Pass a traditional video-game controller to someone older than 50, and you are likely to get a look of bewilderment. That’s one reason Nintendo’s Wii controller — modeled after the familiar TV remote — has mass appeal, even in places like retirement homes. Sony and Microsoft are seeing the importance of simplified controls as well.
Buzz Buzzers from Sony (www.us.playstation.com) for the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3 have five color-coded buttons and fit easily in the palm of your hand. Each buzzer has a 12-foot cable that plugs into a USB hub, which provides power. There are four $40 game packages that include four controllers, including “Buzz! The Hollywood Quiz,” a fast-paced trivia show.
For the Xbox 360, four wireless Big Button Pads are included with the movie trivia game “Scene It? Lights, Camera, Action” ($60, ).
