Wii Fit step, step, steps its way atop Japanese charts

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Dec 13th 2007 at 2:30PM }

Brawn has finally triumphed over its nerdy nemesis brain, with Nintendo's balancercise board bullying Professor Layton away from the top spot in the Japanese software sales chart. In its second week, Wii Fit sold 150,000 units at retail, making for a grand total of approximately 411,000. Less easy to calculate: the amount of damage Japanese exergamers have incurred while knocking things over in their teeny tiny apartments.

Another notable entry in last week's chart is Hironobu Sakaguchi's post-Final Fantasy Xbox 360 epic, Lost Odyssey. It debuted in seventh position with 55,000, a number pointed out by Gamasutra to be over 25,000 less than Blue Dragon's opening week last year. Though the JRPG still fared much better than most Xbox 360 games (what with it actually breaking into the top ten), even Assassin's Creed managed a modest 41,000 units during its first week.

Tags: Lost-Odyssey, LostOdyssey, Sakaguchi, Wii-Fit, WiiFit

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

copa @ Dec 13th 2007 2:39PM

Dude, I love Nintendo, but at this point they could pretty much release a video game that involved mowing Miyamoto's lawn every week, and it would top the sales charts.

Now excuse me, I need to check on preorders for Wii fit.

Szu @ Dec 13th 2007 3:32PM

Wait, isn't that Pikmin?

mr nimblewick (SegaDF - Jogurt Ring) @ Dec 13th 2007 2:41PM

Man, that top ten list is just full of ds and wii games I want to play. Get the localization teams moving!

tmacairjordan87 @ Dec 13th 2007 2:43PM

keep on buyin this shit cause it's only gonna fuel more shit like this, and the actual nintendo game fans will keep wondering why a great game is released for it about once every 5 months while casual shit like this piles up further and further.

mr nimblewick (SegaDF - Jogurt Ring) @ Dec 13th 2007 2:46PM

Wii Fit looks to be a quality product. It may be a game geared towards more casual user, but shouldn't they get something to play as well?

tmacairjordan87 @ Dec 13th 2007 2:49PM

ummmm, almost everything on the wii is for a casual player.

Yuccadude @ Dec 13th 2007 2:52PM

So people shouldn't buy something they like because you don't like it. Well, let's hold a press conference and tell them as much. They deserve to know which games you buy so we should all buy them as well. Good games for the Wii only come out every five months because Nintendo is a first-party oriented company, and since they have been that way since the NES, it shouldn't come as much of a surprise that all the "good" games feature Link, Samus, and Mario.

mr nimblewick (SegaDF - Jogurt Ring) @ Dec 13th 2007 2:55PM

Oh, I don't think that's fair. There is an assortment of minigame compiliations, sure, but other than that theres the games that appeal to people like you and then the liscensed crap which every console gets.

When you compare wiifit to other casual-oriented games on the wii, there is a clear difference in quality. It's probably the first casual game since marioparty 8 that has any substance at all (and even MP8 sucks compared to earlier versions).

And remember, "hardcore" gamers can play casual games too. Just play them for hours on end. Ta-da! Hardcore.

tmacairjordan87 @ Dec 13th 2007 3:00PM

it may be the first one of "value" since mario party 8, but the people that are buying it do not care for value which is the problem. They're buying those garbage licensed games and mini game compilations which is fueling more and more since they're cheap to make and developers dont have to put a lot of time into them.

and they're not garbage just because i say so, almost every gaming website has had a feature exploring why the wii and ds is chock full of garbage, egm the most recent one pretty sure.

mr nimblewick (SegaDF - Jogurt Ring) @ Dec 13th 2007 3:04PM

So then isn't it a GOOD thing that people are buying a QUALITY product like wiifit INSTEAD of the garbage minigames and lincensed crap? Doesn't that incourage game makers to put time into their games for the casual audience?

Fernando Rocker @ Dec 13th 2007 3:06PM

jordan

The Wii may be filled with garbage (not Nintendo fault) but, you are wrong with the DS.

The DS is a handheld with a lot, hundreds of quality titles, a lot of quality RPG,s (final fantasy, Mana, Dragon Quest, Tales) adventures, platformers, racing, minigames and aplication (Jam Session, electroplankton), music games...

Its the best handheld to gaming. That simple.

Shagittarius @ Dec 13th 2007 3:21PM

Fernando can you get your Sony Fanboy bother to post on joystiq and say hi? I think it would be cool to hear from him.

James @ Dec 13th 2007 3:21PM

I hope so! Wii Fit is brilliant, everyone's using it here. Wii Sports too though it could do with an update for more golf courses.

Roll on Nintendo. Bring out the Galaxies and Primes every once in a while and keep these kind of things filling the gaps :D

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Dec 13th 2007 4:19PM

Here's a thought.. Maybe and just maybe (I know this is going to seem completely crazy) that this game isn't targeted to you. And maybe just maybe, people actually enjoy the game.

WhatIsThatThing @ Dec 13th 2007 7:59PM

Shaggi - The only "Sony fanboy bother" here is you.

Brennan @ Dec 13th 2007 2:56PM

it seems clear to me that the Wii Fit is exactly what the U.S needs, more than Japan.

reason i say this is because if u guys think about it, Wii Fit can be the ultimate treatment/cure for obesity in the U.S. Nintendo is targeting casual gamers, which is twice the amount of hardcore gamers in the U.S. Most of those casual gamers can be obese. Think about it.

am i right or am i right?

Vince UK @ Dec 13th 2007 3:02PM

You mean it could be used for....getting fit?

Rich @ Dec 13th 2007 3:05PM

"am i right or am i right?"

Right!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApaThtU09_8

FidliousWong @ Dec 13th 2007 3:54PM

I think you're giving far too much credit to the idea and not so much the execution. For example? Well, a bunch of these minigames are things like "do X push ups." Frankly, this has the potential to have an adverse effect. Mainly because while this will focus on balance and yoga style workouts, it leaves out the all important strength training and cardio side of things. So what you are essentially buying is 1/3 of a workout.

Now I ask you, given the current intelligence level of your average overweight american, how many will go beyond WiiFit to an actual workout regiment? Frankly, I think this will have the same long term effect as DDR has had. Nah, I take that back. DDR was at least a huge cardio workout.

Poisoned Al @ Dec 13th 2007 2:56PM

I don't think I'll buy it.

*Chews is berger filled with bacon and cheese*

FOXHOUND @ Dec 13th 2007 3:00PM

...my manwich! >:O

Fernando Rocker @ Dec 13th 2007 3:02PM

Yeah, me neither.

*Chews his carne asada with pico de gallo tacos.

mr nimblewick (SegaDF - Jogurt Ring) @ Dec 13th 2007 3:05PM

I'm right with you!

*eats some lowfat yogurt*

hvnlysoldr @ Dec 13th 2007 4:08PM

*Eats whole orange, entire peel first plus seeds*

What?

gonk @ Dec 13th 2007 8:08PM

mmm i had wendy's for lunch :)

i love dipping chicken nuggets and french fries in their milkshakes :)

cold school @ Dec 13th 2007 3:14PM

"QUALITY product like wiifit"

thats rich....

James @ Dec 13th 2007 3:24PM

Not really...

It's a very high quality product. The game has no bugs and is built like a rock, the board itself is as tough as nails. It's enjoyable and you can see the production values from a developer POV.

WTF are you on about?

SharpBlade @ Dec 13th 2007 3:33PM

And it's white and they are in bare feet. That thing is going to be a nice buttery yellow from all the foot sweating and toe jam..

Yay, lunch time!

cold school @ Dec 13th 2007 4:19PM

@james
the wii-fit is as much of a game as an exercise mat, or my floor for that matter. get over yourself.

Foetoid @ Dec 13th 2007 8:31PM

He never said it was a game. He said it was a 'quality product' and it is. I'll be getting it for sure. I have a treadmill and various gym equipment at home already but i'm still keen to try this out. Wii still has quality games too. RE4 is amazing on Wii with the better graphics and controls, as is Zelda (well worth the upgrade form GC couterparts). Super Paper Mario is a quality title, and Metroid Prime 3 proves the Wii has better-than-last-gen graphics, better controls for FPS compared to dual analog, and proves genuis artistic direction trumps HD anyday. Can't a console have both quality hardcore games and other stuff too like WiiFit. Software on a console doesn't have to be a game to be successful. Plenty of software on DS that isn't classed as a game. Get over yourself.

cold school @ Dec 14th 2007 10:31AM

@foetoid
1. "The GAME has..." good reading comprehension there.

2. who was talking about metroid or zelda or the DS? not me.

and 3. you claim its a qaulity product BUT you dont have one... odd.

OTAM @ Dec 13th 2007 3:31PM

I own all 3 system so don't tell me i'm "biased" or a fanboy.

Seeing things like Wii Fit makes me cringe. It makes me die inside.

Nintendo bringing in and focusing on all these casual gamers will just lower the quality bar even further. Over a year in and the only worthwhile games are Nintendo's. When they want to target family fun and casual games you don't really need to second guess why companies aren't putting their AAA titles with huge online portions on the Wii. The high profile multi-platform games don't even make it to the Wii. Orange Box,Assassin's Creed,Call of Duty 4,Virtua Fighter,Eternal Sonata,all fantastic games that can't be bothered to be put on the Wii because it seems like Nintendo would rather bring in people to play Jenga for 2 hours a week.

And friend codes are just the cherry on top.

tmacairjordan87 @ Dec 13th 2007 3:58PM

i'm glad someone else sees nintendo for what they've become now, sellouts

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Dec 13th 2007 4:30PM

Sigh, yes because appealing to a different consumer is so selling out. Yep I totally agree with you guys, instead, the Wii should just have the same games the 360 and the ps3 have. Because I don't know about you, but I totally enjoy spending massive amounts of money on playing the same generic shooters, and playing as characters who are so "edgy" and "EXTREME!!!". Wait you mean there's good games on the Wii? Well I'm just going to ignore them totally because my good friends OTAM and TMAC tell me that Wiifit is evil and will cause the destruction of Hardcore gaming. I mean they may not have actually even played the game, but I totally trust what they say because it's obvious that there are the only ones on this site with some intelligence.

tmacairjordan87 @ Dec 13th 2007 4:54PM

exactly you hit it right on the head, allowing loads and loads of crappy games on your system just because you know it'll sell well to people who know nothing about games except what they're told on commercials is the gaming equivalent of selling out. Like square-enix (on the square side) making sequels to final fantasies and ports instead of making new stuff. Like EA being, well...EA.

I have no intention of trying wii fit out because for one, when i excercise i do it outside i'm not that goddamn lazy and two i'm not going to contribute to the problem by giving my money to it.

ColossalHat @ Dec 13th 2007 5:24PM

"Like square-enix (on the square side) making sequels to final fantasies and ports instead of making new stuff."

There's one problem with that statement, the only Final Fantasy that is truly a sequel is FFX-2. The rest of the games share only a handful of features from the others: The name Final Fantasy, the ATB system of combat (which is finally getting an overhaul), the use of the word airship, and items. Seeing as how none of the other Final Fantasies have any other relationship the any other member of the series, calling them sequels is about as accurate as calling Othello a sequel to Hamlet.

mr nimblewick (SegaDF - Jogurt Ring) @ Dec 13th 2007 5:24PM

Wait, so by developing wiifit, nintendo has lowered the bar? While they were simultaneously creating one of the best games of all time in SMG? Don't you see the contradiction there?

It's more like they are raising the bar for casual titles. And that is a good thing.

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Dec 13th 2007 5:31PM

@tmac

For some reason, Joystiq fucked up my comments so I'll just briefly summarize what I wrote.

1. You're an idiot.
2. You're an elitist fucktard who think he's better than other people simply because he spent more money on gaming.
3. Your elitist attitude is what's destroying gaming, not Wii-fit(which I've heard from people who actually tried it is good. Shocking I know).

tmacairjordan87 @ Dec 13th 2007 5:49PM

For final fantasy, i didn't mean sequels as much as ports and the usually crappy FF7 spin-offs (although the psp game looks good)

Mr Nimblewick: Galaxy is great yes, but it's only one game.

Vegeta: My attitude is not destroying gaming since my attitude is not spending money on the crap that encourages developers to make more crap to capitalize on the market. This isn't so much of a wii fit problem as it is an overall nintendo problem

mr nimblewick (SegaDF - Jogurt Ring) @ Dec 13th 2007 6:01PM

Tmac,

My point wasn't to make you go "oooo aaaaaw, mario galaxy," it was to point out that quality is not disappearing from nintendo. They want to make games that everyone can enjoy, but they don't want to make quick cash-in games.

OTAM @ Dec 13th 2007 6:27PM

I'm not saying the quality has disappeared from Nintendo games,it's leaving the SYSTEM.I stated up above that the only ones making any actual games on the system IS Nintendo. The problem is then that they throw money at shit like "Wii Fit" lowering the bar for quality because it attracts even MORE casual gamers and families. Allowing a metric ton of casual gamers come to your system and then throw out Metroid Prime 3 isnt going to make everything all better. The more casual gamers come to your system,the more companies make "pick up and play" friendly games for that audience because they're the majority and the bar falls even lower. Then you wonder why people say "My Wii sits there and collects dust". People who are reading this site aren't the ones who get wet for Super Monkey Ball.

At this point the only way I plan on seeing anything like Gears of War,Oblivion,or Half-Life on the Wii is if Nintendo puts it out and at that point I will have gotten over waiting and have moved on. Nintendo is making a great game and then throwing 10 shovels of dirt on itself at the same time by taking the system in their "family" direction so at the end of the day it's going to be the Gamecube over again where the only titles you own on the system are put out by Nintendo themselves.

mr nimblewick (SegaDF - Jogurt Ring) @ Dec 13th 2007 7:02PM

OTAM,

It's not going to be like the gamecube. Heck, it's already past the GC in sales in Japan. I think this is because the GC really lacked any kind of direction. Nintendo released some great games on it, but neither hardcore nor casual gamers really took to it. The Wii has a vision, that of expanding the market.

So perhaps it will be filled with games for casual gamers, or maybe it will sell so much developers can't help but make hardcore games for it. Either way, it's not going to be the gamecube again.

Mr.ESC @ Dec 13th 2007 3:41PM

I hope Japan enjoys stepping up and down on the white thing and if they got tired remember: you can always try using the other leg for another exiting 8 hours of gameplay of stepping up and down or simulating having a hula hoop.

Seriously I don’t believe the casual argument anymore, these people are buying this because it’s made by Nintendo because if it was made by MS it would be named the POS of the year and it would probably overheat too but at least that way you could also simulate steeping on fire. Anyway the point is that I can’t believe people are paying for a scale that simulates s a virtual hula hoop just like that, the power of marketing huh.

Mr Khan @ Dec 13th 2007 3:54PM

This game is going to set the market on fire when it gets here to the US, if only because all the public schools looking for "excergaming" are going to snap this up in a second

Personally, i'm not so keen on the game (although it looks alright, from what we saw in E3 i feared it would be more of an interactive excercise video, instead of an actual game), but the Balance Board looks awesome

FidliousWong @ Dec 13th 2007 3:57PM

I'm actually reminded of EyeToy Kenetic. Sad, Sony attempted this whole exergaming thing a long time ago, no one took notice. Microsoft followed up with their own fitness program, once again, no one noticed. Nintendo does it, "INNOVATION!"

*sigh* Oh well... *goes back to his Tai Chi workout video*

hvnlysoldr @ Dec 13th 2007 4:11PM

Exactly. It's not innovation unless it changes the market. Oh wait!

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Dec 13th 2007 4:34PM

It helps that your game is on the Wii

Mr Khan @ Dec 13th 2007 4:59PM

It's all about timing, as i said in my post below, public schools are REALLY looking at gobbling up these excergaming devices, now that everyone is so paranoid about child obesity (and it only seems to get worse as time goes by), it will work out better for them

ColossalHat @ Dec 13th 2007 5:31PM

KHAAAAAANNN!!!

Not to burst your bubble, but there aren't really that many schools on board with the whole excergaming fad. It's mostly just West Virginian schools that think it's a good idea.

Don't get me wrong though, I'd approve of DDR and the like in schools any day of the week, but it's just not as common as you seem to believe.