Assignment 2-1

The Nintendo Wii

This week I would like to explore the pop culture topic known as the Wii. I actually don’t have much experience with this gaming system but many of my friends do. Many gaming systems in the past had large followings but the Wii is off the charts. “According to the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) and The NPD Group, computer and video game sales, including portable and console hardware, software, and accessories, were $18.8 billion in 2007, a 40% increase over the $13.5 billion market in 2006 ( Miller & Washington, 2008, p. 122). The Nintendo Wii was among the top sellers.
There are several reasons why this gaming system has been so popular. One reason is the fact that this system gets the players moving. Games sure have come a long way. Parents like the system because it gets their child off the couch and moving around. It has also been a big hit with older people in nursing homes. I am sure that was a surprise to Nintendo. The Wii lets the nursing home residents play such things as baseball and golf while offering these sports in a safe environment.
I remember the first gaming system I got and it was a regular Nintendo. It will be very interesting to see what kind of gaming systems come out in the future. It looks like Nintendo will continue to stay on top of their industry. It makes me think that maybe 3-D will be the waive of the future. Only time will tell!

Miller, R. & Washington, K. (2008). Chapter 21: Video games. Entertainment, Media & Advertising Market Research Handbook, 122-126. Retrieved November 24, 2008, from Business Source Complete database.