Wii Fit Plus, new Mario hitting Japan in '09 - Report

E3 2009: Nikkei.net's English service says new version of fitness-game phenomenon will ship in fall across Pacific; Japanese version hints at new Mario game during second half of year.

No word on whether Wii Fit Plus will have a new balance board.

Nintendo's E3 Press Conference isn't until 9 a.m. on Tuesday, June 2. However, like its rival Sony, the game giant appears to have had some of its surprises spoiled by the many-tentacled beast of the 24-hour Internet news cycle.

This morning, the respected subscription Japanese news service Nikkei.net issued two reports about Wii Fit Plus. As had been widely rumored, the game will reportedly be a new version of Nintendo's wildly popular fitness title, which ships with the Wii Balance Board peripheral.

According to Nikkei's English-language edition, Wii Fit Plus will arrive this fall in Japan, where Wii Fit went on sale five months ahead of its North American launch. The service reports that the game "will enable users to compete with each other over the Internet. It will also offer gentle exercises for the elderly, and will respond to player inputs more precisely than the current version." No mention is made of an exact date, price, or whether the reference to more precise sensors means that it will come with an improved balance board.

It's probably too soon to hope for Super Mario Galaxy 2.

Meanwhile, Nikkei's Japanese language service also has an article touting Wii Fit Plus. However, it makes mention of a "new" Mario game arriving in Japan by the end of the year. No details were included about which of the numerous Mario franchises the game belongs to, or when exactly it might arrive. However, the subsequent sentence says that Nintendo is hoping to "bolster" the Wii--sales of which are flatlining in Japan--which hints that the Mario game would be for the console, and not the DS or DSi handheld.

218 Comments

  • SQUALL20XX

    Posted Jun 9, 2009 11:51 am PT

    Ho Ho Ho, Mario Galaxy 2

  • SSBFan12

    Posted Jun 6, 2009 8:03 pm PT

    It has to be Super Mario Galaxy 2 to hit japan.

  • asian_pride69

    Posted Jun 3, 2009 9:23 pm PT

    2D feature eh? I'm definitely getting Super Mario Galaxy 2

  • PSFreak1

    Posted Jun 3, 2009 6:43 am PT

    zzzz... zzzz... zzzz....

  • pakhair

    Posted Jun 2, 2009 6:52 pm PT

    Goooooooooooooooddddddddddd

  • ultimte3ricecrm

    Posted Jun 2, 2009 2:18 pm PT

    I never was too interested in buying Wii Fit. And this hint about a new Mario game makes me wonder...
    maybe Nintendo will make a Mario Wiiware game?

  • toonguy123

    Posted Jun 2, 2009 1:41 pm PT

    ya wii fit was not an enjoyable experience for me it was kinda boring but the female instructor was good lol. i really hope they make super mario galaxy alot more difficult than the first i beat the first in like 3 days.

  • gmax Site moderator

    Posted Jun 2, 2009 8:54 am PT

    I don't know anyone with any plans of buying a Wii Fit.

  • smash_legend_DK

    Posted Jun 2, 2009 8:25 am PT

    if it's sports, I'll be SOOO mad

    that really won't help sales any

    but what would be cool is a mix of all the 3D Mario games, lyk you could explore the mushroom kingdom, peach's castle, dalpheno island AND go into space
    but it better have less invisible walls

  • chocolate1325

    Posted Jun 2, 2009 7:35 am PT

    I really hope its a platformer 2D or 3D because all Mario platformers are good.

  • CapedCod

    Posted Jun 2, 2009 7:32 am PT

    Just as long as Mario isn't cleaning again. Although I really wouldn't mind a new Luigi's Mansion. I think it would translate well with the Wiimote.

  • Sonicpower451

    Posted Jun 2, 2009 7:11 am PT

    Oh crap! Hopefully the new mario game is a new Mario Galaxy! That game rocked!

  • DMLSLAT

    Posted Jun 1, 2009 9:44 pm PT

    They said "new" guys, not remake. And Gamespot's right, it's sadly too early to pray for Mario Galaxy 2 (one of my faves on Wii). Hopefully it's not something lame like Mario basketball or whatever...

  • smash_legend_DK

    Posted Jun 1, 2009 5:36 pm PT

    we also need a remake of Zelda OoT (mabey bundled with MM)

  • smash_legend_DK

    Posted Jun 1, 2009 5:33 pm PT

    a 3D remake of Super Mario World?!?
    that's my dream

    whatever it is, it better have other characters than just Mario and Luigi.
    mabey Wario Waluigi and Peach, and all able to ride Yoshi

  • thps48

    Posted Jun 1, 2009 4:35 pm PT

    "...numerous Mario franchise," ha ha. Mario's the gaming equivalent of a rabid adulterer...

  • MAT0R0

    Posted Jun 1, 2009 3:19 pm PT

    I thought Nintendo makes only 1 3D Mario Platformer, each game console. But this time 2? Hopefully Mario 2 wii going to be good.

  • DarkNeoBahamut

    Posted Jun 1, 2009 2:08 pm PT

    ...........mmmkay

  • chuckytiffany

    Posted Jun 1, 2009 12:42 pm PT

    if you have a wii, you should get twilight princess & resident evil 4. there the best games i have besides the original soul calibur.

  • lightning_kf

    Posted Jun 1, 2009 11:48 am PT

    danielwd:

    How often has Nintendo released a "bad" Mario game?

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