Grandma: "Sir, can I trouble you for a glass of warm milk? It helps me go to sleep."
Nintendo PR: "You can trouble me for a warm glass of shut-the-hell-up!"
Grandma: "My fingers hurt."
Nintendo PR: "Oh, well, now your back's gonna hurt, 'cause you just pulled Wii PR duty. Anybody else's fingers hurt?... I didn't think so."
Okay, so Nintendo isn't quite as rough as the orderly from Happy Gilmore, but I'm sure they've had to use a firm hand at least once in their latest effort, a tour of ten of senior communities. This month, they're bringing around New Super Mario Bros. Wii to the older masses, forcing letting them play the game with local kids.
Out of the goodness of their hearts, they're giving these ten communities and another 42 a gift package that includes a Wii, New Super Mario Bros, Wii Sports Resort, Wii Fit Plus, Mario Kart Wii, and 4 controllers. Not a bad Christmas gift. Naturally, they're pushing the whole grandma can play with the grandkids angle. Clever, that Nintendo.
For our senior Destructoid readers:
Leisure Care communities
Dec. 4: Fairwinds – Ivey Ranch in Oceanside, Calif.
Dec. 12: La Siena in Phoenix
Dec. 13: Fairwinds – Brittany Park in Woodinville, Wash.
Dec. 19: Harvard Square in Denver
Dec. 20: Heritage Estates in Livermore, Calif.
Erickson communities
Dec. 5: Eagle’s Trace in Houston
Dec. 12: Greenspring in Springfield, Va.
Dec. 12: Ann’s Choice in Warminster, Pa.
Dec. 13: Sedgebrook in Lincolnshire, Ill.
Dec. 19: Brooksby Village in Peabody, Mass.
Contest:
3:40 PM on 12.08.2009
| 
Unfortunately I only have it on VHS, with no player. :(
As for the Wii thing, wouldn't there be something better than NSMBW that old people could play?
Like... No More Heroes?
Actually I think it's GREAT that nintendo is bringing the Wii to some retirement homes though! :)
I hope I die before I get old.
Live by the creed, die by the creed.
One the real, NSMBW is WAAAYY too hard for kids who've never played Mario games before. There's no way Granny Blue-Lettuce is gonna be able to get past world 1-3 before chucking a remote at the TV and cursing everyone out in the home.
if you want games to become real, lasting art, it does have to become mainstream. nintendo is making sure that we all get to enjoy gaming into our later years. once again, nintendo proves themselves as the only progressive company in gaming.
Wii Bowling is one thing, but New Super Mario Bros. is another!
Ridiculous.
@Artemus
It's a little harder to throw your plastic hip out while playing Mario.
[i]As for the Wii thing, wouldn't there be something better than NSMBW that old people could play?
Like... No More Heroes?[/i]
Do we want old people to think that games are shit? Actually, given how startlingly simple the mechanics are it is probably the perfect introduction for idiots/old people to action games.
(not get offa my lawn!)
Pfft, whatever! We're an unstoppable force of vigor! We'll do what we want!
...just as soon as our parents loan us a few bucks. :P
I hate that I spent over 300 dollars on Wii games for my daughter and wife.
Feeding the casual gamers, I am.
Sounds a bit harsh. I would think the act of buying things for your family to make them happy would overshadow the fact that you're begrudgingly "feeding the casual gamers."
Now unless my iPhone size is failing me I am almost certain that's a little kid.
To the right of green shirt kid's head. That's what he meant.