The Nintendo Wii is quite a versatile little console, as a wide variety of games from different types of genres have appeared on the small white Japanese game console. From shooters to RPGs (Role Playing Games) or even musical games like Wii Music or the more successful Rock Band, every niche has been covered by game developers.

But no game was received with such enthusiasm like Wii Fit, Nintendo's first fitness game, which used the unique controllers and peripherals of the Wii, like the balance board, to make players get out of their sofas and start exercising in front of the TV. From yoga to jogging or aerobics, no sports activity was left unexploited by this title, which gained quite a lot of popularity but disappointed western gamers because it featured training minigames that focused more on stretching than losing weight.

But now it seems like Electronic Arts wants to enter the fitness game market and has just announced that it will develop EA Sports Active, a franchise that will take fitness and exercising to new heights, and offer content more specialized on western needs. Instead of using the balance board, which was particularly designed for Wii Fit, this new game will use a neoprene peripheral that will strap the Wii Remote or Nunchuck to the player's leg.

Slated for a Spring 2009 launch date, the game promises to bring, besides the fitness minigames, different types of tools like a calorie counter, virtual personal trainer, 30-day weight loss program, and customizable workouts. EA Sports Active will be available for 59.99 dollars, which is considerably less than the 90-dollar Wii Fit package, and which will contain the Wii straps, a resistance board for specific exercise, and a nutritional booklet which will help you live a healthy life.

Definitely an interesting initiative from EA, and it will surely get a lot of people interested in this title. We live in a very busy world and a lot of people don't have time to go to the gym so fitness games are the best alternative for a lot of them. Let's just hope that EA will do a great job with this game.