Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Wii Madness

This past weekend my hubby surprised me with a Wii. We had talked about getting one for our anniversary (yes, we are complete nerds) and on Saturday I walked downstairs and immediately saw the tiny white tower of time suckage sitting by the television. Of course, it was love at first sight.

Now, I have been playing video games for a long time. Hell, my family had an Atari - and yes, we did have Pong. When the old gray Nintendo came out, with the original Mario game, my brother and I basically lived at our friends house until my parents took pity on their parents and bought us one (By the way, I still have one - you just can't beat some of those games). We progressed to a SuperNES and my brother later got a Playstation.

Of course I have clocked in many hours playing video games. But, unlike many, I do not find that this time was wasted. For me, video games are hard. I don't have that crazy natural talent that some people have with computerized worlds. I have to really try. Plus, coordination is not my specialty so games that require me to press all kinds of crazy buttons to do one simple move takes weeks to perfect. So, in essence, all of my video game playing time is really improve my coordination and mind time (at least that is how I rationalize it).

Back to my main point - since I have been playing video games for a long time I feel completely secure in the following statement. The Wii totally rocks! It is more interactive than any game system out there (I think) and better yet, to the utter dismay of true gamers, it gets you off the couch and on your feet. No more vegging out, losing yourself in the fantasy world of Zelda. You must actually move more than just your fingers if you want to slay monsters and collect goodies. A game of tennis actually requires you to get on your feet and swing your arms. Now, I am not only solving puzzles to move to the next board, I am actually moving as I move to the next board. A true mind-body workout :)

I can't wait to try a football game...

39 comments:

Kaley! said...

The wii is the only gaming system I actually enjoy, and can do. Besides Guitar Hero, all the other XBOX and Playstation games are way too difficult for me. With the wii you actually move around and use energy and is an excuse for exercise. Wii sports is my favorite, that bowling game in training Ms. Stoklosa, you really need to try it, its the best.

Desiree729 said...

All the while I've been listening to you describe your complete bliss over getting your Wii, it reminded me of a moment I had (or a few moments) over this past Winter Break.
I go to SC every break to visit my mom and while I was there I went to visit a friend of mine and him and his brother wanted to play the Wii they had just gotten for Christmas. I had no intentions of joining them until the noises they were making during 'Super Smash Bros.' made me laugh out loud. It was hilarious and I just had to see what it was about. So I grabbed the 3rd controller and picked out my 'Zelda' character and we sat there and fought a fight that lasted an hour! I didn't expect to get so into it but I had no choice, the Wii had this invisible pull that just yanked the happiness and giddy-ness right out of me.
I've been having Wii-compulsions since I've been back home. And since I'm going again over Spring Break... Let the 'Wii Madness' begin...

aircupcakes10 said...

You are absolutly right in you statement about how the Wii is amazing. I never really like video games until I got mine for Christmas. It actually makes you feel like you are performing the actions in the game. Tennis is sooo hard, swinging your arms back and forth is truly a workout. Even playing monopoly is interactive. One game I think you should try, as a fan of classic Mario, is Mario Galaxy. The graphics are amazing and you get to jump from planet to planet. What more could you ask for. Well I think I'm gonna go play with my Wii now.

CAR ZONE said...

Yes i do agree with you the wii is adickting and yes football is one of my recomandaions for the wii madden 09 is a great game to rent to try it out so im telling you that you will love the wii and also you can use it as a enet surfer too but other then that hope you enjoy congrats on your wii.

Jordan

TheOne128 said...

hahaha Mrs. stoklosa your funny. But I agree with you 100%. I cant afoord one, but my cousin has a wii with a bunch of games like supreme mario galazy or something like that. I was over his house for about a month straight. Im surprised that they didnt kick me out. Id get so into the game that I would yell at the TV and everything, a little emberassing. Oh well I dont mind. He also bought rock band for wii. Its amazing! I went over for christmas and that all we did from 4 in the afternoon untill about 1AM. we are so crazy, but we have some fun expierences.

Prada said...

I think it's great that you still have the original nintendo. I myself am a bit conservative about video games, since I still refuse to give up my Nintendo 64 and buy something more advanced. It sits right on top of my VCR. I simply can not replace these things. However I do find the Wii to be very entertaining. Like you mentioned, getting the hang of a video game is challenging enough already, and the Wii only ups that challenge and makes it twice as fun. The variety of games is going to increase dramaticaly. I can only imagine what they will come up with. Call of duty i a great game and I highly reccomend it to you, but having that thing to hold the remotes that makes it look like a gun helps alot.

Gian Trotta said...

Oh god ok. Well, to be a honest a lot of hardcore gamers out there hate the Wii. With it's captivating "hey you need to move around to play me, so move around" power you just...well you exercise. A "video game" that makes you loose weight does not count as a video game!
I'm just kidding there, let me bring on my actual argument.
The Wii came to the United States and called out to anyone from your six year old sister to your eighty nine year old grandma to join in on the fun of playing video games and have fun. There's nothing wrong with that and I'm glad to wake up to my mom playing Cooking Mama and pretending to cook me breakfast without actually cooking me breakfast. But the Wii doesn't focus on a lot of the next generation of gaming's core! The highly anticipated cult followings to games, the incredible graphics that make you feel like your there, the plot lines that latch on to you like a best-seller book! They took all of that, threw it away, and said "hey we're making motion sensitive controllers and that's all we're bringing to the next generation." So people went crazy for the Wii because of this one thing and now they have most sales in the console war! They did one thing! One freaking thing! An innovative controller and that's it. A lot of people don't buy more than two games but yet it's sold out at every major store from here to Japan. They simplified gaming and under minded every amazing game that was scheduled to come out in the next generation of gaming.
The Wii craze took fan boys from Microsoft and Sony and in my opinion it just inspires mediocrity.
By the way, I had an Atari, I had the first Sega console, the Sega Genesis that no one knows about, The Dreamcast that everyone forgot about, Nintendo 64, Playstation 2, and an Xbox 360. I did buy the last two with my own money along with most of the accessories for them and I've been obsessed with gaming, and not just playing them but everything about them, since I was a little kid.
Oh and one more thing.....I own a Wii. (With like six games, four controllers, and the rechargeable batteries base thing. Oh and my whole family and my neighbor has a Mii on it.) :[

Anonymous said...

When I was little i remember my mom bought my dad a supernintendo. It was amazing we would sit home on weekends and play it for hours. Recently I found the old system in my closet and was overjoyed! I recently started playing it again and i am truly amazed at how much fun a little grey box could be. Although i also love nintendo 64 just as much. I have never played a wii though but I guess I will have to take your word for it since i have nothing to refer back to. When I do try the wii I will surly let you know. You make me want to try out this tennis game.

Tommy23 said...

I don't really play video games. I never have, my parents didn't buy them for me. I found it a lot more entertaining going outside and playing sports. Although when Grand Theft Auto came out I fell in love. I played non sto at my friends house. I know how you feel now that you got a Wii. Personally I dson't really like the Wii, but i haven't really played it.

Anonymous said...

You would get a Wii.

-- Jeff Fleisher

Anonymous said...

I love the wii. My favorite part is creating the little wii that looks like you. Mine never comes out looking like me. One of my favorite games is the tennis. Thats actually the only one that I am good at. I can't golf because I just can't understand how to play it. I like the baseball but that takes a lot of practice. The boxing is really not for me. I used to like the bowling until my brother got better at it then me and now I don't like it anymore. Anyways I hope that one day I can own my very own wii.

Alicia said...

My dad took it away...

Faustino Conde said...

I don't own a Wii but I have played it and felt it's addictive powers that it seems to have on people, I have been a victim of this. For me the Wii have always seen to be more interactive but it's more of a party game where you can have more fun witha group of people instead of just one. So I much rather sitck to the high level consoles such as the XBOX 360 since I always appreciate a game for its graphics more than for it's interactivity.

RCK'r'HRD(Jose E.) said...

The timing of your purchase of the Wii is creepy considering I GOT A Wii last Weekend too!!! too much coincidence!! I have the same problem as you, i won't stop playing, although i don't think its a problem, i guess i'm just having a "fun workout". Anyways, i'm going to go play with my Wii now, peace!

Anonymous said...

The wii is fun depends what your in the mood to play.Like they dont have grand theft auto or call of duty. But the wii has the new mario games which I believe the Nintendo is the best out of every game system ever invented. And I can say this sinced I have owned every system ever invented except PS3 but I've played it.But the wii gets me frustrated sometimes and it gets hard to control. But it's alot of fun.

qtgabi21 said...

Oh my God Mrs. S you so went there and back this is the most hilarious blog I have ever read in my life. I totally agree with you on that part of getting up on your feet, it's nice for once to have a challenge for those lazy bumbs. Maybe not only could it be video game, but a totally new way of how the vidoe game can be tought of. It would increase the possabilties of those lazy bumbs to get up and out of that bigg so long couch and work those arms and legs =]

GATORS217 said...

It's hilarious the way you figured out how to rationalize your addiction to video games, you convinced me that there's nothing to be ashamed of when you're a self-admitted "gamer". But I can relate, I am still the proud owner of a Super Nintendo gaming system and I am a professional Super Mario player (no lie). I also still have my Nintendo 64 and you can find me secretly playing the original Mario Kart if you're sneaky enough. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being an intense gamer! Game on!

Jeremiah Nelson said...

Haha Mrs. S hearing you talk about video games is hilarious. I seriouslly laughed out loud while reading this post. I just imagined you standing in front of your TV transfixed in a fantasy world. And then you try to rationalize the time you have lost=D I'm not saying you're wrong but I still think after a certain point of playing time you have gone past perfecting your hand eye cordination and moved into a entirely new world of waisting time.=p

Tiffany said...

I find this so funny how your addicted to the Wii. But all videogames or should I say games in general are addicting. I have never actually played any Wii game, but now every time you mention it you are so excited I want to play it even more! And the Wii is better then other videogame systems because it gets you off of your butt and moving around which is what some video game addicts need.

Lucy said...

I don't really ever play video games anymore. Except Rock Band of course! I have played Wii a few times with my friends and I love it, I almost got one myself. My brother has a 360, but I still love the Nintendo 64. As a kid, I spent hours and hours playing games like Donkey Kong and Super Mario, aswell as some of the 007 games with my dad and brother. I hate that we had to sell it when we moved here because the power plugs are different, I miss it!

Amelia said...

The wii looks like an entertaining game. My little brother and sister used to have one until we took it back to get a cheaper one, but haven't seen one yet. Although, when we did have the wii, i played on occasions. It was really fun, but required lots of work in some of the games.

Diana said...

For charismas me and my little sister got a wii, we were jumping when we opened and I play when ever I don’t have work or bball. it is so fun and the fact that you have to move the control in order for the game to work makes it even better because I remember when I was little and had the super Nintendo I always would move the control as if it would make a difference and now it dose...so I agree the wii dose rock.

Rebecca said...

Wii is the best i love it, but im pretty sure people don't like to play me in it. It's not because i'm crazy good or anything, it's because i'm very competitive. I start to play a harmless game of tennis with my little sister and and then i find myself saying stuff like "die you loser". I don't actually mean it it's just that this need to win just takes over me. Anyways it is a great game consol, even if i have to play it myself.

adyyy! said...

I'm actually very jealous. I've been trying to convince my mom for months now to get a me a wii. I still haven't got one :(.

Justin F said...

I thought the Wii would be cool at first then I tried it and wow it was a pain in the butt. I'd rather stick with my XBox 360 and PS3. Hope you enjoy your Wii :)

Miguel Alban said...

Yes I Belive you are correct. video games are amazing and they arent really healthy for you but you cant help it enjoy your Wii Madness Mrs. Stoklosa

Chris Goodwin said...

The Wii has to be the most interactive game system. Like you said you can get up off your feet and jump into the game(literally). I don't own a Wii, and don't plan too, but they are very fun to play and very enjoyable. Have fun, enjoyable, constructive practice on your coordination with your Wii :)

john_garciap2 said...

I tried the wii only once and it was pretty good. I loved the bowling a lot and the boxing. And your right you need to actually get up and move around. But i don't play a lot of video games anymore i only used to play when i was little and early teens. But i would play once in a while. I heard that the Wii has this Wiifit and it actually works. When i looked on the commercial it didn't even looked like it worked. Then i heard that a football player lost 35 pounds and that it worked for you. Maybe i was wrong.

C Robinson 32 said...

1) :D the last line of that post was a beautiful thing. Amen to that.

2) White tower of time suckage

3) I really think you should bring it in one day and let us see you in action. Me, Damien, and a lot of our football buddies (Damien, football buddies, and I ******) have fought it out over that Mario and Sonic Olympic Game. I do not have the time to play that much video games, but I really have fun when I do. Life needs competition in it.

Dan said...

Haha the wii is freaking awesome. I always went to my friends house and played Super Smash Bros Brawl for days..We never stopped playing cause it was so intense. I also find the Wii fit to be interesting and Wii Sports is fun too. Bowling is fun :)

frenchykevin23 said...

I have to agree with you and say that the wii is pretty amazing. I also own a wii and I actually got it for the game super smash because it’s like the best game ever, but I did too fall in love with the wii sports and I rock. =] The wii is an interesting system because it lets you interact with the game and move around, which I find to be really cool. I recommend getting a shooting game because aiming at stuff on the wii is like the best thing ever. I think its rad that you use to play the old gray Nintendo, I remember when I was a kid, my mom would drive me to school early just so she could go home and play Mario all day. But I do agree that the wii rocks and I definitely think you should bring it in one day so I can show you my awesome talents.

Anonymous said...

I Like the Wii, because of the activeness that people needs to go thought to play this game. The game makers have gotten smarter in selling a device that really gets the average gamer to move around and try to be a bit healthier. And that’s a great thing considering the increasing obesity that America has taken shame to. The problem is the gamers that sit on the couch all day working to crack codes and make it to the next level, are not interested in Wii gaming. They think it’s a fun game but only for that moment. Their heart and true love lies in Halo or games of that matter. I like the Wii, but only because other games frustrate me too much, because like you, I have no coordination. I also have no patience and won’t give gaming another thought.

Tucci said...

hahahaha I my self love playing the wii with a bunch of my family cause they seem to make it very funny. But I tried playing it by myself and it was fun for the beginning then it got boring. I’m more in to sports games and the Wii has them but not to my liking. I once broke a controller pressing a button. Lol I was really into the game that I pushed the button so hard it broke! I was shocked. Btw I like Wii Fit the best.=]

autumn_nicole said...

I haven't had much experience with the wii even though my family owns one. We also have the wii fit but my little brother is the only one who seems to use it. It looks really fun but I don’t know, I think I grew out of my video game stage. I do agree it is a good way to work out while having fun. It doesn't make any sense for people to say that its not and it's just a video game when they've never tried it. When I actually did enjoy video games my favorite one was the iToy. It was fun and most definitely a work out. I don't think you have a problem really, but a break here ad there is a good idea :]

Sebastian B said...

I don't have a Wii but I always go to my friends house to play it. I think it's the funnest system out there becuase all the games are taken to a whole new level. This console seems like so much fun that my mom even wants to buy it. Hopefully I'll be getting one soon.

Anonymous said...

The Wii is a very fun system. i play it whenever I see one. I almost broke my thumb paying the bowling game.

Daniel Glovsky said...

I recently had to let go of my Wii :( it was a very dramatic day in my life that is hard to talk about but i will pull this awful day out of the back of my mind for my grades sake. A funny thing happens when you get a 230 dollar speeding ticket, your mom makes you pay for it. And an even funnier thing happens when you don't save your money from work, you get to sell your Wii!

So I reluctantly put an ad up on craigslist to sell my old friend. To my surprise some schmo bought it for three hundred dollars!! It was sick beacuse I think they only cost two hundred.

Point of the story, Life is a beach!

Aubrey Stolzenberg said...

I find the Wii to be extremely entertaining, I love the fact that you need to actually get up and physically interact with the game. I mean, even the "free game" that comes with the Wii is entertaining, I love the boxing game.

sportiebrat said...

I have a wii at home and I am always on it when I am home. My favorite game is rock band. I am amazing on the guitar and drums but not so much on the vocals. The one game I really want is wii fit I cannot find it anywhere. I think the next system that Nintendo is going to come out with will be insane.