Wii: sucking in the seniors, bit by bit
by Kevin Kelly 
{ Jan 8th 2007 at 3:25PM }
There's nothing quite like seeing a video game bringing families together, even if the above image does look like a page out of a slightly wacked IKEA catalog. Reader Jim has sent in his own entertaining tale about mom and dad proceeding to get hooked and pwn in Wii Sports, particularly bowling, as you can tell from his dad's nice form in the above photo.
Our own parental units were never really sucked in by the glitz and polygon counts of the other consoles, so it's great to see a new generation of gamers getting drawn in by the Wii-novation. Are we every going to declare a moratorium on adding Wii to words? You swear you'll never do it again, and then *bam* there it is. Wii apologize.
[Thanks, Jim! Check out his upcoming comic book too, nifty stuff.]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Sans Virtue @ Jan 8th 2007 11:19PM
In the Mii split screen pictures your dad totally looks like the dad from The Critic, Franklin Sherman.
http://critic.nohomers.net/Cast_and_Crew_Graham.gif
http://critic.nohomers.net/Pictures/Picture_Franklin_1b.gif
El Chino @ Jan 8th 2007 3:39PM
Wii sucks. Last gen graphics and nothing but E-rated games down the pipline!!!!! 5-7 M-rated games a year doesn't cut it for me. Sorry little N.
LunarDuality @ Jan 9th 2007 6:51AM
Happened to my family too. Where Nintendo may not strike home strongly with the "hardcore" crowd (see myself and comment #1) they have seemingly accomplished their mission: Expand the Market!
Props to them...they knew what they had and how to market it.
vidGuy @ Jan 8th 2007 3:43PM
Hahaha, because a game has to be rated M to be good. Give me a break.
Crackjaw @ Jan 8th 2007 3:44PM
We get it, people like playing a console that was developed for *gasp* entertainment.
God forbid Joystiq misses one senior citizen playing the Wii.
Chris @ Jan 9th 2007 10:00AM
I got my dad a Wii for Xmas and he and my mom play it all the time. When I called my mom yesterday, I could tell she was preoccupied during our conversation. Lo-an-behold she was playing Wii bowling.
I hope Nintnedo makes more games for them. I bought them a DS too and they still only have Brain Age for it (although they still use it all the time).
PS3 fanboy @ Jan 8th 2007 3:51PM
Wii is the console of choice for the working class!!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!! GO GO GO EVIL MONKEY!!!!!
JodyAnthony @ Jan 8th 2007 3:54PM
well I guess it must be, since I love my Wii and I'm a member of the working class.
PS3 fanboy @ Jan 8th 2007 3:55PM
Wii is for children!!!! Excite Truck, Elbits, Happy Feet, Zelda, Mario......Where is the blood, sex and profanity found in 360 and PS3 games?
serb @ Jan 8th 2007 3:56PM
ok seriously joystiq no one cares if old ppl r playing it.........
"omg my grandma says this thing is amazing, im gonna go buy at asap"
/sarcasm
Chocolate Starfish @ Jan 8th 2007 3:57PM
It's an interesting phenomena, really. When I gifted my much younger brothers a Wii this Christmas, Dad, who has flatly refused to play any video games in my 20 year gaming career, moved slowly across the room towards the Wii like an animal stalking its prey; eventually pouncing on a wiimoted momentarily set down by my youngest brother. Ah, the foolishness of youth. The little guy, and no one else for that matter, touched that wiimote for the rest of the day. During my weekly calls home to the family, I can hear Wii sports sounds in the background.
While some daily readers may grow weary of frequent announcements that another blue-haired "grannii" is bowling strikes, it's fascinating for me to witness my parents, grandparents, and fiance all embrace "vidiio-gaming" after decades of shunning it. I'll gladly read a few more stories like this one.
vidGuy @ Jan 8th 2007 3:56PM
I'd think the PS3 would be the console for the WORKING class, since, you know, you need two or three jobs to buy one, according to Krazy Ken.
Fred T @ Jan 8th 2007 3:56PM
Its great and all that seniors are getting into gaming. But, i am 100% sure my gaming preferences will be different than my grandma's... I still want my GTA and Gears of War, can you give those to me Nintendo? No, i didnt think so.
Asian guy from King of the Hill @ Jan 8th 2007 4:02PM
Whats wrong can't afford 400 or 600 bucks for a real console? So sad!!! What happened you procreated all your money away like a bunch of rednecks?
Anthriel @ Jan 8th 2007 4:03PM
Way to go, El Chino! You just showed the world that you are at most 15 years old.
If you haven't noticed yet, only kids and adolescents care about game ratings. Adults (unless they are parents), usually really don't care about it.
The most mature game I can think of right now, Planescape Torment, would probably have been better without any kind of displayed violence.
Mature is not shooting someone's head off or watching porn. You will hopefully understand that once you finally are an adult.
LongshotX @ Jan 9th 2007 11:27AM
I'm sorry but I gave the Wii a chance and it is extremely boring after 45 minutes. I'd rather go outside and play sports or go bowling than simulate it with graphics and sound that are far from immersive.
The Mii feature is cool but even after a while that gets boring. There are too few online features. You cannot download demos, trailers, etc. It has no media playback features. There is no voice chat, no video chat, nope you won't find it here. A Weather Channel? Gimme a break.
The controller is really cool but like it or not the Wii is a GAMECUBE W/ a NEW CONTROLLER. You can go on and on about how it has graphics better than the Xbox but even that supported HD 720p/1080i.
And I don't see what's the big deal about the Opera Browser. I guess no one heard of Internet TV, a little venture Microsoft tried to pull off. Guess what happened? It failed miserably. No one should have to bear surfing the web at a low resolution like 480i or 480p through component (Wii doesn't include component cables).
Okay so Zelda: TP is nice and Wiisports is debatable but what else? What is the Wii offering. It seems to me that Nintendo got slick and decided they could repackaged outdated hardware with a new controller and a few other weak features and capatilze on it. Well they sure were smart. The Wii is a huge hit, but for $249 it isn't really the bargain Nintendo is making it out to be.
JR @ Jan 8th 2007 8:01PM
The funny thing is that no matter how much all of you hate the Wii, you can't deny it's amazing success. [insert your own comment parallelling the Wii to the DS]
Farseer @ Jan 8th 2007 4:26PM
El Chino, PS3 Fanboi, Serb, Fred T, and Asian Guy...
You guys don't like the Wii. BFD. How 'bout you just run off and bug someone else?
If you don't like the Wii, don't buy one. You like the PS3? Go get one of those instead - they're really easy to find. You can even order it from Best Buy's website:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=999965800050007&st=PS3&type=product&id=pcmprd65900050007
Maybe you all aready have one... maybe you're scared that you've made a poor choice and are $500-$600 poorer... I'm speculating. Either way, why the hell would you care about the target demographic of the Wii? It's obviously not for you. The Wii is for grown ups.
religiousjedi @ Jan 8th 2007 4:29PM
Why can't my parents be like that?!? Then they'd be able to see why I like playing games! >_<
...Anyways, good job Nintendo. You are giving me the games I like (such as Zelda and Metroid), and are forging the bond between gamers and non-gamers.
seajc @ Jan 8th 2007 4:30PM
Wow! Nintendo has cracked the generational gap by figuring out that old people like bowling and golf!
As soon as games don't correspond to activities they are already accustomed to (bowling, golf, canasta, gumming soft foods), they're back to confused by the macigal pixel machine.
I don't doubt they'll sell millions of consoles to old people who just want to bowl, or play other Wii Sports games and never purchase another game. It's a good thing Nintendo's turning a profit on the Wii hardware out of the gate.
I can see grandpa bowling, but I don't see this magically turning into him becoming a Zelda afficianado.
Mr. Khan @ Jan 8th 2007 7:45PM
You've got to realise that the number of "kiddie" games is significantly less than what you would think
I wouldn't consider Wii Sports kiddie, by a large margin, simply because IT IS NOT MEANT TO TARGET CHILDREN, same with Raving Rabbids, and Excite Truck, Mario titles are sort of in the grey area (I'd say the Super Marios are not Kiddie, nor is Mario Kart, but Mario Party is)
Now look at games like Pokemon Ranger, that is definitely targeted for children
(Long story short; just because it does not contain guns, fragging, prostitutes, or fragging prostitutes with guns, does not mean its kiddie) most of the games you complain about are in the area i like to call "Age-Neutral", for all ages
In many cases that "E" rating really does mean "for EVERYONE"
sorry to be so far off track, but this had to be said
oh, and i don't use my wrist straps either
some person @ Jan 8th 2007 4:39PM
@1, do graphics REALLY matter? is violence necessary for a good game? is it graphics>gameplay to you? keep your fanboyish comments to yourself unless you can be smart about it
@6, just wait, happy feet? don't think about games like that, all games like that suck, but anyways, wait for GTA (rumor has it that GTA will be on Wii sometime this year), as for tenchu (or any other game like it (i.e. SOCOM)), you got to admit, tenchu is better for Wii, but if you against that, then we need to talk, but i don't feel like giving out my e-mail address nor do i check up on articles like this JUST to see comments, anyways, the lack of violent games on nintendo systems is to keep the system family friendly, i understand it's not really a good idea to do that, but still, i'm sure nintendo will understand soon enough......
kimoy @ Jan 8th 2007 7:32PM
man PS3 fanboy i would kick ur ass if i could see u...
are u that stupid u have to make fun of a console dats selling 10x better than ur console of preference(BULLSHIT STATION 3)... come on now... ur officially a 2 year old cryin cause ur mommy couldnt find u a wii for christmas and u had to stick witthe very abundant and not selling ps3...
look at the stats the wii is sellin better everywhere now... even nextgenwars updated and the wii is over 3 million sold going on to 4 catching up on the 360 very soon... its ok u wasted ur money dont take it out on nintendo cause its selling to every type of gamer and nongamer around the world
Qtrain2brooklyn @ Jan 8th 2007 7:06PM
that poor old man in the picture.. he looks like his back is about to give out from playing with that thing!
Russell Carroll @ Jan 8th 2007 4:54PM
"Where is the blood, sex and profanity found in 360 and PS3 games?"
Hopefully it stays in 360 and PS3 games. This type of comment belies your age and is one of the biggest reasons that gaming hasn't traditionally skewed outside of a young demographic.
Do you believe the 60 year old would be more likely to play a game if it had blood, sex or profanity?
Many juveniles and immature 20-year-olds have a very incorrect image of what maturity and adult means. It is one of the reasons that gaming has not penetrated the masses. Adults don't want to be involved in activities rife with immaturity.
gabe @ Jan 9th 2007 12:16AM
i see this as just a step forward for gaming period. if this is what it takes to make non gamers take notice then im all for it. it'll make non gamers take a closer look at the 360 and the ps3. let alone the DS and PSP. there's alot of gaming out there that is not being tapped by the extreme masses that the wii and DS are after. let them bring in the non gamers in peace. go gaming. :)
Shagi @ Jan 8th 2007 10:04PM
I think a 60 year old man would be more likely to play with a 60 year old woman if she had viagra.
Illini Jen @ Jan 8th 2007 7:29PM
Seriously, I believe 90% of the people who posted negative responses here simply don't GET IT. Why hate on a system that allows all sorts of people to get into gaming? What, you're no longer cool if 96-year-old Edna down the street kicks your butt in Wii Sports? Get over yourselves, "gamers." No wonder all the 15 year olds get off on GTA and games of their ilk...no imagination or fun, just mindlessness for the sake of mindlessness.
geostar @ Jan 9th 2007 9:22PM
So it's not teh Kiddy system anymore? I guess it's teh granny system now?
Earl @ Jan 8th 2007 9:07PM
I must be one of the few that thinks GTA sucks as a game. Steal cars and kill people? Yeah, that gets old in about 5 mins. Storyline in GTA? Crappy.
I am 24 and I play a wide variety of games, from the "shooters" to the "kiddie" games. I guess I am not too concerned about "proving my maturity" to others based on the types of video games I play.
I remember playing Wolfenstein 3D and Doom (before games got rated) when I was around 12. Did that make me "mature?" Nope, no 12 year old, or 18 year old for that matter, is mature.
If you seriously play games for the violence and sexual content, you have issues. Do yourself a favor and get laid once in a while. It is a video game, designed to entertain, not make people horny. Whoever gets turned on by a digitally designed vagina REALLY need some help.
I think it is great that an older generation is getting into gaming like my generation is. I plan on being a father one day and fight with my kids on who gets to play next. Gaming is no longer a young person's form of entertainment and as my generation gets older, it will be inevitable that old people will continue to play games.
HAHA @ Jan 9th 2007 8:26PM
"Do you believe the 60 year old would be more likely to play a game if it had blood, sex or profanity"
I couldnt give a damn what a 60 yr old is playing. This is BS im 25 and i dont look at rating but i do see what some people are saying....I think the 1st time i care was when i saw the movie spawn isnt of FUUUUUCCKk theyd say DARN!!! Stuff like that irks me because its not natural......GET WITH THE TIMES In public most people tend to curse! I hate nintendo for other reasons. people bash every other consoles for not being innovative but at the same time they are the kings/queens of rehashing...The only company that has done most rehashing is square/enix or capcom with SF2 The same IPs and the same characters its rediculous. And now grandmas playing and yall couldnt be more excited....WTF ARE YOU SO DAMN EXCITED ABOUT!!!! No i would not think its cool if my grandma started playing my games. This proved that most of wii owners are bitch assed mommas boys
serb @ Jan 8th 2007 5:49PM
at farseer
wen did i say i didnt like the wii?
i said i was tired about joystiq posting these stupid ass stories about old ppl playing it, noone cares
and no my parents have never even touched the wii
that I own..........
kimoy @ Jan 8th 2007 5:40PM
@ ps3 fanboydat really jus shows how stupid and nieve fanboys
are...
jsut because nintendo is appealing to the world(hardcore,kids and non
gamers) makes it a crappy console u fool... dont u understand the ps3
is elimating portions of the market it once had buy making its
console so expensive.. my little brother had enough money ps2 and now
he cant afford dat 600 dollar piece of shit dat doesnt have any good
games.. and sittin on shelves so dont be mad cause u couldnt find a
wii and ur console of choice is loosing to a inferior powered
console...o and if u checked nexgenwars updated their rosters and the
wii is pullin in to 4 million soon... watch out 360.. while the ps3 is
still not selling.. ur an obvious fanboy and very nieve
Derbeste @ Jan 9th 2007 12:26PM
Russel Carroll....
That was quite thought provoking.
Good point. Well said.
Farseer @ Jan 8th 2007 6:00PM
serb,
You're right; I apologize. Off topic, though, have you tried to get your parents into it? My parents came to visit the other night and stayed past midnight because of the Wii (they never stay up late). We started with Wii Sports, but played the hell out of darts in Monkey Ball. As soon as they see how easy it is, people just can't put it down.
Frowelishnu @ Jan 9th 2007 3:03AM
Went back home for Xmas, upshot:
Parents want one
3 couples who are friends of parents want one
all my siblings and spouses/fiances want one
all my old friends want one
The Wii was the hit of the holidays
Grey Acumen @ Jan 8th 2007 6:56PM
My 60 year old aunt has already got to play Wii bowling and I still haven't had a chance to try it out myself... T_T
10 hours she said...
I'm still looking for one for me...
*sighs *
Matt @ Jan 8th 2007 10:00PM
to start...I have a 360, and a Wii...
I have GoW and absolutly LOVE it...it is truely an amazing game to play. BUT it ISN'T amazing because of the amount of blood in it. It is amazing because it blends graphics, gameplay, and multiplayer and wraps in a great package.
I have Zelda:TP for Wii...I also Love this game because the gameplay and puzzles are right on par with all the other successful Zelda games, and it brings you right into the whole adventure Link goes through in the game.
The measure of how successful a game or even a console is shouldn't be how violent, how expensive, or the age of those who are playing. It should be wheather those who are playing are have a good experience or not. the Wii, 360, and PS3 will all give you a great gaming experience. Just pick the one (or 2 or 3) that are right for you.
jonathan @ Jan 8th 2007 9:41PM
Let's not forget it's not just older gamers that love wii, women love it too! After my girlfriend tried it, now she invites her friends to my place. Wii Tennis is even better when you have cute 3 girls to play with ;)
Asian guy from King of the Hill @ Jan 8th 2007 10:03PM
Don't hate the PS3 just because you can't afford it. Get real jobs...........losers!!!!!!!!
Nmaster @ Jan 9th 2007 1:07AM
People like El Chino should be given -3 stars if not a permanent ban for trolling that ridiculous...
For some reason, that wrist strap...just the way the shadow is at that angle...I thought the sensor bar was flying through the air or soemeting...
kimoy @ Jan 13th 2007 4:14AM
yea gamer god it sucks so bad dat its sellin like hot cakes and virtually impossible to find lol.. i laught at u fanboys
Tifosi @ Jan 26th 2007 2:55PM
I think we'll be seeing more than just kiddie games for the Wii as it evolves. SSX will have Blur coming out, though that's still mostly a kiddie game. But Wii already has stuff like Splinter Cell. And it will be getting The Godfather and Prince of Persia: Rival Swords. I've seen trailers for PoP, and some of the stuff in there is definitely not for the wee (not Wii) ones. While we may never see the likes of God of War on Wii, it's possible it'll be getting its fair share of the more mature games.