Wii Balance Board
Encyclopedia
The Wii Balance Board is a balance board
accessory for the Nintendo Wii
video game console. Along with Wii Fit
, it was introduced on July 11, 2007 at the Electronic Entertainment Expo. It was confirmed that the board not only is compatible with Wii games, but will also be compatible with games from its successor console, the Wii U.
The Wii Balance Board is shaped like a household body scale
, with a plain white top and light gray bottom. It runs on four AA batteries
as a power source, which can power the board for about 60 hours. The board uses Bluetooth
technology and contains four pressure sensors that are used to measure the user's center of balance—the location of the intersection between an imaginary line drawn vertically through the center of mass
and the surface of the Balance Board—and weight
. In an interview conducted by gaming web site IGN
, Shigeru Miyamoto
stated that the Balance Board's ability to measure weight is probably more accurate than that of a typical bathroom scale.
Although the Japanese packaging states that it is designed to support people weighing up to 136 kilograms (300 pounds) and the "Western" Balance Board up to 150 kg (330 pounds), they are actually the same board. The packaging differs due to regulatory differences between Japan and the United States. The sensors on the board can accurately measure up to 150 kg (330 pounds). The actual physical structure of the board can withstand much greater force equivalent to around 300 kg (660 pounds).
Due to the similarities between the two products, the Wii Balance Board has been compared to the Joyboard
, a peripheral released for the Atari VCS
in 1982 by Amiga Corporation
. The technology in the Joyboard was of course less advanced than that in the Wii Balance Board.
It is noted in the manual that the Balance Board should only be used on a hard surface or thin carpet, as thicker or softer surfaces may cause the board to operate incorrectly. A set of foot extensions is included to allow the board to be used on softer surfaces. The extension feet are not included in the European versions of the balance board but may be purchased separately.
The balance board should be used barefooted. Socks do not properly grip the hard surface and can be dangerous. Members of Club Nintendo
were able to receive novelty Wii Fit non-skid socks, which use small rubber pads that stick to surfaces.
The shape of the balance board was initially a square, but it was decided that it was too hard to use for the exercises.
For a large part of the development process, the board was an extension controller to a normal Wii remote. The effects of this are seen in the released balance board, which acts as a Wii remote with the front button mapped to "A" and all load cells on an "extension controller".
was the first game to make use of the Wii Balance Board. Shigeru Miyamoto
noted the potential for other uses, however, noting that "probably the simplest and most straightforward [idea] would be a snowboarding game". Miyamoto has also stated that Nintendo has received "many inquiries" from third parties following the announcement of Wii Fit and the Wii Balance Board, as well as receiving interest from the physical fitness industry.
We Ski
by Namco Bandai Games
was the first third-party game to make use of the Wii Balance Board, in conjunction with the Wii Remote
and Nunchuk attachment.
Only one Balance Board can be synchronized with the Wii at a time and the board uses the fourth player controller connection, replacing any Wii Remotes that are currently bound to that position. Due to these two limitations there is no ability to use multiple Balance Boards simultaneously.
It was confirmed that the board will also be compatible with the Wii's successor console, the Wii U.
Balance board
A balance board is a device used for recreation, balance training, athletic training, brain development, therapy, musical training and other kinds of personal development....
accessory for the Nintendo Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
video game console. Along with Wii Fit
Wii Fit
is a video game developed by Nintendo for the company's home video game console, Wii, designed by Hiroshi Matsunaga. It is an exercise game consisting of activities using the Wii Balance Board peripheral...
, it was introduced on July 11, 2007 at the Electronic Entertainment Expo. It was confirmed that the board not only is compatible with Wii games, but will also be compatible with games from its successor console, the Wii U.
Design
Weighing scale
A weighing scale is a measuring instrument for determining the weight or mass of an object. A spring scale measures weight by the distance a spring deflects under its load...
, with a plain white top and light gray bottom. It runs on four AA batteries
AA battery
An AA battery is a standard size of battery. Batteries of this size are the most commonly used type of in portable electronic devices. An AA battery is composed of a single electrochemical cell...
as a power source, which can power the board for about 60 hours. The board uses Bluetooth
Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a proprietary open wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances from fixed and mobile devices, creating personal area networks with high levels of security...
technology and contains four pressure sensors that are used to measure the user's center of balance—the location of the intersection between an imaginary line drawn vertically through the center of mass
Center of mass
In physics, the center of mass or barycenter of a system is the average location of all of its mass. In the case of a rigid body, the position of the center of mass is fixed in relation to the body...
and the surface of the Balance Board—and weight
Weight
In science and engineering, the weight of an object is the force on the object due to gravity. Its magnitude , often denoted by an italic letter W, is the product of the mass m of the object and the magnitude of the local gravitational acceleration g; thus:...
. In an interview conducted by gaming web site IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
, Shigeru Miyamoto
Shigeru Miyamoto
is a Japanese video game designer and producer. Miyamoto was born and raised in Kyoto Prefecture; the natural surroundings of Kyoto inspired much of Miyamoto's later work....
stated that the Balance Board's ability to measure weight is probably more accurate than that of a typical bathroom scale.
Although the Japanese packaging states that it is designed to support people weighing up to 136 kilograms (300 pounds) and the "Western" Balance Board up to 150 kg (330 pounds), they are actually the same board. The packaging differs due to regulatory differences between Japan and the United States. The sensors on the board can accurately measure up to 150 kg (330 pounds). The actual physical structure of the board can withstand much greater force equivalent to around 300 kg (660 pounds).
Due to the similarities between the two products, the Wii Balance Board has been compared to the Joyboard
Joyboard
The Joyboard is a balance board peripheral for the Atari 2600 video game console. It was released in 1982 and was used by standing on top of it and leaning in a certain direction.-Design:...
, a peripheral released for the Atari VCS
Atari 2600
The Atari 2600 is a video game console released in October 1977 by Atari, Inc. It is credited with popularizing the use of microprocessor-based hardware and cartridges containing game code, instead of having non-microprocessor dedicated hardware with all games built in...
in 1982 by Amiga Corporation
Amiga Corporation
Amiga Corporation was a United States computer company formed in the early 1980s as Hi-Toro. It is most famous for having developed the Amiga computer, code named Lorraine.-History:...
. The technology in the Joyboard was of course less advanced than that in the Wii Balance Board.
It is noted in the manual that the Balance Board should only be used on a hard surface or thin carpet, as thicker or softer surfaces may cause the board to operate incorrectly. A set of foot extensions is included to allow the board to be used on softer surfaces. The extension feet are not included in the European versions of the balance board but may be purchased separately.
The balance board should be used barefooted. Socks do not properly grip the hard surface and can be dangerous. Members of Club Nintendo
Club Nintendo
Club Nintendo is the name of several publications and a more well-known customer loyalty program provided by Nintendo. The loyalty program is free to join and is committed to providing rewards in exchange for consumer feedback and loyalty to purchasing official Nintendo products...
were able to receive novelty Wii Fit non-skid socks, which use small rubber pads that stick to surfaces.
Development
The balance board's development was tightly coupled with the development of the Wii Fit game. Nintendo initially contacted manufacturers of normal bathroom scales, but ended up building the board without their help in an effort to keep down costs. In early development models, the balance board was a simple scale with one load cell. However, the developers realized that a simple scale was not useful as a game accessory and expanded the number of load cells to two, then four. The idea to use multiple sensors was partly inspired by how sumo wrestlers weigh themselves (using two scales).The shape of the balance board was initially a square, but it was decided that it was too hard to use for the exercises.
For a large part of the development process, the board was an extension controller to a normal Wii remote. The effects of this are seen in the released balance board, which acts as a Wii remote with the front button mapped to "A" and all load cells on an "extension controller".
Software
Wii FitWii Fit
is a video game developed by Nintendo for the company's home video game console, Wii, designed by Hiroshi Matsunaga. It is an exercise game consisting of activities using the Wii Balance Board peripheral...
was the first game to make use of the Wii Balance Board. Shigeru Miyamoto
Shigeru Miyamoto
is a Japanese video game designer and producer. Miyamoto was born and raised in Kyoto Prefecture; the natural surroundings of Kyoto inspired much of Miyamoto's later work....
noted the potential for other uses, however, noting that "probably the simplest and most straightforward [idea] would be a snowboarding game". Miyamoto has also stated that Nintendo has received "many inquiries" from third parties following the announcement of Wii Fit and the Wii Balance Board, as well as receiving interest from the physical fitness industry.
We Ski
We Ski
We Ski, also known as Family Ski in Japan and Europe, is a video game for the Wii developed and published by Bandai Namco Games. It is the first third-party game released that makes use of the Wii Balance Board....
by Namco Bandai Games
Namco Bandai Games
is an arcade, mobile and home video game developer and publisher based in Japan which is the product of a merger between the video game development divisions of Bandai and Namco. Namco Bandai Games is a wholly owned subsidiary of Namco Bandai Holdings and specializes in production and sales of...
was the first third-party game to make use of the Wii Balance Board, in conjunction with the Wii Remote
Wii Remote
The , also known as the Wiimote, is the primary controller for Nintendo's Wii console. A main feature of the Wii Remote is its motion sensing capability, which allows the user to interact with and manipulate items on screen via gesture recognition and pointing through the use of accelerometer and...
and Nunchuk attachment.
Only one Balance Board can be synchronized with the Wii at a time and the board uses the fourth player controller connection, replacing any Wii Remotes that are currently bound to that position. Due to these two limitations there is no ability to use multiple Balance Boards simultaneously.
It was confirmed that the board will also be compatible with the Wii's successor console, the Wii U.