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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
Wii Fanboy Contest: Sports Pack also-rans
What better way to wrap up the weekend than with those efforts that stood out in our recent contest? While these entries didn't snag their creators the Wii Sports Pack from Brando, they did make us giggle ... even though some of them didn't quite fit the contest criteria. Check out these selected entries after the jump.
And the Brando Wii Sports Pack goes to ....
Considering the nature of the Brando Wii Sports Pack contest, we couldn't help but choose this image as a fitting trophy for the winner. Congratulations -- you've demotivated us, and we don't want these attachments any longer. We bestow them onto the following pair (yes, pair) of posters from a reader with the interesting interweb moniker FlamingSquirrelofDeath.The winning entries are presented after the jump. Check back later and we'll put up some of the near winners. Thanks to everyone who entered!
Wii Warm Up: So how 'bout the games?
Many of you are just getting your hands on a Wii (at last!) and others are just settling in for more in depth play on your games, so we figured it was a good time to ask: what have you played? What have you skipped? Which games have you liked most so far?This particular blogger has only been a little disappointed with Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz, due to the controls. Everything else has been pretty engaging. Twilight Princess, Wii Sports, and Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam (skateboarding games are a longtime habit a girl just can't shake) have gotten the most play on this Wii, though we're always happy to throw down on a variety of other games. More recently, it's been extensive sessions of Wario Ware: Smooth Moves. But hey, we figure everyone's got different tastes ... so how about you? Don't be shy -- tell us what you've liked so far!
NPR commentator: Wii Sports bad for self-esteem
First Newsweek's Stephen Levy alleges that Guitar Hero is "dumbing down musicianship," and now this. NPR commentator Kelly McBride recently aired her fears that Wii Sports is artificially inflating the self-esteem of her Wii-playing children. According to McBride's logic, children used to effortless success with minimum effort in Wii Sports tennis will be frustrated when they pick up a real tennis racket and aren't immediately experts. She has a point -- mastering a video game simulation is often much easier than mastering the real world activity it mimics. Just ask a fighter pilot or a world leader. But while the barriers to success are lower for many video games, the rewards for success are also lower. While schooling someone in virtual basketball might let you hear your opponent's moan of defeat over a headset, the real look of anguish when you take someone down in a hard-fought game of real basketball is infinitely more satisfying. There's something about the physical exertion and human interaction of real sports that makes it compelling in a way that's totally different from sitting alone playing a video game. Even jumping around and playing Wii Sports with friends isn't quite as interesting as taking them on in a real sport (though it's often more practical). This is why paintball hasn't gone away even though Halo is popular and people continue to ski even when Alpine Racer might be available at a nearby arcade. Sure, children will often be more interested in the instant gratification of a simple game than the complex rewards of real competition, but as they get older most mature adults will come to realize the importance of sticking with something and attaining new skills in the real world. Video games aren't a replacement for real world activities. They never have been and they won't start to be now just because Nintendo lets you move your arms a bit while you play them.
Add cheap nerf crap to your Wii remote
Apparently the powers-that-be at Nerf feel that the existence of one set of cheap attachments to make your Wii remote look like various sports equipment just isn't enough. Sure, Nerf's set is made of their trademark squishy foam, meaning there's less chance of knocking out your little brother's teeth when swinging that mini-tennis racquet. But we have to reiterate our bafflement at why anyone would want these in the first place. It's not like attaching these things to your remote affects the way it feels to play Wii Sports -- we doubt anyone is going to mistake swinging these flimsy faux foam things to using their real equivalents. The only real function here is to make you look like a bigger doofus while you're playing. What's more, the attachments look like they actually block the IR sensor on your remote, meaning you'll have to take it off every time you want to navigate a Wii Sports menu. Stop the fun, I want to get off! [Via Engadget]
Nerf shows us the softer side of Wii Sports accessories
Wii Sports is getting Nerfed, but not in the bad way. These upcoming Wiimote attachments bring soft, friendly foam to the accident-waiting-to-happen that is Wii gaming, and we can't wait to get our hands on a set. These babies should take care of the weight and balance issues we experienced with the Brando Wii Sports Pack, though we hope they can still provide a greater challenge. Also, you can hit your friends with these as many times as you like without drawing blood. Probably. If you don't get too creative.While we're on the subject, don't forget to enter our Brando giveaway -- we've gotten more entries than we anticipated, but there's still time to get in there and get a real Wii Sports weapon. Er. We mean bat.
Nerf Sports Pack for Nintendo Wii stops the violence -- sort of
After six successful generations of hard plastic accessories, who could've guessed that generation seven would bring with it the Wiimote's penchant for screen destruction and innocent-bystander injury? That's why nobody batted an eye at those shiny and solid Wii Sports attachments for simulating golf clubs and tennis rackets in the beginning, but a few contusions later we're all looking for a way to cut down on risk. Enter Nerf with soft, forgiving, foam-built attachments for a bit of added realism for your golf, tennis or baseball game without all the pain. No word on price yet for these suckers, but we've got a feeling they'll be selling like gangbusters when they hit shelves this Summer. Hopefully next up will be a Manhunt 2 Nerf pack with various, erm, attachments for bumping the realism to Rockstar's upcoming murder simulator -- 'cause hitting your buddies with a Nerf baseball bat is only fun the first 500 times or so.
A fashionable way to play
Some of us are perfectly happy to sling our Wiimotes while wearing sloppy jeans and an old t-shirt, but not all gamers are so unconcerned with fashion. After all, you play your best when you feel your best, and how can you feel like a pwning machine unless you look the part? Well, if you're a Nintendo-loving fashion plate, City Magazine has the answer -- themed outfits for the fashion forward Wii owner. They even tell you where to pick up each item, so if you can't live without a sequined DKNY baseball jersey so you can look like the bat-slingin' diva that you are, you'll know exactly where to go. We'd also like to add that if you really feel like you need a diamond bangle for Wii Sports tennis, we absolutely take donations. Share the wealth love, friends![Thanks to Hamish for tipping us on the story!]
Wii Sports bowling "power throws" perfected
Just a few short days after we posted our challenge for video evidence of a perfect 890 in the Wii Sports bowling "power throws" mini-game, video evidence of the feat has surfaced courtesy of Joystiq reader Koz. Not content to just show off his skills, Koz has also written out the method that led to his perfect run in scientific detail over on the WiiModWii forums. Apparently, imported Belgian beers and a "vocabulary of thousands of cuss words to scream in anger" are the keys to success.
