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Wii Bowling a Strike With Seniors

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 22, 2009 3:33 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Seniors are wholeheartedly embracing Wii Bowling as a fun social activity mercifully devoid of the weight of an actual ball, the Chicago Tribune reports. “Can you think of anything better to do?” says the president of a league at a Chicago-area retirement community. “It's the piece de resistance of retirement.” That league, one of many nationwide, has grown to include 96 players—with a sub list 47 names long.

Senior Wii Bowling leagues sprang up almost immediately after the Nintendo console was released in 2006. Players love the modest exertion and camaraderie. “It gives you a lot of exercise,” says a 72-year-old bowler, who also claims her Wii average of 213 is a full 100 points higher than in an actual alley. Elderly video-game bowlers can also lord their skills over, say, grandchildren. “It just teaches them the pecking order,” a 62-year-old says.

People play a giant game of Nintendo Wii Bowling on a big screen TV.
People play a giant game of Nintendo Wii Bowling on a big screen TV.   (AP Photo)
An elderly woman cheers on a friend playing Wii Bowling.
An elderly woman cheers on a friend playing Wii Bowling.   (AP Photo)
Lillian Faybik, 87, of Manhattan, plays baseball on the Wii from Nintendo.
Lillian Faybik, 87, of Manhattan, plays baseball on the Wii from Nintendo.   (AP Photo)
A customer hands over his credit card to purchase Wii video game console.
A customer hands over his credit card to purchase Wii video game console.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 6 comments
NxBigmouthery
Jul 23, 2009 4:58 AM CDT
I WAS gonna write something about how nice it is that technology has given something fun to older people to keep them happy and active, but i can see this particular story has been hijacked by a person who is rapidly becoming the bane of everyone's Newser experience. CK, you add nothing of value, you rarely make a comment on the relevant story, you merely engage in attacks on the other people who comment...you are, in short, a spammer & a troll. You are also a neo-conservative, not a conservative. You have a right to be here, I suppose you even have a right to behave in the way you do, but that should also mean we have a right to laugh at you.
kokuaguy
Jul 23, 2009 4:45 AM CDT
rest of you as well. Flagging is childish,
kokuaguy
Jul 23, 2009 4:44 AM CDT
What does "abusive" mean? It's the only one that could possibly justify "flagging" and it's done all the time by others. C_k just happens to be the KING. Just follow the advice and stop calling for him to be banned and/or flagging him. This goes for the

 
sports • elderly • Nintendo Wii • retirement communities • video games • seniors • bowling • league

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