Games People Play

To say that the Wii is our new best friend might be overstating things a tad, but it does strike in the general sentiment range.

To the uninitiated, the Wii is simply realistic video gaming - play games, exercise, compete, but most of all, be entertained.

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Sure, gaming has been around awhile; and it's always been about snazzy graphics and cool plays. But now there's another - fourth, fifth? - dimension here.

Gaming, with the Wii especially comes its own brand of sarcasm. Compelete with messages like "Hi Pooja, too busy to exercise yesterday, huh?" while I shuffle my feet guiltily. No wait, I can't even do that because then I'll be reprimanded for fidgeting (sends the balance board's sensors out of whack).

And humor. Even been called a Couch Potato to a peppy music beat? Reminds me of the time when a Cop gave us a hefty speeding ticket and then wished us a wondeful weekend.

But if you do good job, uh... play well, you get to enjoy the drum roll, even a victory dance from the team.

Then there is a line-up of the top 10 scores after every exercise. Even someone like me who's competitively rather mild is getting swept away by the desire to perform, just to maintain rankings. Tiger, Federer, Maria - you guys sure lead stressful lives.

In a word, we're hooked.

But I hadn't realised where the madness had escalated to, until recently.

Quick explanation here - like all gaming, you progress to higher levels with every victory and strong play. Then the difficulty level - read computer's player - gets more skilled as well. Now NVK, caught up in the Tennis mania has been doing well for himself. Fictitious or not, I've caught him shouting insults at the opponents. Sledging even.

Till he ran into Akira - animated, of course - a dude with low flat strokes and amazing returns. Akira gave him some grief but DH persevered, eventually managed to beat him and go on further. But I guess the anime had stayed with him.

One night after another rousing game, he happily asked me. "You don't see Akira in the lineup, huh? Over confident b#s***d."

He then added, with a maniacal glint in his eye. "That's because I've sent him into therapy."

All in the game, they say.