The Wii Might Not Be Much Exercise, But Suing Nintendo For Self-Promotion Is
from the and-1-and-2-and-file-and-sue dept
The Nintendo Wii has been the subject of class-action lawsuits before, but this could be a new low: some guy now claims he's preparing another one for the company to deal with, because he alleges Nintendo misrepresents the Wii as a fitness tool when it actually contributes to obesity. He equates Nintendo to tobacco companies misrepresenting the safety of their products, but as Engadget points out, he's not just some do-gooder concerned about the health of America, he's also somebody who makes his living from it, and apparently has a fitness radio show that's about to launch. Somehow it's hard to imagine this suit will get anywhere; but we also imagine it was never really meant to anyway.
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Filed Under: class action lawsuit, fitness, wii
Companies: nintendo
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... and a bunch of others ...
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But if you do exercises repetitively, then you will lose weight. Like any fitness program - it's up to the exerciser!
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The first thing that comes to mind is that some of these claims are contradictory. If the device doesn't encourage people to exercise properly, then how are they exercising enough to injure themselves? The claim about people using Wii Fit instead of the gym is also rather silly - anyone used to exercising will recognise that most of the activities in the game (running and some of the "muscle" exercising excluded) don't give a major workout, and the focus of the game is in fact on yoga and balance rather than a "traditional" workout. Anyone not used to exercising enough to recognise this isn't going to get fat because of Wii Fit, but because they don't exercise anyway.
The claim about not encouraging people to warm up is also wrong. First of all, it doesn't stress anything at all - it give a list of activities but doesn't combine them into a "workout". Since there's no recommended timing or order to the activities, I don't see how they can be held responsible for people choosing not to warm up. Not only that, but the follow is the text on the screen that appears when you go to the training mode (where the exercises are):
"Clear the space around you and make sure you warm up before exercising"
That appears *every* time you enter this mode. It's easily ignored, of course, but I don't see what else Nintendo could do.
On a side note, I find Wii Fit to be a great motivator for exercise, but I found the game itself a little lacking and boring. I bought a new game, My Fitness Coach, which does give you a complete 15 - 75 minute aerobic workout (you choose the duration) and takes note of certain gym equipment if you own it. It's a cheap alternative to Wii Fit, and I am very sore right now from yesterday's workout - give it a go!
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What happened to being responsible for self!?!?
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Re: What happened to being responsible for self!?!?
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Color me surprised.
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Wii Fit
I have found that many parents have bought these games for thier children to keep them busy or because thier childrens friends have it. a sad fact is many parents buy these games the children- young adults set them up and they just play by-passing all of the instructions and or warnings.
Many young adults and children do in fact go outside less to stay inside the home to play video games, the excitement I use to see in children speaking about playing games and the victory of winning or how close they came to winning are less than I use to hear.
I personally contacted Mr. Torchia to speak with him about what his thoughts were on this law suite. I have read alot of the comments ridiculing him, making lite of him and some hate comments about him from gaming sites and serious gamers as many of you are.
I found Mr. Torchia did in fact care about the health and well being of individuals. I also understood from our conversation that Mr. Torchia did not compare cigarretts to gaming, he compared the amount of money spent to sell a product for monitary gain froma company that in fact did not have all of the facts about its use.
I would ask that all of you that do have questions on why Mr. Torchia is bringing these comments to the public give him a call or e-mail him as I did. I found him to be knowledgable and caring about the well being of anyone sick, overweight, injured or trying to improve thier health.
Respectfully
Rev. Ricky Jones
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get screwed
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dsagas
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Re: dsagas
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Wow
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