When the Wii was first launched there was practically a media frenzy regarding the supposed flood of waggle-related mishaps. People reported cut hands, broken TV sets and black eyes, among other issues. Nintendo duly issued rubber jackets for the Wii Remote and took measures to strengthen the fabric wrist strap, and all was seemingly well with the world.
Until now, that is.
Recent reports suggest that the Wii has become the root cause of a new form of ailment: "Bystander Injury". The name leaves little to the imagination; we're talking Wii Remotes in the kisser, Balance Board falls and wild, flailing elbows. Apparently, the very young are most at risk, leading to calls from medical experts to properly supervise minors when playing on the Wii.
It's not all bad news, however. Traditional forms of interactive entertainment – that is, gaming with a joypad – are just as dangerous. According to the study, which ran from 2004 to 2009, seizures, eye pain and neck injuries were commonplace, caused by prolonged gaming sessions.
However, these statistics must be taken with a pinch of salt, as the actual chance of your injuring yourself whilst playing a video game is incredibly low, and much lower than other pastimes. So don't lose any sleep over it, y'hear?
[source eurogamer.net]
Comments 41
This whole story is just
People need to just get out of the dang way when I'm playing Wii.
Check out the woman's face. Like hell that was accidental :3
The bit at the side says "Do not use the Nintendo Wii RemoteTM to resolve or make clear your relational issues"
I always laugh at that. The girl is thinking it is so funny that he got hit. Drama is the best tag for this.
ROFL.
[reads article] .... Hahaha!
Is that Shaggy she's smacking??
ZOINKS!!
that picture is just epic
Well if your getting hit when someones playing on the Wii, the person who got hit is their fault, they shouldn't of been standing there.
ITS COMMON SENSE PEOPLE!!
LOL.
That happened to me once.
I was talking to a plasma/lcd screen repairer at this party, and the Wii has significantly boosted his business. He still gets a hearty laugh on the inside whenever he sees a wii remote lodged in a 42" screen.
People:
Yes, you do need to move your arms to play Wii.
Do you need to flail them around like a monkey without a banana? No.
Does this mean that I can enjoy people cracking open skulls with wiimotes on the next episode of House? 'Cause that would be awesomely hilarious.
@MeloMan: No, that's Napoleon Dynamite.
Aah! I'm gonna die!
I'm only worried when my holodeck,s safety protocols malfunctions when I'm just about getting hit by a virtual missile.
Other than that i have no worries.
The woman looks pleased in the picture.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrrvkPo7TZ4
I hope that never happens to me...
article makes me face-palm for humanity. picture makes me laugh.
Do people even READ the warnings before you start the games? That's why they put 'em there, guys!
I'll account for most of that. Most of my injuring of bystanders is intentional. Mostly when they badmouth Nintendo. =P
If you can't play without hurting yourself or others you probably shouldn't be playing.
I take that back and redirect it towards irken's video
Reading the aforementioned article reminded me of this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_E79glEnj0
It's no more dangerous than real sports, though they'll probably make you healthier in the long run.
They forgot the other danger of gaming with gamepads, The risk of controllers flying at the TV during fits of frustration.
@ Irken
Hillarious video!
I don't understand why people feel the need to swing those things like they're trying to hit a home run. You barely have to swing at all. If kids would control themselves these injuries wouldn't happen. Calm down and stop being so hyper and you'll save money on TV's and hospital bills.
I took my strap off years ago and haven't thrown the remote once.
The picture deserves to be in a Captain America comic book.
New enemy, the WiiWaggler.
One time my friend (one of my odder friends) came to my house and we were playing Playground for the Wii. We were playing dodge ball or something and he accidental flung the Wii-mote like 6 feet behind him. He was all like,"WOAH! WOAH! DID YOU SEE THAT? WHERE'D IT GO?," and the whole time i was thinking,"crap i hope its not broken!" Whenever i see a comment that says people need to calm down with the Wii-mote i think of him.
Hooray! Right in the face! Look at those glasses fly!
Oh come on! Only un-responsible people dont notice people behind them or throw the Wii remote! Heres a tip: hold on to the Wii remote with your hands!
@Koto: Or throwing the controllers at players who are complete jack***es
More injuries happen to Wii Remotes than to people... damn, i could hardly afford my third one...
And lol, I change my avatar way too often
POW! Right in the kisser!
I always laugh when I see in "stand in a big room" picture when a wii game starts up. There's a guy that just waves the remote in a huge circle, hitting everything in his path.
I almost broke my cousin's TV once when we were playing the Wii in his living room. It was during Swordplay on Wii Sports Resort, and I kept getting angry at this opponent who was really good, so I swung the Wii Remote really hard and it went flying into the TV. At least I won the round. @Sadman Your new avatar is awesome, and disturbing.
Lawl Worthy.
1. Use the wrist strap.
2. For movement to be recognized by the Wii, & sensor bar, gentle swings are all that is necessary. That's actually part of the trivk to MKWii, last I rented/played it.
Stay the hell out of the way when people play Wii Sports Resort Swordplay or Wii Sports Tennis. You WILL be hit.
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