Topic: One more aspect of the Wii to enjoy.

[Crockinator]

As I have been reading the reviews and experiences with the wii posted on the net, I have gotten more excited about one aspect that I have not really heard anyone talk about:

I have a 12 year old son who plays video games constantly and really likes for me to watch him play.  Because our taste in games is a little different, I have to say that most of the time I put it off or I just sit around bored for 15 minutes then make an excuse to do something else.  One of the things that I have noticed the most is that the "experiences" with the wii are often centered around several people, and the people NOT playing seem to have alot of fun just watching those that are.  As a matter of fact, I can see my wife (who, up until I got a DS Lite, didn't like video games but now is a Brain Age addict) actually not getting annoyed with watching us play when we hook it up to the big TV w/surround sound (and maybe even joining in).  I think that this is an extremely important factor in pulling in the non-gamers - not by convincing them to play, but with them actually enjoying watching YOU play (not necessarily your character in the game) and wanting to join in (because they are watching the person as much as the screen).

BTW - I am getting it for myself for my 40th birthday (mid-life crisis anyone?)

[JonLeung]

I think there have always been fun multiplayer games...some people from my old place of work who I didn't even think liked Nintendo occasionally had Mario Party parties.

Of course, with the more physical Wii games, people can be making fools of themselves, so it's more amusing in that sense, plus the ease of control means that claiming to "not know how to play" excuse is thrown out the window.

[Kairon]

Even the most hardcore of gamers will have to appreciate the Wii when it gets their disapproving girlfriend/wife/significant other playing games with them.

~Carmine M. Red
Kairon@aol.com

[Crockinator]

The thought of my wife throwing a cow in raving rabbids makes me laugh already.

I have to say that I am amazed that at my age I would qualify for the "I want it more than Cartman" category - as a matter of fact, my wife laughed the most when she saw Cartman not able to sleep, getting on the internet, etc. because every time she sees me on the computer I am looking at something Wii related.

[Dirk Temporo]

This thread is the perfect example of Nintendo's non/casual/older (sorry mate) gamer strategy in action. Just the other day, one of my friends who previously did nothing but complain about how pointless video games were and how everyone spent too much time playing them made an LJ post saying how much she wants the Wii. I forsee good things.

[Crockinator]

I have to admit that I have always been into videogames but, as is the case with some of the Planetgamecube staff, as I get older I don't have the time to sit and play for hours on end.  Because of that, I have mostly been relegated to my DS Lite (and I get interesting comments - like the female flight attendant in the security line at the airport that asked me if I was embarrassed because I had to explain what my DS Lite was to the security person - turns out we got stuck on the runway for over an hour because of storms and as I was getting off the plane I waved my DS at her and told her how glad I was to have it).

With that in mind, I have to say that the idea of spending 70 hours with Link (using the wiimote) has gotten me enormously excited again.  I travel every week and can easily see bringing it on the road and playing in hotels (regardless of the cruddy TVs).  As a matter of fact, my son and I have already discussed getting two so that we can play against each other online when I am not home.

[WuTangTurtle]

man all these PGC'ers that are fathers or at least husbands make me feel so young.  I'm only 21 but I've already experienced the "freetime" shortage for years now.