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Wii Appeals To All Ages

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By SUZANNE M. SCHMIDT

IN THE LOOP

Published: January 21, 2009

More than two years after its initial launch, Nintendo's Wii console continues to be a sensation in communities all over America. Land O' Lakes is no different.

On a recent Friday morning, seniors at the Baldomero Lopez State Veterans Nursing Home gathered around a television set to play bowling on "Wii Sports." Later that evening, a large group of teenagers met at the Land O' Lakes Branch Library to battle it out during a Wii bowling tournament.

Jane Armand, 78, of Land O' Lakes said she loves to play the Wii with residents at the veterans' home. Armand has been a volunteer at the home off Ehren Cutoff Road for 10 years.

"I love it and a lot of the residents here like it," Armand said. "There are some games they can't do, like the boxing or the golf, but they can do the bowling. I think it is great because it is an experience they wouldn't be able to get otherwise. God bless the sheriff's office for buying it for us."

Melissa Hampton, the assistant activities director at Baldomero, said she brings out the Wii for about an hour a couple times a week for the residents to play. Through the Operation Patriot program, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office donated the Wii and some other items to the home about a year ago.

"I think the games help with hand-eye coordination and helps them to think a little more," Hampton said. "Different groups of residents like to play different games and some just like to watch for the visual effects. It is also great because it gives them a chance to interact a little bit more."

Terry Gregory, 68, said he likes to play the Wii because it allows him to do things he wouldn't normally be able to do like bowling, baseball and being a contestant on the "Price Is Right."

"I was a bowler before anyway and I bowled for many years," Gregory said. "My hip went out in 1995 so being able to use the Wii is the first time I could bowl since. I also like the Wii because it makes you think and it helps to pass the time."

At the library event, youth ages 11 to 18 lined up for their own bowling tournament. Paul Stonebridge, youth librarian, said the library has a video game tournament every other month that attracts anywhere from 40 to70 people.

"For the tournaments, we combine the game consoles from New River and Land O' Lakes in order to have at least 10 systems going at once," Stonebridge said. "If there are 50 kids in the building, the goal is to have something for everyone to do."

During the tournament, the library also had "Guitar Hero, World Tour" on the Xbox 360, "Dance, Dance Revolution" for the PlayStation 2, "Guitar Hero 3" on the PlayStation 2 and a Japanese game called "Taiko Drum Master" for the PlayStation 2.

Jason Henry, 16, of Land O' Lakes entered the bowling tournament with his game face on and ended up winning the whole thing along with a $25 Best Buy gift card.

"I like the Wii because I can get out of the chair and do stuff with it," Henry said. "I think it is cool the library is having the tournament because it gets more people to come together to play."

Carli Brackett, 13, of Land O' Lakes competed in the tournament and lost to Henry but that didn't diminish the experience for her. She said she had a great time.

"I think the tournament is really fun," Brackett said. "It is cool that the library has these tournaments because I think some people cannot afford to get a Wii so I think it is nice they can come to the library and try it out and play it."

All the library's video game systems, including the three PlayStation 2s, an Xbox, an Xbox 360, a Game Cube and the Wii, have been donated by the community. Stonebridge said the library is always open to taking donations of working game systems and televisions that can be used for the systems.

The New River Branch Library, 34043 State Road 54, in the Wesley Chapel area will give seniors a chance to have their fun with Wii, card and board games during the Senior Adult Gaming Experience Jan. 24 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, call the library at (813) 788-6375.

For more information on donating video gaming systems, games or televisions to the Land O' Lakes Branch Library, call Stonebridge at (813) 929-1214.

Reporter Suzanne M. Schmidt can be reached at (813) 948-4288 or sschmidt@mediageneral.com.

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