Video gaming hits the mainstream

In recent years, the mainstream media has used the word "Playstation" as a generic word for describing any hardware capable of playing video games. Now, the Guardian has used the verb "Playstationing" to describe the activity of playing a video game elevating it to the same status as genealogy: "it's just special-interest fun for people who don't do friends, then you look round and everybody's at it".

Tonight, Nintendo's new console, the Wii (to be launched on 8 December) was reviewed on BBC2's Newsnight Review and video games have gained a new artistic respectability on a par with film (Casino Royale), musical (Sound of Music) & TV drama documentary (Tsunami, The Aftermath).

The arts reviewers even enjoyed it, particularly Mark Kermode, who hated and feared video games as he thought they were too addictive. They enjoyed the non-gamers' control stick which enabled it to be flung around as if it was a bowling bowl or a tennis racket.

They discussed it's bizarre name but concluded that it emphasised the family-friendly nature of the console as it's a homophone of "We" and has 2 "i" 's so it's to be played with 2 individuals.

Alas, the lack of knowledge of video games afflicts the BBC website, where the Wii is described as a new game rather than new hardware.