Is Wii the Tupperware of Our Generation?
I know these types of stories keep getting posted everywhere. You know, about common people who have never touched one of those fancy “television games” before getting totally hooked on Wii Sports Bowling. We have all read them. But an article that appeared today in Reuters brings up a good point. Is the “Wii Party” the Tupperware Party of our day?
I am not sure how many of you are old enough to remember Tupperware parties but when I was a kid they were very common. One “alpha mother” would invite all her friends over and have a dinner party where the joys of Tupperware could be discussed. It was boring for me as a kid and probably not a laugh a minute for my parents either. Still, it worked. My mom would often leave the party with more Tupperware.
The same thing seems to be happening with the Nintendo Wii, except in most cases no one is being paid to shill this system. They are just sharing it with friends who then can’t wait to buy their own. Nintendo consumers have inadvertently become Nintendo marketers. And Nintendo stands to make a bundle off this relationship.
The most amazing thing for me is a few weeks ago when I got a call from my parents and they asked me if I had bought the Wii. I was shocked. Just stunned that my parents even knew the name of Nintendo’s new game system. This only reason they ever knew Nintendo existed is because of my constant nagging for the systems when I was a kid. They had zero interest in video games. So why were they asking me about it? Because they wanted to buy one! Turns out they played it over at my aunt’s house and got hooked. So now my technology hating, “intendo” pronouncing, parents are going to buy a video game system even though all the kids have moved out of the house. Amazing!
How about you rebels? Is Nintendo’s strategy working? For me, it’s getting my parents to check Best Buy for Wii restocks on a daily basis and I never could have predicted that. Share your stories in the comments.
Vinnk - February 1st, 2007 - 
