Topic: Nintendo Recalls ~3.2 Million Controller Straps

[IceCold]

Here you go..

Quote
Japanese games firm Nintendo is recalling more than three million straps for its new Wii console.
The announcement follows scores of complaints about the wrist straps breaking during use.

The strap is connected to a motion sensitive controller which is used to control the on-screen action.

There have been many reports of Wii controllers slipping out of hands and smashing TVs and windows - although some of the photos online are faked.

The company has also recalled 200,000 AC adapters for its DS and DS Lite consoles in Japan.

Nintendo said the recall would not affect adapters overseas, and company executives expected only a small impact on earnings.

The strap recall affects all Nintendo Wiis sold worldwide and almost all units currently on shelves in shops. Nintendo has targetted sales of four million Wii consoles by the end of 2006.

Apparently, it's going to cost them "several hundred million yen (several million dollars)."

[MorningStar]

This is crazy! Hopefully this won't get out into the media and tarnish the positive image that it's gotten in that field. But what exactly happens during a recall?

[Blue Plant]

Doesn't seem so much like a recall considering they're not asking for the old ones back.  I just placed an order for two, myself.  

It does seem silly in the end though.  Time to dole out some personal responsibility on the irresponsible populace vigilante style!.

[D_MaN87]

does anyone know if they are replacing the old ones with the new thicker ones?

Just before this happened i e-mailed nintendo asking for a replacement and I got it about 3 days ago.  I got the older strap, but was hoping for the newer strap. Oh well I placd an order with this new request page, and im hoping i can get the newer ones.

[segagamer12]

Its already out in the open they arent safe, my parents heard it on CNN.  

[Rhoq]

Quote
Originally posted by: segagamer12
Its already out in the open they arent safe, my parents heard it on CNN.

The original wrist straps are safe. It's morons who don't know how to properly use their Wii-mote(s) that are the reason for all of the concern. If they had the common sense to know that you don't let go of a controller while you're throwing a 90 MPH fast ball (or whatever) and rely on the wrist strap to keep the Wii-mote from leaving your wrist there would be no reason for this "recall".

[MarioAllStar]

Yes, they are giving you the new, thicker wrist straps. They even have a nice little comparison photo. The order form is here.

[Pale]

Recall is such a strong word to use here.  Basically Nintendo is saying they will send you new straps as long as your Wii's serial number matches up with one of the Wiis that shipped before the change.  It's them saying "we'll be nice to those who care, but we aren't worried about everyone else".

This is a far cry from power supplies setting on fire or other recalls you see in the computer industry.  In those cases the companies require the exchange to limit their liability.

[couchmonkey]

Seriously agreeing with Pale here - if this is the worst that happens to Nintendo, no biggie.  I've visited an Xbox forum where most people have replaced their 360 at least once, some two or three times.  It's gotten to the point where they have it down to a science - buy in-store warranties to avoid Microsoft tech support, here's a loophole in Microsoft's return policies, etc, etc.

Nintendo's getting more publicity because a controller through the TV screen is more exciting than turning on your Xbox and finding out it's dead, but I don't think this will hurt Nintendo much.  If anything it just goes to show how unique Wii is compared to the competition.

[ThePerm]

so some part of the wii will be thicker and enhance our experience?

[Ghisy]

Shoot, just posted in another thread cause I didn't see this one...
Anyway, I ordered 4 new straps from Nintendo today, it's nice of them to send those for free.
They said they should ship by Dec 21st.

[zakkiel]

Quote
The original wrist straps are safe. It's morons who don't know how to properly use their Wii-mote(s) that are the reason for all of the concern. If they had the common sense to know that you don't let go of a controller while you're throwing a 90 MPH fast ball (or whatever) and rely on the wrist strap to keep the Wii-mote from leaving your wrist there would be no reason for this "recall".

Yes, clearly if you have the misfortune to lose your grip on a piece of plastic, you must be retarded. I think we should stop disability pay for people injured on the job, because if they weren't so stupid, it would never have happened.

[MarioAllStar]

I think we can agree that many people were putting too much force into their motions. People are not stupid if their strap broke, but the way in which many people used the remote shows a lack of understanding in the technology--that is, the remote registers smaller motions just as well (if not better than) large, powerful motions.

That being said, I ordered the new straps. I do not think that my straps would have broken in the near future (I am always there to supervise use), but it never hurts to be safe. The original straps were pretty thin.

[decoyman]

I've had this discussion in the other thread already, so I won't fully get into it again here.

Undoubtedly, there are some idiots out there, playing all crazy-like. But there are also people like me who have dropped the remote (I suffer from SPS – "Sweaty Palms Syndrome"), and it has slipped out on me one time during a Wii Tennis match. The wrist strap caught it. No problem.

However, all three of my wrist straps for my remotes are fraying at the point where they loop into themselves to connect to the controller, exposing the plastic underneath. I took a look at it, and it appears that the fishing line-like material they use is even bending a little bit. After 3, 4, 5 years of use, I don't want this to wear out and snap, should my SPS flare up and cause me a dropped controller. So, I'm really happy that Nintendo is doing this, and I'll go order some later on today. To me, and to Nintendo as well, it's future-proofing.

This won't hurt Nintendo's image. If anything, this should bolster peoples' faith in Nintendo. They have even the slightest problem, and they proactively jump on it to fix it. Their customer service is second-to-none in this industry... heck, in any industry.  

[UncleBob]

so... is this a Wiicall?

[MarioAllStar]

Quote
Originally posted by: UncleBob
so... is this a Wiicall?

I would think of it as a practical holiday gift. Like when someone gives you a fire ladder for your birthday to show they care.

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

=D

[zakkiel]

Quote
I think we can agree that many people were putting too much force into their motions. People are not stupid if their strap broke, but the way in which many people used the remote shows a lack of understanding in the technology--that is, the remote registers smaller motions just as well (if not better than) large, powerful motions.

That being said, I ordered the new straps. I do not think that my straps would have broken in the near future (I am always there to supervise use), but it never hurts to be safe. The original straps were pretty thin.

Undoubtedly. You can play Wii Sports with small wrist waggles if you wish (but, as PA says, it makes you a f***ing toolbox). People put extra force on pitches with violent motions for fun, not because its necessary or even helpful.

That said, I will not be ordering the new straps, since I don't play baseball.

[UncleBob]

I attempted to order the new wrist straps eariler this week when I first saw on the net that Nintendo had started shipping new wrist straps.  Mind you, I planned on buying them and paying shipping.  Not so much because I "need" them, but because I want them.

The Nintendo rep told me that they hadn't actually made new wrist straps yet (despite the pictures I'd seen on the net) and blah, blah, blah.

Guess now I don't have to pay for them or shipping.

[UncleBob]

Woah, woah, woah...

"The company has also recalled 200,000 AC adapters for its DS and DS Lite consoles in Japan. "

What?!?

[EasyCure]

In case you don't read the TalkBack section, read what i have to say here

fair warning, its a long post and i didnt want to be obnoxious and post the same thing in both threads

[NeoThunder]

I would really like to see some hard evidence showing how these "old" wrist straps are somehow faulty.  I would like to see some bench test to how much force exactly is needed to break the old strap, you know what, for all these babies claiming the strap is bad, no one has done a bench test.  I'm sure if you did a bench test it would clearly show that you need a crap load of force exerted to break a strap.  

Really, how much force do you need to send a Wii mote "THREW" a television, and I don't mean the plastic on a rear projection.  I'm talking about a glass tube tv.  People that is an extreamly high amount of force.

So what I want to see are some credible bench test studies....maybe Mythbusters on discovery channel?

[SixthAngel]

I saw something a few days ago that I can't seem to find anymore where someone tested the strength of the wrist strap.  He put over 25 pounds on it without it breaking.  He finally broke the strap by picking it up and pulling as hard as physically possible.  Nintendo has carefully worded there statement to basically say this is not a recall, and that these are not faulty but you might want a new one anyway.

[aquaticmerman]

I haven't played with a Wii yet... I am getting one for Christmas and have to wait until then.... but I do think it is a combination of having too much fun and not making sure you have enough space to have all that fun. The Wii that I will be getting was purchased at launch, so I am sure that it will have the old wriststraps, and I think that I will order the new wriststraps just to have extras on hand.

Rustin Allison

[ThePerm]

to be honest, you don't need to have a Wii strap period. Nintendo put the wii strap on there to prevent any damage to things, if you broke something because your Wii strap broke then its your own damn fault. Its an extra insurance, so that it doesnt happen. If it doesnt work, once again its your own damn fault, i rubber band will suffice.

also by very physics, there is no way the thing can be launched at electronics with the wrist strap in place, first it has to break the grip of your hand, by then it has the opposing force of your wrist that tugs on it, this alters the force of the Wiimote, which would send the wii mote straight down onto the ground.