At last the gaming the industry may have something for the rest of us. Next week Nintendo will launch the U.S. version of Wii Fit. It’s an interactive home fitness system that employs avatars (each member of your family can create their own) to run you through exercises, aerobics, dance and games. It will even tell you what your body mass index is.The Japanese version, at least, will bluntly tell you that you’re fat. This demonstration video from Wii shows how it works.

The reviews to date say that it’s great for people who are not fitness freaks — which means most people. It’s a lot smaller and a whole lot less expensive than a treadmill or elliptical trainer. Some people who’ve used it say it’s a lot less boring as well. It costs about $90 for the software and the balance board, plus $250 for the Wii console. It’s a hot seller in Japan and Britain. And hey, maybe it will even inspire the gamers to get off the couch.

Here is Wired’s review of it.

Here’s the New York Time’s review.