Living in Japan isn't all about games. Just mostly 
.
.Real Gamers in Japan - Part 21
This series aims to provide a tiny bit of insight into the mind and habits of Japanese gamers. Although I'm sure most will be pretty dry, I hope to occasionally surprise some of you.
In part twenty one I'm talking with Yasuhiro, a researcher in his 40s.
Me: Do you have kids?
Yasuhiro: Yeah, two daughters.
Me: How old are they?
Yasuhiro: 5 and 9.
Me: Being so busy with work, do you get to spend much time with them?
Yasuhiro: Yeah, I try to spend a lot of time with them on weekends.
Me: Cool, so what things do you do together?
Yasuhiro: My youngest is just learning to ride so lately we've been riding around a lot.
Me: Wow, sounds like she's doing great!
Yasuhiro: And my oldest loves video games.
Me: So you must play games together?
Yasuhiro: That's right, we have a Nintendo Wii.
Me: Yeah? What games do you play?
Yasuhiro: We do a lot of Wii Fit together.
Me: Nice. So it must get competitive right?
Yasuhiro: It sure does, especially with the balance stuff and push ups.
Me: Great stuff. So have you noticed any health benefit from using Wii Fit?
Yasuhiro: Well, I've actually lost 2 kg in the last month.
Me: No kidding! So are there any other games you play?
Yasuhiro: Yeah, I have a few JRPGs, including the Zelda game. How about you? Do you have a Wii?
Me: Oh no, I have an Xbox though.
Yasuhiro: Ah yeah, I know it.
Me: So, the Xbox isn't so popular in Japan. Why do you think that is?
Yasuhiro: Hmm, for me, I think Nintendo has the games that I can play with my kids. Nintendo has always been good for this.
My Thoughts
It was interesting to meet someone for who Wii Fit is really working out. I've heard of so many cases of the balance board going into the garage less than a month after purchase. I bet that playing and competing together really helps Yasuhiro and his daughter stay interested. This is "New" Nintendo at it's best.
Wii Fit has been a huge success on Wii, recently outselling Halo 3 in the U.S., remarkable for a game that retails for $90 and has often been sold out. Over 17 million units have been sold world wide, including 3 million in Japan. How can Nintendo follow up Wii Fit? There is so much potential to have a steady release schedule of new exercise programs and fun mini games. Tapping into the weight loss market has probably been the smartest move Nintendo has made this generation.
1UP - Wii Fit Sales Officially Surpass Halo 3 in U.S.
VG Chartz - Wii Fit Worldwide Sales
Note: Although written in an interview style, the above is actually an extract of a conversation I had, either translated from Japanese, or modified from the original English to read more naturally. Names are changed to protect the identity of those concerned.
In part twenty one I'm talking with Yasuhiro, a researcher in his 40s.
Me: Do you have kids?
Yasuhiro: Yeah, two daughters.
Me: How old are they?
Yasuhiro: 5 and 9.
Me: Being so busy with work, do you get to spend much time with them?
Yasuhiro: Yeah, I try to spend a lot of time with them on weekends.
Me: Cool, so what things do you do together?
Yasuhiro: My youngest is just learning to ride so lately we've been riding around a lot.
Me: Wow, sounds like she's doing great!
Yasuhiro: And my oldest loves video games.
Me: So you must play games together?
Yasuhiro: That's right, we have a Nintendo Wii.
Me: Yeah? What games do you play?
Yasuhiro: We do a lot of Wii Fit together.
Me: Nice. So it must get competitive right?
Yasuhiro: It sure does, especially with the balance stuff and push ups.
Me: Great stuff. So have you noticed any health benefit from using Wii Fit?
Yasuhiro: Well, I've actually lost 2 kg in the last month.
Me: No kidding! So are there any other games you play?
Yasuhiro: Yeah, I have a few JRPGs, including the Zelda game. How about you? Do you have a Wii?
Me: Oh no, I have an Xbox though.
Yasuhiro: Ah yeah, I know it.
Me: So, the Xbox isn't so popular in Japan. Why do you think that is?
Yasuhiro: Hmm, for me, I think Nintendo has the games that I can play with my kids. Nintendo has always been good for this.
My Thoughts
It was interesting to meet someone for who Wii Fit is really working out. I've heard of so many cases of the balance board going into the garage less than a month after purchase. I bet that playing and competing together really helps Yasuhiro and his daughter stay interested. This is "New" Nintendo at it's best.
Wii Fit has been a huge success on Wii, recently outselling Halo 3 in the U.S., remarkable for a game that retails for $90 and has often been sold out. Over 17 million units have been sold world wide, including 3 million in Japan. How can Nintendo follow up Wii Fit? There is so much potential to have a steady release schedule of new exercise programs and fun mini games. Tapping into the weight loss market has probably been the smartest move Nintendo has made this generation.
1UP - Wii Fit Sales Officially Surpass Halo 3 in U.S.
VG Chartz - Wii Fit Worldwide Sales
Note: Although written in an interview style, the above is actually an extract of a conversation I had, either translated from Japanese, or modified from the original English to read more naturally. Names are changed to protect the identity of those concerned.
Total Comments 5
Comments
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I'll be old and I still won't get the wii.
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Posted 04-05-2009 at 07:52 PM by Xerxes
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Hah OK. I'm generally negative on the Wii but some of the stuff that the balance board can do is pretty cool. For example, in Yoga, keeping both sides of your body even is pretty hard (for me at least) but the balance board can detect if you're uneven.
If you could get a high quality series of Yoga classes for the Wii (so much more than the Yoga content that actually comes with Wii Fit) that are designed to work with the balance board then I would buy a Wii, no question. |
Posted 04-06-2009 at 07:24 AM by Chris_D
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Nintendo has tapped into the "average person" market. They don't go home, eat dinner, and decide what game to play. They lead video game-less lives except on special occasions; that's where the Wii shines.
I sold my Wii after one year while I could still get full retail easily on Ebay because I was disappointed yet again by the game selection. There wasn't much quality except for first party titles, but I guess I shouldn't be surprised by that. It is Nintendo's M.O., after all. This is a great example of why the Wii is successful though. |
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Posted 04-06-2009 at 09:06 AM by shunoshi
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I plan to get Mad World sooner or later. Maybe even Zelda. But the system overall is meh.
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Posted 04-06-2009 at 02:30 PM by Xerxes
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Xerxes
I plan to get Mad World sooner or later. Maybe even Zelda. But the system overall is meh.
Quote:
Originally Posted by shunoshi
I sold my Wii after one year while I could still get full retail easily on Ebay because I was disappointed yet again by the game selection.
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Posted 04-06-2009 at 05:55 PM by Chris_D
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