It was Christmas day, and somehow my cousin scored a Wii (pronounced ‘we’). Nobody this past winter got one, unless lots of luck and line-waiting entered the picture. As I moseyed downstairs to see what all the fuss was about, there were several people — in their fifties and sixties — already hovered around the television set.
I’m sure somewhere, Nintendo’s marketing department was wishing they had this on camera. Exactly what they wanted — a family system bringing the generations together — was happening just as they had hoped.
You’ve heard the hype. And, it’s all true. Nintendo’s Wii has revolutionized the video game industry. But more importantly, the game provides an ever-so-simple way to connect with kids of any age. Even for people who swear they hate video games.
Central to the Wii is its controller, affectionately dubbed the “Wii-mote.” Point the wand-like device at the screen to control the things running around there. At first glance, you’ll notice a lot of buttons. Now, buttons tend to intimidate people ... especially when it comes to video games. This makes sense considering that historically, the video game industry has banked on people wanting to push buttons. As the logic went: The harder the combination, the harder the game.
| “A game to get you hooting and hollering with kids of any age.” |
While the Wii-mote uses buttons, it's motion — as in your physical movement — that’s the necessity. In the game Wii Sports, you swing your arms around as if you’re really playing sports. You make like you’re swinging a tennis racquet, bowling, or putting. Just like with real sports, “performance” is dependent upon your hand/eye coordination, as well as your physical stamina. You can see how this would be fun. And did I mention, it’s extremely easy to pick up?
As I sat there, watching my family members take turns bowling, playing tennis and golf, it hit me: Not only is this something that challenges us, it helps us connect with each other in ways that TV screens never could before.
Get Gaming
The Wii has made non-violent games cool again. Just like all ages have a soft-spot for Shrek, these games will win over grandkids of all ages. Get Ready: Nintendo swears more will be available this summer. And it’s safe to say, the Wii is worth the $250 investment. Here, a few titles to get you in the game.
Wario Ware: This fast-paced game contains a slew of “micro-games” in which each task can be completed in five seconds or less. Throw a bunch of those back-to-back-to-back and add some crazy music, and your grandkids will be moving and giggling in no time flat.
Rayman’s Raving Rabbids: Another odd collection of micro-games, these are centered on making sure crazy, annoying rabbits don’t take over the world.
Mario Party 8: In the past, the Mario party franchise has been successful. Here, the tradition of pitting Nintendo's animated cast against each other continues.
Wii Sports: But, of course. Seek out the Wii Fitness that’s buried within this game, too!
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