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Dec 19 / Ozymandias

Nintendo Lawsuit = Ridiculous.

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Just saw over on Kotaku that someone’s suing Nintendo for broken Wiimote straps. It’s ridiculous. I think Penny Arcade said it quite well recently:

Nintendo has countered this behavior with a friendly and informative online brochure, whose bipartite wisdom can be expressed as

1. Hold On To The Controller,

and

2. Do Not Let It Go, respectively.

Indeed. <sigh>

Also be sure to also check out some of the Japan-esque (yes, it’s a word damnit!) illustrations warning you of the dangers of using your Wiimote. Good stuff, and a lot more credible than this suit in my opinion. Wink

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  • Measure

    I have to agree that a lawsuit over this is pretty frivolous. Nintendo’s can’t be required to make sure the users are intelligent.

    On the other hand, Nintendo should have done a bit more  research into the possible mis-uses of the controller, so that they could fix these problems before launch.

  • Sean

    I agree, it’s absolutely wiidiculous (sorry, couldn’t resist)!

  • Namtillaku

    Ditto.  I felt strongly enough about it to give that law firm a piece of my mind – the piece I reserve for money grubbing, ambulance chasing, frivolous lawsuit bringing, dirtbag, lawyers.

    All you altruistic lawyers please note that I love you, really, I do.

  • bladetar

    I agree with lawsuit is dumb. "Nintendo’s can’t be required to make sure the users are intelligent" the only problem I see is that Nintendo is marketting this product as the perfect product even for the (non-intelligent) users or even kids. Do you think kids will read the manual before playing it? The fact is that this is not a problem that happends too often with other consoles and now it’s happening with the wii, because of how games are played. Heck, even how it’s market? Have you seem the comercials? People even jump, kick and make dramatic movements. I’m not defending anyone braking their TVs; but even for toys; companies have to make sure they protect the consumer if there is a remote posibility it cause hurt anyone. They can’t expect people to be smart (specially when it’s being market to [all] ages.

  • http://www.mdxinfo.com Rim

    Having smashed a dent in my wall with a superb backhand swing, nearly broke my foot when I hit it against my table while teeing off at hole 9 and witnessed a friend nearly chop of his free hand trying to throw a strike, I can only commend Nintendo for getting us spazz IT dudes away from the PC and moving again ;)

    Seriously though, if this claim gets awarded, then why on earth do we still allow firecrackers, firearms, cars or even butter knives?

  • imaginedbug

    Saying kids don’t read manuals is a pretty dumb remark since no self respecting man will read the manual either.

    And don’t forget nintendo has the strap attached to the Wii-mote straight out the box, so they have taken responsibility by not including it separately telling you how to attach it to the mote. And before the start of Wii Sports you get told how to use the Wii-mote and put on the strap.

    From that article:

    "Owners of the Nintendo Wii reported that when they used the Nintendo remote and wrist strap, as instructed by the material that accompanied the Wii console, the wrist strap broke and caused the remote to leave the user’s hand. Nintendo’s failure to include a remote that is free from defects is in breach of Nintendo’s own product warranty."

    How can the strap break without the Wii-mote first leaving the hand? Or better put, how does a breaking strap make the Wii-mote fly out of your hand?

    Also, when did a strap become part of the hardware?

    This means that if you use a lanyard for your cell phone it suddenly is part of the phone. So if the lanyard was part of the package that the phone came in, you can sue the phone manufacturor for making a bad phone if the lanyard breaks when you’re done making a call and drop the phone back on your chest?

    Only in America…

  • Abe

    I think one of the best analogies I’ve heard was off Slashdot. People don’t sue golf club and baseball bat manufacturers whenever the bat or club inadvertently leaves their hands. It’s your own dumb fault for letting go as that is not the intended use of the item. And those don’t even have straps for extra protection!

  • islandkiwi

    I do think the strap is too skimpy.  Nintendo put a lot of emphasis on the strap, saying you should wear it at all times…there’s a notice at the beginning of every game, so Nintendo created the strap to prevent damage/injury.  And then they used a really skimpy strap.

    I’m not one to swing as wildly as some people, but I also realize that little kids aren’t that coordinated (or restrained).  I don’t think it’s too much to ask that the strap be a bit thicker.

  • ThinkSteveZ

    Do you really expect more from people?

  • platinumbatto

    you think that is weird. check this.. Someone back in 2000 spent 18years trying to develop a technology just like the wii.

    here is the article

    http://www.techweb.com/wire/story/TWB20000126S0005

    and also this

    http://www.wirelessweek.com/article/CA13969.html?spacedesc=PAGING%7CMESSAGING

    and the best part about this is that the chips that the person wanted to use is exactly the same chips found on the wiimote.

    –batto