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Nintendo Recalls Straps For Wii Controller

December 15, 2006

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Nintendo's Wii video game console has been a hot item since it debuted a month ago, but the company has announced a recall of more than 3 million straps on the game console's controllers. The reason? They can break, turning the controllers into flying projectiles.

Part of the problem stems from the way the controllers are used. Users don't simply hold them, feverously pushing buttons. The controllers intuitively follow body motion, so that by mimicking the movement of swinging a tennis racquet, they control the racquet on the video screen.

• Can Active Video Games Help Prevent Obesity? • Effectiveness Of Activity-Promoting Video Games Measured • Final Fantasy Suit Alleges Hidden Fees, Penalties • California Petitions Supreme Court To Enforce Video Game Law • Study Suggests Video Games Are Addictive • Video Games Blamed For Poor Family Relationships • Researchers Study Wii's Impact on Fitness • Kids Burn More Calories Playing Active Video Games • Study Questions Effect of Violent Video Games • Active Video Games No Substitute for Exercise • Why Are Men More into Gamesmanship? • Study Measures Impact of Media Violence • Manhunt 2: Pushing the Limit of Gore and Violence • Kids Spending More Time Playing Video Games • Parents Urged To Monitor Kids' Video Games • Fight Over Manhunt 2 Could Get Nasty • The Addictiveness of Virtual Violence • Study: Video Games May Sharpen Vision • Mayo Clinic Study Endorses Concept Behind Nintendo's Wii • Researchers Find Video Games Addicting • Report Finds Progress in Keeping Violent Video Games Out of Kids' Hands • Researcher Urges Parents To Reconsider Giving Video Games • Violent Video Games Leave Teens Emotionally Aroused --- Hardware & Programs • Is Nintendo's Wii Really Good Exercise? • Nintendo Wii: The Buzz Goes On • Nintendo Says It Can’t Meet Wii Holiday Demand • Injuries Grow Along With Wii Popularity • Nintendo's Wii Spreads Mayhem as Wiimote Goes Flying • Nintendo Sued Over Broken Wii Strap • Nintendo Recalls Straps For Wii Controller • Gamers Favoring Wii over PS3 • Nintendo Purchasers Complain of Gamesmanship • Nintendo, Sony Offer Competing Visions Of Video Games • PlayStation 3 Takes the Field • PlayStation 3 Brings Big Bucks on eBay • Gamers Complain "Dead Rising" Fatal to Microsoft Xbox

You can see how that might be a problem if the controller slipped from the player's grasp. Damage has reportedly occurred to windows, lamps and TV screens. There has been at least one report of a minor injury.

Nintendo said it started to get complaints soon after the game was released last month. It now says it will provide thicker straps for Wii controllers free of charge.

The company had been on record in urging plays to show some restraint in their hand movements with the controls.

"Players do not need to wave the Wii Remote vigorously to enjoy the games,” Nintendo had advised in a press release accompanying the rollout of the widely anticipated video game. We ask them to hold the controllers tightly."

For more information, contact Nintendo toll-free at (800) 859-4519 between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. PT, or visit their Web site at www.support.nintendo.com.

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