It’s one o’clock on a weekday afternoon. Kids are at school, adults are at work, college students are sleeping in and the biting winter cold is enough to chase away the hardiest shoppers. The store is silent, save for the humming of game displays where Brain Age and Phantom Hourglass sit proudly beside a life-sized statue of Link. Thinking the coast is clear, a Purolator delivery van pulls up out front. The driver gets out and heads to the back of the truck.

As he unloads his boxes, customers flood the store. One man turns to ask me, “Are those Wiis?” I shake my head in response, “I’m not sure, but you’re welcome to wait around if you like.” Undeterred, he stands and stares, while two more people walk into the store. “Is that the shipment?” she turns to face the man, “Are you waiting for Wiis?” The ladies decide to wait as well. Soon, more people arrive. I thought it was a joke at first, but it’s not — some people do in fact stalk delivery trucks, and they aren’t gamers. These are people who normally shy away from games. What the deuce drives them so crazy?

The answer is connectivity.

Like many other Big N fans, the Wii made my “buy” list from the get-go. I got mine through a preorder secured by wading past mall security and camping in front of a game store along with other excited fans. We borrowed chairs from the food court, sat down in front of the store and had a go at some multiplayer Mario Kart, Metroid Prime Hunters and New Super Mario Bros. I met a lot of cool guys that night! It was a fun experience, and I would definitely do it again. By eight a.m. it was time to run to class, but with a little receipt tucked safely in my wallet, I was glad to know I would be playing the newest AAA titles when they were inevitably released.

But the first time I experienced the true bonding power of the Wii was at New Year’s Eve in 2006. I hadn’t touched much of Wii Sports before then (having been occupied by Twilight Princess and finals), and I didn’t see the allure, but it was simple enough for everyone to get into. We set it up. I saw my future in-laws play Wii Bowling together, and laughing together as Mom threw the ball behind her, where an audience of Miis (and friends on the couch) shuffled away in fright. We barely even had time to count down for New Year’s — they were all caught up in the game! I had never seen anything like it.

It was then that I understood how important games are for this generation. Gaming isn’t a solitary activity like it used to be; on the contrary, the appeal of many games is playing with a friend. It doesn’t have to be competitive. What it has to be is fun, and that’s something Nintendo has never forgotten. I saw my nephew pick up the Wiimote and completely floor me in Wii Baseball. I’ve had non-gaming friends ask if I owned Wario Ware, because they tried it before and it was silly (could they come over?).

Even while I was waiting at Chicago’s O’Hare airport over the holidays, a 12-year-old boy tapped my shoulder and asked, “Are you playing Pokémon? Hey, is that Pokémon Pearl??” It was. “I’ll meet you upstairs! MOM, she’s got the same game I do! That’s so cool!!” We talked for a bit, and his mother asked me about the system. I proceeded to tell her about Pokémon, how you can play and chat with people from all around the world, and how the DS has games of all sorts, ranging from crosswords and Sudokus to your Marios and Nintendogs. She said she was thinking of buying one herself.

The gaming demographic has changed significantly in just a few years.

I went to a convention over the summer, and while my friends and I were waiting for a show to start, we heard someone cry, “PICTOCHAAAAAT!!!!!!” from the back of the auditorium. The hall was packed. The crowd was antsy, but almost immediately, a chorus of rustling backpacks resounded through the room. I kid you not. Within moments, friends were hovering over my shoulders — we passed the DS around so everyone could have a go, drawing pictures, having a laugh and more importantly, talking with others who were just, moments before, complete strangers sitting around them.

Nintendo is connecting people together in a way that’s remarkable, and we’re in the midst of it all. Sure, we’ve got cell phones, laptops and PDAs, but as more and more people accept video games into their lives, what has been criticized as a solitary, negative hobby is being turned into a positive experience that we can all share and enjoy. Gaming is becoming more widespread than it ever has before. The only name I can think of calling this transition is a term Nintendo coined all along: the Revolution. We’ve come a long way. I can’t speak for anyone else, but I’m grateful. Video games have connected me with so many people: strangers, friends, and my better half, but that’s a tale for another day.

I asked one of the ladies, why did she want a Wii so much? She said, “I don’t know anything about these games, but when I went over to my friend’s house, they had one. We played that dancing game, and my kids love it! It’s something we can do together.”

I’m sure I’m not the only one with stories to tell. So, to kick off a weekend of fun and games, how has the revolution affected you?