A sign of the apocalypse? My mom is obsessed with New Super Mario Bros.

My mom has had a DS for quite some time. She isn't much of a gamer, though--at least, not in the traditional sense. Until a few days ago, for example, her favorite games were Brain Age, CrossworDS and Tetris DS.

What happened a few days ago? Well, she picked up my copy of New Super Mario Bros. and gave it a go. She's been playing it ever since. (OK, she's taken time off to eat, sleep and play some Shanghai on her computer--but other than that she's been playing New Super Mario Bros.)

I've had to help her quite a bit--by telling her what the buttons and power-ups do, etc.--but I don't mind. I'm just glad she's moving, slowly but surely, beyond her "casual gamer" comfort zone.

See also: 'On the road again'