Nintendo Wiis on the high seas

Editor’s note: John Gaudiosi covers the video game industry for WRAL Local Tech Wire.

SKAGWAY, ALASKA — Last summer Nintendo began an exclusive relationship with Norwegian Cruise Lines to install Wiis aboard every ship. Rather than just offering Wiis in the teen or kids centers aboard the ships, the cruise line has integrated Wiis into the daily itinerary for each ship. It’s yet another example of just how mainstream the Wii has become and another reason why you can’t find these consoles anywhere at retail.

Aboard the Norwegian Pearl, the largest class of ships that Norwegian runs, the Nintendo Wii has been playable every day. In addition to being able to play Wii Sports games and Endless Ocean (a game that allows you to dive under the sea and explore lost treasure troves) in a regular room on a flat screen TV, each day the Wii is playable on the giant screen in the huge Stardust Theater.

During this seven-day cruise through Alaska, which has stops in Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan and Victoria (British Columbia), it’s not just the kids that play Wii. As anyone who has a Wii knows, its motion-sensor controls invite new and relapsed gamers into the hobby. It’s so easy to play that seniors aboard the ship are going crazy over Wii Bowling. This ship actually has a real bowling alley in the Bliss nightclub with four lanes. Yet many of the older passengers can’t pick up and roll the bowling balls (especially since the lightest balls weigh 9 pounds). So Wii Sports allows them to enjoy this game virtually, while offering just as much fun. It’s one of the reasons Wii Bowling leagues are sprouting up across the nation in retirement communities.

Watching seniors clap and get into the Wii Bowling game while others jump out of their seats to play next really shows you how Nintendo has redefined the videogame industry with Wii. It’s pretty amazing when you consider that GameCube was such a flop that pundits had ruled Nintendo down for the count and possibly going the third-party publisher route a la Sega after its Dreamcast debacle. But Nintendo has been leading the game industry ever since Nintendo DS and Wii shipped.

In addition to being able to play Wiis aboard beautiful Norwegian cruise ships (and I recommend this cruise line above others I’ve sailed on like Royal Caribbean and Costa), Nintendo cut a similar exclusive deal with Westin Hotels and Resorts. Westin Hotels is the first hotel company to partner with Nintendo for its Wii console and will feature this specially designed console as part of the brand’s WestinWORKOUT program at 10 hotels across the US, including the Westin in Times Square and in Bellevue, Washington. The special game console is pre-loaded with many popular games, including Wii Sports, Wii Play, and Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree. These hotels will also feature WiiFit, the new workout game that offers over 40 activities, including real-time yoga that’s performed on a balance board.

The other eight Westins that kick off the Wii partnership include: The Westin Hilton Head; The Westin Crown Center, Kansas City; The Westin Harbor Castle, Toronto; The Westin Diplomat, Hollywood; The Westin St. Francis, San Francisco; The Westin St. Louis; The Westin Galleria, Houston; and The Westin Savannah Harbor.

As someone who travels throughout the year, I often laugh when I see the old Nintendo 64 controllers in hotel rooms. I’m looking forward to the day when Wiis will be available in every room. But given how quickly these consoles fly off store shelves, that will be a long time coming.