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MANSFIELD - A bowling ball sails down the lane and smashes the waiting pins. As all 10 pins fall, a roar erupts from the crowd.

No, this isn't a scene out of a local bowling alley, but rather the Mansfield Council of Aging's recreation room.

It's here that local seniors are meeting to enjoy the latest video game craze: Nintendo Wii. And while the ball and pins might not be real, the fun certainly is - and the exercise.

Wii is a video game system that lets users play by acting out the real-life movements of the game. Using a Wii Remote, a person "Wii Bowling" appears to be actually bowling, all without ever leaving the house.

"It's great physically, socially, and educationally," says Gale Farrugia, council director. "We're trying to educate them more on how to use technology." It's early on a Friday morning and eight seniors have come to council's drop-in center. Although it's wet outside after a few days of rain, the mood inside the center is lively.

The center's Wii Bowling program, which started a couple weeks ago, already has a loyal following.

Betty Cross is one of those happy people. She says she began playing Wii at the center, and sees it as a great way for seniors to stay active.

"It's great exercise," Cross said. "It gets people up and moving."

Cross, who says she hasn't bowled in about 15 years, likes that Wii allows everyone to participate, regardless of age.

"It really doesn't make a difference how old you are," she said.

Bob Paulson echoes Cross' sentiments, adding that using the Wii controller can be much easier for older people than real bowling balls.

"I'm 89 years old, and that ball is getting heavier every time," he said.

Playing in groups of two, the seniors are able to bowl a full ten frames. Those not playing can sit back, enjoy coffee and muffins and cheer on their fellow bowlers.

"They get very excited," said Darcia Jensen, activities coordinator for the council. "Everyone is happy, everyone's laughing and having a good time." Wii also allows people with physical disabilities, which may prevent the person from playing sports, to participate in the games they love.

"We have one person who can't see very well, so we tell her where the pins are," Jensen said. "People are able to sit down and play, since it only requires the wrist movement."

The idea to buy the Wii came from Beatrice Bourne, who read a newspaper article about seniors using the game system for exercise.

"I was impressed by it, and I thought it would be great here," said Bourne, who is president of Friends of the Drop In Center, a fundraising group that purchased the Wii.

"It makes you feel young again," said Bourne, who has seen her score rise from 109 to 179 in the first two weeks of the program.

Mansfield isn't the only local town using the Wii at senior centers. The Foxboro Council on Aging offers Wii bowling on Wednesday afternoons, and the Norton public library is offering instruction to those who want to learn how to use the system.

Farrugia and Jensen say they hope to have tournaments with other towns once the seniors become better accustomed to the Wii, perhaps picking up where the Mansfield-Foxboro high school football game rivalry ends.

"Once they get more comfortable with it, we'll get into the more competitive stuff," Jensen said.

The only complaint seems to be that there isn't enough time for Wii. With the room being tied with other activities, bowlers can't always play.

"It's fun, I just wish I could get a little bit of practice in," Paulson said.

Bourne says she will try and play with her 9-year-old great grandson, who is moving to the area soon.

There is also talk of buying a bigger TV set, as well as more games, including one with carnival games and one that encourages exercise.

For now, though, the Mansfield seniors are content just trying to raise their scores and have a good time.

"It's just a wonderful thing," Bourne said.

Matt Kakley covers Mansfield for The Sun Chronicle. He can be reached at mkakley@thesunchronicle.com or at 508-236-0333.