Alex: I’d like to sum up everything we’ve done with a brief interview type bit. To begin, if you didn’t have an XBOX 360 already in your home, would you buy one?

Mrs. P: Honestly, no.

Alex: Why not?

Mrs. P: While I have come to appreciate games a great deal more after doing this article, personally, I’d rather go to an indie film or read a compelling book than sit down and play through a videogame.

Alex: There were a few games you liked, though.

Mrs. P: Yeah, and I’d probably play a few now and then if the machine was in the house. But I can’t say I’d be compelled to buy a console for myself.

Alex: Do you think other mothers might share a similar sentiment?

Mrs. P: Yeah, I think so. If they could get their hands on a game they found interesting. Do I see my friend’s playing it? No. But I spoke to your friends when they heard I was doing this article and they thought it was so great. I think maybe if a younger gamer approached his parents or relatives and sat down with them and showed them just how incredible some games are, they might find it all very compelling, like I did.

Alex: What were some of the stumbling blocks?

Mrs. P: I found the whole thing very time consuming. I felt like I needed to relearn the controls to play every new game. I found it to be a frustrating experience all in all. Like Hitman and Oblivion, for instance, I needed to study manual just to get anywhere.

Alex: What about the Arcade Games, weren’t those easier?

Mrs. P: Hexic I liked a lot, but Marble Blast was pretty tough. I think when it comes to winning over this audience, the simpler the better. But I also think spending over $400 is absurd just to play a Mattel card game that goes for $5 in real life, for instance.

Alex: What may make you want to purchase the console or play other games?

Mrs. P: I think the biggest factor would be if I could find a game that I could relate to, containing subject matter that I enjoy. Again, that’s partially why I liked Condemned. I think too often though, the plot is quite insipid. I think strong dramatic elements, like story and visuals and music, would be a bigger draw to older generations than unique gameplay mechanics or what have you.

I think the biggest problem is a simple lack of experience. It seemed like, in a game such as Prey, you knew exactly where to go after looking at a puzzle or roadblock, whereas it’d take me an exorbitant amount of time to move onto the next task or area. And it took me a very long time to develop the ability to move freely in the game and feel comfortable with the controls, to some extent. I could see some people just getting too frustrated to continue, however.

Alex: Do you think that there exists the potential for a gaming market for people your age?

Mrs. P: Yes, probably. But I think there’s currently too much of an emphasis on violence.

Alex: How so?