Nintendo's Wii: Not Just for Kids

Nintendo's new Wii ideogame console is reportedly becoming a big hit in nursing homes.

While Nintendo's competitors, the Sony Playstation III and the Microsoft X-Box, are focused on advanced graphics and "high-tech bells and whistles," Nintendo focused on making game play easier, more intuitive and more appealing to a mass market--including seniors. This turns out to be particularly important for those younger and older than traditional videogame playing teenagers and young adults.

The Wii has an easy-to-use controller that allows more natural hand movements for games like bowling and tennis. Seniors who are no longer able to play those and other sports are now able to enjoy them "virtually."

For example, at the Sedgebrook retirement community in Lincolnshire, Illinois (where the average age of residents is 77 years), the Wii has become popular enough on Sunday afternoons that more than 20 residents have signed up to compete in a videogame bowling tournament.

Said Don Hahn, 76, a veteran of numerous real-life bowling competitions and who is competing for the first time in a virtual one:

"This is pretty realistic. You can even put English on the ball. I used to play Pac-Man a little bit, but with this you're actually moving around and doing something."

Seniors on videogames? Next thing you know grandparents will be on Twitter.

tags: videogames nintendo