Press Release

Experts at Freeads.co.uk expect the popularity of secondhand Wiis to soar as Nintendo prepares to launch a new fitness balance board for its hit video game console.

The "Wii Fit" board and software can be used for exercising, sports and games including yoga, virtual snowboarding, ski-jumping and aerobics to help users battle the bulge in their living rooms.

The board, which looks like a set of bathroom scales, is the latest salvo in Nintendo's battle to widen the appeal of video games beyond just teenagers locked away in their bedrooms.

Nintendo announced Wednesday that the package would go on sale in Japan from December 1 for 8,800 yen (75 dollars). Launch dates for other countries were not announced.

Last year's launch of the Wii and its motion-sensitive controller -- which can be used like a tennis racket, golf club or bowling ball -- triggered a slew of reports of aching backs, sore shoulders and what has been dubbed "Wii elbow."

Nintendo said it discouraged players weighing more than 136 kilos (300 pounds) from using the new balance board.

The company also announced it would launch "Wii Ware" -- a new service to download games and other software via the internet - from next March.