Nintendo Visits Erickson and Leisure Care Communities Nationwide
REDMOND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Before the launch of the Wii™ system, most seniors probably never gave video games a second thought. But then came the game Wii Sports™ and, with it, senior bowling leagues and the emergence of video games as a regular pastime for seniors nationwide. This month Nintendo pays tribute to these new players with gaming events at Erickson and Leisure Care communities across the country for residents and their family members, with a focus on New Super Mario Bros.™ Wii.
Between Dec. 4 and Dec. 20, Nintendo representatives will visit 10 communities to demonstrate New Super Mario Bros. Wii to hundreds of senior residents and their families, and encourage every generation to sample the game’s unique blend of imaginative, multiplayer fun. Because players can play through the game either cooperatively or competitively, participants can expect to see kids helping their grandparents overcome difficult obstacles – or perhaps throwing them down a bottomless pit. An additional 42 communities will receive a Nintendo gift package to incorporate video games into their regular activities. All 52 communities will receive:
“Nintendo has led the way in expanding the audience for video games,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “By giving seniors and their family members a hands-on introduction to New Super Mario Bros. Wii, we’re extending our commitment to making the best video game experiences accessible to every generation.”
New Super Mario Bros. Wii lets players take control of the iconic Mario™, his brother Luigi™ or one of two playable Toad™ characters. On a mission to rescue Princess Peach™ from the devious Bowser™, they must run, jump, bounce and battle their way through a series of wild obstacles, collecting coins and evading enemies along the way. In addition to a simultaneous multiplayer mode, the game includes built-in guides that provide helpful tips on how to overcome challenging obstacles. Since premiering in 1986, the Super Mario Bros. game series has become one of the most popular video game series of all time, selling more than 222 million games worldwide to date.
Highlighting the Wii system’s inclusive game library and easy-to-use wireless controls, Nintendo has conducted pioneering outreach in senior communities across the nation since launching the system in 2006. Games such as Wii Sports have been embraced by seniors, who have set up Wii Sports bowling leagues and made video games a regular addition to both their social and physical activity calendars.
See below for scheduled dates and locations (subject to change):
Leisure Care communities
Dec. 4: Fairwinds – Ivey Ranch in Oceanside, Calif.
Dec. 12: La Siena in Phoenix
Dec. 13: Fairwinds – Brittany Park in Woodinville, Wash.
Dec. 19: Harvard Square in Denver
Dec. 20: Heritage Estates in Livermore, Calif.
Erickson communities
Dec. 5: Eagle’s Trace in Houston
Dec. 12: Greenspring in Springfield, Va.
Dec. 12: Ann’s Choice in Warminster, Pa.
Dec. 13: Sedgebrook in Lincolnshire, Ill.
Dec. 19: Brooksby Village in Peabody, Mass.
Remember that Wii features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other Wii features, visit Wii.com.
For more information about New Super Mario Bros. Wii, visit www.mariobroswii.com.
About Nintendo: The worldwide pioneer in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii™, Nintendo DS™ and Nintendo DSi™ systems. Since 1983, when it launched the Nintendo Entertainment System™, Nintendo has sold more than 3.2 billion video games and more than 535 million hardware units globally, including the current-generation Wii, Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi, as well as the Game Boy™, Game Boy Advance, Super NES™, Nintendo 64™ and Nintendo GameCube™ systems. It has also created industry icons that have become well-known, household names such as Mario™, Donkey Kong™, Metroid™, Zelda™ and Pokémon™. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo’s operations in the Western Hemisphere. For more information about Nintendo, visit the company’s Web site at www.nintendo.com.
About Erickson: Erickson develops and manages full-service retirement communities that provide worry-free living for America’s seniors – the country’s fastest-growing population segment. Erickson’s refundable entrance deposit and predictable monthly service fees provide residents across the country financial peace of mind. Comprehensive health and wellness services, integrated into every community, lead to demonstrated resident benefits. A robust complement of resident programs and facilities promote an engaged, fulfilling lifestyle that is reflected in resident satisfaction levels that exceed the industry average. And the company’s wide-ranging employee programs have earned Erickson numerous awards, including Fortune magazine’s “Best Companies to Work For®” in 2008 and 2009.
About Leisure Care: Leisure Care, a part of the One Eighty family of companies, is one of the largest privately owned and most innovative operators of senior living communities in the United States and Canada. Its inventive ‘Five-Star Fun’ philosophy is changing the perception of senior living by providing amenities commonly associated with a luxury hotel and which support a healthy, active lifestyle. Dynamic programs and wellness-oriented offerings include: restaurant dining; concierge services; PrimeFitSM, an innovative health and fitness program with personal training options; Seniors Making Art™ and Twist Travel, a full-service escorted travel and tour program. Founded in 1976, Leisure Care currently operates more than 40 communities. For more information, please visit www.leisurecare.com or call 1-800-327-3490.
