Wobbly Wii Worries Nintendo
Nintendo Wii gamers are having a smashingly good time with the hot new consoles. However, some say the fun has inadvertently led to damaging televisions, breaking windows and even bruising other users with out-of-control remote-control use.
The so-called “flying Wii’s” have led Nintendo to launch an investigation after receiving reports of problems with the strap that secures the machine’s wand-like remote controller to the player’s wrist, according to the company.
The Wii’s unique remote is designed to mimic natural motions like swinging a tennis racket, a golf club or even a sword. However, it appears that some overzealous is causing the wireless remotes to launch into the air after the thin wrist strap snaps and slips off a user’s wrist.
Making a Splash, and a Crack
Videos of flying controls smashing living room windows and cracking television screens are popping up on Web sites like YouTube and MySpace.com. Now, Nintendo is looking to stem the tide of publicity before it gets out of hand — so to speak.
“Some people are getting a lot more excited than we’d expected,” Nintendo President Satoru Iwata said in a statement. “We need to better communicate to people how to deal with Wii as a new form of entertainment.”
Those communications so far has been limited to a section on Nintendo’s home page titled “Safety Information for Playing Wii.” Among other instructions, it suggests users stand three to ten feet from the television while using the controls and making sure their palms are dry.
However, the company did send e-mails to Wii customers this week, warning that extreme motion could snap the strap or cause players to lose their grip on the remote.
“Hold the remote securely and avoid excessive motion during game play. If your hands become moist, stop and dry your hands,” the company recommended.
Don’t Forget To Duck
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