Interesting, if slightly disturbing.

Another week, another Brain Training press release issued by Nintendo. However, this time, Nintendo have teamed up with Decima Research in their bid to find out what grandparents want, and what they really, really want.

The survey, which gauged Canadian grandparents' interest in traditionally younger generation activities, found that nearly half (46 per cent) would try more "adventurous intimacy with their partner" if they knew how or could. About 40 per cent said they would listen to a portable MP3 player, and one in four would be interested in playing video games.

The survey underlines the success of Nintendo's Brain Age(TM): Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day, a mix of simple math problems, language exercises and other puzzles, specifically designed for more mature adults and seniors. Brain Age, made exclusively for the Nintendo DS portable system, has been the third best-selling of any video game in Canada for four consecutive months since its launch in April, according to retail tracking firm NPD Group Canada.

"Grandparents are more hip and adventurous than they're given credit for," said Ron Bertram, general manager of Nintendo of Canada, which commissioned the survey. "Grandparents are interested in trying activities that aren't associated with seniors or traditionally intended for them. Grandma will probably still carry candy in her purse for the kids, but she's also interested in packing a Nintendo DS, or a little something special to wear for grandpa."

Nintendo is specifically working to develop video games that are easier to play and intuitive, and cater to a non-gaming, more mature audience like grandparents. This strategic departure from focusing purely on traditional games that target young males is paying off with the success of titles like Brain Age, which has sold four million copies worldwide since its April launch.

To celebrate National Grandparents Day, Nintendo of Canada has teamed up with Best Buy to offer a Brain Age bundle. From September 8 to 14, consumers will be able to purchase Nintendo DS Lite hardware (Polar White) and a copy of Brain Age software at participating outlets for $159.99.

The survey also found that Canadian grandparents recognize the value of staying mentally alert and "exercising" their brains as they age. More than 90 per cent said that solving puzzle games, crosswords and Sudoku-like games was "very good" or "good" for keeping them mentally alert and maintaining brain fitness. Grandparents ranked solving puzzles games, like those offered in Brain Age, just below proper diet, reading/writing and physical activity and exercise as the best ways to keep mentally stimulated.

"It's great to offer today's grandparents something that appeals not only to their practical side but to their unique sense of fun and adventure," said Bertram.

So, there you have it. It seems like Nintendo were spot on in with their predictions about the Brain Age software. However, i bet even they didn't anticipate sales as good as these, in various different territories. Will sales ever let up? Probably not, for a while anyway.

However, we here at N-Europe would like to give the best of luck to all you sexually frustrated Grandparents out there, and we hope that you can overcome these problems in the future, without complications, but with haste.