A barrage of breaking Wiimote straps

November 24, 2006 on 2:24 am | In TV Damage, Broken Straps |

Reading through the comments on the Engadget ‘TV death by Wiimote’ reports here and here, I was struck by two things:

First, people are cynical and sceptical

A huge number of comments either dismiss the ‘TV damage’ claims as a) fake, because they believe the victims are wanting a new TV from Nintendo or b) fake, because they cannot believe that a plastic remote is capable of cracking a TV screen or c) fake, because the strap looks cut or d) fake, because the images look Photoshopped.

While I’m not convinced by any of these arguements, I’d like to draw your attention to my previous post. The fact that all 3 cracked TVs reported so far have been of the rear projection flavour, suggests to me that these boxes have a weaker screen. RPTVs are just not designed for all out Wii Wiimote wanging. (CRTs are bearing up a little better - ct reports that his brother flung his remote at a Philips CRT and it bounced off the screen before he managed to catch it and carry on playing. Yes, it was bowling).

Second, there have been a LOT of broken strap incidents

This for me is the proof we’ve been looking for, and the reason why these reports can’t be fake. The original damage from IGN involved a broken Wiimote strap (and IGN are a trusted review site). The two now-famous TV deaths also reported the same problem with the strap. That’s three cases. Now add 15. That’s how many people reported the same problem following those two Engadget posts. Here’s the roll call:

1. Alric Lopez’s 7 year old son was playing Tennis when oops! Strap broke and the Wiimote hit a wall (no damage)

2. Brandon Hays saw someone at GameStop go oops! Strap broke and the Wiimote hit a wall (batteries everywhere)

3. Dan was playing Baseball when oops! Strap broke and the Wiimote hit a wall (bounced off)

4. islanddreamer’s son was playing when oops! Strap broke (damage unreported)

5. fugimax’s girlfriend was Bowling when oops! Strap broke and the Wiimote hit the ceiling (1/4″ dent in the plaster)

6. Wii man was playing Baseball when oops! Strap broke and the Wiimote hit the floor (no damage)

7. Eric Lowe was playing Baseball when oops! Strap broke and the Wiimote hit the fireplace (chunk out of Wiimote)

8. Aaron was playing Baseball when oops! Strap broke and the Wiimote hit a window (’nearly broke’)

9. ACAZ was Bowling when oops! Strap broke (Wiimote scratched)

10. Serothis was playing Tennis when oops! Strap broke and the Wiimote flew into the kitchen (no damage)

11. Bill was Bowling when oops! Strap broke and the Wiimote hit his rear projection TV (cracked TV)

12. Ryan was playing something when oops! Strap broke and the Wiimote hit the couch (no damage)

13. Moss Beach was playing Tennis when oops! Strap broke and the Wiimote hit the fireplace (small scuff on Wiimote)

14. Clint was playing something when oops! Strap broke and (nothing reported)

15. andrew’s roommate was playing Baseball when oops! Strap broke and the Wiimote did not hit the TV (dead Wiimote)

So there you go. I think that’s called a case of evidence speaking for itself.

And the moral of the story is… don’t let go (and don’t give Nintendo a hard time. It doesn’t sound like you’re all having a miserable time out there, and I’ve no doubt that Wiimote v.2 is going to have a stronger wrist strap!).

If this has happened to you, let us know! We’re even interested to hear about non-strap breaking incidents (I won’t name and shame those who didn’t take precautions - it’s OK not to wear the strap). Photos, videos, general living room carnage all gratefully received to the email address on the ‘about’ page. Or just post a comment!

32 Comments »

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  1. A wiimote is more then capable of breaking an LCD screen. For example a guy I work with was flicking a platic watercap at another person in my office, he missed hit his LCD screen and put a huge crack in it. That cap was much lighter then the wiimote and did quite a bit of damage. So there is no doubt one could break a screen. It doesn’t take much to do it.

    Comment by Khabi — November 28, 2006 #

  2. So it would seem! We’ve seen three smashed LCD screens recently - see “First LCD breakages reported” here.

    Comment by Damage — November 29, 2006 #

  3. I have some amazing photos of the damage a wii can do. I couldn’t find an upload spot so mail me and i’ll send them.

    Comment by Chris — December 2, 2006 #

  4. If people are breaking things and snapping the wiimote wrist strap (which is hard for me to believe, unless they are actually swinging the wiimote around by the strap, c’mon guys admit it) they should probably just relax. Getting all spastic and flinging the wiimote around harder doesn’t improve your game skills.

    Comment by Crass — December 5, 2006 #

  5. I think reporters who weren’t using the strap would be inclined to falsely report that it broke because it shifts blame for their clumsiness and breakage to a supposedly faulty strap.

    Nintendo has also shown that they will take responsibility if you report a broken strap, but failure to use the strap puts all responsibility on the user.

    That is why the self-reported strap breakages are not a good source of data on strap breaking frequencies.

    How many reporters said they just weren’t using the strap? Did anyone admit to that at all?

    Comment by dr00 — December 6, 2006 #

  6. I’m sure that you think is my imagination but now playing Wii bowling is an extreme sport.

    Comment by ACAZ — December 6, 2006 #

  7. learn to use the wiimote properly!

    Comment by phoenix — December 21, 2006 #

  8. […] The game is Wii Sports Tennis and Greg has the racket. As a newbie, he is getting totally absorbed in the game. With one huge cross court smash the Wiimote leaves Greg’s hand, caught only momentarily by the wrist strap (which does the inevitable) and flies full pelt into the closet door. […]

    Pingback by Wii Damage » Closet door gets the Wii badge of honor* — December 23, 2006 #

  9. (typed on my wii) Has anyone noticed that no one’s talking about how the strap isn’t meant for that strain anyway? I mean, it’s an ‘’If all else fails'’, not a ‘’It’ll be ok! I’m protected!'’. I mean, no one’s ever sued Louisville Sluggers, because people have sense not to throw a bat. Why not the same sense for the Wiimote?

    Comment by Duzie — December 29, 2006 #

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  12. Playing with nephew’s Wii (that sounds really weird!) over the Independence Day. After-market strap snapped while bowling and Wiimote flew across the room. Fortunately, no damage. The cord connecting the Wiimote stayed attached; the strp itself broke at the plastic connector.

    Haven’t had any issues with Wiimotes at home.

    Comment by Toggle — July 8, 2007 #

  13. you no even IF the strap breaks KEEP A GRIP ON THE REMOTE. dont let go of the remote just because you finished the follow through of bowling and etc. ALWAYS keep a grip on the remote. dont run around like a crazy person with the remote THAT mya cause the strap to break also. GRIP THE REMOTE

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  15. Hello,

    I just bought a Wii on Sunday. I have a huge rear projection tv (that has a soft screen - like most). I have used the wrist strap consistently for fear of the dreaded damage.

    But, I didn’t need to worry about the wii controller going through the tv. I should have been worrying about the cats.

    Without going into great detail, my cat took a flying leap at the ‘hand’ that was moving on the screen. I don’t have a way to post the pictures, but just warn people who have overzealous cats.

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  28. It baffles me that people think they have to swing the Wiimote that friggin’ hard. A gentle flick of the wrist will do it.

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  29. a wii can do bad damages, folks :-(

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