Wii for your granny

I've often been caught saying that I can't wait until I'm older, and not for all that mad-money I'll be raking in from my social security checks. No, I can't wait until then because I can only imagine how great video gaming will be. Oh how I love me some engrossing video games. And this article from the NY Times states I'm not the only one -- senior citizens are all about it as well.

Why? If you think about it, it's as if video games were made for older people -- it stimulates brain activity, keeping those neurons firing. And the new full-bodied interactivity of the Wii also allows for some great low-impact exercise. Consider this information from POGO.COM, an EA-sponsored gaming site

People 50 and older were 28 percent of the visitors in February but accounted for more than 40 percent of total time spent on the site. On average women spent 35 percent longer on the site each day than men.

While yes we will always have our WOW-induced Southpark look-alikes, Nintendo has done an excellent job of realizing gaming is more than just crazy visuals (PS3 sales). It's also about a shared experience (online gaming with xBox 360, any PC game), and in interacting in a new, novel way (see Guitar Hero, Dance Dance Revolution, and of course, Wii).

Just announced: Norwegian Cruise Line is installing Wii systems on all its ships. Oh, the joy.