Nintendo Wii gaining popularity in nursing homes

The Nintendo Wii has outsold Sony’s PlayStation 3 and Microsoft’s Xbox 360 in January and February. Others have attributed this phenomenal achievement to the intuitive control scheme of the console. This intuitive gameplay has allowed lots of non-gamers to enjoy the system. Its appeal has become so widespread that even nursing homes have decided to pick it up.

The console is packaged with Wii Sports, a game which senior citizens have taken to. The Erickson Retirement Communities in Chicago recently hosted a Wii Bowling tournament for its residents. Flora Dierbach, aged 72, was one of those who helped arrange this event. “It’s a very social thing and it’s good exercise … and you don’t have to throw a 16-pound bowling ball to get results,” she said. She also mentioned that the entire event really brought people together. People who hardly knew each other were actually hugging and cheering together.

If this proves to be a recurring trend, we might actually see games geared toward people aged 60 and above. (My dream of a horseshoe throwing game may still come true.) More news as it happens here on QJ.

The Nintendo Wii has outsold Sony’s PlayStation 3 and Microsoft’s Xbox 360 in January and February. Others have attributed this phenomenal achievement to the intuitive control scheme of the console. This intuitive gameplay has allowed lots of non-gamers to enjoy the system. Its appeal has become so widespread that even nursing homes have decided to pick it up.

The console is packaged with Wii Sports, a game which senior citizens have taken to. The Erickson Retirement Communities in Chicago recently hosted a Wii Bowling tournament for its residents. Flora Dierbach, aged 72, was one of those who helped arrange this event. “It’s a very social thing and it’s good exercise … and you don’t have to throw a 16-pound bowling ball to get results,” she said. She also mentioned that the entire event really brought people together. People who hardly knew each other were actually hugging and cheering together.

If this proves to be a recurring trend, we might actually see games geared toward people aged 60 and above. (My dream of a horseshoe throwing game may still come true.) More news as it happens here on QJ.