Gaming Nintendo sued over 'dangerous' Wii controllers

[The Helper]

The class-action lawsuit, filed by Molly Elvig, a mother from Littleton, Colarado in the United States, claims that the wrist strap attached to the controller is "ineffective". Mrs Elvig decided to file the $5 million (£3 million) claim after alleging that her 52in Samsung television was damaged by a Wii controller that flew out of her son's hand as he played a game of virtual bowling.

It's not the first time Nintendo has been criticised for the safety of its Wii controllers. Since the launch of the Wii in 2006, Nintendo has released three different versions of the strap used to attach the controller -- which players gesticulate with while playing games -- to the gamer's wrist, following a spate of injuries and breakages.

The first strap, which was little more than a cable hung around the wrist, was replaced by a second strap with a slider mechanism to tighten the loop more securely. The most recent strap features a 'lock' for the slider, to keep the tightened loop in place.

In 2006, Nintendo and the US consumer safety product commission warned that the strap may break if "excessive force" was used.

Nintendo sued over 'dangerous' Wii controllers

www.telegraph.co.uk

 

[Jackal]

She'll be lucky to get a dime.

 

[Romek]

He must've purposely tried to get that wrist-strap broken.
It's very difficult to break, especially the third version.

And even so, you should be holding onto the controller so the wrist strap is only their, just-in-case you drop the remote.

 

[Darthfett]

her 52in Samsung television was damaged by a Wii controller that flew out of her son's hand

Funny. I didn't know they gave the controllers wings.

She ought to sue God, and her son's father for giving her son defective hands.

 

[The Helper]

They are probably suing over the first version. I remember seeing videos of flying wii controllers a while back - they used to be a problem and that is why they are probably making news now as the cases are progressing.

Based on those videos, I imagine they will probably be paying up. They can afford it though.

I am buying nothing but Nintendo stuff for my kids this Christmas. A Nintendo Wii, extra controllers to make 4, and SSMB. Then they have 2 extra games coming from there straight A Honor Roll Report Cards. My parents and ex-wife are all getting them Wii games so we are going to be set but Nintendo is banking this year fo sure.

 

[Uberplayer]

> I remember seeing videos of flying wii controllers a while back
The won't fly, when used properly. That has never happened to me, even though I don't use the strap.

In most cases, I believe, the players have been kids, who haven't realized that when playing games like Baseball in Wii Sports, you don't actually need to swing the controller using "excessive force". That should be taught to them before handing over the controllers. You should too, TH, or your Christmas may become very expensive...

 

[The Helper]

I dont have an expensive TV. I have a 40 Inch Sony Flat Screen non LCD model which makes it one of the heaviest old tech tube tv things I have ever moved. Wii controllers can safely fly in my house and would take a couple of TVs before we would be out of business.

We are getting the latest version of the Wii too which I am sure has the latest controller strap technology.

I think this lawsuit is not about the latest version of the Wii controllers. It is probably on the first generation of the controllers.

 

[Romek]

You can order up to 4 (I think?) of the new wrist straps and the controller-grips for free off the Nintendo website anyway.
I got wii the Christmas it came out in the UK, and it had the older wrist straps.

 

[MurderMode]

$5 million in damages? shit I think she got ripped off when she bought that 52in tv.

This is disgraceful, people are so greedy. It's her own son's fault for damaging the tv, not Nintendos. Whats next? I guess everyone who owns sporting equipment like baseball bats and soccer balls should sue too, because they have much more potential to cause harm then a wii remote.

The lawsuit alleges that the Wii remote is "ineffective for its intended use and is prone to break while the user of the Wii remote is using [it] in the intended manner"

....wrong, they don't break if used in the intended manner. They don't cause property damage or risk injury when used in the correct way either. I never use the strap when I play my wii because I actually hold on to it when I play... and I pwn the games without using only enough force that if I actually did let go it wouldn't cause any damage whatsoever. The wrist strap is a safety measure for the odd occasion when you might let go anyhow, it wouldn't break on the first, second or 100th drop.... so if it does break you are using it completely wrong and excessively every time you play. I bet I could swing my wii remote around like a nunchuck by the strap for a good 10 minutes without it breaking.

If people with attitudes like this just disappeared one day it wouldn't be a loss, the world would be a better place for it.

 

[Snowbizzle]

Is it not possible for people to HOLD ON TO A CONTROLLER?

I play games on the computer and Xbox 360 all day, and I constantly flail my arms, hands and wrists about in anger and agony. But I'm never stupid enough to throw my mouse or controller across the room.

And in Wii Bowling? Jesus, that whole family fails.

 

[WastedSavior]

Mrs Elvig decided to file the $5 million (£3 million) claim

Because a 52 inch television is so clearly worth $5 million.

 

[Romek]

[youtube]B2s7KTMjfgg[/youtube]
"Maybe if I pat the TV, it'll fix itself?"

 

[shinami]

"Maybe if I pat the TV, it'll fix itself?"

What a moron.. I liked the part when he broke the clearly broked the glass of tv, and tried to fix it by hitting it from above ( works for me on tv's that don't have a shattered glass ).. Also this is ridiculous... If you can't hold on to the damn controller, then don't play at all, they're fault.

 

[Flare]

He must've purposely tried to get that wrist-strap broken.
It's very difficult to break, especially the third version.

And even so, you should be holding onto the controller so the wrist strap is only their, just-in-case you drop the remote.

Is it not possible for people to HOLD ON TO A CONTROLLER?

I play games on the computer and Xbox 360 all day, and I constantly flail my arms, hands and wrists about in anger and agony. But I'm never stupid enough to throw my mouse or controller across the room.

And in Wii Bowling? Jesus, that whole family fails.

QTF - it's not as if it's so damn hard to hold onto a controller. My cousins, who are fairly young, would be notorious (IMO) with regard to the whole 'excessive force' thing, and I've never had an issue with them letting go of the Wiimote (with/without the wrist-strap), and that's in Wii Boxing.

Perhaps the mother should be paying Nintendo to try and mask the scent of fail If a kid can't play Wii Bowling without letting go of the control, maybe the Wii wasn't the best choice of console...

And, for emphasis

Spoiler