Joystiq Cares: Proper Wii-mote usage

by Alexander Sliwinski { Nov 22nd 2006 at 8:30AM }

Following a recent post of a television becoming collateral damage in the console wars, we have received similar reports. Now is a good time to go over some basic Wii-mote concepts:

Please make sure to always use the provided strap and adjust it to the size of your wrist.
If your hands get profusely sweaty so to potentially cause slippage, there are non-surgical options available -- such as powder -- to keep your hands dry.
The Wii-mote only requires semi-subtle movements to operate properly. Full-motion movement can only increase the probability of an incident.
Don't Wii angry and don't Wii drunk! Every snapping incident we've heard of so far has been caused by loss of grip and unnecessary force.

We hope these tips help save just one television or prevent a grandma's ashes from being knocked off the mantle place. Please Wii responsibly.

Tags: broken TV, Joystiq Cares, JoystiqCares, nintendo, PSA, wii, Wii remote, Wiimote, WiiRemote

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Oobgarm @ Nov 22nd 2006 8:41AM

It's all fun and games until someone loses an eye.

Paul @ Nov 22nd 2006 8:45AM

then it is fun and games without depth perception

DWells55 @ Nov 22nd 2006 9:00AM

Hahaha, well played, Paul.

I'm really hoping my wrist strap doesn't give way and pwn my 57" HDTV. I need it for Gears of War, darn it.

Ignatius @ Nov 22nd 2006 9:02AM

Haha, nice one. Also, what the hell is with these superhuman kids throwing Wiimotes and snapping the wrist strap. That thing is pretty strong, but damn, how can these kids garner enough strength to blow a hole in a TV? Someone's lying here.

Michiel @ Nov 22nd 2006 9:03AM

I'm calling bullshit on all those broken screens.

BIGGEN @ Nov 22nd 2006 9:05AM

i call bullshit as well. people are trying blame nintendo for a defective product and get money, or new tv, or some shit out of it. just wait, it will happen.

Dano @ Nov 22nd 2006 9:06AM

Drunken Bowling causes Wiimote strap to snap sending wiimote flying into tv. It bounced back. Thankfully. I love how the strap is heavy duty until the string that actually attaches to the wiimote :( it must have been designed by the one burnout working for nintendo haha.

Hardcore @ Nov 22nd 2006 9:16AM

Of course it's bullshit, Nintendo can't possibly have any faulty products, they are the perfect company and can't do wrong. If this was Microsoft, Dell, Sony or any other company the product would definitley be defective. Thank heavens for all that this IS a Nintendo product we're talking about.

NNTPgrip @ Nov 22nd 2006 9:24AM

What I want to know is why the whip that connects to the wiimote isn't made from nylon.

Brandon @ Nov 22nd 2006 9:24AM

I don't think its true either. I'm no physics major but damn you have to be swinging pretty hard for it to snap.

Markusdragon @ Nov 22nd 2006 9:31AM

"don't Wii drunk"

Preorder cancelled.

Extorn @ Nov 22nd 2006 9:35AM

Lmao, riiight.

Personally, I think it is histerical.

If it is true, that people are actually flinging wiimotes through their own tv, then Obviously Nintendo succeeded in creating a highly entertaining and inovative console.

I for one, almost put the wiimote through the ceiling while playing Wii sports. (Bowling for the win!)

I was wearing the strap, and it didnt break, so the wiimote flung around my hand and slammed into my wrist, which in all actually added to the comic value of my gaming experience.

The best part about the Wii, is that you can enjoy the wii almost more than playing it, if you watch someone play it toolbox style.

To be honest, if you don't play toolbox style, then you are short changing yourself because it is rediculously humorous for you and those around you.

the Wii wins economics and gameplay.

-Ex

rodney @ Nov 22nd 2006 9:37AM

As far as the projection is concerned. maybe it could happen, but i will assume that he threw it pretty hard.

As far as a 7 year old breaking a CRT tv... .not gonna happen! i sold TV for 10 years, and have seen tv fall out of a truck and land on the tube and skid across a parking lot, and suffer no more than a scratch on the tube! I have also witnessed a mad NY Giants fan break many tv remotes, and corless phones off the front of his tv.

so, i dont believe that a Wiimote is going to break it.

@ Nov 22nd 2006 9:38AM

The only time any force is exerted on that primary string (attached to the wiimote) is if the person swings and loses their grip. Even then, its would take a lot of force or they would need to be doing this (losing their grip while swinging) repeatedly to wear down the string to the point that it would break.

I think some people are taking the lanyard and swinging the wiimote around like a lasso. Or, they werent using the strap in the first place and it flew out of their hands. Those rubberized, wiimote condoms should be standard issue for drunken partiis.

Hak Foo @ Nov 22nd 2006 9:39AM

The Wii "gloves" accessory seems to add a lot of grip. They are slightly difficult to get on and the "a" button becomes flush with the glove so it is not as easy to find. But they certainly help in the grip department.

Scott @ Nov 22nd 2006 9:41AM

Keep your Wiimote away from spastic kids and drunken frat boys.

Do it for the children.

Jonathan Tran @ Nov 22nd 2006 9:47AM

I don't tihnk people understand that the wiimote is not supposed to BE the baseball.

strider_mt2k @ Nov 22nd 2006 9:48AM

No, no.

Let the idiots kill each other by any and all means.
More Wii for us.

"Think of it as evolution in action."
(Thanks Larry)

Kevin @ Nov 22nd 2006 9:49AM

People need to learn the saying "Don't hate the game, hate the player". :P

It's nobody's fault but your own if you send your Wiimote flying.

Art Guy @ Nov 22nd 2006 10:06AM

Every time some idiot claims there is no way a strap could break and send a wiimote flying (even though IGN proved otherwise), all I can picture is Luke in ESB screaming:
"NO!!!!! It can't be true! It's impossible!!!!"

BTW. Wii Sports Bowling rules!!!

Edgey @ Nov 22nd 2006 10:12AM

"No, no.

Let the idiots kill each other by any and all means.
More Wii for us.

"Think of it as evolution in action."
(Thanks Larry)

Posted at 8:35AM on Nov 22nd 2006 by strider_mt2k 0 stars"

WTF! Déjà vu!

MagWheels @ Nov 22nd 2006 10:12AM

Looks like a rosin bag would be a good Wii accessory.

http://www.cramersportsmed.com/products_catalog.jsp?catID=205&prodID=241&path=AT

Kris @ Nov 22nd 2006 10:13AM

Don't Wii drunk is like saying don't karaoke drunk, it's just the way it's meant to be.

gamerx @ Nov 22nd 2006 10:16AM

How about using one of those Wii Gloves for extra protection? It should keep the hands dry and rough. Hey! What if a 3rd party manufacturer made a Wii Glove that extends to your fingers? Picture a Wii Glove molded into a hand glove! Now that's an idea!

Rico @ Nov 22nd 2006 10:39AM

12: did you actually read the comic? Toolbox means the jackass who sits there and barely moves the remote, not those who actually jump around and shit.

The_Tecknishen @ Nov 22nd 2006 10:45AM

That picture on this article is from my Wiimote. The strap broke last night and my Wiimote flew into the wall. Luckily it wasn't my TV. So, no real damage was done to anything except the strap and the battery cover on the Wiimote.

It was surprisingly easy to do, so don't think it can't happen to you. Just be careful, and don't bowl any harder than you have to...

kelekod @ Nov 22nd 2006 10:58AM

Wii sports is the perfect Wii drunk game. You only need 1 hand for the controller (except boxing) and the other hand is for the drink. When I demoed it at my buddies house it worked perfectly. Although it felt odd swinging it for the bat in baseball, it still was suffice. Also helped out when I had a phone call. Was able to hold the phone up to my ear with my hand while still concentrating on the gestures.

dkh @ Nov 22nd 2006 10:59AM

I honestly don't know if this is a joke or not, but you guys seem to be playing both sides of the field here. On one hand, the Wii is a good "pick up and play" system, on the other we should powder our hands before hand to play? On one hand, it's fun to make the big motions and have lots of fun (isn't that Wii delight number 2?), on the other you're reminding us that subtle motions are acceptable and help not break things.

Is this post sarcastic- I'm willing to admit that maybe I just can't see it. Or can you guys please reconcile these somewhat contradictory ideas?

olhado @ Nov 22nd 2006 11:07AM

Make sure that when you're using the nunchuk you slip the strap through the clip on the connector. It tells you to do it like every time you start a game.

Andrew @ Nov 22nd 2006 11:20AM

Well I think there might be some monkey business going on here, too, Nintendo has no one to blame for all these people dancing around like idiots except for themselves - I mean, you all have seen those Wii Experience videos, right? Next time Nintendo shows own, it should include the small print, "closed course, professional driver, do not attempt."

A Crown of Amaranth @ Nov 22nd 2006 11:48AM

To alleviate sweating before Wii use, you could do like Paganini is (apocryphally) attributed to have done before big violin concertos: rub your hands on a bufo toad! The mildly toxic skin secretions inhibit your sweat glands production. Then you can lick the little feller as well and experience mild hallucinations and out of control salivation!

Philip @ Nov 22nd 2006 12:25PM

the only problem I am having is while playing Wii Sports. When I get to into the games and swing wildly the batterys inside the remote get turned or something and the remote turns off and I have to turn the remote back on. It is really annonying especially while playing boxing, baseball, and tennis

number40one @ Nov 22nd 2006 12:33PM

Don't Wii drunk?

What a silly notion! Shall we not have caviar with bellinis as well?

el nico @ Nov 22nd 2006 1:29PM

i bet every single fraternity will have a wii

:p @ Nov 22nd 2006 2:20PM

For those with sweaty hands, no glove no love :)

Patrick @ Nov 22nd 2006 2:32PM

"Don't Wii drunk" ... Yeah, right.

John Doe @ Nov 22nd 2006 2:55PM

In America, you throw wiimote
In Soviet Russia, Wiimote throw YOU!!

Joe Smith @ Nov 22nd 2006 6:47PM

Or maybe, rather than requiring players to moderate their play, how about Nintendo makes a strap that will actually hold up for more than a day?

GeeT @ Nov 23rd 2006 12:22AM

Yeah, you'd think Nintendo would have engineered a less flimsy safety strap setup. That tether string is downright tiny.

For the sake of my plasma, I'm genuinely afraid to invite my friends to come over and use my Wii (I wish I could stop calling it that...I mentioned "Wii" to my sister for the first time today and you should have seen the look on her face). Anyway, I'm quite relaxed and play "toolbox" style, but a lot of my friends tend to be more animated and get really into things...and that's not even counting any alcohol factor yet. Not to mention the Wii really requires a lot of room to play it in a more animated style.