My parents are buying a Wii (for themselves)

[Grant]

I received a Wii for Xmas, which was a happy thing. Honestly, I've been out of the video game loop for awhile; the last system I bought or sought had been the Dreamcast, so I was looking to get back in.

On Xmas, I invited my parents to play some Wii Sports with me/mii. My parents don't understand technology, much less video games; they can barely manage their way to the special features section on DVD menus, okay? In any case, they went crazy for Wii Sports (specifically bowling). Seriously.

I'd read about the crossover appeal to non-gamers Nintendo was hoping for, but I figured it was a bit of an exaggerated claim (like those knuckleheads saying they shattered their TVs with the remote). Literally, I lost control of the Wii. My parents were playing it even when I wasn't around, I had to practically beg them to give it a break so I could play Zelda.

My 79-year-old gran'ma was playing (I have a picture of this on my cell phone because I didn't think anyone would believe me). What's more, all of them were routinely kicked my ass in bowling.

So earlier today, I found out my parents were buying the Wii for a second time, this time for themselves. I can't even imagine if they know other games exist besides Wii Sports or what they'd even buy for themselves (Madden maybe, or Elebits?).

Anyway, I think this is one of the most bizarre things I've ever experienced, so I thought I'd share it. Any similar stories?

[Protodude]

Hell, I didn't believe the Wii would appeal to nongamers at first like Nintendo intended, but after my grandmother of all people mentioned it (and seemed somewhat interested in it), I started to take notice of all the older people at stores crowding around it. But then, they may have just been looking at it because there kids were bugging them about it.

[Ngangbius]

No Wii, no success stories from me.

I do have a question for you Grant, did your ever parents try out a DS/DSLite?

[Grant]

No, but that's mainly because I personally don't have one. Though something like Brain Age seems right up their alley, I'd think.

[Light Of Illusion]

A friend of mine let me use her DS. The game was Cooking Mama, and I think it's definitly the most addictive game I've played since Katamari.

Nintendo seems to be doing well.

[Bo]

My father used to play my NES more than I did. I was afraid of the music in the castle levels. I was 3 and he was 39, which may have had something to do with it.

Both my parents seemed intrigued by Samba de Amigo, but never played more than once. I think they first took an interest because they thought it was a little gay, and then decided it was entertaining.

[Neo Yi]

The only times I caught my parents playing video games was when we got a SNES that many years ago. They played the crap out of Super Mario World. By the time we got an N64, Dad enjoyed playing Mario Kart 64. Too bad when I try to teach him Crash Team Racing, he sucked at it since he wasn't used to the PS controller.

[Esrever]

I took the Wii over to my folks house for Christmas. My mom saw me playing Rayman Raving Rabbids and actually asked if she could try it. In over 15 years she's seen me playing video games, this is the first time that has ever happened.

It was creepy.

[Opa-Opa]

My mom doesn't play games. But she really enjoyed following the story on Metal Gear Solid 3. I actually had to wait for her to sit with me so I could advance anything on the game.

She also likes to watch Katamari Damacy. I think I'll let her give it a try.

I think she's really beginning to respect games now. She loves the Video Game Pianist by the way.

[Locit]

I had such an experience with my aunt and uncle with Wii Sports. They loved Wii Bowling. Loved it. I was weirded out.

Esrever, is Rabbids actually worth buying, or does it wear thin after a couple hours?

[Omni Hunter]

Similar story here, I haven't purchased a Wii yet. But the way my old man goes on about it, I doubt I'll be getting much of a chance to play it if he gets his hands on Red Steel.

It was similar when I got my Dreamcast too, he had to have the first go on Sonic Adventure and Ready 2 Rumble Boxing.

As for Rabbids, it's pretty fun. The story mode is a bit short but as a party game it's pretty good effort, the games seem varied enough too. That said, I've only played the PS2 version, not the full Wii experience.

[Heroic One]

I had my doubts about the appeal of the console, but after playing it at a friend's house it's extremely awesome in every fashion imagineable.

Hell, just designing Miis is fun.

[Baba O'Reily]

My dad and I still play the Final Fantasy series of games together, alternating between the person controlling the game and the one navigating.

[Delphine]

...what?

[Baba O'Reily]

Playing JRPGs tends to result in a unique tunnel vision that causes the person holding the controller to steadily glaze over any unique details in the environment, be they treasure chests or doors.

Oh, and someone has to read the damned guide book so that we don't spend another three hours shuffling around blocks.

[Esrever]

I think Rabbids is worth buying, Locit, especially if you can play it with other people. The number of games that support simultaneous multiplayer is actually pretty low, but even when you're taking turns the game is a blast with friends because it's very audience-friendly... it's a lot of fun to watch.

The game succeeds for two major reasons. The first is the art direction, which is incredibly polished. The amount of thought and detail and humour put into every minigame is really impressive. The second is that many of the minigames are a lot longer, deeper, and more developed than you'd usually find in a party game. In other words, your much more likely to go back and replay them than you would in other titles.

The initial playthrough of the one-player mode wraps up after about six hours or so. After that, you will have played every game on the disc once, and the remaining single-player action comes from replaying the games for better scores. I'd say about 50-60 percent of the games are deep or fun enough to encourage you to play them repeatedly for score challenges. But the rest of them are definitely more like novelties that you probably won't play more than three or four times.

[Delphine]

Playing JRPGs tends to result in a unique tunnel vision that causes the person holding the controller to steadily glaze over any unique details in the environment, be they treasure chests or doors.

Oh, and someone has to read the damned guide book so that we don't spend another three hours shuffling around blocks.

...what?

[EmeraldGuardian]

My parents don't understand technology, much less video games; they can barely manage their way to the special features section on DVD menus, okay? In any case, they went crazy for Wii Sports (specifically bowling).

Exactly what I've experienced so far. My mom insists on not letting anyone even teach her how to do something, she just pulls it away if I try to touch it and show her. Though my parents aren't buying their own. Funny enough, they got me the last one in the store which was hidden in the back room. They were called secretly by an employee because they put their name down. (Not the same as reservation btw) They had to sneak it out in a ton of bags, otherwise they'd have gotten tackled or shot.

[Rolken]

About 20 people have played with our wii so far, and the only ones who haven't been enamoured with it are my parents (dad bought a PS3). It's really absurd how Wii Sports draws people in, and the decision to make it a packin seems totally justified now. About half a dozen people intended to get one as a result, but so far I don't think they've actually been able to find one, whereas PS3s are everywhere now.

[Light Speed]

My father used to play my NES more than I did. I was afraid of the music in the castle levels. I was 3 and he was 39, which may have had something to do with it.

Heh, I was afraid of the drowning music in Sonic. My dad played Sonic 1 with me quite a bit when we first got it, but I think after a couple months my mom put a stop to it or something. They kept buying me games, but I don't think he played much more. He liked Outrun though.

[Arcade]

Where have you been? Old people playing videogames is nothing new…that’s something from the past century dude. I still remember my dad friend beating us in Galaxian in the accident Nes days…

[cjmcray]

My mom loves videogames.

She hasn't played any in a few years, but she used to love Tomb Raider and the Oddworld series. (And the Genesis game, Humans)

My dad doesn't really play games that much, but I showed him Megaman Legends once, and he got into it, and played it for about an hour or two.

My Sis doesn't play games very much, but she loves Diddy Kong Racing, Cruisin' USA and Crazy Taxi.

[Ritz]

My mom used to play Sonic 2 back when I was too young to get past Chemical Plant by myself; she could make it all the way up to Wing Fortress, which is quite an accomplishment for the average mother, I think. Then she just stopped playing. She was vaguely interested in Super Monkey Ball for a while, but she couldn't make it past Beginner stage 8, so she never really got into it.

[j-man]

My dad only likes the fishing minigame in OoT. He said he'd play the Wii if "it has fishing on it". My mum gets scared of anything with a screen or flashing lights.

[Forza Johnman]

Me and my mum used to have all night sessions of Tekken 3 Team Battle or Soul Calibur Team Battle or Sonic 2-2 player or Bust a Move 2. Also she was addicted to Blue Sphere.