Mickey DeLorenzo

Mickey DeLorenzo, also known as hey_suburbia, became known worldwide as the "Wii Workout Guy" in January 2007. DeLorenzo, a 27-year-old Nintendo fan and blogger from Philadelphia, PA, turned his passion for the Wii console into an experiment, just days after its November 2006 release. For six weeks, DeLorenzo played the video game Wii Sports every day and made no other alteration to his diet or exercise habits. Ultimately he lost 9 lb. He played a significant role in the renewal of the "exergaming" craze that swept through gamers' living rooms, gyms, nursing homes, and schools during 2007. He was featured in newspapers, on TV, and websites all over the world.
DeLorenzo is also the owner and editor-in-chief at NintendoFuse, a gaming website, containing reviews, news, and coverage of Nintendo games and consoles.
International Media Attention
Television
NBC 10 Television Report
MyPhl17 Television Report
Television Talk Show
ABC Television Report
FOX 29 Television Report
CityTV
MSN’s ConnectedLife
CBS 3 Wii Fit Interview
E3
DeLorenzo workout footage plays on stage during E3 2007
Radio
BBC Radio One - News Beat
BBC Radio Five Live
BBC Radio Asian Network
CBS Radio WCBS NYC
CBS Radio KMOX St. Louis
FreeFM WYSP
B101 Philadelphia
Q102 Philadelphia
Opie and Anthony (explicit)
105.7 Salt Lake City
WZZEE-FM Madison
WKQI - Detroit
New Zealand Radio
Print
TIME - Year in Review
The New York Times
ESPN - Sweat Spot
Men’s Journal (Oct. 2008)
The Philadelphia Inquirer
South Philadelphia Review
The Washington Post
The LA Times
NY Daily News
Sydney Morning Herald
Metro UK
The Straits Times (Singapore)
VCD Magazine
Websites
CNN
FoxNews
MSN
Netscape
Digg
TIME Magazine
LA Times
Good Morning Silicon Valley
The Inquirer
Philadelphia Weekly
Philadelphia Will Do
The Washington Post
NBC 10 Health Watch
Newsday
MetroUK
NY Times
New York Times (printed version online)
Engadget
C-NET News
RegHardware
IGN
The Journal Gazzette
GameSpot
New Zealand Stuff
Sydney Morning Herald
San Mateo County Times
MarketingVOX
Forbes
India Times
Wii Sports Experiment
At his personal Nintendo fan site, DeLorenzo posted graphs and funny video clips documenting his experiment. In one, he runs through the streets of Philadelphia with his Wii controllers in hand and jumps up and down on the top steps to the city's art museum as the "Rocky" theme plays. In another, he and his wife box, bowl, play tennis and swing the baseball bat in front of a TV.
He has partnered with Traineo.com, a Web site that helps people track their weight-loss and fitness goals, to create the Wii Workout.
DeLorenzo had planned to write a book based on his Wii Sports videos. He had a ghost writer from Men's Health Magazine, a literary agent, and a publisher. Ultimately Nintendo did not approve of the book, and the plans have been canceled.
* Wii Sports Announcement - http://wiinintendo.net/2006/12/05/wii-sports-experiment/
* Wii Sports, The Results! - http://wiinintendo.net/2007/01/15/wii-sports-experiment-results/
* Wii Sports, Media Appearances - http://wiinintendo.net/2007/01/30/wii-sports-experiment-from-digg-to-book-deal/
* Wii Fit Announcement - http://wiinintendo.net/2008/05/01/the-official-wii-fit-experiment-kick-off/
* Wii Fit, The Results! - http://wiinintendo.net/2008/06/23/the-official-wii-fit-experment-results/
Relationship with Nintendo
DeLorenzo has no direct relationship with Nintendo, but has been acknowledged by the Japanese company. Nintendo flew DeLorenzo to New York City to be one of the first to test out Nintendo's new product Wii Fit.
During E3 in 2007, DeLorenzo was on the jumbo screen while Reggie Fils-Aime announced Nintendo's new product Wii Fit.
Media appearances
TIME - Year in Review 2007: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2066/2247293448_8a877d7572_b.jpg
FOX News Broadcast: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qk2GW1EbZgY
List of Appearances: http://www.wiinintendo.net/2007/01/30/wii-sports-experiment-from-digg-to-book-deal/

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu