With the release of the Nintendo Wii came a torrent of advertisements pushing the motion sensing console. What separated these commercials and ads from the normal media blitz that we see with a console launch was the target audience. While the majority of 360 ads and all of the PS3 ads target the 18-34 male demographic, the Wii ads focus more on family, most notably your mom.

The Wii ads don’t only show the 18-34 male demographic enjoying the system, but the younger sister, father, mother, and even grandparents joining in on the Wii-mote waving frenzy. The Wii completely moved away from the main gaming demographic, which was a bold market strategy. Their shot in the dark hit home, making the Wii an instant hit. This was an interesting move, even for Nintendo, who has been known for its kid friendly games. They’re breaking that fourth wall, bringing in the non-gamers to the once isolated sect, they’re bringing in the very mothers and fathers that once told you to stop playing games -- having them join in.

Normally your mom is the anti-gamer, often telling you to go outside and get off your lazy bum. At least that’s the way they were before the Wii. All “your mom” jokes aside, Nintendo’s campaign has brought a number of mothers, fathers, and even grandparents into the fray. What sort of impact will this have on the gaming world? What does it mean for Nintendo, and its competitors?

While it’s still early to declare the winner of the next-gen wars, the Wii has taken a commanding hold of the market.

Besides the commercials promoting of the Wii, a number of mainstream media outlets have Wii/family friendly pieces, illustrating the long arm of Wii’s marketing strategy. The majority of the Wii ads show families playing together, enjoying the multitude of party games that the Wii has to offer. Their campaign was rather aggressive, having ads on TV, in magazines, and all over the net. Their outreach brought many non-gamers onto the scene. For the game culture in general this is a fantastic move, it’s allowing the dissenters of gaming to see the light, instead of dejecting it from the sidelines. Bringing in these people can also be a bad thing for the Wii, but more on that later.