December 15, 2006
Wii hopes hang on slender thread
So you unwrap you’re LCD HDTV on Christmas Day, plug in the children’s Nintendo Wii present and then shatter your nice new screen playing a forehand smash in the tennis game included with the motion-sensing controller.
Nintendo’s replacement of 3.2m retaining straps on the Wii-mote is intended to avoid that nightmare at Christmas and any Wii sold after December 11 should include the new thicker cord.
I’m not convinced this is a complete solution. While Nintendo says it is almost doubling the size of the strap, this CPSC advisory shows the thin plastic wire is only being expanded from 0.6mm in diameter to 1mm.
Aware of safety concerns, I asked my son if he had hit our TV, which mysteriously died at the weekend, with the Wii remote. He vehemently denied this, only admitting to hitting the ceiling a couple of times while perfecting his top-spin lob.
So until a better DIY solution appears at Engadget, I am looking at either adapting my Kensington computer lock, my Kryptonite bike cable or buying a pair of handcuffs.
Chris Nuttall, San Francisco
Two words: user stupidity.
The Wii doesn’t require grand motions, nor does it require actually *throwing* the controller at the television when (for example) playing the bowling game. People are overexagerating how they play with this system. They are not following warnings. And clearly they aren’t even following directions.
For example, bowling. The game tells you that you need to hold onto the controller and one button. Swing your arm back and forward and release the button. NOT the controller.
Nintendo can’t be blamed for people doing moronic things like throwing the controller across rooms. Yes, the wriststrap is weak, but if you hold onto the controller like you should, it’s not a problem.
Posted by: Chris Gardner | December 15th, 2006 at 7:32 pm | Report this comment@Chris:
But that’s no fun
For one, not everyone is throwing the controller. Mine was knocked out of my hand by my sister perfecting her backhand swing in tennis when I wasnt expecting it.
Also, I dare you to play bowling or golf sitting down on a couch. Its just not possible.
Posted by: Nick | December 15th, 2006 at 7:47 pm | Report this comment“Wii hopes hand on slender thread”
Excuse me is that the most misleading headline you could come up with. Not only is it mislead it’s complete rubbish.
Anyone who says the strap is too weak is missing the whole point. The strap is a safety measure, not a means to stop a controller leaving your hand at 80mph.
Do you let go of the baseball bat or tennis racket when playing the sports in real life?
The fact this has escalated to such a farce proves 2 things. The internet gives morons the ability to blow a non-issue into a supposed product recall with ease. That and the fact Americans will complain about anything unless it comes with a burger and fries!
Posted by: Shaun | December 15th, 2006 at 8:16 pm | Report this commentIt still all comes down to customer stupidity. Honestly, I use my full range of motion when playing with my wii, and have had no problem.
ive seen the videos on youtube, those people are taking it way too far, you can make the motions and put some energy into it, but people are obviously going overboard.
read the warnings, give eachother the room. the only time i hit anything with my wiimote was when I had a bottle on the table and didnt move it OUT OF MY RANGE OF MOTION. so obviously I ended up hitting it… people need to use some common sense.
Posted by: Mr.MikeL | December 15th, 2006 at 8:21 pm | Report this commentShaun: “Americans will complain about anything unless it comes with a burger and fries”
Making baseless inflammatory remarks like this only make YOU, sir, look like the moron.
Posted by: John | December 16th, 2006 at 4:07 am | Report this commentHmmmm a non-issue? If letting go of a baseball bat or tennis racket into an expensive HDTV is a non-issue can you adopt me?
Posted by: TechSay | December 19th, 2006 at 1:44 am | Report this comment