Heeeere come the fanboys.  The Nintendo Wii is again in need of vicious defense this morning, after a contest with the console set as prize resulted in the death of a mother of three.

It’s tough to blame Nintendo or the Wii for this one, however.  But, it’s another painful and generally odd story surrounding a system that has won the hearts of the mainstream media and “casual gamers”.  Enter Sacramento, California resident Jennifer Strange, 28, who died Friday after drinking more than a half gallon (or two liters) of water while taking part in a radio show’s “Hold Your Wee for a Wii” giveaway.

Believe it or not, “water intoxication” is for real.  Sacramento’s coroner confirmed to the media that tests continued to reveal this as the ultimate cause of Strange’s death.

How’d it happen?

Those participating in the contest were given eight ounce (or 225 mL) containers of water to consume over fifteen minute periods.  The way to win?  Pretty simple, whoever drank the most without “weeing” won themselves the similarly named console.

Strange’s death was not immediate.  Although she complained of a headache to coworkers, few thought her body’s electrolytes were spiraling out of balance, ultimately leading to her death (likely via brain swelling and then seizure) hours later.