NEWS > GAMES > NINTENDO TO INTRODUCE WIIMOTE FOR THE OBESE

NINTENDO TO INTRODUCE WIIMOTE FOR THE OBESE

July 8 2008

Kyoto, Japan – Nintendo is certainly riding very high these days. Two risky propositions that looked like they might not only sink the oldest console producer deeper into obscurity but also into bankruptcy, have paid off at levels no could have imagined, literally so, as the DS and Wii continue to set sales records almost daily.

Nintendo though has not rested on their considerable laurels. From early on the reports of broken televisions prompted them into proactive resolutions with first the more formidable strap, and then the rubber jacket. Constantly innovating and reacting to consumer demands, the company has announced plans to remodel the Wii remote for the slightly larger crowd.

The new remote will be approximately 25 per cent larger with an equivalent increase in button size, meant to accommodate the larger and meatier hands of the obese.

“We recognized a need, particularly in the United States, where certain members of the gaming public were unable to grasp and use the Wii Remote properly,” said Kenji Ariwa. “We want to ensure that all people who want to play our titles are able to with comfort and ease, so we have created this solution.”

The new version of the remote will not be offered free like the other upgrades the company has offered, but will be an option in stores. The company is also looking at implementing an exchange program so as to facilitate easy integration of the new design. So far, the expanded remote has only been announced for North America.

“We are always looking at options,” continued Ariwa. “As of right now the greatest need is in America. We are assessing the demand in Europe as well and will move forward if we find significant demand there.” As for Japan? “No, that will not be necessary.”

The move comes at a surprising time considering the recent release of Wii Fit, a product designed, ideally, to reduce the size of overweight gamers. The company simply stated “This announcement has nothing to do with the release of Wii Fit.”

As for gamers, the reaction so far seems mixed. Message boards on popular sites such as Gamespot and News 4 Gamers have been lit up with lively debate. For the most part though, the announcement has been met with apathy.

Michael Pachter of Wedbush Morgan called the move “inconsequential” to the company overall. “Nintendo likes to tinker. Sometimes they come up with great stuff, other times they just tinker. This seems to be one of the latter. I don’t see this as having an impact on the company one way or the other.”

The new fatter remotes will begin hitting stores in late August. Nintendo’s shares remained unmoved on the announcement.

Douglas Havermore, Games Correspondent

NEWS > GAMES > NINTENDO TO INTRODUCE WIIMOTE FOR THE OBESE

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