Mrs. P: I don’t object to violence in games, because that’s part of the art form. But games need to do other things if they want to attract older generations. Take that online computer game that everyone’s talking about, Second Life. That incorporates a great deal of creativity on the part of the player. From what I gather, I can see myself getting hooked on something like that. I could so many other people my age doing so as well. Give players something to create.

Alex: I think there a lot of recent games that are unique or creative, or games that I consider to be masters of the medium. But I don’t see any of those yet on the 360 and I think that’s maybe why you aren’t getting hooked. But you just did say something I found interesting: “it’s part of the art form.” Do you think gaming is an art form?

Mrs. P: Oh, absolutely. Everything I see is compelling. But the physical interaction of it is… [sighs] I just feel stymied by it. I mean, I’ve seen you play things and I’ve seen videos and it’s incredibly beautiful and I can appreciate it. But I don’t feel comfortable enough with the tools that they give me to make it work.

Alex: From what you know about the upcoming PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii, tell me your thoughts on those and how they might shape gaming, especially for your generation.

Mrs. P: I know that with the Wii, you can move around and go through certain physical actions that are then replicated on the screen. Of course the games themselves are the most important part, but to me, the whole controller concept is phenomenal. It’s like you’re entering another world physically. And sometimes I felt like I was in that other world when I was playing the XBOX; like I was being drawn in. Like, when I was playing Marble Blast, it became dizzying, it felt like you’d actually fall off into space.

But getting back to the Wii, it sorta brings you into another dimension. Of course, I don’t understand the technology that allows the machine to do this, it’s kinda mind boggling I think. But also very intriguing. If I had access to one, I’d certainly want to try it. I don’t know anything about the PlayStation 3.

Alex: So ultimately I guess the question remains, was Peter Moore right when he said maybe, and I paraphrase, “your mom will be playing this?”

Mrs. P: Well, technically, your mom was playing this, but only because I was coerced into it. [Laughs] Well, again, I learned a great deal about gaming and the industry over the weeks we worked on this. There are definitely a handful of titles I enjoyed playing and could see myself returning to. But I don’t know how many mothers would share that sentiment. Truth be told, I hope that some game developers read this piece, consider the comments I’ve made, and somehow incorporate them into their next project in an effort to bring more mothers into the world of gaming. Above all else, I saw the power that the XBOX 360 and videogames in general are capable of. With a few subtle tweaks and design changes, I could definitely see more people my age taking up gaming as a fun little hobby. I truly think that gaming is a platform with limitless potential for creativity. Getting a 50-year old woman to see that was no small feat, but I hope it’s a miracle that’ll be accomplished many times over for many other people in the future.

Alex: Final question, what are we having for dinner?

Mrs. P: Are you kidding? After all that, you expect me to make dinner, too?

Alex: Touché.