Nintendo's new $250 videogame console Wii is really made for the non-gamer, the system comes with the game Wii Sports, a collection of cartoonish tennis, baseball, bowling, golf and boxing scenarios. I had presumed that it was merely an elaborate demonstration of the Wii Remote, which responds to natural motions rather than arcane button combinations. I discovered quickly that it might be the greatest videogame ever made.

LL and I cleared a decent amount of space between the couch and the TV-the need for playing room cannot be overstated. We selected Tennis for two players. The TV's wide screen split into two frames, one for each side of the court. I tossed the ball in the air with a tap of a button, then swung my arm. A perfect serve. LL returned the serve with a flick of his wrist, then I swung again. Early clumsiness fast became aggressive, aerobic, precise gesticulation. You develop a forehand, a backhand, even an overhead smash, just like on the real courts, and you work up a sweat doing it. Each time the virtual racquet hits the ball, it delivers an unbelievably satisfying "thok."

This past Sunday, I found myself playing bowling Mom (61) and my newphew (7) on the Wii, There is really no learnig curve, because its like playing the real thing. It is hard to find an event that the whole family can enjoy and I think the Wii is it!