Wii Convinces Parents Games Aren't Evil

Jan. 29 9:26 AM by Lynxara

Bill Murray says a line in Ghostbusters that's always the first thing I think of when the world appears to be flipped upside-down. "Cats and dogs! Living together! Mass hysteria!"

This is a "Cats and dogs! Living together!" moment. The Canadian Halifax News has an article up about how parents are slowly discovering that playing video games isn't actually bad for children. The system causing the biggest stir is the Wii, with its Wii Sports and Big Brain Academy, but other get-butt-off-couch games like Guitar Hero get a mention, too.

"This is not like any video game that I've ever seen. You move your hand up or down, and that's what happens on the screen," Bearne said. "You swing the controller just like you would swing a tennis racket or a golf club. My husband pulled a muscle when he was playing once."

The family hasn't abandoned their old family game night standbys, like board games and cards, but Bearne says the Wii has given them other options.

"It's fun to do together as a family, especially when it's minus 25 outside," Bearne said. "You can't always get to the bowling alley, but you can do it in your living room on the game."