Jared Soares | The Roanoke Times

To Matt Cooper's dismay, his wife, Nicole, celebrates after beating his high score in Table Tilt, a Nintendo Wii Fit game, at their Roanoke home. "You almost begin to crave it," says Nicole Cooper. "It's exercise, but it's a game!"

Associated Press

An example of Wii Fit on screen shows a "Mii" (a user's on-screen character) performing aerobic exercises.

Nicole Cooper -- a wife, mother and student -- bought the Wii Fit on a whim.

Now, she's moving furniture around to ensure there is enough space in her Roanoke home for her to use the video game. As she slid a coffee table out of the way, her "Mii" (her video game character) appeared on-screen, updating her progress and goals.

Nintendo's latest Wii phenomenon, Wii Fit, has captured quite an audience since its release a month ago. Surprisingly, Fit found success with an unlikely video game crowd: the elderly, the homemaker and the family unit.

"Moving does something to your psyche, and it's fun because it's a game," Cooper, 35, said. "You almost begin to crave it. It's exercise, but it's a game!"

Frances Rogers, 40, a mother of four and also from Roanoke, said it's something her whole family can do together. Located in their basement along with other games and toys, the Rogerses' Wii gets plenty of use from everyone. As Rogers planned for her daughter's upcoming birthday party, the forecast was for bad weather.

"If it rains, we plan on hosting a Wii tournament," she said.

Why they love Wii

Wii Fit, like the original Wii, is a video game that is played actively (instead of sitting over a controller). The Fit features a balance board, on which the player stands to act out movements. For example, friends can watch as players attempt to walk a "tight rope."

The "Mii," your character on-screen, mimics your movements by reading what is happening on the balance board, which doubles as a scale. There is a variety of games available: Yoga, running, strength training, hula-hooping, step aerobics, rhythm boxing and balance games are all included in Wii Fit.

The Rogerses originally purchased a Wii for Christmas, and couldn't get enough.

"Christmas Day we all had sore shoulder from bowling," Rogers recalled. "We called it Wii-itis."

She and her husband, John, play once their kids are in bed, Rogers said.

She added that she encourages her children to play as an alternative to their other video games, because Wii Fit keeps them moving.

Cooper agreed.

"Normally, my husband and I would sit on the couch," she said. "But if you have time to watch baseball, you have time to do Wii Fit."

The program has generated lifestyle changes for its devotees. Rogers and Cooper report that after using Wii Fit, they are more aware of their posture, balance and how they stand during the day.

The game also records an individual's statistics and calculates body mass index and approximate age using two balance tests and actual weight. Then it asks for specific fitness goals and encourages the player along the way. The initial results can be an eye-opener.

"When I first began, the program told me I was 16 years older than I actually am," Rogers said. "I had no idea where it came up with that!"

But the shock factor served as motivation, and after only a week with the program Rogers' age was down 28 years.

"You learn the games," she observed. Figuring out how to hold correct posture and where the ideal center of gravity is helps to knock off the years.

Frequent use has brought about other changes as well. Rogers admits to neglecting some of her daily cleaning to make time for Wii. She spends all week practicing the games and preparing to beat her husband when they compete Saturday mornings -- a regular event.

"John is just trying to beat me!" Rogers explained. "And the kids watch and root him on."

Is it an addiction?

For some, Wii has also become a family affair.

Holly Blevins, who bought the program for herself on Mother's Day, has created more than 20 Wii characters for her friends and family.

"We are planning a bowling tournament soon," she said. She added that when friends visit, they always ask if they can play Wii.

"Sure, I'd rather play Wii than go shopping," Blevins laughed. She also got her parents, both in their 50s, hooked on the game. "They love it. They found it very easy to use."

Ernie Medina Jr., a preventative care specialist, runs an exergaming facility in Redlands, Calif. He says that the reason virtual exercise is such a hit is because of "stealth exercising," where you are playing a game first and foremost and the mind is engaged in game play, not on the exercise.

Running on a treadmill and watching TV as a distraction does not take the focus off the exercise. Exergaming allows your actions to make an impact in the game, which Medina thinks makes the difference. He calls it "enjoyable engagement."

Indeed, to keep its users motivated, Wii Fit allows access to a select number of games only when it is first used. As players continue to work, more activities are unlocked.

Wii Fit is not Blevins' primary means of exercise right now, but she said that once more levels are opened, such as running, she could see Wii becoming her favorite type of workout.

The fun also lies in its interactive nature; watching other players make fools of themselves in games such as hula-hooping.

"You can't help but laugh at each other," said Blevins. "Especially with games like the air-boxing, when you end up getting really into it."

But critics of the game warn that while it is a good motivator to begin exercising more, Wii Fit cannot replace old-fashioned exercise. Nor has it been proved to live up to the standards of other exercise outlets.

Cooper tried a different yoga videotape after using Wii for a while and found it to be more challenging than the Wii's yoga program. "Wii's yoga is sort of like yoga-lite" she said.

But doing yoga from her house, Cooper said, is more comfortable than taking a class as a beginner.

"I can practice the moves over and over in my house without worrying about how I look in a yoga class," she explained.

And for those who wonder if mastering the games may decrease the intensity of their workout, Medina says there is no cause for concern.

"Calorie expenditure is not going to go down as your skill level increases, just like in any sport. Even if someone is perfecting the games, he or she will always find harder ways to play at any level."

Would any of these players call themselves "addicted"?

That's a strong word for Blevins, but she is a self-declared "fanatic" of the game.

"Am I an addict?" asked Rogers. "No ..." she answered slowly. "Well, not yet."