Nintendo and the American Heart Association are joining forces, sparking rumours of the Wii Vitality Sensor being revealed...

One of the many ways Nintendo have marketed the Wii has been as a way to stay active while playing videogames, with European commercials currently promoting Wii Fit Plus as a way for women to firm up their bottoms before heading to the pool this summer. The Big N has today sought to extend this image by teaming up with the American Heart Association (AHA) to endorse the Wii as healthy-lifestyle product.

U.S. Wii consoles will be soon branded with the AHA logo, promoting the hardware as a way of keeping healthy. Wii software Wii Fit Plus and Wii Sports Resort will also be getting the same treatment.

The internet had previously speculated today would see the announcement of the long-awaited Wii Vitality Sensor, said to monitor a player's heartbeat. Rumours among many sites, including Destructoid, had suggested Nintendo would finally reveal the device at its joint press conference with the AHA today, but this has not been the case.

Gamers will instead likely have to wait until this year's specially extended Nintendo conference at E3 next month for the full skinny.

Are you hyped for the Vitality Sensor? Do you see the Wii as a healthy-living device? Leave your well-toned thoughts below...