If you’re looking to get a jump on your 2014 New Year’s resolution and own a Wii U, starting Nov. 1 you’ll be able to Get Wii Fit U for free. Nintendo announced the promotion, which will last for a limited time only, just as people are getting back into the whole training/school vibe with the new schoolyear.
Nintendo is offering Wii U owners a chance to get Wii Fit U for free — the full version, no less — starting the day after Halloween. How appropriate: burn off those candy calories with no extra charge. On Nov. 1, Wii U owners can download a complete version of Wii Fit U and try all the game’s activities for a full month. All users need is a Wii Balance Board and a Wii U system with a broadband Internet connection.
What’s interesting about this is that Wii U owners will be able to keep their trial copies of Wii Fit U at no additional cost as long as they purchase and sync a Fit Meter to the game.
The Fit Meter will be available Nov. 1 in black/silver at a suggested retail price of $19.99. The accessory is much more than a pedometer; it’s an activity meter that tracks a wide range of everyday activity. It records not only the number of steps a user has taken, but it also takes into account the intensity of those steps – for example, was the user running or walking? The Fit Meter also measures altitude, so wearers get credit for climbing stairs or walking uphill.
All of these data points combined provide users with an accurate overview of their day’s activity, including a detailed calculation of the number of calories they burned. This data can then be transferred wirelessly to Wii Fit U via the Wii U GamePad with just a touch of a button. The Fit Meter transforms users’ everyday lives into workouts, encouraging them to get active and stay active.
The full Wii Fit U software will be downloadable from the Nintendo eShop between Nov. 1, 2013, and Jan. 31, 2014, and will work for a month from the day it is first played. During the trial period when people can get Wii Fit U for free, users can stay active with 77 different activities, including 19 new training activities, many of which take advantage of the Wii U GamePad controller. Users who want to continue using Wii Fit U beyond the trial period can purchase a Fit Meter accessory and sync it to their Wii Fit U software at any time. This will allow them to continue playing Wii Fit U forever.
Wii Fit U features all of the strength training, yoga and fun fitness games that have made the Wii Fit series so popular. Plus, there are new games that combine the Wii Balance Board and Wii U GamePad, including new dance routines such as hip-hop and salsa that work out various parts of the body through simple dance moves. The game also gives players more ways to create their own custom workout routines.
Users can also create or join a Miiverse Gym Community to share tips and support with other Wii Fit U users who have similar goals. Or people can create closed communities made up exclusively of their friends. The communities will help people stay motivated by giving them a venue to discuss their fitness progress with others.