"Wii Elbow" Leads to "Wii TV"

A couple days ago we reported on injuries sidelining careless Wii owners.  Reports floated around about a Kentucky girl who experienced significant muscle pains and a Minnesota man with "sore shoulders" after using Nintendo's refreshingly cool motion sensor controller.  Although the affected individuals generally admit that they're not regularly active and certainly not in the best shape, reports of "Wii Elbow" sure have raised a lot of attention.  This morning the phenomenon continues, with complaints that the device has led to the devastation of various home items, including televisions.

We're quickly learning that Nintendo's idea of combining gamers with physical exercise was not a good one. Beyond hurting themselves, it's now being reported that many players are accidentally slinging the remote across their living rooms, smashing the device into TVs, windows, family photos, and anything else destructible.  Most complaints surround a combination of two big problems: sweating palms and faulty straps.

Although Nintendo supplies an apparatus to keep a wrist firmly connected to the remote, many gamers are complaining that it's hardly of reliable quality.  Instead, the strap has been breaking on many overzealous Wii fans, causing the motion sensor controller to fly across rooms and into fragile valuables.

Nintendo has yet to comment on the problems, but it might not have a choice if gamers smash enough priceless vases or plasma televisions.

 

 

16 comments
Posted by Jerelee on January 8,2007 at 6:35 PM
How the heck did you guys manage this? Well come on morons, HOLD THE WIIMOTE LIKE ITS YOUR PATHETIC LITTLE LIVES! Serioously, read the caution on the box the Wii came in, it says:
"Not for straneous swinging, may cause potential damage to household objects"
SO READ IT!!!
Posted by xntrk on December 21,2006 at 6:41 PM
Just a heads up for those looking to purchase a Wii for or after Christmas; There are people out there who are buying up stock to exploit the weak of will and the innocent. Don't bother spending more than $500 for a $350 system. Unless of course you're getting 2 wii-motes w/knunchucks and a virtual controller (the standard controller required for playing legacy Nintendo games).

This has been a GizmoCafe service announcement ...
Carry on.
Posted by nintendo man on December 9,2006 at 3:46 PM
why do you unfit ppl have to complain about everything first its about fatty food making you fat THAT YOUR FAULT you eat them and now your complaining about breaking things and hurting your self playing the wii.. ive had mine since the lauch day and have not once had anything bad happen... you fat ppl should hold on th the wiimote as tight as you hold on to your burgers and we all know you wouldnt like to drop your burger...
Posted by ANKi on December 3,2006 at 6:18 AM
I find it incredibly funny that none of these people seem to pay attention to common sense. Or reality, for that matter.

Or is it that the vast majority of these people complaining about soreness have forgotten that physical exertion is also called "exercise"?

These people should stop blaming an inanimate white controller for their problems. It's such a self-defeating argument.
Posted by Wii-In Chicago on December 1,2006 at 10:13 PM
This right here is what's wrong with America...

we constantly have to babysit the retards.

survival of the fittest.  stop being stupid.
Posted by Wii-Master on December 1,2006 at 5:48 PM
3 words ppl;

- Flick
- The
- Wrist

I can almost guarantee you'll be 213% better (and safer) when playing.
How do you recover from breaking a $6000 LCD Sony Wega anyway?! *shakes head*
Posted by xntrk on December 1,2006 at 5:44 PM
hahaha ... I've played the Wii several times since it's launch and love the system for it's interactivity. If the general consumer wants to blame Nintendo for helping them get the F*#% off their fat ass and live a little, then why not blame Fisher Price for promoting passive love and pseudo learning with their Tickle-Me Elmos and InteracTV. Better yet, blame the Matrix for the past shootings and death we've seen in the last 4 years ... and don't get me started on 911.

The point is, here is a great piece of technology from one of the best console companies in the world. They take Interactive Play to the next level and kudos for not sticking with the mainstream and yet still keeping up with the big boys - Sony and Microsoft.

I'm not bashing lazy Americans, nor am I bashing Amerians in general, but someone with enough sense and a little wit can see that you don't go Bruce-Lee'ing your "knunchuks" around like some kung-fu master.  Have some sense, and have some control.

Dummies.
Posted by MistyWaterWoman on December 1,2006 at 12:01 PM
You don't see any reports coming in from JAPAN about injuries and destruction, do you???  Could it be because they are more phyisically fit than Americans?  Smarter than Americans?

We have had our Wii since launch day, and haven't ever so much as dangled the Wii-mote from our wrists!

FYI: You do have a HAND to GRIP the controller with, you know...
Posted by haha on November 30,2006 at 4:47 PM
Man, this is hilarious. Nintendo should put in huge letters on the box: ONLY FOR PEOPLE WITH COMMON SENSE.
Wait...even if they did that, reports will still come in.

Three words:
Only in America.XD
Posted by Marco on November 30,2006 at 3:35 PM
Lol, these people are idiots... nothing more...the strap isn't designed to take that much stress. Its just in case you drop it....Who the hell is actually swinging their remote that fast anyways??? Not I..
Posted by Tim [owns a wii] on November 30,2006 at 2:19 PM
I don't see how people can blame this on Nintendo. Even if the strap isn't unbreakable, players shouldn't be TRYING to throw it out of their hands. Doing that only makes them look stupid, not Nintendo. I've been playing my Wii for about 2 weeks now, everyday for at least 5 hours, and not one thing has gone wrong for me. The people losing the controllers from their grip are probably people who have never played a video game in their LIFE! I've seen them, as my mom and various other people move ANY controller wildly, thinking it will help. To all of you who have lost their grip and broken something, tough luck. Don't even try to blame it on Nintendo, it's your own fault for relying on the strap to take care of problems.
Posted by Prank Master on November 30,2006 at 1:53 PM
All of you people are dumbasses, if you dont want to get hurt or get somone else hurt then WHY THE HELL DID YOU BUY THE SYSTEM!!!!! I have played my wii for a while and nothing bad has happened to me. GIVE UP, YOU CANT SUE NINTENDO FOR ALL OF YOUR DUMBASS MISTAKES!!!
Posted by WII WII WII WII WII WII on November 30,2006 at 11:59 AM
why would u let the wii-mote outta ur hand!? Wii should defo not be for fatties
Posted by JWC on November 30,2006 at 10:52 AM
I have yet to throw my wiimote.  The games don't require you to flail around wildly. As the article brings out, these people are "overzealous". I have, however, almost hit my toddler a couple of times while playing Wii Sports Golf. Just use common sense and you should be OK.

Yes, if you are out of shape, any form of exercise will most likely lead to soreness.
Posted by jamie on November 30,2006 at 10:32 AM
hahah!

it should come with a warning ... "the Wii is not for fat people"
Posted by Umm on November 30,2006 at 10:24 AM
People are morons...