Seven: "Wii Elbow"
Careful where you point that Wiimote
While many Nintendo faithful and wise gamers foresaw the success of the Wii via its exciting use of motion sensor technology, few envisioned that the combination of gaming and (very) moderate physical activity could wind up so chaotic. As dumbfounded as some coordinated Wii owners were by the news, it didn't take long for word of black eyes and broken HDTVs to make major headlines across the United States.
For those not already aware, "Wii Elbow" has become the popular term for referring to broken objects - be they limbs or property - as a result of Wii use. You see, the Wiimote, or the console's controller, is designed to react when moved about in the air. That's why it's called motion sensitive, and despite the fact that most Wii games require little more than quick wrist flicks, it seems many people were on the wrong end of Wiimote slip-ups in late 2006.
How bad was it? Well, although tempting to refer to the issue as nothing more than the folly of uncoordinated goof-offs, enough people were hurt and enough vases broken that a Seattle-based law firm recently announced a class action lawsuit against Nintendo of America. That was only days after Nintendo itself admitted the Wiimote's wrist strap, attached at the base of the device for safety measures, was flawed and could break easily. 3.2 million units are set to be replaced, worldwide.
Personally, I'm not sure the "Wii Elbow" phenomenon ever really hurt Nintendo. In fact, it's more likely that the cliché "all press is good press" applies here in earnest. That's because the Wiimote - which generally works little more than the wrist and forearm - is being labeled as a full body workout, and many unsuspecting parents and casual gamers are latching on to that belief. This isn't Tae Bo, people, it's just a different way to play Zelda.
Without a doubt, "Wii Elbow" is a ridiculous idea and story, and certainly prevents this Year In Review from ever being added to an academic journal (of course, it isn't the only reason for that). And yet, it is a fascinating topic and has turned casual Nintendo fans into rabid defenders of a company that disappointed so many with the Gamecube. Regardless, it's probably the best and most misleading marketing tool ever used in the annals of console infighting.
