Videogame peripherals of the past sometimes put focus on the feet instead of the hands. From the Power Pad from the days of the Nintendo Entertainment System to the dance mat used in the Dance Dance Revolution series, gamers the world over have used their walking sticks for more physical gameplay experiences. But nothing that preceded it can compare to Wii Fit and the Wii Balance Board (tentative name), turning the living room into a Fit centre for the whole family.

The Wii Balance Board looks like your run-of-the-mill scales found in the bathrooms of many homes. It’s a simple, white rectangle that gauges the force being applied to it. It knows when you shift your weight on it because of this pressure sensitivity and does so with pinpoint accuracy.

Wii Fit will include more than 40 types of training activities designed to appeal to all members of a household. Training falls into four fitness categories:

• Aerobic Exercise: 10-minute exercises that are designed to get the heart pumping.

• Muscle Conditioning: Controlled motions using arms, legs and other body parts.

• Yoga Poses: Classic poses that focus on balance and stretching.

• Balance Games: Fun activities, such as ski jumping and heading footballs, that challenge the player’s overall body balance.

These exercises provide a “core” workout, a popular exercise method that emphasizes slower, controlled motions. Daily tests track two key measures that a household can track via progress charts:

• Body Mass Index (BMI): A weight evaluation based on a ratio of weight to height.

• Wii Fit Age: The Wii Fit Age is measured by factoring the user’s BMI reading, testing the user’s centre of gravity and conducting quick balance tests.