But competition is finally coming to the Wii Fit: Electronic Arts’ (ERTS) Wii Fit clone "EA Sports Active" will hit stores May 19. EA’s Wii-only "game" (yeah, we’ll call it a videogame) is expected to sell for $60, versus $90 for the Wii Fit.
Crucial difference beyond the price: The Wii Fit favors Japanese-style exercises — think stretching and balance — versus EA’s expected emphasis on cardio and weight loss. There’s also endorsements from Bob Greene, Oprah’s favorite fitness coach, whatever’s that’s worth.
A few years ago, that kind of sales misery on a Nintendo console would be okay. For a long time, sports games on Nintendo consoles just didn’t sell.
But given that “Wii Sports” sparked Nintendo’s GameCube-to-Wii console resurrection, it seems like sports games can sell on the Wii.
So why isn’t EA Sports having an easier go of it on the Wii? I recently asked EA Sports chief Peter Moore to tell me what EA was doing right and wrong with sports games on Nintendo’s console.
Electronic Arts Inc unveiled its first personal training product on Thursday, tapping into the growing appeal of video games as fitness systems as seen with Nintendo Co Ltd’s hit title “Wii Fit” earlier this year.
The $60 title, EA Sports Active, is exclusive to Nintendo’s Wii console, and will hit store shelves in March 2009. Targeted toward women as a low-cost alternative to joining sports club or gym, the game features an interactive computer trainer, and crafts running, boxing and other heart-pumping exercises to the user’s desires.
“We [at EA] think we can take a more Western approach to fitness, something a little more active that gets you moving,” he said. McCarthy then described how EA is planning a new peripheral for an unnamed fitness game which will fasten Wii Remotes to players’ bodies. Besides position, the add-on will help the Wii Remote “measure intensity, how strong your thrusts are, [and] how high you jump.”
“The new video game “Boogie Superstar” from Electronic Arts’ Montreal studio aims to appeal to tween girls, a growing part of the gaming market which has traditionally been more geared to males.
The dancing and karaoke game, which lets players sing and dance and customize their characters, is designed for Nintendo’s Wii gaming console. It’s similar to popular reality TV shows like “So You Think You Can Dance” and “Canadian Idol.”
“The overall premise of ‘Boogie Superstar‘ is that your character is discovered and selected to be brought to an exclusive place called the Boogie Academy, where you will have to increase your skills, do performances and eventually become the next superstar,” said Charles-William Bibaud, one of the game’s producers.”
But competition is finally coming to the Wii Fit: Electronic Arts’ (ERTS) Wii Fit clone "EA Sports Active" will hit stores May 19. EA’s Wii-only "game" (yeah, we’ll call it a videogame) is expected to sell for $60, versus $90 for the Wii Fit.
A few years ago, that kind of sales misery on a Nintendo console would be okay. For a long time, sports games on Nintendo consoles just didn’t sell.
to players’ bodies. Besides position, the add-on will help the 
” from Electronic Arts’ Montreal studio aims to appeal to tween girls, a growing part of the gaming market which has traditionally been more geared to males. 
