Rear projection looks unstoppable in ‘weakest TV’ poll

I had no idea Rear Projection TVs were so popular (or so popular with sweaty handed, weak strapped Wii users). But after the three we reported last week, here’s another one that took the brint of a slippery Wii remote, as reported on the Nintendo Wii’s official forum. And this time it was Tennis, not Bowling. Unlucky.

As if the frustration of a broken telly wasn’t enough, those fellow forumites cried ‘fake’ until he provided photographic evidence… we feel for you Larry (Victim #4)!

So, that brings our tally of tragic RPTVs to four, three of which come with photographic evidence. Does anyone know how to fix these things? Is it just a case of replacing the plastic cover? If you know, stick it in the comments and you’ll make a few unlucky readers extremely grateful.

As an aside, all this RPTV action makes me think there must be a lot more unreported ’strikes’ out there - but the Wiimote is just bouncing off the tougher TVs. Let us know if that’s you. I’m just waiting to see the first meathead who manages to take a chunk out of a CRT!

A barrage of breaking Wiimote 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!

Three rear projection TVs suffer death by Wiimote

Y’all look like you’re enjoying your new toy! Some of you are giving it EVERYTHING!

Yikes! We’ve now seen 3 (yes, three!) cases of cracked rear projection TV as a result of:

1. Playing the Wii Sports bowling game

2. Letting go of the whole Wiimote as if it was the bowling ball

3. Being let down by the ’safety’ strap (it ’snapped’)

4. RPTVs being covered with a relatively thin, crackable screen (as opposed to the thick glass tube in a good ol’ CRT)

Two were reported on Engadget, and the comments certainly made enlightening reading (especially as one contained the report of a third screen death, this time with the crack right in the middle of the screen - still an RPTV, still a broken strap, still playing the bowling game. That’s looking like a lethal combo).

You can find all the original details here:

Victim #1: Jon

Victim #2: Michaela

Victim #3: Bill

First Wiimote strap breaks - wall damage for IGN

What may look to you like a boring beige section of wall is actually something much more significant. This is the first piece of Nintendo Wii-induced wall damage (the first of many we suspect). It occurred a little over a week ago, on 13th November 2006.

This was before the official launch of the Wii, and IGN were trying out their demo unit. Before committing their review to the masses, they decided to give their precious controllers over to the girls from the ‘ad sales’ department - the non-gamers of the office - to see how they would fare.

The girls took to it immediately, and during a particularly energetic game of Tennis (notch one up for Tennis on the Wii Damage danger list), the remote slipped, the strap broke, and the Wiimote-cum-projectile came to an abrupt halt on the review room wall.

We’re going to have to keep an eye on these wrist straps…

There’s an interesting aside to this story. The Wiimote exploded on impact, falling into pieces around the review room, but when the geeky guy in the room reassembled the device IT WORKED - good as new. Shame about the office wall…

Wii - an accident waiting to happen

The launch of a new game console is usually enough to get hard-core gamers salivating and speculating about exactly what their new NinMicroSon product will be like.

By contrast, the Nintendo Wii - launched in the US on 19th November 2006 - has not only been intriguing seasoned gamers, but is drawing a new crowd with its promise of arcade-action, motion-sensing games packed with bags of fun, and without the intimidation of ‘raw power’ that other 3rd generation consoles exude.

This is a new crowd of cross-generational gaming dabblers who just can’t wait to get swinging that Wiimote. And this is where the fun really begins…

Nintendo must have agonised over this - is the modern living room the place to be swinging your arms around like you’re John McEnroe on centre court, chipping like Tiger on the 18th hole or shakin’it like Andre 3000? Sounds like a lot of fun, and clearly this is going to bring in new gamers, but what about the potential missile you’ll be holding, the Wii remote.

Here’s where the Nintendo inspiration kicked in. Their solution - a wrist strap to stop said missile from leaving your sweaty paw, and some clear instructions about the risks of non-compliance. An extract from the Wii manual is shown below.

Now, as Marty’s professor friend Doc might say in Back To The Future, provided Wii gamers comply with the above instuctions and don’t a) hit their opponent (accidentally or otherwise) or b) hit the stuff in their living room and c) the strap doesn’t break if the Wiimote slips… (pause for breath) “everything’s gonna be just fine!”.

Let’s watch and see, shall we…