Original URL: http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/04/16/wii_fit_sold_out/
The UK's will to lose pounds and get fit through videogames is so strong that the much hyped Wii Fit has sold out even before going on sale.
The title, which will be released in the UK on 25 April, sees gamers use a wireless Balance Board that contains pressure sensors to detect their movements during over 40 different muscle, yoga, aerobic and balance exercises.
But Register Hardware has trawled through some of the largest online retailers’ websites and found that pre-orders have sucked up most of the available copies.
Play.com states it has “currently sold out on this item”, and Game.co.uk has already posted a warning to chubby gamers that “due to massive demand we cannot take any further pre-orders on Wii Fit”.
The Wii Fit Balance Board
The misery doesn’t end with Play and Game though, because Zavvi.co.uk has already said that “Wii Fit is temporarily out of stock”.
Several websites have already sprung up to help gamers compare Wii Fit prices from various suppliers and, crucially, show which stores are still accepting pre-orders. For example, Buywiifit.co.uk (http://www.buywiifit.co.uk/?kw=wii%20fit) shows that both Gamestation and Dixons are still accepting orders for the title at £70 a pop.
Wii Fit has already proven just as popular in Japan, where it was released in December and has since gone on to sell over 1m copies (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/01/09/nintendo_wii_fit_one_million/).
Wii's Balance Board turned into virtual flying carpet (28 May 2008)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/05/28/german_boffins_adapt_balance_board/
Atari unveils Wii Fit rival (14 May 2008)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/05/14/atari_family_trainer_videogame/
Nintendo Wii 'like a virus', games boss sniffs (22 April 2008)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/04/22/epic_mike_capps_wii_virus/
Console superhero WiiMan flies in (21 April 2008)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/04/21/wiiman_superhero/
Japan: Wii Mario Kart more popular than PSP erotica (18 April 2008)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/04/18/psp_pr0n_vs_mario_kart/
Price cut fails to push Xbox 360 past PS3 in UK (18 April 2008)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/04/18/xbox_360_european_sales_double/
Man proposes to prospective partner with games console (17 April 2008)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/04/17/wii_wedding/
Stuff yourself silly with Nintendo's Wii (16 April 2008)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/04/16/major_league_eating_wii/
Wii can conduct an orchestra too (14 April 2008)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/04/14/wii_ubs_virtual_maestro/
Xbox 360 'Wii Remote' in development? (8 April 2008)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/04/08/microsoft_xbox_wii_remote_mtv/
Exec sounds death knell for games consoles (31 March 2008)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/03/31/duncan_console_death/
Wii Remote raised to defuse explosive situations (27 March 2008)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/03/27/wii_remote_packbot_robot/