Today's hottest game video: Wii-mote plus sweaty hands = SMASH
by Kevin Kelly 
{ Nov 25th 2006 at 12:00AM }
The top slot on YouTube is occupied by the DIY-erless Wii sensor bar video that we've already covered today, so we're sliding down to number two. Although the video tells us something we already know -- Wii-motes love to fly out of hands due to shoddy wrist straps and break things -- we love their Zapruder film-esque replay of the alleged event over and over. While people haven't started duct-taping these to their wrists yet, Nintendo can expect a brisk business in replacement straps sales. That's where the real money lies in these consoles, and we've finally uncovered the bitter truth. Check out the video after the jump while you scrounge for strap change.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
shaoron @ Nov 25th 2006 12:10AM
hey! look on the bright side... at least they aren't "wii-sabers"... those thing can slice thru you!
Radon @ Nov 26th 2006 12:38AM
I think the pic says it all, this guy pitched that Wiimote like he was trying to hit the TV. Thank god no one was walking past the TV or they would have needed some serious stitches.
I mean come on, theres no reason to swing that hard. A: your gonna get really tired, really fast. and B: your going to KILL someone.
Subtle movements people...jez
student @ Nov 25th 2006 12:13AM
Did you hear the sound of that? How hard was he swinging that remote? What I think is impressive is that from his continued play after the... accident, it looked like the remote went undamaged.
Anita @ Nov 25th 2006 12:12AM
Sounds like what they really should sell is plexiglass TV guards instead of replacement remotes.
FalseProphecy @ Nov 25th 2006 12:19AM
Am I the only one who noticed the title of this article? I don't think sweaty heads account for many accidents...especially with wiimotes.
Taltos @ Nov 25th 2006 12:21AM
Someone is gonna die from this eventually...And thus the lawsuits begin. >_>
luke @ Nov 25th 2006 12:34AM
Why in the hell is that guy swinging his arm 1000000 miles an hour? It really makes not a damn bit of difference whether you barely swing or not. That gorilla force was not required, what an idiot.
reppy @ Nov 25th 2006 12:35AM
He swung that thing pretty damn hard. That said, I do hope they release a stronger wristband. I'll pick a few up.
Kevin @ Nov 25th 2006 12:38AM
I'm sorry, but shoddy wrist straps don't make Wiimotes go flying. It's people like this guy that make Wiimotes go flying. I mean seriously, the game doesn't measure how hard you hit it.
Unidentified creature @ Nov 25th 2006 12:38AM
Please note that the more active games( at least from Nintendo) include a warning to make sure that you have enough room to play. Also note that it does not require more force in game than it actually takes to hit a tennis ball. How many people swing their tennis rackets hard enough to lose their grip?
My hands get slightly sweaty, and even with fairly substantial force I've had no prolems with the Wiimote slipping even slightly. Are these people swinging it be the strap alone? I think weak grips, not weak straps, are the primary problems here.
Okay, you can shoot me now.
SkillCoil @ Nov 25th 2006 12:42AM
@7
Somehow, I doubt that you would be able to get a wrist strap strong enough to handle force that this retard and others will be exerting.
I can see it now. Playing a MLB game, and someone that forgot to take their Ritalin at the pitcher mound.
"ZOMG, LET ME SWING THIS WIIMOTE AT 60MPH AT THIS TV SCREEN!"
*screen breaks*
"WTF NINTENDO SUX, TO THE MESSAGE BOARDS!"
bunnie @ Nov 25th 2006 12:44AM
Great story Joystiq, this really puts into perspective how DANGEROUS the Wii can be. The Wii could cause massive damage or kill someone. Nope, no shenanigans here...You guys in the media are doing a good job in making it clear how dangerous it is and for that I salute you!
I think Potentail Wii buyers should take note that the Wii is a dangerous toy, so FEAR the Wii! Now I'm just waiting for someone to report a Wii-related death. How many casual gamers are willing to buy such a dangerous toy? LOL!
Probot @ Nov 25th 2006 12:46AM
Why don't people realize that the speed of the swing doesn't matter? Tennis is all about timing.
Baseball, however, would make sense. I swing pretty hard for that game. That and bowling.
I know Wii Gloves exist, but why don't they have their own, stronger wrist straps?
http://www.joystiq.com/2006/10/08/wii-dog-tags-wii-controller-gloves-wii-money-making-schemes/
Ehrgeiz @ Nov 25th 2006 1:13AM
Jesus tap dancing christ that swing was way to hard. WTF was he thinking? I'm pretty sure those straps were not made for that type of play, no idea though as I don't have a wii yet.
SkillCoil @ Nov 25th 2006 1:20AM
@13
You are right, these straps were not made with such force in mind. The straps were placed there to stop it from falling to the ground from someone having it slipped out of their hands while doing gentle wrist movements and light swings aka wii sports tennis swings, not stop it from not flying head on at your tv screen after you've tossed it with enough force to kill someone.
truth @ Nov 25th 2006 1:31AM
Um... no, Nintedo can't expect a brisk sales of THEIR replacement strap. But 3rd party vendors can look forward to brisk sales of the stronger better replacement straps that they develop.
lol @ Nov 25th 2006 1:34AM
Sweet fancy Jesus swinging on monkey bars... could he swing that a bit harder.
Al @ Nov 25th 2006 1:43AM
O.O Oh... my... God. THROW IT HARDER PLEASE. Is this how he plays real tennis? Because damn.
jimcarsinger @ Nov 25th 2006 2:02AM
Fucking stupid. (Yes, that adjective is justified.)
PRguitarman @ Nov 25th 2006 2:06AM
That must be his wife beating arm.
Jelloboy25 @ Nov 25th 2006 10:35AM
There's always the possibility that they Broke the strap on purpose, then conveniently filmed the guy just throwing the controller (at roughly 1 million miles per hour), just to get thier ugly mugs on the internet.
People have done lamer stuff to get on camera...
Mordennight @ Nov 25th 2006 9:39PM
Seriously though. What's so flippin hard about holding onto these damn things. I've been playing Wii a LOT since I got it, and I do the same broad gestures for Wii sports and never throw the controller. My hands also get sweaty too and I still have no trouble keeping hold of the thing. Are these people unaware that you are supposed to keep holding it? Seriously. I'm surprised at how many reports like this I'm hearing. How are people this stupid? Yeah I said it. Stupid. Cause you gotta be if you can't figure out how to play Wii sports without hucking a remote through a TV.
john @ Nov 25th 2006 2:36AM
"replacement strap"? You know that pretty much any wrist strap will work right? It's not a proprietary Nintendo port!
kay @ Nov 25th 2006 2:38AM
what is classic is how he goes "can you blame me?" Of course we cant. Its not that you swung way to hard unnecessarily, its because the Wii is weak and bad! Blame game FTW!
Mister Disco @ Nov 25th 2006 3:16AM
*laughs* Oh, man. Seriously, who swings that hard? If you're doing anything in Wii Sports you get faster speed with a flick of the wrist than with a full-on pitch like that. Here's a hint: If you swing/throw with the same speed you would in real life, you'd need a lot more than a wrist strap to keep it from flying across the room. Use common sense.
People just love to blame the Wii or the wrist strap, but I've been playing for close to a week now, quite vigorously, and not only have my hands been dry and perfectly fine, but I've not once lost the grip on my controller.
Guys and gals, if you're not happy with the wrist strap, buy a new one. It's like, two bucks. People buy peripherals to enhance their gaming experience or make things better or more convenient for themselves all the time, and it costs more than two bucks usually... So go buy another wrist strap and stop whining :)
Lekko @ Nov 25th 2006 3:21AM
Maybe Jack Thompson can finally prove that video games hurt people, if only by accident.
busydoingnothing @ Nov 25th 2006 3:32AM
Who is to blame when it comes to retards like this who decide to side-step common sense and play their Wii with sweaty hands, willing to loosen their grip on their controller and let it fly? If this country weren't such a litigious society, I swear to god, common sense would be far more prevalent. But really, who needs common sense when you can easily blame someone else for your idiocy? Give me a break.
nitefire @ Nov 25th 2006 3:40AM
I'm really sick of sweaty hands' anti-Nintendo stance.
umrain @ Nov 25th 2006 3:47AM
And yet, when people throw their Playstation controllers at the TV (i have seen it) do people blame SONY for NOT EVEN INCLUDING A WRIST STRAP?? no*
(also their controllers are seemingly less likely to work after a good hurling IME)
*(actually, they usually blame the cheating computer players.)
Shagi @ Nov 25th 2006 3:53AM
Guys, I shit you not....
I just had to blow into the holes inside the battery compartment of the Wiimote to get it to sync.
No Kidding. Remember this for when it happens to you. I guess if its Nintendo blowing is always the way to fix it.
Silver @ Nov 25th 2006 4:03AM
"People just love to blame the Wii or the wrist strap, but I've been playing for close to a week now, quite vigorously, and not only have my hands been dry and perfectly fine, but I've not once lost the grip on my controller."
Nor have I, but I did experience this problem first hand tonight.
Nintendo DEFINITELY has a flawed design issue with these wrist straps. My nephew hurled my Wiimote against the wall tonight in a spirited game of tennis. It was a dramatic moment to be sure. The tiny thread securing the wrist strap to the Wiimote came apart where it joins the strap, just like in all the pictures of broken wrist straps I've seen so far. Did they actually test this thing??? Best replace that thread with braided steel and rework the manner in which it's attached to the strap. I'm just glad no one caught the thing in the side of the head.
This is a problem Nintendo should address, and quickly. It's a cheap fix, and it would be foolish not to solve the problem before the news stories of broken Wiimotes, TVs, lamps, and other players' teeth start to mount. Get this done by Christmas before people start getting into the Wii en masse, Nintendo, and save yourself a LOT of potential grief.
Mister Disco @ Nov 25th 2006 4:04AM
>27
Getting a good blow always fixes me right up. Nintendo's got the right idea.
buthidae @ Nov 25th 2006 9:00AM
That guy doesn't need a wrist strap, he needs a tighter neck strap!
samfish @ Nov 25th 2006 4:11AM
Jesus tap-dancing Christ...I hope Nintendo releases a stronger wrist strap because it seems to me that they can't handle brute force like that. Even if they aren't technically meant to be used that hard, it's gonna happen and, thus, Nintendo IS responsible in that regard.
If I were them, I'd pull out all the stops and release, like, a metal wire type strap, since they all seem to be breaking in the same place.
Don Jose @ Nov 25th 2006 4:27AM
"Maybe Jack Thompson can finally prove that video games hurt people, if only by accident."
LOL. Wii is the new lawn darts!
Wes @ Nov 25th 2006 4:35AM
It's tiring reading so many foul-mouthed posts on here. Can't you guys (not all of you) communicate without being so vulgar?
Also, some of use revere Jesus Christ. It may be funny to imagine him tap-dancing or swinging around on monkey-bars, but to be honest it still gets to me and a lot of other people. You don't have to respect him or even believe in him, but it would just be kind to all of us who do to leave him out of topics where he doesn't belong. A lot of us believe it's taking his name in vain. It would be nice if you could consider other people when you write stuff like that, even if you don't believe there's a god that would be offended by it.
Thanks.
Splinter @ Nov 25th 2006 4:44AM
So did he get the power server?
Jesuistus Limpen @ Nov 25th 2006 4:46AM
Christ on a gay moped, Wes. Get over yourself. People can use a little fruity tongue if they want, it doesn't do any harm.
I'm getting increasingly annoyed that people with magical invisible friends in the sky seem to think they're deserving of special treatment rather than ridicule.
craig @ Nov 25th 2006 4:58AM
Ya, I'm gonna have to say that this is probably the most retarded, sorry, wiitarded event I have ever heard of. This controller is by far the most ergonomic of the game controllers I have used thus far, and grips easily. There is a simple fix to this problem and it has nothing to do with Nintendo on there end, just inform the people that are gonna play to grip the controller, apply the wrist strap properly ( slide the strap securely to our wrist), and that the games do not require swings of such intensity. Come on people, morons or not, play the game right and you won't have problems.
Wes @ Nov 25th 2006 5:02AM
@34: I knew I'd get a comment like that within minutes. Look, I'm not looking for special treatment - I'm just asking that you consider other people's feelings and attempt to be kind. You know, kindness - respect for other people. We're all in this together and it certainly doesn't apply to just this issue or just people who believe as I do. I'm not trying to censor anyone's free speech. I just wish people would take it upon themselves to at least think about how what they say affects other people. What's wrong with that?
Billy @ Nov 25th 2006 5:47AM
While you don't have to swing it that hard Nintendo and everybody else knew that people were going to go a little crazy with it and should have made a better strap in my opinion.
Spiritualized @ Nov 25th 2006 5:09AM
I don't think it's as much sweaty hands as a lack of coordination.
FinalDelerium @ Nov 25th 2006 5:41AM
Wes, seriously, lighten up. Sense of humour and all that. It's not a big deal, and i personally find the image of jesus riding a gay moped hilarious!
As penny arcade have said before, jesus is fucking metal!
Also, The little slidy thing on the strap of the wiimote, that you're supposed to slide to your wrist, if you do that, it will take up a LOT of the force if you let go. If you dont use it, then if you let go, ALL of the force goes straight to that little bit of string. Use it properly and you shouldnt have any major issues.
daeval @ Nov 25th 2006 5:58AM
Frankly, I'm more worried about the battery cover than the strap. That thing takes some seriously overlooked abuse. While the strap may get the occasional stress from boneheads like this guy, everyone who IS holding the remote tight enough is squeezing that battery cover against the body of the controller. One of the battery covers is already a little looser than the other of the two wii-motes in my house. Mark my words, people. Mark them!
Tom @ Nov 25th 2006 7:14AM
Pretty obviously fake, for one he was swinging it at an insane speed, I mean im all for getting in the game but if you played real tennis smacking it that hard every shot you would be knackered very quickly.
Then there is the fact that he isn't even facing the tv! He is playing at an angle so he is completly facing away from it and is having to turn his head to even look at it. Yet then when he starts swinging normally he looks straight at it.
Why didn't they just throw a wiimote at a wall? Or test the break strength of the cord? It would be far more useful than just seeing them pretend to accidently break it while filming.
Optimus Prime @ Nov 25th 2006 7:52AM
Theres no doubt that wii and booze go hand in hand; because that all this article really proves. But, as someone else said, are non-gmers gonna run out and drop $300 on a game because its fun?
ie. i go over to my friends house to play fooseball, its tons of fun when everyone is drinking. But, that person is the only one with a fooseball table.. everybody didnt run out and buy one. People arent dying to play fooseball everyday.. and so why bother getting one when they can get their fix once in a while for no money.
Are non-gamers gonna be dying to get their wii-sports fix after the booze wears off or they to back to the daily grind? DS is a different story, its completely self-contained, cheap and the form factor is perfect for pick up and play.
So, the trick is to convince non-gamers to run out and but one... and keep buying games. A lot of things are fun in the moment, that doesnt automatically translate into sales.
General Bison @ Nov 25th 2006 8:48AM
I think this video is staged. No one could be that stupid as to swing/throw the controller that hard.
ncxcstud @ Nov 25th 2006 9:10AM
I love how these nintendo-ites think that non-gamers realize that the Wii doesn't sense the strength of your swing, yet it does do that in the baseball game, peculiar huh...(yes, i know it's done by SPEED with that, not strength).
But, put a non-gamer into a situation with a tennis game, they are going to THINK that the harder you swing it, the more poweful the serve. It's NATURAL. You create a game that is 'supposed' to be played off fluid, natural movements, and that will happen. People will think, the harder I swing the serve...the faster it will be. Hell, my wife was doing that until I told her that you don't need to swing that hard.
And yes, I can see a lot of this happening in the baseball game as well. People will try to break the 90s in pitch speed. My highest was 96MPH. Of course, I know you don't need to make a full pitcing motion, it's just a flick of the wrist. But what's keep joe sixpack from trying to be Roger Clemens and throwing in a heater?
JBob @ Nov 25th 2006 9:18AM
#35 craig
"This controller is by far the most ergonomic of the game controllers I have used thus far, and grips easily. "
Sorry, but I laughed. The thing is a rectangle!
RAMX @ Nov 25th 2006 9:33AM
Nintendo, by adding a wrist strap, obviously acknowledges that it is to be expected that a certain subset of their users would accidently let the remote slip during play. (also note their warning screen to remind people to use the wrist strap.)
Now, if you follow the instructions correctly and you manage to let the remote slip but the wrist strap FAILS TO DO ITS JOB you cannot blame the user! sure some people are flinging the remote at unreasonable speeds, but some are just playing the game normally.
Anyone who follows the directions correctly and still gets a remote in the tv should sue for damages because the product is obviously faulty. (just as you would sue if a railing broke, brakes failed, seat belt failed, air bag failed, life raft failed, smoke alarm failed, bleh)