Your Grandma Still Loves the Wii

Every few weeks another of these stories comes out, and without fail, I love them. You remember back when Nintendo first announced the Wii and kept pushing that ridiculous line about how their new wonder system would appeal to people of all ages, bring families together, unite all nations under one common goal, and surely be pleasing to any space aliens or beings from alternate dimensions who might happen to wander by our humble earth and snag themselves a play. For the most part, we “hardcore” gamers shrugged it off as hyperbole and laughed at the notion of our grandparents throwing down on some gaming action.

And yet, every few weeks we read a headline like this one: “Seniors Trade Walkers for Wii.” Today’s installment is from The Star, and is just what it sounds like — yet another retirement community arranging a Wii day for their seniors, mostly centering around (of course) Wii Sports’ Bowling. Those greybeards sure love their bowling; and really, who can blame them? It is a fantastic little game. Once again we get cute little quotes from cute little old ladies, saying things like “My grandchildren say ‘its easy, Nana, but I’m old fashioned.” Nana! How can you not love an old lady called Nana? And of course, by the end of the story Nana and her compatriots have discovered a new-found love for video gaming.

Way to go, Nintendo. You’ve tapped into a market absolutely no one on earth would have ever expected video games to sell in. I don’t know what games you’re going to give them once they’ve got their fill of bowling, but I trust you’re working on something. Wii shuffleboard, maybe? Or Wii Bocci. They’d be queuing up. And so would I.