Hurray for Nintendo!

How is it that the box that the "gaming community" considered not a "serious gaming machine" with the weakest graphics processor has garnered the most attention?

Here we are, a year later...and in every store I've been in there are gobs of Xbox 360's (every flavor) and PS3's littering the shelves: The shelves that are bare are the ones for the Wii.
Which box do my kids want? Which box is the only one my Mrs. has shown even a slight interest in? Which box is every kid in America writing to Santa for right now? The Wii.

Why?
Because it's cool, and it's fun and anyone can get the idea behind playing it by seeing the commercials. It's a hit with kids, it's a hit with their parents who grew up with the previous Nintendo boxes (who, if they want can run all those old games on this box), and it's even a hit with seniors who can get behind the idea of something you get up to play instead of just plopping down in front of the tube and pressing buttons (like I'm doing right now, I mean c'mon how much of that can you DO!).

We've had an Xbox and a Gamecube, my sibs, nephews, nieces, and kids friends have had PS2's, PS3's, Xbox's, Xbox 360's and most of the previous Nintendo systems....ask them today what system they like playing the best, and most of them will tell you the Wii (they almost all have one). This is quite a statement especially from a few who used to have Xbox LAN parties twice a month. What makes me happy about this? For once the Underdog has won by going for what's fun over what is "cutting edge" or "sexy" (whatever that means) technologically.

I laughed when I saw the gargantuan size and price of the PS3, I chuckled when Xbox 360 owners received red rings of death just as their warranty was running out. I kind of held my breath when the Wii came out last year, fearing they would be lost in the technology shuffle, but now I can only cheer for the big N.

Hurray for Nintendo!