Competition is fierce, but friendly, on the 14th floor of The Fountains at Corby Place. Four teams — eight players — are competing for the championship title in The Fountains’ four-week long Wii bowling tournament.

For 10 frames they bowl, with just a swing of their arms and the release of a button. In the end, Margaret Moffet and Sophia Ward are crowned the tournament champions. Once the tournament is over, several players and other residents try their hands on the Wii during open bowling time.

Along with the target audience of teens and young adults, Nintendo’s Wii gaming system has found a somewhat unexpected group of players: senior citizens. Games like bowling, which are controlled with a remote controller, are easy enough that they can be done standing or sitting, and even from wheelchairs.

“Everyone can do it, no matter what their age,” says Marilyn Meinert, who is 71. Her teammate, Margaret Shrader, is 91. And at 100 years old, Sarah Senner is the oldest player in the tournament.

April Frieling, community life director at The Fountains, says most of the residents had heard of the Wii from their grandchildren, but none had ever played it. Once they started playing, they quickly caught on.

“I didn’t think it was too difficult to learn,” says resident Dwight Sickles, who is a former bowler. “I think it’s a lot harder to learn how to maneuver the ball if you’ve got a big ball in your hands.”

Ms. Frieling says playing the Wii combines a little physical activity with some friendly competition for the residents.

“It gets them up and down and out of their chairs,” she says. “It gives them something to look forward to, a little competition.”

For Ms. Senner, the appeal of the Wii has nothing to do with new technology, or even with playing. It’s the social aspect she enjoys the most.

“I just like to get together with the people, mostly that’s the main reason,” she says. “I don’t care if I win or not. (But) I do like to win every once in awhile.”

Ms. Frieling says word of the Wii is spreading through The Fountains, and the game has given some new life to the seniors’ activities at The Fountains.

“You always strive to bring something new to the table, something to spark new interest,” she says, “because over the years you do the same thing day in and day out, it gets kind of humdrum.”

Lifestyles reporter Lacey Storer can be e-mailed at lstorer@npgco.com