Fitness First Mel B Endorsed Nintendo Wii Fit Accessories - BACK in Stock Now! - Gamasutra

[This unedited press release is made available courtesy of Gamasutra and its partnership with notable game PR-related resource GamesPress.]

Doncaster, UK – 04/03/2010 –

Leading video game accessory manufacturer BLAZE are delighted to announce the continued success of the Fitness First Nintendo Wii accessory range. The endorsement of global superstar, Mel B, for the Fitness First licensed health and exercise range for the Nintendo Wii, has ensured the range has continued to perform well.

The range of Nintendo Wii accessories for Wii games includes a Wii balance board (also known as Wii fitness board) protective silicon skin, Nintendo Wii fitness kit, Nintendo Wii dumbbells, Nintendo Wii workout mat and Nintendo Wii wrist (or ankle) weights. The range is compatible with the Nintendo Wii console and the standard Wii remote. It is compatible with Wii Fit and all other Nintendo Wii fitness games.

Synonymous with exercise, fitness and wellbeing, Mel B teamed up with BLAZE and Fitness First to bring a whole new, innovative range of Wii based fitness products to take interactive gaming and fitness to a new level. The Wii range is both unique and extensive and the overwhelming response from gamers and fitness enthusiasts has been testament to this.

Mel B started her relationship with Fitness First in 2009, where she became the face of National Fitness Week. Mel is fast becoming well known for her enviable figure and keen interest in fitness, following the success of her workout DVD 'Totally Fit'. Mel B was also the face of International Fitness Week for 2010.

Jason Cooper, Chairman of Blaze Europe Ltd commented:

“We are delighted to be working with Mel B and Fitness First. We believe these are the perfect brands for our fitness range”

David Langridge, head of group marketing at Fitness First:-

“ The group is on mission to make the world a fitter place, so products which enhance our core business fit into this perfectly.’’

The BLAZE Fitness First Mel B endorsed Wii accessory range is back in stock NOW!

Wii Mel B - Fitness First - Fitness Kit

Wii - Arm Pocket, Leg Strap and Resistance Band Kit

Maximize your workout potential

Arm Pocket to store Wii Mote 

Leg Strap holds Wii Nunchuk and tracks your moves  

Resistance band exercises upper body, lower body and trunk

Fully endorsed by Mel B and Fitness First

Price: £14.99

Wii Mel B - Fitness First Silicon Skin

Soft, Safe Silicon cover for Wii Balance Board

Add comfort and safety to your Wii workout sessions

Non Slip finish

Durable and protective materials  

Easy to fit

Fully endorsed by Mel B and Fitness First

Price: £9.99

Wii Mel B - Fitness First Wrist Weights

Add Resistance Training to your Kinnect, Move and Wii Workout

2 x 0.5kg Wrist or ankle weights

Adjustable for any user! 

Soft and comfortable design

Also for use witin your regular workout sessions

Fully endorsed by Mel B and Fitness First

Price: £9.99

Wii Mel B - Fitness First Dumbbells

Wii Dumbells - Maximise your Workout

Weighted Wii Mote and Nunchuk Dumbbell holder for use with Wii Fit Titles

Add resistance training to your Wii workout 

Total Weight of 2KGS  

Compatible with Wii Motion Plus

Fully endorsed by Mel B and Fitness First

Price: £14.99

Mel B Fitness First Workout Mat

Maximise your Workout Potential with Fitness First™

Shock absorbing properties reduces strain injuries

Non Slip materials provide a stable platform for your PS3 Move, XBox 360 Kinect and Wii Workout.

Extremely durable construction

Designed in conjunction with Fitness First™ for total workout confidence.

Simply roll it out and get to it!

Price: £9.99

Wii Step Riser (coming soon)

Step Riser for Wii Balance Board

Rises your Wii Balance Board to over 4 inches for a more intensive workout

Stable and sturdy design

Rubberized feet for ultimate grip. 

Supports maximum weight of 130 KGS

Fully endorsed by Mel B and Fitness First

Price: £14.99

Back In Stock Now

Fitness First is a group with over 550 clubs worldwide spanning 19 countries.  The brand is universally recognized as a symbol of fitness and wellbeing. 

The fast emerging interactive fitness market has seen over 20m Wii Fit ® balance boards sold worldwide. This figure is set to rise as new software products are developed for the format.    

BLAZE and Fitness First recognized the opportunity to enhance the overall interactive fitness workout experience, by introducing a range of high quality accessories.

The Mel B Fitness First range is in stock now at www.blazeeurope.com .

Please visit the link below for more information:

http://www.blazeeurope.com/wii-mel-b-fitness-first/info_19.html

Information about all BLAZE products can be found at www.blazeeurope.com

FOR MORE INFORMATION

PRESS ENQUIRIES

Andy Pearson

andy.pearson@blazeeurope.com

(+44) 01302 325225

SALES ENQUIRIES

Suzanne Nurse

suzanne.nurse@blazeeurope.com

(+44) 07717686255

About BLAZE Europe Ltd 

Blaze Europe is a world leading developer and distributor of quality video game accessories, handheld media devices, PC accessories and software for video game consoles.

With over 20 years of experience in the sector, the research and development team continually create a product range that is designed to meet the needs of a fast changing business, in a fast changing market. This team has established BLAZE as an innovative and high quality brand.

The portfolio spans all gaming console formats, from the major platform holders such as Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo, to the latest notebook computers and media devices.

BLAZE partners with only the finest engineers and over the years have developed excellent relationships with large manufacturing facilities worldwide, providing industry leading quality and reliability.

Marketing teams in the UK build consumer demand through a broad range of marketing and PR activities across specialist and mainstream channels.

Exceptional trade support is provided through a range of cross-promotional and point-of-sale offerings.

BLAZE Europe distributes globally through its own sales force, direct to retail and through distribution partners worldwide.  

www.blazeeurope.com  

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Monster Hunter Tops Japanese Charts For First Full Week Of 2011 - Gamasutra

Capcom's Monster Hunter Freedom 3 led the Japanese sales charts for the first full week of 2011, reports tracking firm Media Create.

For the week ended January 9, the consistently-popular PSP title sold 133,952 units, more than double Nintendo's Donkey Kong Country Returns for Wii, which took second place with 66,551 units sold.

Wii Party maintained its spot at number three, while Pokemon Black/White on DS rose to number four after slipping down the charts last week.

Rounding out the Nintendo titles in the top 10, Mario Sports Mix landed at number five, and New Super Mario Bros. Wii filled out the charts at number 10.

The only new title on the charts this week was Square Enix's SaGa 3: Jikuu no Hasha - Shadow or Light for Nintendo DS, which debuted at number eight.

This Nintendo DS RPG is a visually enhanced remake of Square Enix's Final Fantasy Legend III, a Nintendo Game Boy title released in North America in 1993.

Titles falling from the top 10 this week include Level 5's Inazuma Eleven 3: World Challenge!! The Ogre, and Namco Bandai's AKB1/48: If I loved an Idol.

Below is Media Create's top 20 sales chart for the week ended January 9, 2011.

LWTWTitlePublisherPlatformWeekly SalesSaGa 3: Jikuu no Hasha - Shadow or LightWii Sports Resort (w/ Remote Plus)Inazuma Eleven 3: World Challenge!! The OgreMario Vs. Donkey Kong: Miniland MayhemMagician's Quest: The Merchanti??s Store of Sorcery

View the original article here

Majesco Brings Cooking Mama To Facebook - Gamasutra

Majesco announced on Thursday the launch of Cooking Mama Friends' Cafe, the debut of the popular cooking game franchise on Facebook.

The Cooking Mama franchise debuted in 2006, and has players cooking meals using various ingredients and cooking methods within mini-games.

The series has appeared in boxed games for Nintendo DS and Wii. In May 2009, Majesco, the series' U.S. publisher, said the franchise had sold 4 million units domestically.

The new Cooking Mama Friends' Cafe for Facebook also uses the series' established cooking mini-game formula, Majesco said, but it also incorporates new "menu and customer management within an economy driven restaurant." Players can earn experience points and coins if they please customers.

The game is free-to-play, but players can also buy virtual items such as special ingredients and kitchen decorations with "virtual and real dollars."

Majesco explained that "players must return regularly and cook to maintain the business or risk their restaurant shutting down for good."

The publisher is typically known for lower-budget mass market-targeted boxed games. But Majesco said Cooking Mama Friends' Cafe "marks Majesco?s first entry into social gaming as they announce a targeted, strategic focus into the digital entertainment space."

While Majesco said the new Cooking Mama title is its first Facebook game, the company's website states it launched Large Animal Games'-developed Bananagrams in summer 2008. But a Majesco rep clarified for Gamasutra that Cooking Mama Friends' Cafe is "the first full featured micro-transaction based game for Majesco."

View the original article here

Gamasutra and NPD on 2010's game retail decline

by JC Fletcher on Jan 17th 2011 11:00PM

The NPD reported last week that retail video game sales were down. Gamasutra's analysis of 2010's NPD numbers offers a bit more context to this claim, in handy chart form (above). Total revenue rose pretty steadily between 2005 and 2008, and then started slipping downward.

Even accounting for digital distribution, according to the NPD, the industry's revenues still don't show growth. "The NPD Group estimates that total consumer spending on games in 2010 was essentially flat from 2009," the Gama article notes, "even when extra-retail sources like digital distribution and social games are considered." Should revenue shrink this year, it will "probably be the longest such contraction in the last 20 years of the video game market."

One area that didn't contract, of course, was the Xbox 360, which experienced its best month ever in December. In 2010, the Xbox 360 made great strides toward catching up with the Wii, "falling short by only 305,000 units."

View the original article here

Monster Hunter Tops Japanese Charts For First Full Week Of 2011 - Gamasutra

Capcom's Monster Hunter Freedom 3 led the Japanese sales charts for the first full week of 2011, reports tracking firm Media Create.
For the week ended January 9, the consistently-popular PSP title sold 133,952 units, more than double Nintendo's Donkey Kong Country Returns for Wii, which took second place with 66,551 units sold.
Wii Party maintained its spot at number three, while Pokemon Black/White on DS rose to number four after slipping down the charts last week.
Rounding out the Nintendo titles in the top 10, Mario Sports Mix landed at number five, and New Super Mario Bros. Wii filled out the charts at number 10.
The only new title on the charts this week was Square Enix's SaGa 3: Jikuu no Hasha - Shadow or Light for Nintendo DS, which debuted at number eight.
This Nintendo DS RPG is a visually enhanced remake of Square Enix's Final Fantasy Legend III, a Nintendo Game Boy title released in North America in 1993.
Titles falling from the top 10 this week include Level 5's Inazuma Eleven 3: World Challenge!! The Ogre, and Namco Bandai's AKB1/48: If I loved an Idol.
Below is Media Create's top 20 sales chart for the week ended January 9, 2011.
LWTWTitlePublisherPlatformWeekly SalesSaGa 3: Jikuu no Hasha - Shadow or LightWii Sports Resort (w/ Remote Plus)Inazuma Eleven 3: World Challenge!! The OgreMario Vs. Donkey Kong: Miniland MayhemMagician's Quest: The Merchanti??s Store of Sorcery
View the original article here