Wii Home Tournaments are ‘Men’s Tupperware Parties’

In early December, Kris Smith and a few pals gathered in a basement in suburban Chicago to try out their friend’s brand new Nintendo Wii video game console. At the end of the night, Smith, 32, was sweaty, exhausted, and completely sold on buying a Wii for himself. Smith called it "the equivalent of a man Tupperware party."

As someone who never enjoyed video games before the Wii, Smith said the console has given him a new way not only to enjoy time with his wife and children, but also to socialize with his friends.

After securing his own Wii, Smith, who heads new media initiatives at a start-up, organized a "Wii Tournament" that included an hour warm-up session and a trophy for the winner. The invitation told guests: "If you have ever picked your nose or punched someone, you can get in on the fun."

Smith’s recent event is just one of a slew of Wii-themed home parties that have cropped up since the console’s launch late last year…

Reuters