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Wii Bowling Takes Over Phoenix Family
At Columbus Park Plaza, where the average age is 82, most of the residents, who have never picked up a video game controller in their life, suddenly can't put the things down.
"I've never played — or wanted to play— video games," said Josephine, 82, as her teammate took a twirl with the Wii's bowling game. "But this is addictive."
Jana Fielder, Service Coordinator at Columbus Park, said residents love the Wii set up in the community center. "They usually play in the afternoon, but they also have ‘pick-up games’," she said. "It’s great! The residents love it. In June, 96 residents played."
At the Oaks Apartments in Excelsior Springs, another Wii-site, the appeal has continued to grow. According to Michelle Asby, the Service Coordinator, it offers a new way for many residents to exercise and be involved in the community.
"Most of my team has never been interested in sports before. It wasn’t until we got the Wii and they started playing that they became interested. The game is so accessible and easy to participate in — you can sit or stand while playing and feel good about being involved."
The Wii has become so popular that The Oaks and Columbus Park recently held Phoenix Family’s first intra-community bowling tournament — Guys and Dolls versus The Bowling Chicks. Just like other sports games, players wore team t-shirts and family and friends gathered to cheer on their teams.
It may have been a virtual game played on a large TV, but when Genevieve, 84, released the invisible bowling ball with the hand-held controller, the emotions were 100 percent real.
After the pins scattered, her teammates erupted in applause. The Wii also chimed in with its own encouragement. (After a player does well, a virtual commentator says "Nice throw!" or "Nice spare!") Genevieve bowled strike after strike, with her teammates cheering her on. Ultimately, she earned the team’s highest score – 225.
Meanwhile, David at Columbus Park scored just behind Genevieve with a 223.
Because their competition wasn’t in the room with them, neither team knew how close the tournament was. But in the end, Guys and Dolls emerged as tournament champion – earning bragging rights.
But they’re not resting on their laurels – they continue to practice, honing their skills.
"We’ll be ready for the next challenger," says Fielder. "After all, it’s a matter of community pride."
Until then, are you a Wii Bowler? Do you think you're good at it? If so, we have a couple of people looking for challengers.
