Fall 08 - T33 - G5

= Wii Wow or Wii Oww =

What is a Wii?

 * Wii, a video game console invented by Nintendo, is a wireless seventh generation product. Wii, Nintendo’s fifth game console, is the first gaming system of its kind to have a wireless remote, which acts as a pointing device and detects movement in three dimensions. The remote allows players to move their arms and bodies to control onscreen characters. To make a quick tennis serve, players simply swing the Wii remote; to drive a car, they plainly turn their wrist. The Wii controllers use Bluetooth technology to connect with the console as far as ten meters away, enabling gamers to stand back and play on a giant screen TV. Also, the Wii remote, termed “WiiMote,” has the ability to connect to the internet to receive messages and updates. After creating the original name “Revolution”, Nintendo became determined to create a title people all around the world would be able to recognize and pronounce. Wii, symbolizing “We,” emphasizes that Wii is for everyone; people of all ages, genders, and cultures. Although many argue that the name “Wii” is considered childish, Nintendo enforces that the innovative product is for a variety of people, and is meant to bring the gamer and gaming system together.

Competition and Popularity

 * Nintendo Wii’s main competitors include Sony’s Playstation 3 and Microsoft’s Xbox 360. Although one can view Wii in a league of its own, due to its original, wireless technology, Wii competes for the same market share as the other gaming giants. Nintendo’s unique ideas and low prices set them apart from competitors, despite its lack of graphics. Nintendo has always highlighted its concern for the consumers, representing its lower cost. At only $279.00 American, Nintendo takes a penetration pricing objective, attracting an even greater population of consumers.  Compared to gaming devices in its class, Wii is highly ranked due to its efficiency and response time of the remote, as well as the effortless detail and quality of the buttons.   By promoting low prices and focusing on little details, Nintendo encourages positive experiences with the gamer, and sets its product above the competitors. In 2008, Wii continues to rise above its competition. Nintendo has been able to raise its full year profits forecast by 20 per cent. Targets for the amount of Wii games it expects to sell globally have been raised from 17 million to 21 million. The firm is also aiming to sell six million Wii hardware units by the end of the financial year.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/17/Wii_Wiimotea.png/260px-Wii_Wiimotea.png

Social Benefits

 * The Nintendo Wii has truly changed the way individuals interact with video games. One of the social benefits that the Wii provides to consumers is that communities that are not safe for kids to be playing outside so the Wii keeps them active in the safety of their home. This gives parents a sense of ease to know that their kids are involved in an active setting and not on the streets where something could go wrong.


 * Also the Wii has broadened its consumer target by developing video games that are attractive to both adults and females (who are less inclined to play video games). Games like “Brain Age” are designed to appeal to an adult demographic by testing one’s mind; this game has proven to be a huge success. While games like “NintenDogs” allows little girls to train puppies in a town they create themselves.

Physical Benefits

 * The Nintendo Wii console has proven to be an effective tool in the rehabilitation of kids. A study showed that a 13 year old Cerebral Palsy patient showed noticeable improvements in visual perception and functionality mobility. Consoles like the Wii can provide a healthier interaction of the body as well as a richer, more enjoyable interaction, unlike sedentary video game console (e.g., XBOX). The Wii is also useful for athletes and Nascar drivers because it provides a virtual field where the athletes/drivers can sharpen their skills without risk of injury. In a study involving an XBOX, a Nintendo Wii and M&M candy showed that kids playing the Nintendo Wii ate less of the candy then kids playing on the XBOX.

Social Concerns

 * The Wii proposes social health risks to people. The Wii can be very addicting, so addicting that it can consume people’s lives. This leads to isolation and decline in interaction with others. The affect on children is huge because children need interaction with others to develop life skills. For people this isolation may impact: families, friends, work, and themselves. This is due to priorities being focused on playing Wii and not more important things in life. The impact on work is the work doesn’t get completed and goals don’t get met.


 * The Wii has some games that are violent so people may introduce violence into their lives. There have been numerous studies that have shown video games with violent content adversely affect a teen’s aggressive behavior.

Physical Concerns

 * There are many physical health risks that come along with playing Wii. The Wii is designed to mimic certain moves of sports and provide some physical health benefit. This is not the case because it is not the same level of exercise as playing an actual sport. This may lead to physical health risks such has obesity for people who think they are getting enough exercise from the Wii. Since the Wii mimics the motion of sports people may be at risk of injury if the player is standing too close to other people or objects. The Wii is also a very repetitive motion so this can lead to “Wiiitis” or chronic injuries.


 * For people with epilepsy, they are at risk of seizers due to fast flickering of light that is accustomed to some Wii games.


 * An example of a physical health risk is the WiiFit, which gives a body mass index for people who enter their weight and height. It then classifies them as normal range, “overweight” or obese. Healthy Body Mass Index ranges for children are different from adults, so some children may get misleading information. This may lead to eating disorders in children.

Wii and Seniors

 * Video games are no longer restricted to youngsters. Today people of every age group can participate in the gaming experience…and yes, that includes the seniors. If you know an old person, chances are you must have heard them lament over the loss of their social life all thanks to their immobility and various other impairments. They can’t go out and enjoy with their friends or family as they worry they won’t be able to keep up or might injure themselves somehow. The Wii sports games give them a chance to relive their youth. Even the mere thought of playing sports such as bowling, tennis, golf, boxing and baseball is impossible for the senior citizens, but the Wii games have made that possible. Weekly parties are being organized at retirement homes and elsewhere, thereby giving the seniors a chance to socialize and interact with one another all the while cheering each other in friendly competition. The Wii game has an innovative motion-sensing remote and a simple graphical interface and these qualities make this game very simple.


 * As we are all aware, doctors encourage people to be at least mildly active during old age. This helps to keep the bones strong and joints loose. These games also increase brain activity and help improve hand-eye co-ordination. The Wii Bowling tournament especially has become a hit with the seniors. They can enjoy the game without having to worry about swinging a heavy ball and throwing their back out. The Wii Golf tournament is enjoyed as relaxing activity after supper.


 * Even though a lot of seniors enjoy this kind of activity, many don’t. Many seniors are set in their ways and are therefore hesitant to try out new things and thus refrain from giving video games a shot; perceiving them to be complicated and thus unable to be used. Such old people may feel left out.


 * Old people have weak and fragile bodies and even though playing the Wii sports games have an enormously lesser probability of causing injuries; there’s always the chance of one happening. For example, a person having a stiff shoulder may end up spraining it and some others may end up pulling a muscle if they swing their arm the wrong way. Also, many seniors have complained about having sore arms after playing Wii Tennis.


 * All in all, the Wii games have been a hit and do promote social and physical well being for our senior citizens.

http://www.gadgetell.com/images/2007/09/seniors.jpg

Group Members

 * Carlos Reyes (cjreyes@ucalgary.ca)
 * Daniel Pow (drdpow@hotmail.com)
 * Heather Hutten-Czapski (ht362031@dal.ca)
 * Kaylene Lyons (k_dot11@hotmail.com)
 * Sanaea Patel (sanaeapatel@yahoo.com)

Pages Cited
Carlos:
 * http://newswise.com/articles/view/544616/
 * http://www.cyfernet.org/cyfar08/Research/Chamberlin/Chamberlin-Research1.pdf
 * http://www.caot.ca/otnow/jan%2008/virtual.pdf
 * http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=MImg&_imagekey=B6WB2-4SNHNTS-K-1&_cdi=6698&_user=1067480&_orig=search&_coverDate=09%2F30%2F2008&_sk=999489997&view=c&wchp=dGLzVlz-zSkWb&md5=a62a8ba2faf0f6b0dc91caac7bd66494&ie=/sdarticle.pdf
 * http://news.cnet.com/8301-13513_3-9747519-24.html

Daniel:
 * http://www.pamf.org/preteen/parents/videogames.html
 * http://www.lne.usp.br/~vwsetzer/video-g-risks.html
 * http://eatingdisorders.about.com/od/riskfactors/p/wiifitbmi.htm
 * http://www.epilepsy.com/articles/ar_1151949941
 * http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1584697,00.html

Heather:
 * http://thedish.blogs.com/content/technology_web_blogs/
 * http://www.geek.com/articles/games/got-wii-itis-2007068/
 * http://gothamist.com/2007/09/30/wiiniors_citize.php
 * http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB116441076273232312-3nPirhZn20_L2P7m_ROtFUkh6yA_20071124.html
 * http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN0616721120070606

Kaylene:
 * http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=147354
 * http://proquest.umi.com.ezproxy.lib.ucalgary.ca/pqdweb?index=5&did=1168597541&SrchMode=2&sid=6&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1227817691&clientId=12303
 * http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wii
 * http://money.cnn.com/magazines/business2/business2_archive/2007/05/01/8405654/index.htm
 * http://www.mcvuk.com/news/25265/Nintendo-Wii-more-popular-now-than-at-launch

Sanaea:
 * http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/364081/nintendo_wii_for_seniors_is_the_video.html?cat=12
 * http://osteoarthritis.about.com/b/2008/02/24/nintendo-wii-helps-seniors-and-disabled-people-stay-active.htm
 * http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/samiljan/5868
 * http://www.gadgetell.com/tech/comment/nintendos-wii-continues-to-be-a-smash-with-seniors/
 * http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2008/01/30/ot-swing.html
 * http://www.thestar.com/living/article/267447