retirement
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George Harrison officially retires from Nintendo
We told you this would be going down at the end of July, now it seems it's finally happened: George Harrison, head of U.S. marketing for Nintendo, is leaving the company, effective at the end of the year. Harrison confirmed the news with Reuters, saying "I have confirmed to all employees that I will be leaving at the end of December and not making the move to California."Though he stopped short of giving a reason, it was rumored in June that Harrison and other Nintendo VPs would be leaving the company to avoid moving from Washington to Nintendo PR's new homes in San Fransisco and New York. What's still unclear is what Harrison will be doing after he leaves the company, but after heading up marketing for a product that a couple of people have heard of, we doubt he'll have much trouble finding a gig.[Via CVG]
Nintendo's Wii a hit with the geriatric set?
No, we don't expect the vast majority of elderly folks kickin' it in a retirement home to honestly show any interest in video games (right?), but apparently, the Wii's at least making some minor strides in getting the geriatric set up and active with virtual sports. While we assume those suffering from lingering hip injuries are apt to join the (admittedly quiet) cheerleading section, a group of athletic 70-somethings from Sedgebrook retirement community are "hooked on Wii Sports," with bowling being the unanimous favorite. The response has been so positive that the locale is actually cranking up a 20-person tournament for an undisclosed reward, and while the residents have often commented about how "realistic" the Wiimote was in tossing the ball, the community actually has a fan for folks to dry their hands off before rolling a strike -- which is probably a smart move considering the potentially fatal injuries that could occur from slippage. Still, an isolated incident of fun-lovin' grandparents getting their game on isn't apt to convince us that the next big gaming market is in retirees, and honestly, how many elderly folks rushed out to snag a Wii for the grandchild, and ended up keeping it for themselves?[Via DailyTech, thanks Randall B]
Wii + reitirement home = Wiitirement home
An entire retirement home full of elderly people passing their free time in heated Wii competitions. It may sound like a Nintendo press release, but it's actually a Chicago Tribune article about the Sedgebrook retirement home in Lincolnshire, where Wii Sports Bowling is taking the living community by storm. The game is so popular among the residents that grandparents are teaching their grandkids how to play and a 20 person tournament took place over the weekend. Sure beats watching Matlock reruns all day. Previously: Wii appeals to the elderly
