… All the Way Home
How great is this? The Chicago Tribune and many others report that nursing homes are using the Wii to keep their residents active and engaged.
And way cool to their grandkids.
Fun! You can’t always control the message.
It appears that Nintendo has been thinking along similar lines for some time, with the December 2007 release of the specialized Wii Fit in Japan (slated for April 2008 release here in the states).
@ Nintendo: You can’t always control the message!
Isn’t a large part of the success of the regular Wii in attracting an older audience, the joy of thinking you’re in on a secret?
And feeling like you’re up on the latest technology.
The market controls the message, sometimes with delightfully unexpected results.
Cool, hip grandparents get excited about a product. Their grandkids get excited about them. It starts conversations. And they buy one for the grandkids, next birthday. Staff notices more sparkles in eyes. The message goes viral.
Will the Wii Fit’s overt message work as well as the underground message of the original? This sounds like Wii Broccoli to me. Now I’m not way cool, I’m just using another fitness machine. Killjoy!
What unexpected uses have you heard of for your product or service? Do you have a great tip for encouraging serendipity in Customer Experience without losing the secret’s sparkle? Leave a comment below.
Grow and be well,
Kelly Erickson
Gracias, Courtney, por decirme sobre éste.
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13 February 2008, 3:07 pm
OMG, Kelly! I was just talking about this with my parents the other day. Last Christmas they lucked into getting a Wii system. Dad was in the middle of Best Buy when one of the clerks gave him a heads up on the sly that the new Wii shipment just came in. If he wanted one, go wait over by the front counter.
Dad just shrugged, Mom thought it sounded cool, so he went on over and waited. Before long, he was the first in a very long line to get one of these.
Since they’ve brought it home, they’ve learned how to play it (mind you, neither are technologically minded, Dad even less than Mom), and introduced all their neighbors in the retirement community to it.
It is a great idea, and the way it’s being marketed to seniors is fantastic. For many who don’t get up and out to exercise, this provides a simple way to incorporate some movement into their day. Not that my folks need it too much (Mom is one of the most active individuals I know), but for others, it could help and keep it fun.
13 February 2008, 5:17 pm
Harry,
My Dad gets upset when he plays at my sister’s house, because my 8-year-old nephew beats him at bowling–and my Dad’s an ace bowler. No Wii for his house! (Not not mention that he’d never get any work done again.)
I think the fact that seniors like your Dad have mainly been finding it through word of mouth is the real genius here. (That’s hysterical, by the way. Your Dad wanted one purely because of the scarcity! He must know my Dad!) Just hope Nintendo doesn’t overdo the Broccoli effect.
An epidemic of active seniors. Too cool.
: )
Regards,
Kelly
16 February 2008, 4:14 pm
Yeah, I thought it was pretty funny too.
My Dad is an excellent RL bowler too, I remember him and my grandfather being in leagues when I was a kid. Another side effect of Wii is people who play the games long enough (like the sports games or something like Guitar Hero) start to think they can do the real thing.
Slash was recently interviewed on one of the radio stations down here and he said he plays Guitar Hero – only if he’s not touring. Apparently it really affects the way he plays guitar out on the road, and not for the better.
16 February 2008, 4:35 pm
So, Slash is starting to think he can do the real thing?
: )
This could be serious. Maybe I’ll have to do a follow-up post.