Make Your Christmas Gift the Wii Fit Plus

Wii what?

Almost everyone is familiar with the Wii Fit, a game that combined a balance board and motion sensor controls to deliver personalized exercise programs for the entire family. The Wii Fit Plus builds on this concept. Like Wii Fit, it requires the balance board, so if you don't already own the original Nintendo Wii Fit, you'll need to buy the package bundle that includes the board. Otherwise, you're set to sail.

What's new?

Wii Fit Plus builds on the principles already contained in the original game. All of the first game's activities are present along with the ability to set goals, track your weight and progress, and the like.

But there are a lot of fantastic new features, too. There are new activities like skateboarding, new yoga and strength exercises, and thirteen new balance games. In addition, Wii Fit Plus refines the training system, too. You can eliminate those irritating pauses between exercises and have a continuous workout set to your own time specifications.

With Wii Fit Plus, you can also identify areas you want to improve, and the Nintendo Wii will help you find exercises to target those areas. You can track your lifestyle and health ranges, and even weigh your dog or cat (yes, really).

Cost and availability

If you already own the Wii Fit, Wii Fit Plus is an inexpensive upgrade at less than $20 in most retail outlets (or on Amazon). You don't need the original game, though: you can buy the Wii Fit Plus bundled with the balance board for about $100, which is around the same price people paid for the Wii Fit when it came out.

Availability is good -- Nintendo didn't horrifically underestimate the demand for their product this time -- and the game isn't quite such a hot ticket item as the original system so you shouldn't have much trouble finding one to purchase. Still, Christmas is coming, so if the Wii Fit Plus is on your list, it's a good idea to start shopping fast.