Retirees Hooked On Wii
Reporting on the cross-generational appeal of the Wii, the Chicago Tribune published an article about the Sedgebrook retirement home that has adopted a Wii as a new resident. Most of the residents have never played a video game before, but once the little white box was hooked up, their home was never the same. After dinner they come into the clubhouse lounge for some Wii Sports.
72 year old Flora Dierbach was interviewed for the piece and commented,
(The residents) come in after dinner and play. Sometimes, on Saturday afternoons, their grandkids come play with them. A lot of grandparents are being taught by their grandkids. But, now, some grandparents are instead teaching their grandkids.
The Wii has been such a success at Sedgebrook that they host bowling tournaments on Sunday afternoons, with more than 20 residents signing up for competition.
Nintendo has found the answer to connect to non-gamers with the Wii remote. Most elderly people would not pick up a traditional controller, but the Wiimote is non threatening since it looks like a remote control for the television.
It’s interesting to see how the Nintendo will capitalize on the broad appeal of their system with simple games that anyone can pick up, while providing games for the hardcore crowd as well. With Manhunt 2 and No More Heroes on the shelf, there is something for the hardcore crowd to latch onto. Let’s hope that Nintendo really starts pumping out the serious titles soon, so they won’t get pigeonholed as a casual system.
Wii bowling knocks over retirement home [Chicago Tribune]
[via 4 Color Rebellion]
Toots
Posted to Video Games on 21 February 2007
· Comments (1)
Other stuff like this: elderly, nintendo, wii
for some reason that just put a smile on my face