going to splurge and get him the U Pro but I don't see it getting a lot of use w/ the games we play. I just got Starfox 64 on Wiiware and I've never played it so we needed that controller.
If you are going to get a balance board I'ld recommend Shawn White snowboarding (for $10, not MSRP though). I don't like Xtreme sports or anything but this was the most fun I had on the board. Was one of those easy to play hard to master games. I have Road Trip, there's also World Stage but I have no idea what the difference is.
http://www.amazon.com/Shaun-White-Snowboarding-Road-Nintendo-Wii/dp/B001B1W3KM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1379552492&sr=8-2&keywords=shawn+white+snowboarding+wii
What great options and at budget prices. Smart move Nintendo! Good job getting software out for the holidays.
@tripunktoj they talked about it quite a bit. Elevation changes, and altitude detection to correctly calculate energy burned in METs
I'll probably wind up doing the Wii Fit Meter accessory and trading in my Wii Fit Plus . Asking $20 for the upgrade and getting a above average pedometer at the same time seems pretty reasonable
@JaxonH Im no expert in technology or measurements, but I think the six-axis motion sensor and maybe region information from the console takes care of that, I could be wrong but I still don't see the need for a pressure sensor.
@rjejr So I got W101... been working 12s every day so I haven't had much time to play, but so far it's really great. Did you end up getting it yet?
@tripunktoj
Well, you're wrong lol. Have someone else explain it to you I gotta clock in at work. Or watch video again. Pressure sensor is needed and no, it's a 3 axis accelerometer and that's not what it does
@JaxonH Its a six-axis motion sensor which includes 3-axis accelerometer and 3-axis gyroscope. But yea, as I said, I could be wrong on not needing pressure.
This is why Nintendo are the best.
Love it :3
Nice, they will have a retail disc copy. I'll be buying that.
@tripunktoj - "I dont think I've seen black balance boards in America, but I could be wrong."
I've never ever seen a black board anywhere, can't imagine how that would even look. Uglier than a 2Dees maybe? And it's been a long time since I've seen the white one. Not even sure where TRU, Targe or Best Buy would show them. Guess they need to come back w/ a big "Wii U compatible" sticker on them. NVM, new bundle w/ board, game and a meter takes care of that. Probably $99 (Reggie is always short on details - the DL is hefty, you need an external drive, but he never says how big). Bundling a Wii U w/ that set is $399, not gonna sell anything at that price. Actually the fad is over enough may not sell any of the bundles at all, just people who own a board already collecting dust upgrading to a Wii U for the "community".
@JaxonH - No W101 yet, we're up to Princess Peach castle in NSMBU. The classic pro is ready and waiting though.
On topic - "pressure sensor" in the meter? Air pressure, is that how that thing reads altitude? Never would have guessed. I may buy 1 for $20 just to keep in my car for our long road trips - I live in NY and my sister lives in Michigan and there's a mountain range in between. I've had fun w/ a few GPS devices but I don't recall ever tracking altitude changes before. It's a 12 hour drive, 15 hours w/ stops, and now I want to make this height by time chart.
Do you think Nintendo will be smart enough to let more than 1 device hook up to 1 Wii U? Good competitive device for significant others. I know it makes sense but Nintendo still baffles me at times. I might have fallen asleep during Iwata's dronig segment when he may have mentioned it. Reggie didn't mention more than 1.
@Pachterkid - "Look out Sony, we can now play Wii Sports in HD! Your PS4 sure is in trouble now."
Yeah, b/c all the Wii had was Wii Sports and the PS3 crushed it.
Oh wait, no it didn't, the pathetic underpowered SD Wii outsold the PS3 by about 20 MILLION units.
http://www.vgchartz.com/analysis/platform_totals/
I get being a troll, Nintendo has completely screwed up the Wii U launch, but at least try to make some sense.
@tripunktoj ok gotchya bout the six axis now. But yes pressure sensor is only way to detect altitude, and altitude corresponds to air density, which affects calories burned.
@SCAR392 nintendo made a pedometer..... A kid friendly company indeed. Lol
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