Who says that all video games are bad? Certainly not the
individuals flocking to the Time Warner Center this coming
weekend, June 2-3, for the World Cyber Games U.S. Open; and
certainly not the senior citizens at the Sedgebrook retirement
community in Lincolnshire, Ill., where the average age is 77.
They've discovered the fun of the Nintendo Wii, as have many new
gamers including myself. We're getting off the couch and bowling,
playing golf, swinging the bat - all in our living room and best
of all, we're losing weight.
The heavy-duty best gamers are the ones flocking to New York City
to compete at The Samsung Experience, located on the third floor
of the Time Warner Center in Columbus Circle. The competition
kicks off the American leg of the world's biggest International
Video Game Tournament Series. These elite players will battle for
more than $20,000 in cash and prizes and a berth in the WCG USA
National Final this September in Seattle.
Unless one has teens or young adult children, one might not have
any idea how lucrative gaming can be for those proficient with
systems like Xbox 360, or Playstation3, or equally adept at PC
games. Generally the only impression one may have about video
games is largely negative due to the near-obscene games such as
"Grand Theft Auto III" and others.
These are definitely not the games that will be part of the Cyber
Games. I have never heard of these titles: "Gears of
War," "Dead or Alive," "Project Gotham
Racing," or "BroodWar," but there's a lot I didn't
know about this digital playground. It's a lot more respectable
than what I imagined.
Michael Arzt, general manager and senior vice president of ICM,
global organizers of WCG, said, "The most exciting part is
that the WCG U.S. Open is that it's not just for the pros: In the
true spirit of an ‘open,' people can come off the street and
compete in one of the most popular console games on the
planet."
I received an invitation from a representative of the event
reminding me that on Thursday, May 31, there would be a Pro
Gaming training clinic between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. at the Samsung
Experience for anyone interested in learning tricks and tips from
the nation's best pro gamers. Fast-paced video games, however,
are for the young with nimble fingers and definitely not my
speed. However, last November, a gaming system was introduced
that is not only fit for me, but is helping to make me fit.
I had no idea why my daughter, who was graduating from St. John's
University, wanted a Nintendo Wii (pronounced wee) for her
present. What I did learn was that the local stores were always
out of stock. While the system retails for $249, it will cost
much more on the black market for those impatient to try this
innovative system that is proving that video games are not just
for kids. Senior citizens are getting out of their armchairs to
swing bowling balls, golf clubs, or bats with their remote
controllers that drive the targets on their TV screen. The harder
you swing the more power you wield. The wireless controller
translates the player's action onto the screen. You twist your
hand, your ball will curve. It's positively addicting.
I managed to find a new Wii console on sale at eBay, and soon the
family was having tournaments and competing for points. I found
myself out of breath after a few games and in a week had lost
three pounds. This, apparently, is not a new phenomenon, but one
that is being repeated throughout the country. There are also
additional games to buy that offer dance and exercise programs
that are not only real workouts but fun. For Mother's Day, my son
bought me my own individual remote controller with a distinctive
pink cover, which I found so much more delightful than flowers.
Whoever invented the Wii is a genius. It's getting youths off the
couch and bringing generations together, and so far it's a pretty
wholesome environment with parental controls available, since the
system can also access the Internet.
But I wouldn't know any of this if I hadn't learned to listen to
my children and to have respect for their opinions. Parents and
teenagers tend to drift away from one another when we scoff at
their interests, and this generally leads to trouble. If they can
connect on just one thing that bonds them, even if it's just a
video game, it's a godsend. Go for it.