Nintendo and Kidman - Together at Last!

I'm interested in gaming culture, and Nintendo in particular. Ever since the first NES (which I had after the Atari 2600 - yes I'm that old), Nintendo has been the only game system I've really played. Recently, the marketing for the Wii has proven very effective in attracting non-gamers by focusing on intuitive gameplay the whole family can enjoy together. Now Nintendo is focusing their brand of non-offensive fun on the upscale, wealthy and plastic looking housewives market. Between pilates class and picking your kid up from Mandarin lessons, why not pencil in some time to exercise your brain? Enter Nicole Kidman with her glowing porcelain skin and immaculate white home, to demonstrate the DS and the "Brain Training" series of games:



Doesn't that look like fun? She may resemble a Stepford wife (and act like one complete with head-smacking cutesy gestures) but Nicole sure does classy up the DS. Now it's an intellectual tool and not just that thing you give to the kids on long car trips to make them shut up. This new, polished, and oh-so-dignified gamer is much more attractive than the grubby ten year olds and single dudes game companies used to court. Bravo, Nintendo, for honing in on the female market as well. Us girl gamers have been playing since the beginning, but few companies have recognised the huge profit potential in piquing our interest.

So does this mean I'll be buying a DS? Probably not. I don't feel wealthy or European enough to relate to the Nicole Kidman / Nintendo fantasy. Besides, Nintendo had me from Mario. I might try the equivalent game on the Wii, but for handheld fun I’ll stick to my Limited Edition Retro Designed Gameboy Advance SP. Yeah, you read that right. It looks like an original NES controller and plays classics like Excitebike and Pinball. I keep it in a Spongebob Squarepants protective case. Jealous yet? Don’t worry. It’s never too late to join the cool kids on the Nintendo side of the street.