Note: This post is meant for anyone who is actually concerned about this, for anyone else don't bother reading my long post (sorry)
I havent had the chance to post here in a long time but I feel I should post about this topic.
Some of you might recall that I got a job at the Nintendo World Store in NYC so I have first hand accounts of how wild people (no, not just children) get when playing Wii. Most of my work shifts are spend handling the three WiiSports stations on the main floor (hell all of my shifts really, but I'm not complaining).
Everyday there is a handfull of people, young and old alike, that smash our wiimotes against a wall behind them or next to them, against the plexiglass casing surrounding the demo wii system, or even one of our staff. The plexiglass cases have some nasty scuffs on them, and the wiimotes have their share of battlescars as well.. and only ONCE in my month of employment has a wiimote ever slipped from someones hand.
It was a young boy of about 6 years of age and while my back was turned he had taken the wrist strap off so he could take his coat off for more manueverability. He swung wildly and dropped the remote; sending it sliding a few feet across the floor behind him with the batteries flying out of the thing. He apologized and I thought I was going to get fired on the spot (I was still new) but the remote worked fine and he continued his game. Noticed that it slipped from his hand when NOT wearing the wriststrap, thats the only reason the incident was so bad.
The only other times it falls out of peoples hands are when they forget they are attached and they hand the controllers back to us. They turn to walk away and the controlls are yanked out of our hands but never come near hitting the floor because its still strapped to their wrist.
You'd have to purposely throw the remote with much force (while strapped on) to put so mush strain on it that it would just snap off. Sure people get sweaty hands while gripping it, trust me I know and not just because my hands sweat alot while gripping anything for extended periods. I have to handle a wiimote thats held by people of all ages, and body types; some sweat more than others. Sometimes it's really gross grabbing one after someone finished a game and I have to wipe it down on my shirt so it doesnt feel gross for the next person. Still, with all those people with sweaty hands not once has the wiimote accidentally been flung from their grip.
This whole recall is most likely just Nintendo giving in to pressure of what such bad publicity will do to its hot selling system. Was it something fabricated by their competitors? Maybe.. Who am I to say for sure? But I do deal with Wii's every day, its my job, and I deal with alot of people from all over the world who come to NYC to try it out. I'd say my opinion should count for something.
Today alone I had over a dozen people ask me personally about the wrist strap and if it is really faulty. I've told them everything I've told you guys here. To be honest I didn't know about the recall until a customer brought it to my attention today. Alot of people are concerned that they bought a deffective product because of this report. Thats what happens when you're put in a bad light by the media. Thats why Nintendo is caving in and replacing the straps. The systems are THE holiday gift item this year and people are camping out in NYC as we speak to get some at my store. If they didn't do something about this there would be many potential buyers that would be put off because they don't want to buy a "broken" gift for their families.
Theres nothing to worry about.
Topic: Nintendo Offers Wrist-Strap Replacement (Read 7140 times)
