Wii Fit membership dues set at $90

Balance Board is part and parcel of Nintendo's fitness-gym-in-a-box when it launches May 19.

Retail Radar has proven to be a useful tool in the past, but it appears that last July's detection of a $70 price tag for Nintendo's Wii Fit was merely an errant flock of seagulls. The publisher said today that when the fitness simulator goes on sale on May 19 in the US, its one-time membership dues will total $89.99 for the game and the balance board.

The $90 price tag is higher than what many expected after the game's ¥8,800 price--$75 at the time--was revealed for Japan last October. However, the floundering US dollar has since altered that conversion substantially, with ¥8,800 now being worth about $86.75. Wii Fit launched in Japan to ravenous consumer demand last December, and a European edition is expected to go on sale April 25.

In addition to officially confirming the price, Nintendo also announced a special preorder program available exclusively at the Japanese publisher's Nintendo World store in New York City. Beginning April 18, the first 1,000 people who put $5 down on Wii Fit will receive a limited-edition T-shirt featuring the mug of Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto along with his reproduced signature.

While Nintendo's training simulators have thus far focused on building the mind, Wii Fit offers more than 40 different exercises aimed at strengthening the body, with a focus on yoga, aerobics, strength training, and balance. For more on Wii Fit, check out GameSpot's recent preview.

190 Comments

  • VG_Executioner

    Posted Apr 20, 2008 3:44 am PT

    I will get this.
    Staying fit the fun way!

  • ctg867

    Posted Apr 18, 2008 7:45 pm PT

    Oh and for the idiot comparing this to Eye of Judgement, a very high quality $40 video camera and a FULL FLEDGED current gen game =/= a high tech scale and a weight loss game with some mini-games. PERIOD

  • smackalicious

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 11:49 am PT

    I'm utterly dumbfounded by the number of people complaining about the price. Wii games cost around $50. This is bundled with a wireless, motion/pressure/weight sensitive, and well made (sturdy) peripheral that can have a multitude of other future gaming uses...for $40. I find this very comparible to other systems in terms of game/peripheral packages. For instance PS3 Eye of Judgement. Game + Eye Toy = $80. You look at user opinions on that particular bundle on multiple game sites, and there are virtually no complaints. I think one of the following is happening here:

    1.) Fanboyism. You know who you are, and it's just plain sad. Shoot yourself.
    2.) Lemmingism. Everyone else is complaining about the price, so I'm not going to bother thinking for myself. I'll just merrily join the lynch mob!
    3.) Consumerism. Money is tight, and consumers are picky about their purchases. Fine. But don't hate on a fairly priced product if you can't/choose not to afford it.

  • bgres077

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 10:18 am PT

    Ehh, don't really need this for $90.

  • kos1085

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 9:57 am PT

    To all those people who say go out and jogg, would you really go out and jogg in some of the rough neighborhoods???? And to answer the question why not go to the gym...maybe because $80 x 12 for a gym plus rent and bills and car insurance is a lot for some people with low wages and high prices.

  • ufopuller

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 8:27 am PT

    Only if it will be worth it

  • tasthomas

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 7:56 am PT

    taj7575 is right, if you're just concerned about cardio and body fat. I love to jog, but that will not give me upper body muscle tone, good posture, good balance, or coordination. Now, it remains to be seen if the wii fit will do this. It's still going to take personal discipline.
    Back on topic, we'll have to wait and see if its worth $90.

  • taj7575

    Posted Apr 16, 2008 7:36 pm PT

    really, this is a good idea...but do we really need a wii-fit? all it takes is getting up at 6 am, running for 1/2- 1hr and coming back, taking a shower, and aldready you feel good.

    early morning is good, because in the morning you have no food in ure stomach, so ure body uses fat for energy. during that, fat is burned and you loose weight.

    you just need a healthy lifestyle, you dont need a wii-fit

  • thesuperduelist

    Posted Apr 16, 2008 5:22 pm PT

    I find it funny how most of the people who really need to use the wii fit to lose weight all weigh too much to even be able to use it. wii fit only has a maximum weight of 300lbs and lets face it, alot of americans weigh more than that.. myself included.

  • kejigoto

    Posted Apr 16, 2008 4:46 pm PT

    Well considering that your typical 360/PS3 game costs anywhere from $60 to $80 (depending on if there's a limited edition version) and that this comes with the balance board plus the game, I'm not overly complaining about shelling out the money for something that can get constant use. Not to mention I know Nintendo (and many third party developers) will make plenty of games that make use of the balance board and it'll save me from having to fork out money for the board itself. I find it funny that some people are bashing on Nintendo for the $90 price point yet were perfectly fine shelling out nearly $60 for a PS3 controller that had rumble.

    In today's world and looking at how other games have been priced that come with something similar to the balance board (things like Guitar Hero and Rock Band) this is a great price and I'm sure plenty of people will get alot of use out of the game itself. Mainly I'm getting Wii Fit for the games that will come down the line and I'm hoping to see some FPS games make use of the balance board for ducking, dodging, leaning around corners, and things like that. This will really open up alot of things I believe in the long run.

  • Erebus

    Posted Apr 16, 2008 11:16 am PT

    The price point has forced me to reconsider. I will wait for the reviews....

  • CptObvious1031

    Posted Apr 16, 2008 10:56 am PT

    I'm actually pleasantly looking forward to Wii fit. If anything can get me off my butt and exercising, it'll be a video game! I've already got my pre-order in at my local Game Crazy shop. So be looking for my review/comments after this innovative FunFit game (can it be called that in all actuality) is released.

  • EXxile

    Posted Apr 16, 2008 10:50 am PT

    Meh, I think not. Thats what I have a gym membership for.

  • Timstuff

    Posted Apr 16, 2008 10:24 am PT

    There has got to be a cheaper way to barely move and do mundane things...

  • XanderZane

    Posted Apr 16, 2008 10:19 am PT

    I'm still going to get it. It is a little pricey, but if it helps me to lose some weight and get in shape, it'll be worth it. I just hope the board is sturdy and reliable.

  • monkeyd_93

    Posted Apr 16, 2008 9:53 am PT

    $150 AUS , not too pricey i suppose considering it has a pheripal and game, and comparing it to ps3 and 360 games

  • Legoman1990

    Posted Apr 16, 2008 9:50 am PT

    Oh my word! This sucks I was expecting $70 or $80 but $90?! O_O I still will get it though. NINTENDO SUCKED ME IN ON PURPOSE THEN TOLD ME THE PRICE AFTER I ALREADY DECIDED TO BUY IT! Its a conspiracy >_>

  • jasonb619

    Posted Apr 16, 2008 9:44 am PT

    It is kind of pricey, but lot's of people will still get it even if it isn't on launch day and they want to wait to make sure it is good.

  • ThickFreak

    Posted Apr 16, 2008 7:30 am PT

    Hmmm... 8,800 yen? I wonder what 1 yen would get you.

  • Irve

    Posted Apr 16, 2008 2:44 am PT

    Wow .. remind me again of why it'll cost $140 in europe !!

  • shinchy posted Apr 16, 2008 2:20 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    shinchy

    Posted Apr 16, 2008 2:20 am PT (hide)

    I don't see any problem with that price, it's cheaper than Guitar Hero and that thing is utterly pointless.

  • mariokart64fan

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 11:35 pm PT

    ya the limited edition gtaiv cost nearly 200 dollars and rockband/guitar hero series is known for being over 100 dollars due to the guitars, and any other new ps3 360 game costs almost as much lol, is only one game and one time fee but ill wait my self, as it doesnt interist me , ill ride my bike before i do this anyday but still the price sounds high but if you can buy any ps3 game much less a ps3 or 360 or wii you should be able to afford this one time thing , its actually just as much actually 10 dollars cheaper then a 20 gb hdd for an xbox360

  • steveguttenberg

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 10:59 pm PT

    What's with all the Giantbomb references? What's Giantbomb?

  • vicsrealms

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 10:31 pm PT

    A one time cost of $90 dollars for something like this, doesn't sound too bad. I am going to keep an eye on it and see what the response is. Right now Wii Bowling and Wii Baseball have my attention. So, this could add something new and interesting to a system that is a little short on RPG's and Strategy games. Shame on you Nintendo, those two areas used to be where you excelled.

  • Baruch_S

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 10:00 pm PT

    Check out the parody trailer for Wii FIt. Hilarious AND disturbingly accurate.

  • thee_Decider

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 9:50 pm PT

    I don't see the price as a deal-killer. But I will wait until it's released and see what people say first.

  • R3NeGaDeAnGeL

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 9:35 pm PT

    Did any of you see the trailer...freakin hilarious, its like those infomercials that overdramatize the "bad" products out there and get super excited about their own..like those chicks who smile while cleaning the toilet with some new device or vacuuming

  • derren22

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 9:34 pm PT

    i think thats good cause ur talking about a game thats can change the way ppl play games and live there lives so $90 in my eyes is not a lot of money for something that good

  • Jaguar8481

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 9:29 pm PT

    You think 90 dollars is expensive, it is only 30 dollars more then high priced Xbox360 or PS3 games, stop with the whining. I wasn't even interested in this device until I've read all the recent previews coming out for it, now I'll be there on the first day. Wait until this thing is on Good Morning America, made fun of on Late Night, and finally when Oprah puts it on her stupid list of her favorite items and it will sell better then 99% of all Xbox360 and PS3 Games. (I'd say Wii games too, but it won't sell as much as WiiPlay or Smash Brothers or Mario Kart). Also, I believe Nintendo's track record speaks for itself, stop doubting and start believing.

  • EnozmeH

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 9:08 pm PT

    Wow! Nintendo just sealed their fate... at a cost of $90! This price is absured. People aren't that excited about this game to begin with, and with a price tag that high, i can see the over stocked shelves of Wii Fit already

  • 1357900

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 8:37 pm PT

    90?!?! I just have one thing to say. I was contemplating getting this, only a little bit. Now, I'm not contemplating getting it at all. For the people who can get around{unlike some elderly, or w/medical conditions, no offense to you people}, they will most likely, unless they're somewhat stupid, or fanatical fanboys, rather pay to go to a real gym, or buy exercise equipment w/ their money instead. This is irresponsible on N's part. The thing's a piece of plastic with 4 sensors in it! & I can guarentee it will lose calibration very easily, & brake almost as easily. Yeesh! I think N knows there are many Wii owners who want a Wii-exercise program/game-type thing bad enough to pay this kind of hefty price tag. I love playing my Nintendo Wii, but this is just too ridiculous. The only thing this really gives you over a gym membership/workout is that you don't need to worry about catching anything the prior users to you using it, might have had. But you're not touching the board anyway, so the point is kinda moot. I guess all is not totally lost, though. This may help people who don't normally exercise to actually move around a bit.

  • Wiitendo64

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 8:06 pm PT

    Hey hey atleast the game isn't at a REALLY ridiculos price...Like Rock Band for Wii. >_>

  • rome_tx

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 7:47 pm PT

    90 bucks?? Nintendo has lost their minds. I'll wait for it to drop or get a used one. In the meantime, I'll stick to running early in the morning.

  • YunalescaFFX

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 7:43 pm PT

    $90 is expensive!!! I can buy 2 DDR pads (free shipping) for $20 and any DDR game for $20 - and I HAVE links for these too... so that's 2 pads + DDR game for $40 and when you get better at DDR it becomes crazy fun and even a tougher workout than just running on the treadmill!!

  • Grinch123456

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 7:35 pm PT

    I'd rather go to a real gym for 60 a month.

    This is all cardio anyway. I don't see a few hundred pounds in weights packaged in it. For cardio, get a jump rope and use that or get some shoes and go run around for ~45 minutes. I somehow highly doubt that this will be a good workout.

  • RaiKageRyu

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 7:00 pm PT

    90 is a big difference from 70.

    When they see 70 they think "only ten dollars more then a 360/PS3 game" when they see 90 they think "omg! Almost 100 dollars".

  • xtermin8er93

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 6:55 pm PT

    **** that!!!! Im not payong that much for that.

  • elythemonkey

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 6:51 pm PT

    that's like 90 chese burgers at mcdonnalds or 140 apple pies!

  • steveguttenberg

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 6:49 pm PT

    Pretty expensive. I'll just get a used one, I guess.

  • Baruch_S

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 6:35 pm PT

    @ GeigerdolylWodd
    How long do you think that white board is going to last if you stomp all over it? Stepping up and down isn't going to wear it out quickly, but it'll probably break sooner or later if you use it enough.

    You missed the real point of my post. I'm saying that there are more cost-effective ways to get exercise. You most likely already have some sort of semi-athletic shoe that you wear when you're not dressing nicely for work. You've already paid for it, why not use it for exercise. Or you could buy a football (those things last forever) and use that for exercise. Or you could take those yoga lessons at the Y and continue yoga on your own once you've learned. Heck, you could buy "Yoga for Dummies" for $20 and teach yourself. Wii Fit is neither the most effective nor the most cost-efficient way to get exercise.

  • arod1122

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 6:25 pm PT

    I'd rather buy 2 REAL games. >_>

  • GeigerdolylWodd

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 6:21 pm PT

    "Baruch_S Why would you pay $90 for a little white thing with a disk when you could buy an exercise ball, some free weights, and a pair of running shoes for just a little more and get a lot better workout? Or you could spend those $90 on a YMCA membership and take yoga lessons. Or you could put on your shoes and go powerwalking for free right now. Paying any amount of money to look goofy stepping on and off a little white board seems a bit absurd to me." Thing about the membership though? is that you'd have to pay that more than once where as the wii fit? is a one time payment. Eventually your shoes are going to have holes in them and they're going to have to be replaced and then once you're done putting holes in the replacements? They'll have to be replaced as well? Before you know it you'll have spent about 100 bucks or so barring BOGO by the time you've reached your 5th pair(and most likely? it won't be the last). Has anyone ever actually bought that workout ball?
    Anyone? My point is its a one time payment of 90 dollars not an ongoing installment or incremental. You pay 90 dollars once that's it.

  • NFS102

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 6:18 pm PT

    I'd get it if it was only $50, but $90... I don't know. I mean, that's almost 2 other games worth of money.

  • gamer6464

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 6:15 pm PT

    wow, more than expected. I was going to get it but now im not sure...

  • cancun125

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 6:12 pm PT

    i'd rather just go to the gym.

  • frostyrox

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 6:07 pm PT

    Reading this article makes me remember why i love websites that start with the letter G

    like Giantbomb.com

  • phalluman

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 5:45 pm PT

    im paying the 90 bucks. the thing looks interesting. then again, im one of those people who just buys things

    --moneys money. you'll make more next week anyway

  • footfoe2

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 5:41 pm PT

    lol regreting buying the wii now. Well at least its got the okami port

  • plaestic posted Apr 15, 2008 5:28 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    plaestic

    Posted Apr 15, 2008 5:28 pm PT (hide)

    The Wii just gets worse and worse.

    Gamers: Can we have DVD playback?
    Ninty: Sorry, we're all about kicking ass and making games.
    Gamers: Ok then, can we have some of those games?
    Ninty: Once again, sorry. We're trying to expand the gaming audience. ...With things that aren't games.
    Gamers: So when does your core audience get to have some fun?
    Ninty: Well, we pretty much expended all of our traditional gaming creativity on Galaxy. Look, we gave you Smash Bros and later this month we'll give you Mario Kart. Despite looking like crap on modern televisions they're going to be like brand new experiences since you can shake the controller at them!

    MY WII COLLECTS DUST.

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