Personal Trainer: Walking strutting onto DS May 26

  • By Mark Walton, GameSpot UK
  • Posted May 20, 2009 8:15 am PT

Nintendo announces new pedometer-peripheral-based game that promises to "turn an ordinary activity like walking into a fun daily adventure"; US price $49.99, no UK price yet.

As Nintendo's ongoing success in the games industry proves, having the most powerful pixel processing hardware isn't everything when it comes to appealing to the mass market. Games such as the hugely successful Brain Training and the 18.22 million-selling Wii Fit have enabled Nintendo to position itself very much as a lifestyle brand, with software that aims to improve as well as entertain.

Time to get your stroll on!

Nintendo has added yet another feather to its lifestyle cap with Personal Trainer: Walking for the DS, promising to "turn an ordinary activity like walking into a fun daily adventure." Part of the Personal Trainer series, which includes cooking and mathematical titles, the title combines pedestrian motion with interactive activities and statistics on the handheld once the user has stopped moving. Already available in Japan--where it shares information with the Wii Fit Check Channel--the game will ship on May 26 in North America for the price of $49.99. No European release dates or prices have been announced.

Personal Trainer: Walking comes bundled with two "activity meter" pedometers, which count steps and wirelessly sync to the DS, where the data is analyzed and presented. The activity meters can store up to seven days' worth of data before needing to be synced to the DS, which itself can hold up to five years of data. Information for up to four people can be stored on one copy of the game. Nintendo also indicated that the activity meter could be attached to a pet's collar to track the activity of animal companions.

Statistics come in the form of charts that Nintendo claims can reveal "life rhythm" patterns, such as when the most active and sedentary moments of the day are, in order to plan for more or less activity on future days. Days can also be rated, based on the amount of activity, and daily walking goals can also be set to encourage more activity.

Activities in the game include Illuminate, which allows users to brighten up a virtual town, and Walk the World, which converts footsteps in images of interesting locations around the globe. Avid walkers can also share their data over the Internet, combining it with other people's step totals to virtually space-walk to other planets. The game also allows users to import Mii characters from the Wii--a first for Nintendo--as well as design the avatars on the DS when creating profiles.

[UPDATE] The official Web site for the game is now live.

28 Comments

  • Xenon-

    Posted May 22, 2009 7:54 am PT

    I sure would like to see something like a new Castlevania announced, instead of this useless crap.

  • Saxostev

    Posted May 21, 2009 8:13 am PT

    You know Ubisoft did the exact same thing. They included a pedometer in their game "My Weight Loss Coach" for the DS. You can find it for like $15 on Amazon. So if you really want a fitness game with a pedometer. Go with Ubisoft Seriously $50 for a DS game? I rarely buy DS games when their $35.

  • kavadias1981

    Posted May 21, 2009 7:48 am PT

    Is it just me or is Nintendo more interested in flogging accessories these days than actual games? Please correct me if this isn't the case.

  • Ameotoko

    Posted May 21, 2009 7:05 am PT

    This is getting pretty ridiculous. I'm pretty sure you can get a pedometer for under 50 bucks and, quite frankly, I wouldn't stare at a DS screen (or do any kind of DS 'follow-up') while I walk. People put music in their ears when they walk and jog, they don't read books and play games.

    All these apps are starting to step over the line from 'has some noteworthy use' to 'just inane'.

  • wahyudil

    Posted May 21, 2009 5:59 am PT

    hooooh .... I want to buy them someday ... when I go out more and less playing game in my shut empty room alone ...

  • Freezezzy

    Posted May 20, 2009 11:00 pm PT

    Hey Nintendo, we already have a system for stuff like this. It's called an "iPhone". I mean, come on. It's getting to the point where there are more "apps" then actual games.

  • Redonkulous_D

    Posted May 20, 2009 8:53 pm PT

    THAT'S WHAT THAT THING WAS!!! When the DSi was announced, the preview showed that thing and Mii's walking. I wasn't sure what was going on, but now it's all clear. This was probably another one of Miyamoto's ideas.

  • majere613

    Posted May 20, 2009 5:35 pm PT

    It strikes me that an interesting way to use a pedometer would be to do an RPG where in order to travel around the gameworld you had to take steps in the real world. I seem to recall one of the Shadow Hearts games tracking your (in game) steps and giving prizes based on that. Might get a few hardcore RPG players out into the sunlight for a change..

  • chappy_man

    Posted May 20, 2009 5:16 pm PT

    hahaha i am sure this will sell

  • sigerzx

    Posted May 20, 2009 3:50 pm PT

    umm no thanks...im smart enough to know that walking it free! next they'll be selling oxygen marks :p

  • sigerzx

    Posted May 20, 2009 3:47 pm PT

    I like nintendo, but to be honest i think they're really pushing it now. I think they need to regroup and think about quality products before they damage their rep any further or otherwise they will lose their fan base...well at least the orginal ones like me

  • DBS311

    Posted May 20, 2009 2:13 pm PT

    I'm starting a betting pool at work to see what lame idea Nintendo pukes out next. So far we've got a breathing game, blinking game, heart rate game, and my favorite, a flatulence game. The peripheral being a $50 pair of underwear that can somehow tell you how much methane you release daily. I really think we're on to something.

  • rome_tx

    Posted May 20, 2009 1:17 pm PT

    This is $50??? Good grief.

  • enoslives7

    Posted May 20, 2009 12:39 pm PT

    old people and fat people rejoice!!!

  • ali_manslayer

    Posted May 20, 2009 12:24 pm PT

    this is why i will never buy a wii

  • angelGP32

    Posted May 20, 2009 12:15 pm PT

    just to add, so my post wasn't too huge. Nintendo is not about "video games" anymore because when it comes to actual "video games" Nintendo flat out just can't compete. It's only competing because of stuff like this, Wii-fit, and the Wii fad in general. Not because of blockbuster "video games"

  • angelGP32

    Posted May 20, 2009 12:12 pm PT

    look at their software sales though. Especially with Wii. The stuff they sell the most is the stuff that has other crap along with the game. If it's a game only then it doesn't do near as good, looking at you Wii-music. But again, who's going to pay $30+ for a $2 pedometer and a lousy DS game? MILLIONS.. another stroke of genius for Nintendo. What happened to Nintendo, they used to be cool.

  • FarmFreshDX

    Posted May 20, 2009 11:59 am PT

    I used to like Nintendo a lot. Now they can bite me. Go make games, not exercise helpers. They're cashing in on this obesity fear in America.

  • Marzillius

    Posted May 20, 2009 11:54 am PT

    How come that Pokémon HeartGold & SoulSilver haven't got any attention here on Gamespot? :S

  • SearchBomber

    Posted May 20, 2009 11:29 am PT

    I remember when it wasn't boring to read gamers' complaints over a non-game that they won't remember after the announcement leaves the front page...oh wait, no I don't. XP

  • SicklySunStorm

    Posted May 20, 2009 11:28 am PT

    garbage

  • JackHoleFace00

    Posted May 20, 2009 11:17 am PT

    This is getting ridiculous. If you want to work out, go work out. If you want to baby sit, baby sit. When the DS first launched it had games like Advance Wars, Mario & Luigi, Castlevania, and Metroid. I was actually just in a Best Buy yesterday, and NOW it made me SICK to my stomach--about a quarter of ALL the shelf space was dedicated to some retarded "Imagine" line of games, such as "Wedding Designer" and "Ballet Star," and there was tons of other gimmicky shovelware, like one game that supposedly makes you quit smoking. REALLY?! I just want to play some good freaking games! And then I hear about how poorly GTA China Town Wars is selling. Sigh... I just really hope gaming doesn't continue going in this direction. It's not looking good.

    Thankfully, I picked up the one last copy of Age of Empires: Mythologies buried behind the other crap. I hope it's not the beginning of the end.

  • ralphikari

    Posted May 20, 2009 11:16 am PT

    People really think they can get in shape by playing video games now lol.

  • maverick_76

    Posted May 20, 2009 11:12 am PT

    yeah, my phone already does this.

  • nocoolnamejim Site moderator

    Posted May 20, 2009 10:39 am PT

    I remember when the phrase "video games" meant something.

  • Noctobum

    Posted May 20, 2009 9:51 am PT

    I agree with you, VenomRitual.
    As much as I like nintendo, them using all these peripherals and healthy movement gimmicks are starting to die thin. Although they are thinking outside the box, I appreciate the time when gaming consoles and devices were made for actual gaming. Some phones can also do this, as well as other devices that are provided for you when you work out at the gym.

  • xaos

    Posted May 20, 2009 9:51 am PT

    This is what we're doing now? Really?

  • VenomRitual

    Posted May 20, 2009 8:45 am PT

    remember when games systems used to have ACTUAL games? yeah i do. you can get a step counter for $1 just about anywhere. hell they used them in a McDonalds happy meals a few years back.

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