Wii Balance Board - Where to pre-order?

[Wibble]

Hey,

The Wii "Balance Board" is due out in Europe on the 25th (2008-04-25).

Is there a shop where this sort of thing may be pre-ordered?
Is Media Markt (Basel) any good for a pre-order?

thanks,
(Mr)Wibble

[Crumbs]

www.wog.ch

that's where I'm getting mine

[Wibble]

A friend at work (who has an enviable collection of gaming consoles) said she pre-orders stuff from http://www.alcom.ch

So, I've pre-ordered Wii Fit / Wii Balace Board from here.

I'm not quite sure how it works though, they never asked for a credit card number on my order. *shrug*

cheers,
(Mr)Wibble

[Crumbs]

Hi Wibble,

I've had a look at Alcom's T&C. Basically it says you pay with pay-in slip when you receive the goods - within 10 days. They have a limit of Fr. 300.00 per household, i.e. if you order goods for more than that amount, you will be asked to pre-pay (most likely via e-banking).
They also reserve the right to make exceptions for first-time customers ordering for less than Fr. 300.-, meaning they can also ask you for a pre-payment (= Vorauszahlung) if they want to. Did you see any text that looked like that may be the case when you pre-ordered?
Either way, I didn't see that they accept credit cards...

They deliver A-Post (next working day delivery), free of charge for orders over Fr. 25.00.

This seems pretty much the same as www.wog.ch - except I'm paying Fr. 0.10 more for mine!

I can highly recommend World of Games. They have just delivered the Mario Kart for Wii, officially released 10th April - in my mail box: 10th April - that's what I call service.

[Crumbs]

So, tell me, Wibble - what's your Wii Fit age ?

[Wibble]

	Quote:	Crumbs
	So, tell me, Wibble - what's your Wii Fit age ?

It's depressing that's what it is.

And the way it made my Wii Avatar, well, "rounded" was just a kick in the guts. Maybe it's pure denial, but no-way am I that big. Maybe (Mrs)Wibble incorrectly-measured my height... doubt it.[1]

I'll have to lay-off the curry seconds.

I put in a fitness plan of losing 10kg in 3 months, then its got the hide to tell me that losing 1.4kg per 2 weeks is ideal (not 1.6 which fits my schedule).

#2 child was teasing us ((Mrs)Wibble && I) because it never even gave us the option of the longer-distance run in the running game.

I can't do the head-the-football game, I'm a legend at ski jump, not bad at running. I'm fairly crap at the step-aerobics, but at least I haven't tripped over the step yet, like when I went to real aerobics.

Haven't tested the yoga yet.

All up - I'm really impressed. The balance board seems quite a quality piece of kit. I like the way the (WiiFit) software tracks your BMI (+weight), if it's anything like the Wii Sports fitness scoring, it will be great - presenting a calendar and line-graph of scores.

Anyway, so far so good.

cheers,
(Mr)Wibble

[1] WiiFit is a "fitness game". It comes with a thing called a "Balance Board" which looks a bit like a bathroom scale, and works in the same way. However it has 4 (more?) pressure sensors, so it can also measure the way you're leaning.

At the beginning of the game, you enroll. It asks your height, age, and can tell your weight (oh so accurately). You also select your avatar, your "Mii". The software calculates your BMI (body mass index), and basically shows you in no-uncertain terms if you're a fat bast*ard or not. Your avatar is plumped-out to match your physical BMI. It's quite dignity stripping.

[Crumbs]

	Quote:	Wibble
	At the beginning of the game, you enroll. It asks your height, age, and can tell your weight (oh so accurately). You also select your avatar, your "Mii". The software calculates your BMI (body mass index), and basically shows you in no-uncertain terms if you're a fat bast*ard or not. Your avatar is plumped-out to match your physical BMI. It's quite dignity stripping.

Well, I'm going on 56 ! I'm not quite that far yet ). And I liked my Mii better before it changed shape according to the details entered. I haven't had much of a chance to test it so far, but think the Balance Board's got great potential. I've set a -10kg in 6 months target... we'll see how it goes

So, it looks like both alcom.ch and wog.ch delivered the goods:

[Lob]

I will join this thread soon have just parted with 149,- in Lugano for it

[Pepper]

To all the people who already own a Wii balance board I have two questions.

1) Can you hide your weight? I'm very sensitive and I think the size of my Mii will indicate enough!

2) Is there much that involves having to jump up and down? I'm thinking of the people downstairs from me, I don't think they would enjoy me running up and down the living room too much.

Thanks

[BeastOfBodmin]

Imagine trying to play marble madness or Super Monkey Ball using the Wii BB as the controller!

Zillions of trailers here.

This one cycles through 20 Wii Fit Demos.

I'd like to see a full snowboarding game. Maybe with a fake plastic snowboard that fits over the BB.

I'm excited now. I think I'll buy one.

[Crumbs]

	Quote:	Pepper
	To all the people who already own a Wii balance board I have two questions. 1) Can you hide your weight? I'm very sensitive and I think the size of my Mii will indicate enough! 2) Is there much that involves having to jump up and down? I'm thinking of the people downstairs from me, I don't think they would enjoy me running up and down the living room too much. Thanks

1) There's a body test you do on a regular basis. You have to click on a "button" to reveal your weight in kg, so it's not always visible. But it does show your BMI and if you are under or overweight or just right. You might need to know your weight, though, if you want to set yourself a target. But you can omit this altogether if you don't want to know (I think that's beside the point, though).
2) There are exercises that don't involve jumping: e.g. hula hoop, yoga, balance and muscle training. The fat-burners, though, are step aerobics and jogging (on the spot, with a virtual path through a park...). Why don't you talk to your neighbours downstairs to see if they can hear you stomping in your living room?

[Wibble]

	Quote:	Pepper
	1) Can you hide your weight? I'm very sensitive and I think the size of my Mii will indicate enough!

You can password-protect your profile, although I have not tested it personally, I don't expect anyone could look at your details. The kids put passwords on their accounts, so I'll test it later on.

It does not show your weight unless you request to see it. It does show your BMI though. When you do view your weight, it gives an exceedingly accurate measure.

	Quote:	Pepper
	2) Is there much that involves having to jump up and down? I'm thinking of the people downstairs from me, I don't think they would enjoy me running up and down the living room too much.

There's a couple of jogging on the spot games (you don't actually need the BBoard for this), and probably the step-aerobics would be a bit "bouncy". Stuff like the Yoga, and Balance games probably wouldn't make any vibration at all. What would be cool is some sort of vibration-absorbing rubber mat to run on.

I haven't played any of the muscle exercise games yet. The Ski jump is my favourite

cheers,
(Mr)Wibble

[Wibble]

	Quote:	BeastOfBodmin
	I'd like to see a full snowboarding game. Maybe with a fake plastic snowboard that fits over the BB.

There's that (yet to be released) We Ski / Wii Ski / Family Ski -

http://www.gametrailers.com/game/6057.html

(video) http://www.gametrailers.com/player/32910.html

Which (according to the Trailer video) uses both the Wiimote,
nunchuck AND the balance board. Of course it's skiing, not snowboarding, but that's gotta be in the pipe somewhere.

cheers,
(Mr)Wibble

[Crumbs]

Nah, I think I'll skip that one. I enjoy (real) skiing too much. There's no way the virtual skiing can give you the same feeling.

[Wibble]

	Quote:	BeastOfBodmin
	Imagine trying to play marble madness or Super Monkey Ball using the Wii BB as the controller!

Yeah, it would be great for Mercury Meltdown Revolution too, it's that same kind of roll-the-ball by leaning thing.

[BHBT]

Hi Crumbs/Wibble/lob,

One month later - are you still using the Balance Board?

I am seriously thinking about buying one but am wondering if it's not just a novelty for a month or so and then forgotten again.

Thanks,
Barbra.

[Crumbs]

	Quote:	BHBT
	Hi Crumbs/Wibble/lob, One month later - are you still using the Balance Board? I am seriously thinking about buying one but am wondering if it's not just a novelty for a month or so and then forgotten again. Thanks, Barbra.

Absolutely.

Though I must admit I have taken 1 or 2 days off in between. I've set myself a quick routine: just 30 mins aerobics: starting with jogging, then basic step, then advanced hula hoop, followed by 2x advanced step and finishing with boxing. Boxing has surprisingly become my favourite, though I'm still an absolute beginner and the mii-trainer never looks happy with me!

Actual benefit: I feel fitter when I take part in my regular Friday exercise class (with real people) and I've a lost a little weight....

I'm still amazed by the technology and have pre-ordered the family ski game - even though I said earlier I would give it a miss.

Go on - give yourself a push! If you don't like it, you can always sell it on...

[Lob]

I'm ashamed to state that I've only used it once since I got it.

I did have a bad back for three weeks though

[Eire]

	Quote:	Lob
	I'm ashamed to state that I've only used it once since I got it. I did have a bad back for three weeks though

Maybe you should up your Vicodin pill popping dosage!

How does it work with the cane?














I apologise in advance, I couldn't resist.

[Crumbs]

	Quote:	Lob
	I'm ashamed to state that I've only used it once since I got it. I did have a bad back for three weeks though

Don't tell me: you had one look at your Wii-Fit age (19?) and thought, well that's OK, I don't need this then....