Iwata Admits Wii Strap Problems, Announces Probe

[fitbabits]

Next Generation (http://www.next-gen.biz/) is reporting that Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has admitted that there is a problem with the occasionally controversial Wii wrist strap and is conducting an internal investigation.

You can read more here (http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4357&Itemid=2).

Some gamers have complained that the strap comes loose during gameplay, causing the controller to fly off, sometimes with damaging effects.

Earlier today he told Foreign Correspondents Club in Tokyo, ''We are investigating. Some people are getting a lot more excited than we'd expected. We need to better communicate to people how to deal with Wii as a new form of entertainment.''

Faced with initial reports of accidents, Nintendo previously advised consumers to always wear the strap during play, to keep hold of the controller and to clear a sensible space for play.

Iwata once again talked about the possibility of Wii breaking sales targets ''I'm not ruling that out entirely, but it's premature to say it now,'' he said.
I don't know if it's fair to call this a design problem or whether it's simply down to people spazzing out. Thoughts?

[Johan]

I'd say "design problem" if only because with the correct engineering, such a strap can be made not to break.

It's a matter of design and materials. If a seatbelt can withstand the force of a car crash without ripping apart, certainly a strap could be designed for the controller which wouldn't break under gameplay conditions (which hopefully don't simulate the force of a car crash!).

Design problem/flaw, to me...but a better design or different materials would probably have been more expensive.

[Vandenh]

Yeah.. looks like a design problem. They will probably include new straps asap.

[NoName]

It's a matter of design and materials. If a seatbelt can withstand the force of a car crash without ripping apart, certainly a strap could be designed for the controller which wouldn't break.

Design problem/flaw, to me.
A seat belt is a bit thicker than that little cord which connects the strap to the remote. And that's the inherent problem, there's only a tiny cord connecting the strap to the remote.

That being said, I still think it's just spastic people. It's require a lot of force while throwing the remote for that thing to break. I commonly will fling my remote around while wearing the strap and haven't had it fly off yet :D.

[Oskin]

Some people are getting a lot more excited than we'd expected

Haha, some of us just wave the controller way too fast, no wonder the controller fly off their hand. I can't imagine letting go off the wiimote while playing... Or maybe i'm just not exited enough! I also think that nintendo should make the wrist strap stronger for those who was to dislocate their shoulders.

[drakkarim]

its a problem with both, cheap design and people spazzing out and putting more energy into the hardware then it was (conservatively) designed for.

they should have made it strong enough so that the only way its leaving your hand is if you swing it hard enough to rip your hand off.

i swear some of these people must think they're playing professional softball when they swing their in game bowling balls.

i can understand little kids doing it though, but anyone in their mid to upper teens that did this is just a fucking tool.

[DingBat]

Not anticipating that people occasionally might spaz out is a design problem.

[drakkarim]

Not anticipating that people occasionally might spaz out is a design problem.

i don't buy that, typically designs are made for the 90-95 percentile of the population, dingbats that play softball with their bowling balls don't fit into that range. at least i hope not, otherwise there's too many dingbat kids being produced these days.

[Klade]

Its a design problem. Nintendo should have known people would be spazzing out and made a controller strap that could withstand the force. I like the seatbelt analogy, if seatbelts broke in accidents over 90mph you wouldn't say it was just cars moving too fast, you would call it a design problem.

[phantomhitman]

regardless of spazes or not, the strap is not made of strong material. either that or the way it is latched onto the controller is causing them to snap under heavy loads.
where is that wii-spiracy josh fucker.

[Heretic Machine]

I'm not sure if it is a design problem, or a defect. I've slipped up and let my Wiimote go once while playing golf. It was a pretty firm swing, nothing extreme, and the strap held up.

[Gorvi]

Ya know, when I saw 'announces probe' in the headline, I was expecting some kind of new Wii game that used the Wiimote in totally new ways. Oh well.... :p

[Abednigo]

Like some have said, I think it's both. I don't think anyone should expect those little straps to be able to withstand the kind of swinging that happens that breaks the straps. I swing my remote pretty hard when playing baseball in Wii Sports and I am totally able to keep the remote in my hand. But I wouldn't trust ANY strap to keep it from flying.

[Sinistar]

It's not a design flaw.

I think it might be due to people spazzing out - and here's proof (http://www.destructoid.com/crazy-woman-wii-comedy-gold-28319.phtml)!

[fitbabits]

It's not a design flaw.

I think it might be due to people spazzing out - and here's proof (http://www.destructoid.com/crazy-woman-wii-comedy-gold-28319.phtml)!
That video is a little...troubling. :eek:

[HumpYourWay]

I don't know if it's fair to call this a design problem or whether it's simply down to people spazzing out. Thoughts?

Fitbabits Logic: If Sony would be involved he would call it a design problem, if nintendo is involved it must be the users!!!
Certainly the remote is a little lightweight anyway

[TempestBlayze]

Mine has been holding up fine. After seeing what "happened" t some other people I tried a wrist strap + throwing experiment and it didn’t not break after 5 tries.

Maybe people aren’t putting the wrist strap on right. Maybe they are tightening it from the edge of the strap down.

[fitbabits]

Fitbabits Logic: If Sony would be involved he would call it a design problem, if nintendo is involved it must be the users!!!
Certainly the remote is a little lightweight anyway
Dude, give it a damn rest. I'm just a little tired of you and your kind constantly berating me for some sort of perceived bias. Check my whole post history before throwing accusations at me, not just the ones which suit your own paranoid delusions.

Oh, and consider yourself disqualified from the EvAv Holiday Giveaway. :rolleyes: --> (That was sarcasm)

[DaedalusFolly]

I like the seatbelt analogy, if seatbelts broke in accidents over 90mph you wouldn't say it was just cars moving too fast, you would call it a design problem.
Actually, cars moving too fast would likely be a valid legal defense. Most items on cars (in the US) are designed to certain thresholds, and many of these standards are relatively low. As one example, the regulations that govern seat strength (collapses/disconnects in impacts, etc.) can be satisfied with your average folding chair.

[Metalhaze]

1. You have to be a special sort of someone to actually break the strap on the Wii-mote. My question is, what the fuck were you doing when you broke the damn thing? Because Nintendo clearly states how you should be using the controller and how it should be held in all instructions to the game and even with on screen reminders. I don't see it as a design flaw in this product if you are using it improperly. That is a user problem.

2. When the hell are you putting force on the strap?? I have had the Wii since it's launch, and not once have I ever exerted any force strictly on the strap itself. Let alone any force WHATSOEVER on the strap in any of my gameplay experiences. Mind you, I own every single launch title. I have beat Rayman, I pretty much mastered all of Wii Sports, and I am halfway through Zelda, Monkey Ball, and Excite truck. (oh let me clarify...I have all the launch titles that don't suck major ass...there are some I don't own FOR A REASON...But I have still played them ALL) Never had I felt like I was going to lose the controller of that the strap was going to break.

[Reanimated]

I don't even have my strap attached.

[fitbabits]

I don't even have my strap attached.
That, my friend, is asking for trouble.

[Zander]

Try to get a non-gamer who actually plays tennis, NOT to serve in Wii-sports like they are playing tennis.

Go ahead, try.

[Johan]

...designed to certain thresholds, and many of these standards are relatively low...

You make a good point.

What I was getting at is that I believe it's probable Nintendo used ineffective materials for the strap AND did not consider an appropriate (and higher) minimal threshold at which the Wiimote strap approaches failure.

I still think it's likely a design and material flaw. It probably just needs/needed stronger material and a higher threshold at which it fails. Both would be engineering flaws.

Or it's a Sony conspiracy...they're mucking everything up nowadays! ;)

[RUSKULL]

Yeah, only now that they see it happening in Japan too do they take it serious :P

[[Jez]]

Yeah, only now that they see it happening in Japan too do they take it serious :P
Well of course, all you yanks are numptys :rolleyes:

[fitbabits]

']Well of course, all you yanks are numptys :rolleyes:
Numpties, I think was what you were looking for. Oh, and all you Brits are stuck-up snobs. :D

[bone_matrix]

I feel like this should be submitted to Mythbusters, along with them testing the force needed to break a tv or HDtv's glass screen.

Yeah, that would rock.

[shnastybiznastic]

What I was getting at is that I believe it's probable Nintendo used ineffective materials for the strap AND did not consider an appropriate (and higher) minimal threshold at which the Wiimote strap approaches failure.
So we have right at one million systems sold, and about one hundred or so complaints about broken televisions.

100/1,000,000 = 1/10,000 = %.01

so a one one-hundredth of a percent failure rate is unacceptable now? Come on, we don't even hold gun manucafturers to standards that high.

[Johan]

So we have right at one million systems sold, and about one hundred or so complaints about broken televisions.

100/1,000,000 = 1/10,000 = %.01

so a one one-hundredth of a percent failure rate is unacceptable now? Come on, we don't even hold gun manucafturers to standards that high.

That's a valid point. Nothing succeeds 100% of the time.

[Savok]

Now that I have a Wii, I can see how the cord can break, but having yanked on it a bit with no real effect I'd say you have to be flinging it pretty hard.

Also, having now held the Wiimote, I can't see how it can even leave your hand unless you're missing an index finger. Also you need to follow the advice of this comic

http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2006/11/29

[phantomhitman]

Failures are hardly ever over 1% of total production lines, so your percentages do not mean much. But it is quite obvious that it would help, and NOT NURT ANYTHING AT ALL, if the straps were either stronger or attached better.

[shnastybiznastic]

Failures are hardly ever over 1% of total production lines, so your percentages do not mean much. But it is quite obvious that it would help, and NOT NURT ANYTHING AT ALL, if the straps were either stronger or attached better.
Well, certanly.

[Headcase]

If you're not an idiot you don't need the strap in the first place. I removed mine like a week ago.

Of course a lot of people are idiots, and that string is really thin. I mean, come on, how much does a thick piece of string cost?

[wyattburp]

This just in, baseball players ask for straps to their bats because they can't hold on! :rolleyes:

C'mon you bunch of nancies, use your muscles and grip that little b!tch...maybe people who can't hold on should "workout their wrists" a little...lol

Design flaw my ass.

[Johan]

Design flaw my ass.

Your ass is a design flaw? Would that be spiritually or scientifically speaking? ;)

[wyattburp]

Your ass is a design flaw? Would that be spiritually or scientifically speaking? ;)

Totally...not enough cushin :) It always hurts when after watching a movie...

err, maybe that's the chairs fault... :confused:

[Captain Awesome]

I think its sort of a design problem, but its also due to people getting a bit too into it. Like when you see people playing Guitar Hero. They actually think they're using a real guitar sometimes, when it's nothing but a giant Fisher-Price toy for adults.

[Johan]

Totally...not enough cushin :) It always hurts when after watching a movie...

err, maybe that's the chairs fault... :confused:

:D Glad you received that in the spirit with which it was intended; innocent humor! :)

A little cushioning down there does help during movies or extended game play, that's for sure.

And, slightly on topic...I can't wait to get a Wii in the new year. Oh baby...

[Ultima Thulian]

What kinda wiitard tosses the Wiimote? There's no need for the strap, just grip the goddamned thing like you have a fucking pair. Jesus Christ people. Fucking Wii-todded!

[KingGorilla]

To all the people poo-pooing the "idiots" who are spazzing out. The commercials lend to the idea that you should be spazzing out. Also, there is no information that say the strength of your serve in Tennis does not transer into the game, so why not hit it harder?

We know that all you really need is "waggle" but John and Joan Q probably do not. These are the same people who turned their N64 controllers in Mario Kart to make it turn better after all.

[Johan]

These are the same people who turned their N64 controllers in Mario Kart to make it turn better after all.

What the hell? Are you saying that didn't work? I'm sure it did... :confused:

[Savok]

To all the people poo-pooing the "idiots" who are spazzing out. The commercials lend to the idea that you should be spazzing out. Also, there is no information that say the strength of your serve in Tennis does not transer into the game, so why not hit it harder
The ads did not include people lubing up then launching them at 200kph like a pack of fuckwads.

Nintendo is answerable to at least a slight degree, they did not make the Wii fuckwad-proof, I realize how hard it is to idiot-proof things, as just when you think you're safe, some inspired piece of stupidity blows the lot, but it's like giving them a sharp object without the fluorescent warning label.

In that regard they shouldn't even have right angles on the Wiimotes, god knows morons are going to bludgeon each other with them.

[Chameleo]

i'm curious as to how many pounds of pressure you need to break one of the wii-remote straps.

what exactly is the threshold of breakage?

[Ultima Thulian]

Nintendo is answerable to at least a slight degree, they did not make the Wii fuckwad, I realize how hard it is to idiot-proof things, as just when you think you're safe, some inspired piece of stupidity blows the lot, but it's like giving them a sharp object without the fluorescent warning label.

Well spoken. Just you wait. In a year someone is gonna die from a projectile wii-mote. Why? Cause of wiitardation. There's no cure, sadly.

[Dag-Sabot]

Iwata Admits Wii Strap Problems, Announces Probe God I laughed and laughed so hard at this. Am I the only one?

[Ultima Thulian]

HA! After reading it again, I see your point! :D

[Furtive]

While I certainly haven't had any issues holding onto my wii-mote my cousin (a 22yr old gamer) managed to have his slip out of his hand in a game of tennis. The mini strap just snapped. Luckily his over-zealous swing launched the wii-mote towards the empty corner of the room and not the tv/entertainment center. He swears he doesn't know what happened but I blame sweaty hands. Anywho.. no damage done to the house or wiimote so no foul. We might replace the straps with some sort of fishing line though. I anticipate some New Year's Eve guests to be too drunk to hold onto a wii-mote effectively.

[Gil]

There's been product recalls for lesser reasons then this before. The strap is cheap, and needs to be replaced with a stronger version.

[resikel]

God I laughed and laughed so hard at this. Am I the only one?

You have a dirty dirty mind that needs to be clean:

http://tn3-2.deviantart.com/fs6/300W/i/2005/027/e/8/Norman___Cleaning_A_Dirty_Mind_by_HOULY1970.jpg

[DangerousDaze]

Sorry if this (http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/07/nintendo-now-shipping-beefed-up-wii-strap/) has already been posted.This would seem to imply that Nintendo is quietly improving the Wii straps as the consoles fly out of the factory, but since none of this is official, we only have blurry camphone pics (is there any other kind?) for proof of this change.

[OrangePulp]

Could it be a defect in manufacturing? I've heard reports in different forums of people actually trying to break their strap and failing, and it seems like if it was a general design/materials problem, that every strap would break if thrown hard.

I would test it myself, but I haven't seen a real reason to pick up a Wii yet. Probably in June, when SSBB hits.

[Nessus]

I just know that after playing Wii Sports all night with 4 people really getting into it no one ever lost their grip.

Granted even if they did break I'm in no real danger because my TV is a rear projection, so the screen is just plastic.

[Dr.Acula]

Just wear two straps. What's the chance of both failing?

[childish]

r
just spazzin

[fitbabits]

God I laughed and laughed so hard at this. Am I the only one?
Thank you! I was hoping someone would get a chuckle out of it. :D

[blackzc]

It's not a design flaw.

I think it might be due to people spazzing out - and here's proof (http://www.destructoid.com/crazy-woman-wii-comedy-gold-28319.phtml)!

She was having FUN!! :D

[MrE]

Most of the Wii Sports actions can be done from a sitting down position. Hell, I played bowling with my daughter last night and bowled a 241 game. I think once you figure out how to use the controller and that you don't need to thrash around its really quite easy and fun. No broken straps/TV's/Laptops etc...

-E