Kotaku
You might think that Wii Fit was a reaction to the popularity of games like Wii Sports and Wii Play, but according to Wii Fit lead Takao Sawano, the health-centric game "existed in the center of Miyamoto's brain before the console was released." Sawano gave GDC attendees a rare look into the Nintendo design philosophy today, showcasing the initial design documents for the Wii's best-selling titles, as well as giving us a visual walkthrough of the development of the Wii Balance Board.
Shigeru Miyamoto's notes on what was then known as "the Health Pack" didn't provide much in the way of direction to those on the hardware and software development side at Nintendo. He simply passed on to the team how much he enjoyed weighing himself everyday and monitoring his weight. "This is bound to lead to something interesting," Miyamoto said to what would become the Wii Fit team.
It wasn't until those on the game development side created the first test software, an early version of Wii Fit's balance test, that worked with a dual-scale prototype board using Nintendo 64 controller parts to gauge weight that things started to take shape.
"I think you might be onto something fun with this movement based play control," Miyamoto told the team.
Incidentally, that dual scale prototype was born of a spark of inspiration that Sawano had while watching sumo wrestlers grapple. The deputy general manager at Nintendo EAD wasn't concerned about their unhealthy porkiness, though. He was merely inspired by some sumos being so portly that they required two traditional scales to measure their weight accurately.
Speaking of chubby folks, there's some good news for husky types. The Wii Fit Balance Board can actually withstand a 660 pound human being before buckling. It just doesn't measure beyond 330 pounds. So put down that pork chop or you'll be watching Wii Fit from the couch.
Comments
Interesting side note: As a head without a body, I envy the dead
Anyway, the only thing I need in my life to loss weight is a good diet to make all those crunches effective
Good thing wii fit can support us burley men haha.
Pretty interesting. The more I read into the game the more I'm wanting to buy, though I'm still not entirely convinced. Seems too expensive.
Daymn, that thing can hold some weight.
Miyamoto's draws inspiration from the weirdest things. Games like Pikmin, Nintendogs, Animal Crossing and WiiSports/WiiFit show how offbeat his inspirations are and what a genius he is.
@zztopp: Yes, and I'm quite looking forward to Animal Crossing on the Wii, and Wii Fit as well, even if it doesn't actually help you get fit.
Shame it doesn't let you jump though :(
I hope the thing is very sturdy and built to last, but then, Nintendo usually build things to last for decades :)
I know I'm sold on it already, I will buy Wii Fit. I hope the balance board will get future support in Nintendo first party titles though.
If Wii Fit takes off in America like it did in Japan then I hope Nintendo will release a line of games supporting the board. That's really the only way I can see justifying the purchase for myself.
@NeoAkira: I bet it will take off, I can see schools buying the thing for kids already on CNN :P
Miyamoto's morning routine must be a real party.
"Gee, I wonder how much I weigh today?! Can't be the same as yesterday, no sir! WOW I gained one pound! This calls for a celebration... like maybe I'll brush my teeth! Jubilations!"
Miyamoto had tons of fun.....weighing himself. I don't know how anyone could really look forward to this game after reading this. Unless you enjoy weighing yourself now.
@creid: I'm not sure its much about the weighing as it is about using the board to control.
By the way, what's up with the recent Health Craze? At first, it was an observation; now it's full blown "panda"monium. Seriously, i had someone tell me I shouldn't eat White Bread anymore, and I should switch to Whole Wheat.
Since when has White Bread been bad for you?
@creid:
Actually, if you think about it
Runners like to beat their own times
Football players like to beat their own records
And you would probably feel pretty happy at a high score on something
Why is all this? Part of the reason is because it shows a level of self improvement through hard numbers. Theres none of this 'maybe im just imagining im getting better' nonsense, you're presented with hard numbers. Very beleiveable stuff.
Thus, WiiFit appeals to that sense of fun people get from trying to be better than they are, and being 'rewarded'. Its a very subconscious and primal need, but its there, for most of us.
of course, talking like this takes all the romance out of the appeal of WiiFit, but hell yes I'll be buying it anyways.
@AntiZERO:
I don't think it's so much that White bread is bad for you as it is that Wheat bread is better for you. But yes, people are health crazy, despite still consuming foods with large amounts of High Fructose Corn Syrup. People are funny...
"existed in the centre of Miyamoto's brain before the console was released"
I wish it did, I wish the Wii fit could literally exist in the centre of Shigeru Miyamoto's brain, if only to be rid of all that flamboyant arm-waving eccentricity and technicolor, candy-coated toss.
And yes, I hate fun.
Sony was all over the Yoga games long before Wii-fit. Eyetoy Kinetic had yoga, kickboxing, and other exercise programs in it. Pretty nifty, if you had a big enough room with adequate lighting.
Thing is, it was introduced as a side thing, while the system was really about, you know, games... Wiifit was THE thing shown off by Nintendo at E3. Kind of gave the impression they cared more about Wiifit than they did about Smash Bros or the incredible Mario Galaxy... Which they did, because the casuals rule the Wii.
@bobtheduck: Well, the casuals are keeping the Wii selling I think. And honestly, I'm sure Brawl wasn't outshadowed, and Mario Galaxy was already released, so I don't think they'd care about it as much as they would Fit or Brawl.
What kind of exercise game is meant to encourage weighing yourself if the burlier of us who need a little more exercise (and I'm talking from experience here, I used to be a right porker) can't even be weighed properly by said game?
Oh sorry, Wii Fit isn't an exercise game really, is it?
@Youlikeyams:
I think if someone weighs over 330 lbs and isn't a football player or a body builder or obscenely big-boned, then they need to stop playing video games all together and focus on losing weight.
Yeah, thats too heavy.
I was quite fat 234 pounds at 6 foot back during high school, being 100 pounds over that is cause for concern
@AntiZERO: Since ever? White bread is not particularly 'bad for you' (nor is sugar, for instance). However wholemeal bread is better because it contains dietary fibre (=good for you) and as a result it also makes you feel more full (=you eat less, =good for you if you're overweight).
If you've managed to survive the past 20 years plus (or however long you've been alive) not knowing that wholemeal bread is healthier than white, then, uh, maybe Nintendo need to give out free copies of Wii Fit in schools or something, because it doesn't look like that health education is working real well.
@creid: If you read the earlier comments, you'll notice he didn't enjoy just weighing himself - it was about drawing graphs and noticing trends. If I'm dieting I always draw a graph, yes really. :) So Miyamoto is a bit of a geek too, omgwtfBREAKING NEWS. While I wouldn't personally say that keeping a record of your weight is 'fun', seeing your weight graphed can surely be 'interesting' for those who are trying to lose weight.
@Krytha: Seriously? I lol'd. :-)
I think if I worked for him at the time, I'd have found it difficult not to write this one off as the DUMBEST IDEA EVER. But it seems to be working out! Gotta trust the guy, I guess. Too bad he'll never return to the kind of thinking that spawned Mario and Link.
I really hope they're grooming a successor to Miyamoto. They lost Yokoi some time ago, if something happens to Miyamoto, they could suddenly be in a whole world of hurt. For as long as they've made video games, this man has been a ticket to success for them.
@fuchikoma: it's very sad to think that one day, miyamoto will be gone.
try thinking of a world without miyamoto's influence, let alone him being in it. you can't.
i've tried, and i end up crying. every time. REAL TEARS.
i really don't think you can replace Miyamoto-san, you know? the man is a living legend. when he passes, it will be a very, VERY dark day. the death of the creator of mario? just the thought makes me depressed. :(
There will never be anyone that can replace nintendo, or Miyamoto-san, period.
There will never be anyone that can replace the ones now who are paving the path for the future.
@fuchikoma: Sakurai might be a good successor to Miyamoto.
@frank0127: I'd find a world without Miyamoto a very dark one indeed. It will be a ombr day when Miyamoto passes.
@Krytha: Oh, and then telling his team "This is bound to lead to something interesting." "The Wii: First home of a toothbrush simulator!"
But really, it takes some serious imagination going from "fun with weighing yourself" to the idea of Wii Fit.
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