Tougher third Wii strap released?

  • By thorsen-ink, GameSpot
  • Posted Jan 22, 2007 4:00 pm PT

Source: The Mario-centric forums on Gonintendo.com and play-nintendo.com. The official story: Nintendo had not responded to requests for comment as of press time. What we heard: Earlier this month, the mainstream media was rife with reports of wrist straps for the so-called "Wiimote" being snapped...

Source: The Mario-centric forums on Gonintendo.com and play-nintendo.com.

The official story: Nintendo had not responded to requests for comment as of press time.

What we heard: Earlier this month, the mainstream media was rife with reports of wrist straps for the so-called "Wiimote" being snapped en masse. In dozens of alleged incidents, the motion-sensing controllers slipped from overeager players' sweaty hands with such force that the safety wrist straps snapped. The resulting injuries and broken televisions led to the inevitable legal action and parody T-shirts.

Following an investigation, Nintendo offered to replace any broken controller straps with a new, supposedly more robust version. Now, according to reports from two popular Nintendo blogs, the company has released a third, even sturdier controller strap to prevent any more potentially litigious mishaps.

Nintendo's silence makes it difficult to officially determine whether or not a third Wii Remote strap was even released. Pictures on both blogs, though, show a new strap with a thicker cord that ties to the controller. The adjustable loop, attached with a rounder plastic clasp, is even smaller than that of the second strap, which was reportedly one-third the length of the original's.

Bogus or not bogus?: Looking not bogus--hopefully the third time will be the charm.

206 Comments

  • _Sam_

    Posted Feb 10, 2007 3:16 pm PT

    I can't believe they couldn't have made a working one from the start

  • ice_ninja19

    Posted Feb 6, 2007 4:22 pm PT

    Only stupid people would break the Wii-strap..and people who don't wear them do not understand the safety issues they are causing.

  • Doolum

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 3:22 pm PT

    bogus or not,lets hope you wont be hearing of broken straps ever.

  • Quetzalcoatl_88

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 4:12 am PT

    I had mine for a while and the strap never broke off. It seems that people are TRYING to break them on purpose.

    (waits for the next retard to type another "only in America" joke)

  • mjc0961

    Posted Jan 29, 2007 12:22 am PT

    "SEr_803
    i have the third strap version the plastic part where you tighen or loosen it does not have the wii logo and is in a different shape really do not see it any stronger then the second version"

    There is no third version. Enough lies.

  • SkateGame

    Posted Jan 28, 2007 5:49 pm PT

    #200, ALRIGHT!

  • bubblepaul

    Posted Jan 28, 2007 3:37 am PT

    Ive had mine since the Wii launch and have had no problems, its these overzealous players, that take it too far and cause problems.

    The onus shouldnt be put on Nintendo to make up for these peoples mistakes

  • L1nk4L1f3

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 3:25 pm PT

    I dont have a wii yet but i played one at my friends house for almost six hours strait without the strap playing wii sports and twilight princess and never came close to dropping it; and if you sue nintendo because you are being retarded then you are a greedy jerk

  • SpeedNut_CV

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 12:17 pm PT

    Yes, when you throw something at a TV, wall, your girlfriend, it is going to break something. So DON"T LET GO OF THE REMOTE. This is just like someone letting go of a baseball bat / golf club, etc. If you hit something with it, do you sue Louisville Slugger or Callaway? NO, because you would get your ass laughed out of court. I hope Nintendo makes a electroshock WiiBat to finish these morons off once and for all.

  • ninjitsu_monkey

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 11:36 am PT

    my wrist straps are perfect i had no problems with the wii remote slipping out of my hand or anything like that

  • ninjitsu_monkey

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 11:29 am PT

    you people that are saying your glad you didn't get one and that are complaining because of the wrist straps are just mad because you cant get your own wii the only reason Nintendo is releasing new wrist straps is so the people that support Nintendo are happy and keep supporting them

  • OhhSnap50893

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 5:11 am PT

    That's so pathetic. My original wrist straps worked fine, and the second version I haven't had the slightest problem with.

  • SorrowsFlame

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 7:16 pm PT

    OK...people breaking these are total idiots. You aren't supposed to swing as hard as you can for every single little action. If you see hands getting sweaty, use some common sense and wipe them off people.

    Only in America...only in America -.-

  • chakan2

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 3:56 pm PT

    Heh...and now the counter suit. So I'm playing Wii with the new super strength Wii strap and my dog runs by. I fall over, the Wii-mote catches on something and cuts my hand off or breaks my wrist. Do I get to sue for that? (replace dog with drunk friends for those of you over 21)

  • nekrotaunter

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 1:20 pm PT

    still haven't snapped the original straps.

  • MilesTormani

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 12:47 pm PT

    I still say we should all just handcuff ourselves to our Wiimotes and never deal with this problem ever again.

  • jcloverboy

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 12:35 pm PT

    I finally bought a wii online today (Costco) so in a couple days I will finally see what all the fuss over these straps is about. I have a hard time understanding how ppl. are throwing them at their TVs etc. Seems like user carelessness more than anything.

  • jaefrmbk2k

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 11:01 am PT

    i always strap my wee

  • chrisdojo

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 10:50 am PT

    i can't imagine swinging the wiimote hard enough to break the strap. NOOBS.

  • Footballteen58

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 10:28 am PT

    Ya know i dont think its normal to throw your tennis raquet in real tennis or baseball bars. Just a thought.

  • interpolred

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 10:09 am PT

    I haven't had any problems with mine and I got it at launch.

  • benben1212

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 8:48 am PT

    people that throw their controllers while playing a video game deserve to have their tvs broken.

  • SemiMaster

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 8:36 am PT

    So wait... there's a 3rd strap thickness now? This is kind of stupid, if you actually follow the instructions, you don't need to fling the dang thing around like a 'tard.

  • noblekeltic

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 8:33 am PT

    lol, I find that funny.

  • Berserker_2

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 8:29 am PT

    Lawsuits don't only happen in America.

  • i_like_evil

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 8:20 am PT

    Wow. This is getting ridiculous. People need to learn to get a grip (literally) and start using these things correctly. I almost wonder if people are deliberately setting some of these cases up! I can try as hard as possible to break my wrist strap but it just doesn't happen.

    Well done Nintendo though! Even though it's definately not their fault it's nice to see they are trying to ease the situation nonetheless.

  • SEr_803

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 7:48 am PT

    i have the third strap version the plastic part where you tighen or loosen it does not have the wii logo and is in a different shape really do not see it any stronger then the second version

  • gerardinsito

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 7:38 am PT

    It's normal almost for me... Nintendo is cleaning previous mistakes with his new console

  • jaredgood1

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 7:21 am PT

    Oddly enough, this whole situation could have been avoided if Nintendo just never bothered adding the strap in the first place.

  • Kcube

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 7:01 am PT

    They should just give you the option of a one inch thick reinforced tow rope much like the kind I use when my car breaks down.

    Strap one of those bad boys onto your wrist and it ain't going no where ^_^

  • gatsbythepig

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 6:57 am PT

    thank god, I was worried about that second strap

  • Snomel

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 6:29 am PT

    http://www.wiihaveaproblem.com/show_article.php?id=247

    This is my favourite problem I have seen with a Wii controller so far =P By the looks of it, the strap doesn't need to be any stronger.....

  • Draekdude

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 6:19 am PT

    Look at the T-Shirt, it shows the Wiimote with the strap intact. How is that funny? If it is making fun of the flimsy straps then the strap should just be a nub with blood dripping off it. As it is it looks stupid. There are much better T-shirts out there.

    Draekdude

  • Warfust

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 6:05 am PT

    Out of the 15+ people that have played my Wii, only one has ever "lost" the Wiimote. It was my 7 year old daughter that was using an after market strap (the nice pink Princess Peach one with the controller glove) and was a little too energetic while bowling. And it was not moving with enough force to break anything.

    I had it slip out of my hand once (barely) while playing tennis, and the strap worked just fine.

  • willbacrimp

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 6:02 am PT

    You have got to agree it's just sony and microsoft fans who are bad losers trying to get nintendo in trouble

  • Ult_gam3r

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 5:54 am PT

    Lol at "Flying Wiimotes"

    People should just flick their wrists OR hold on tighter! XD

  • mackan8701

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 5:50 am PT

    Well funky thing is... it says 'Nintendo' on the old straps plastic bits, but not on the rumoured new one.. maybe its a prototype tho.. i dunno?

  • DoomsdayForte

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 5:29 am PT

    "come on everyone..lets be adults about this. obviously nintendo messed up. the straps should have been tested b4 launch. they now they messed up if they're going for lucky number 3. lets just hope they do it right this time around."

    How did they mess up? You can't test for human stupidity all the time.

    I mean, it is common sense to hold onto the controller. Why in God's name would you put your faith in a piece of string counteracting against G forces?

  • AHDOAH

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 5:28 am PT

    There was no point of changing the straps... in the first place
    but oh well...it would be nice to have

  • AHDOAH

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 5:19 am PT

    There was no point of changing the straps... in the first place
    but oh well...it would be nice to have

  • exedeath

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 5:13 am PT

    I have had mine since launch, and I have found that the wrist straps are not needed at all. I took mine off after a day of playing, and nobody has even lost their grip on them yet. The people that do loose their Wiimotes seem to be on purpose, and looking to get some easy money. It;s all a scam.

  • mjc0961

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 5:13 am PT

    http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/straps.jsp

    See? This story is bull. People such as ilikeeating need to shut their mouths and stop spreading rumors.

  • mjc0961

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 5:08 am PT

    This is bull. Nintendo would have told people this if they were real.

  • shizwill03

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 4:47 am PT

    Suprisingly enough, this strap issue did not affect my household. My family could be product testers, as how much stuff is broken or malfunctioning. I might send in for the strap still, just because it is free and the current one is getting ugly.

  • DwayneJohnson

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 3:34 am PT

    GameBoy966 :Said
    Gamer #1: Hey! Why aren`t you wearing your wii-strap?

    Gamer #2: Because I`m not stew-pid.

    Gamer #1: Still, It`s probably best to wear it. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gamer #2: I SED I`m not STEW-PID!!!! *beats gamer #1 to death with wii-mote*

    Gamer #2: Uh-oh spaghetti-ohs! I`d better cut the strap so I can suu Nintender.

    Thats was just stupid.

  • ninja929

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 3:20 am PT

    still have the original straps as well. I just don't let go of my controller

  • Khoo1992

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 3:07 am PT

    Well, maybe Americans hands is too powerful and broke it

  • mindtricks12017

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 2:50 am PT

    I have both the original strap and the new ones. I'd much rather use the originals so I don't have to compensate for the extra weight of the replacements. (I've finally got Wii golf just right). I have yet to a "premature release" incident or wrist strap failure. Here's a quick fix...use a rubber band! Not only will it come right back to you, but if you throw it hard enough, it just might come back at your facewith just enough velocity and impact to remind you NOT TO LET GO OF THE REMOTE!! =)

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