Wii-related injury roundup

It didn't take too long for the first Wii-related injury to surface, and it was even shorter before Wiimotes folks starting breaking things with their wild flinging antics, but when your product spurns the creation of an entire website devoted to users getting banged up when misusing the controller, now that's an accomplishment. Of course, it's probably safe to assume that at least half these Wiinjuries are nothing more than backyard boo-boos that folks translated into Wiincidents to get their 15 minutes of fame, but regardless, when Nintendo sends out emails and offers beefier Wiimote straps to those having problems, at least some of this stuff has to be legitimate. First up is a high-heel-wearing dame who apparently dislocated her knee while going for the smash in Wii Tennis, but the remedy to this happening again should really be quite apparent. Next we've got a rowdy customer service guru who actually swung the Wii-bat so hard, it purportedly snapped something within his arm. Lastly, we've got a Agassi wannabe who didn't exactly pay attention to the overhead (glass) light fixture before serving an ace, and now he's reportedly got the bloodshed (and repair bills) to show for it. The moral of the story is that the Wiimote can be a potent weapon and injury liaison if not used properly, but hey, we can't deny the humor in folks taking themselves out when going FTW.

Read - Dislocated Knee, via Joystiq
Read - Broken Arm
Read - Sliced Hand
Read - More Examples of Wiimote carelessness

[noyhing now @ Dec 16th 2006 4:12PM]

ouch, nintendo would be screwed if this shows on fox/cnn/comedy cental/random local news channel
but it hasnt


mannuals exit for a reason people!

[Matt @ Dec 16th 2006 4:22PM]

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=132168

wii warning labels ^^^

[Matt @ Dec 16th 2006 4:22PM]

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=132168

wii warning labels ^^^

[Rusty @ Dec 16th 2006 10:04PM]

I like the last warning label......what's it mean?
Do not insert four leaf clovers into the Wii?

[Ralph @ Dec 16th 2006 4:34PM]

Gettin' tired of hearing about this issue. Enough already. So some people are dumb enough to whack themselves with a game controller. Who cares?

[Wonderkid @ Dec 16th 2006 4:34PM]

This is all totall boll*cks! Just shows how low we have sunk that these sad people have failed so badly in their lives that they have to resort to suing others for their own stupidity! (No kidding, this is all thanks to the American lawyers, and sadly, it's coming to the UK too. Messup, blame someone else!)

[ryan @ Dec 16th 2006 4:38PM]

I've played the wii many times and the only thing that bothered me was a sore right arm from bowling so many games on wiisports... but seriously, you'd have to be RETARDED to injure yourself like the ones mentioned above... America is just filled with morons

[Adrian Williams @ Dec 16th 2006 6:31PM]

its Wiitarded

[Tazmanian @ Dec 16th 2006 4:42PM]

"This is all totall boll*cks! Just shows ....."

Speaking of stupidity.. None of these people have sued nintendo, so slow down on your premature rant, I know you've probably been saving that one up for a few weeks but its too early.

[Rohit Kapur @ Dec 16th 2006 4:45PM]

Wow. The scariest part of the pictures are not the injuries; it's the smile on the woman's face.

Guess she expects big money from Nintendo.

[cptripps @ Dec 16th 2006 4:49PM]

This entire issue is ludicrous. It's like suing Stanley tools because you just broke your thumb hitting yourself with the new hammer you bought. Every item you purchase poses a certain degree of risk if misused but seriously, to break your television or physically hurt yourself with a small remote control just takes a special kind of stupid.

[skmetal7 @ Dec 16th 2006 4:56PM]

i just have one thing to say

DEEDEEDEE

[jumpymathguy @ Dec 16th 2006 4:59PM]

These people deserve it for buying Wiis. The product is clearly inferior to the 360 and yet people still seem to be buying it. I just don't understand people.

[Mo @ Dec 16th 2006 5:00PM]

whoa is that britney spears in the top left pic? but seriously wtf is wrong with people, how did that bitch in the pic get a black eye from the wiimote, doesnt make sense. i smell serious bullshit

[Matt @ Dec 16th 2006 5:10PM]

Get over the Wii related stories already. People are retarded: we get the point.

[daniel @ Dec 16th 2006 5:17PM]

these people are complete wii-tards

[narco @ Dec 16th 2006 5:19PM]

I don't know which is worse, people getting injured by the Wii, or most of these comments.

Fishes,
narco.

[apeguero @ Dec 16th 2006 5:37PM]

The same people that complained about too much violence in video games will get a hold of these pics and have a freekin' field day. Just imagine: First crazy teens acting out their rage with the help of video games, soon, Nintendo makes it even easier for said teens to get hurt "while" playing the video games...I better stop now before my comments get in the wrong hands.

[Ein @ Dec 16th 2006 5:41PM]

I guess this is Virtual reality. :-)

[Andrew @ Dec 16th 2006 5:42PM]

Do Wii care?

[3rdsun @ Dec 16th 2006 5:52PM]

The Wii should be banned. its a deadly weapon. WMD - Wii Mote Destruction

[derek @ Dec 16th 2006 6:00PM]

these people are dumb. they should all be put in a line and shot

[Alcaron @ Dec 16th 2006 6:03PM]

I kinda agree, I'm getting tired of hearing about this, I think Engadget just want to make an issue out of it.

I know, shocking, edgadget being sensationalist?

I was shocked too...

[Erik Ellison @ Dec 16th 2006 6:27PM]

That black eye looks really nasty I can't believe she's smiling.... unless she just got revenge upon the person who gave her the black eye, in which case the smile makes a whole lot of sense.

[Paul @ Dec 16th 2006 6:29PM]

Can we stop hearing about this? I'm sick of all this bs media being given to bs people.
"look im retarded, I cut myself with an object that has no sharp edges whatsoever"
It isn't funny anymore, the novelty wore off during the 2nd article.

[Hmmmm @ Dec 16th 2006 7:34PM]

Come on people, you know whay this is popular? Because for once peopel who sit infron tof tv's playing video games have scars to show for it. THis is people comparing scars, its a first for video games None of these people are screaming lets sue Nintendo so I don't knwo why you are treating them liek they are.

It is interesting that the only people being jerks are the people complainign about the people with the bruises.. IF they can laugh and take their inuries to lightly it baffles me why you all cannot.

It is goofy it is funny and ironic that a console is beating up people, and from what I can tell the people getting beaten still love their Wii's.

[random0000 @ Dec 16th 2006 7:44PM]

Attack of the Wiitards!

[Radu Dutzan @ Dec 16th 2006 8:19PM]

User stupidity at its best!

[Martin @ Dec 16th 2006 8:23PM]

It's injurwiis not Wiinjuries!

[Diddle @ Dec 16th 2006 8:30PM]

IT'S A FREAKIN' VIDEO GAME! YOU DO NOT NEED TO CAUSE SUCH DISTRUCTION TO PLAY!

:rolleyes:

[funkycoldm3dina @ Dec 16th 2006 8:41PM]

I am not at all surprised by these injuries. the worst one is the woman with the eye injury, and she is grinning like the the proverbial cheshire cat.

[Rjay @ Dec 16th 2006 9:09PM]

This is why video game nerds dont play real sports.

[Juaquin @ Dec 16th 2006 10:04PM]

I hope this doesn't get blown out of proportion. It's a great system and it would suck if Nintendo got negative press because people can't figure out how to not injure themselves. I wish Engadget would stop hovering over the Wii-mote incidents like a vulture...

[Enough Already @ Dec 16th 2006 10:22PM]

We get it Engadget.
Sony sucks and Nintendo is destroying the world....but the gods at M$ who line your pockets do no wrong.

Enough with the stupid Wii articles. And that eye injury was proven fake already....it's photoshopped....but that won't stop your smear campaign will it?

[Moogle @ Dec 17th 2006 12:22AM]

Actually, the fake eye injury was a different one that a guy photoshopped on himself. This girl was just hit in the face (accidentally) by her drunk significant other. The smile is probably just from thinking about how long she'll be able to guilt stuff out of him for.

Yeah, people have accidents. It's amusing but no big deal. I smacked my hand on a shelf playing tennis already, but I wasn't swinging hard enough to do any damage. Everyone had a good laugh tho.

By the way, is it just me or do some engadget editors have no more than a passing acquaintance with the English language? Spurn is to reject or disdain. Spur is to incite or urge. Or is everyone used to it by now / realize complaining is useless?

[pvilleSE @ Dec 16th 2006 10:32PM]

Incidents like this are why companies are not able to make fun toys like they used to. Before you can make anything you have to worry about idiots like this using your product incorrectly and have to worry if one of them will get sue happy. If people could just keep safety in mind when using things a lot more cool things could be made and sold.

I think the Wii is one of the most enjoyable things I have purchased lately, please encourage companies to make innovative toys like this rather than discourage them, but I know some people would rather just sit on their couch with lots of money just giving their fingers exercise.

[Elwynn @ Dec 17th 2006 12:10AM]

I really don't see how this could happen.
I have a Wii and have tried everything with it, and the straps have not broken, TONS of people have used my wii and i don't trust them all, and even when they swing it really hard the stap does not break, and also there are warnings about haveing people close to you! read them! you can't skip them when your playing a game, and i was sore the first day i played the wii also, but i played for 10hrs after that i have been fine since.

[martin @ Dec 17th 2006 2:06AM]

In the 80's we used to get "Defender Thumb" no-one complained, if you play games that involve touching equipment you will get hurt, get over it and move on......

[John Doe @ Dec 17th 2006 2:23AM]

Jebus people! How the hell? Seriously. You don't need to even be a tard to figure out that you just need to do small motions. If you are so retarded that you hurt yourself on a game system I want the keys to your car, truck, riding lawn mower, or anything other type of vehicle because you are obviously too stupid to operate a motorized vehicle.

[Jamesology @ Dec 17th 2006 2:53AM]

This only proves one thing... Nintendo Wii owners are idiots. Seriously how do you hurt yourself with a remote. I'm so scared that ppl like these exist, I mean like, do they hurt themselves while driving? I never heard anything like this with the Eyetoy which also involves moving; including the Guitar Hero game. Nintendo loves to do physical damage huh? First Virtuaboy now this??

[Wujek @ Dec 17th 2006 5:35AM]

Oh, Americans!

You really need 'danger notices' on everything... Coffee can be hot, object in mirror may be closer, do not put head in plastic bag... do not throw objects towards other's people eyes... It is amazing that you do not die in big numbers every day because of evil vacuum machines or killing mouse pads...

[Z @ Dec 17th 2006 7:56AM]

"Oh, Americans!... bla bla bla..."

Yeah, it's just Americans. Lord knows no one else is stupid anywhere else in the world. Enough with the trendy-American-bashing Euro-trash talk, OK?


But for anyone around the world who buys a Wii, maybe Nintendo should include some body-armor in the box. "We are no longer the Knights that say 'Nee!' We are the Knights that say 'Wii!'.

[Felipe @ Dec 17th 2006 9:49AM]

Actually Wii don't care.

Common get over this Wii injuries stories, people get bikes all the time and get injured, people even die on bikes but we're not reading on an rss feed about bike injuries... basically, shit happens.

And I don't find fare that people are able to sue Nintendo for their own clumsiness, that sux, Nintendo just invented a very cool controller. People will have to adapt or keep getting injured... :-)

Cheers

[autopilot @ Dec 17th 2006 9:55AM]

You cant buy publicity like this.

Nintendo must be loving it.

[Gabby @ Dec 17th 2006 10:22AM]

You can get hurt from nearly anything, so why are they going after the wii remote. I remember I ripped my hand open playing on the old Nintendo Gamecube controller. I was playing monkeyball, and you can go faster when flying using the analog stick. I used my palm and moved the analog stick back and forth as fast as possible. My monkey ended up falling in the water, and I ripped my skin right off. There was blood everywhere. Good times.

[squazimo @ Dec 17th 2006 10:53AM]

these people must smoke a lot of wii'd to be this uncoordinated

[El Froggo @ Dec 17th 2006 11:46AM]

The point is, what if these people were playing actual sports. I mean say the woman dislocated her knee with a tennis racquet on the court. It would be her fault for having no co-ordination! Same applies! It's sport!

All this just makes me REALLY want a wii... Stuck with my Xbox (no, not a 360) until I stop being a student and get back to working for a living...

[tekdroid @ Dec 17th 2006 11:58AM]

IQ / sobriety tests before each game...it's the only solution.

[Alex @ Dec 17th 2006 1:11PM]

Less pictures of dislocated knees would be very much appreciated. Ick.

[Leif @ Dec 17th 2006 1:55PM]

Oh for gods sake, these are all games where you SWING YOUR ARMS. Can't people get that right?