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www.youtube.com/bestbuy - Musician and Best Buy employee, Keith Parsons, rocks his Best Buy holiday campaign audition.
71 Comments
- stealthboy, on 10/12/2007, -17/+151I have an easier solution:
1) don't be an idiot. - Alphateam, on 10/12/2007, -5/+69How do you swing SO HARD that not only can you not hang on to the Wimote, but you break a strap? Seriously just calm down.
- jcp20, on 10/12/2007, -4/+54I don't know, I've managed to play real tennis before without letting my racket fly off into my opponent.
- HoboMaster, on 10/12/2007, -1/+47"How do you swing SO HARD that not only can you not hang on to the Wimote, but you break a strap? Seriously just calm down."
This is how: http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2006/11/29 - llamawoot, on 10/12/2007, -5/+27I thought the same thing until my strap broke two nights ago.
I was actually bowling from the couch, not being a spaz, just flicking my wrist. There is more acceleration in that motion than you'd expect. The wiimote caught the couch cushion, pulled it out of my hand, strap breaks and it goes flying across the room. No one was injured and the wiimote works fine, but I have to think they could have built a better strap than this.
The point is, it happens, and you don't have to be an idiot to make a mistake (think car wrecks...or burning yourself while cooking...or accidentally tripping over something...).
And in my defense, I play racquetball and have never lost a racket. - johnhummel, on 10/12/2007, -0/+21I've got my children trained in "put on the strap first before playing with the Wiimote" to the point that they know if Daddy catches them without it, the Wii goes off.
That said, it was funny as heck when my 4 year old was playing tennis, and swung so hard he let go of the Wiimote. It swung around the strap and whacked him on the back of the head. He stopped playing for a about 10 seconds, then went back - more careful the next time. - threepio, on 10/12/2007, -3/+23Seriously, these folks, the "Caution: HOT!" folks and the "Do not taunt Super Happy Fun Ball folks" are proving evolution by inversion.
We're allowing the stupid to breed. Without the culling of the morons we're just going to keep on gettin' dumber as a species. - Alphateam, on 10/12/2007, -7/+22Seriously what is wrong with these people and their flying Wiimotes?
I still have the little green tape on mine. And never once has it left my hand unexpectedly.
I've got a better solution and it requires NO extra modification.
Hang on to the ***** thing and stop flailing like a monkey with a fork in the light socket. - HoboMaster, on 10/12/2007, -4/+19@jcp: Best point I've heard yet. I can play tennis, swing a REAL racket HARD and actually HIT something without letting go. How can people not hold on to a damn wiimote? What are you people doing?
Just more proof that nerds shouldn't do physical activity, I guess. Or maybe a sign that they should do more? Hmm... - Ascus, on 10/12/2007, -2/+14The difference between throwing the wii remote and winging a tennis racket, is that the momentum energy is transfered to the ball. Often players that play lossen thier grip right after impact with the ball. Problem with the wii remote is that there is no impact so no transfer of energy so the remote has much more inertia that the tennis racket does; so when the grip is instinctively lossend, the remote goes sailing.
- deuceswilde, on 10/12/2007, -0/+12Maybe because the Wiimote does not have a huge rubberized grip section? I'm just shooting from the hip here but it seems that directly comparing a Wiimote to a tennis racket as far as grip goes is somewhat asinine.
It's a well documented problem that the straps are defective in that they're too weak and when you're swinging a slick plastic controller around while potentially sweating it's not that hard to imagine throwing one. - samadam, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8Or, on the other hand, you could invite some rich friends over, and give them all wiimotes. Cut the string a bit so it is sure to fall off. Surround the room with your computer, monitor, television, and dvd collection. Throw in some collectible figurines for sympathy.
Then stick in wii sports and make a challenge. - negativefx, on 10/12/2007, -4/+12I have a solution for people who can't hold onto their wiimotes and actually need a strap to keep them safe: epoxy. or a staple gun...but that might damage the controller
- hansamurai, on 10/12/2007, -14/+21It's not that hard to get a flying wiimote. Get a bunch of guys in the room around a big screen playing Wii Sports tennis, and eventually they will start swinging full swings and one of the wiimote straps will break, the wiimote will fly across the room at full speed and smack into the home owner's dvd collection. (true story)
But of course, Nintendo makes excellent hardware and my wiimote survives to this day in perfect condition. - negativefx, on 10/12/2007, -4/+10I'm with you alphateam. And as for you, CTRaider: I would never let someone touch any of my possessions without first being sure that they have (a) successfully mastered the art of grasping an object and are (b) not a mongoloid.
- sm4k, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8Why do you think they make gloves in different sizes? Hell, why do you think real life bowling balls and tennis rackets come in difference sizes? Because people are different. Just because the remote fits your hand and you are able to retain it doesn't mean the rest of us don't have a few close calls here and there.
I love my Wii, I wear the strap even playing Trauma Center. Amazing as it sounds, I've also played bowling and tennis in real life. I, like an above poster, have never had a problem with a racket going flying or a bowling ball going out of control. The difference is that the devices I was using at the time were designed for my hand and body size. Not to mention the grip on the tennis racket that an earlier poster pointed out. The Wii remote is designed as a 'one size fits all' for the entire planet.
I've yet to have accidentally thrown the remote, but there have been more than a few times where I realized that the remote almost got away from me.
People need to stop being so arrogant and offended by the thought of the all mighty Nintendo having done something wrong (I've been a die hard fan since the NES, it was hard for me to comes to terms with too...). It's quite possible for the remote to slip out of the hand of even someone intending to treat the system gingerly. Kudos to Nintendo for making the remote strong enough to withstand that kind of abuse. However, the strap isn't strong enough. End of story.
I wonder if there would be more of an improvement if there was a grip texture applied to the remote. Something like a replacement battery cover that had a rubber exterior. - threepio, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6I'm usually a decent human being, but I'll admit, I couldn't hold the laugh in on that one. Apologize to the little bugger for me, will ya?
- 2000, on 10/12/2007, -5/+10Maybe, instead of reinforcing their Wiimotes, people can avoid the cause of Wiimote slippage altogether: http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2006/11/29
- machambi, on 10/12/2007, -3/+8how jobless is this guy !!
- boberto, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6I'm sure the gamestop employees appreciated that
- Alphateam, on 10/12/2007, -7/+11As a matter of fact I due trust the people I let play my several hundred dollar equipment. I can't believe you let people you don't trust in your house even.
- Quix, on 10/12/2007, -8/+12It's real easy to throw out the smug "idiot" accusations, isn't it? Hey, I don't plan on letting my Wiimote fly anytime soon, but guess what? No one plans to have an accident.
And I'm the least of my worries. What about my kids, my kids' friends, adult friends, relatives? After seeing a strap break on my nephew and my Wiimote hit the wall like a rocket, I now live in absolute fear. Every time someone comes over to play I have to sit on pins and needles waiting for the flying remote to obliterate my nice TV. People get into these games, just like on the TV commercials. If Nintendo had designed a competent strap, we wouldn't be having these discussions. The tiny string that tethers the strap to the Wiimote is pathetic and inadequate. PERIOD. So go ahead and rant and rave about "idiots" all you want. We'll see if you're singing a different tune when someone accidently lets fly a Wiimote in YOUR living room.
Nintendo: FIX THE STRAPS!!!
Otherwise, I anticipate lawsuits will be flying just like the Wiimotes. - ProximaC, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Some people actually have more than one remote so they can play multiplayer...
- clownguyx, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5"Little girl, shake my hand. Nothing, I don't feel anything. You're so weak..." - Dwight
- Snakedal337, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6I tried to break the strap at gamestop the other day just to see exactly how much force was need to do it, and despite all my efforts, I couldn't. What the hell are these people doing that it's breaking???? Beating their small animals into submission??
- wehrmanweb, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5So let me guess, all you sport super stars with a grip like a monkey have never dropped a cell phone... dropped a knife... dropped a half full pint of beer... I hope you see my point. When I'm having a good time with friends my concentration isn't always on the task at hand.
Have any of you watched a NFL game? How many players have fumbled a ball without any other player causing said fumble? It happens. - ProximaC, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5I know I've flailed my remotes around pretty wildly... (Zelda really pisses me off now and then) but I've never lost control of the remotes. Neither have my early-teens kids. I sit here right now with Wii-induced Tennis-elbow though... The thing has hurt me a lot more than I've hurt it...
- rewquio, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4I'm sure he flung it to test it out since he is doing the instructions. Why in the world are these comments modded down, they're some of the few comments on this post that actually have to do with the content of the post.
- ZeroMP, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4This is the strap I normally use for Wii Tennis:
http://www.thisisauto.com/pictures/wa07005n/l/JD_blneckl.jpg
Or if I'm in the mood for some serious Zelda I might switch to this other one:
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0007DICXW.01-A28L769A6HYVGB._AA280_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg
A little bulkier than the stock version, but I find the added sense of security and protection to be well worth it. - ahawks, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I'm not sure how to feel about this...
On one hand, I had the exact same idea, and they beat me too it. I no longer feel creative and unique.
On the other hand, I now have a picture tutorial to walk me through executing my plan, which I did think of on my own. Hooray!
And for all the naysayers/disbelievers in the cables breaking:
I don't really care. I own a 55" HDTV. I'd rather not risk it. I trust me. I trust my friends and family. But I also have guests over or throw mini parties from time to time to let people try the Wii. At some point, someone may slip. - boberto, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4You are a detriment to the human race
- Quix, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3That thing looks worthless for the Wiimote because it won't tighten snugly around the wrist.
The wrist strap Nintendo provided is great, if only they had connected the strap directly to the Wiimote and not used that craptastic tether string. Replace that string with braided steel and there will be no problem.
So how many TVs will have to die before Nintendo can spend 25 cents to provide you with a wrist strap that actually works the way it should? - johnhummel, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2It's all right - my wife and I had to hold in the laughter and show sympathetic faces to him, then as soon as his back was turned we buried our faces in the pillows and laughed.
I only wish I had a camera when it happened to show to his first girlfriend later in life ;). - negativefx, on 10/12/2007, -8/+10CTRaider: do you have an opposable thumb? how'd you manage to throw the remote. please explain. I just can't imagine a situation where i wouldn't be able to hold onto a controller. Please don't try to pickup/hold any children in the near future...especially without a wrist strap.
- siodine, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4Here's a solution for the idiots that can't stop being idiots:
http://www6.mailordercentral.com/ironmind/products.asp?dept=8
Improve your girl-like grip you fairies. - louis74, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Sorry to link another story in here, but why not go 3rd party replacement?
http://www.digg.com/gaming_news/Great_Wii_Strap_replacement
That one looks pretty good, linked to my digg to help get it up there so more people get the idea :p - eljaysun, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Just so you guys know, it only takes a good time to break the wrist strap; not an idiot. I've been fortunate enough avoid any Wii-related accidents so far, but I see them entirely too possible.
Here's the problem: the Wiimote is very small, the wrist strap connections is almost exactly like the string on a price tag (so it seems very weak), and Wii Sports is just too darn fun.
Wii Sports seems pretty natural. For example, when I first bought my Wii, I tested it on my dad. When he played bowling he even did the freaking bent-knee-with-one-foot-behind-the-other move. So you can see how one might put the same amount of force behind throwing a 10 lbs bowling ball when miming bowling with a Wiimote that weighs a few ounces. Also, people tend to get sweaty palms when they're enjoying a video game. Sweaty hands, a small and smooth Wiimote, tiny little string, and mimicking real bowling is a very likely combination, and a good way to break something.
My point is, a lot of these people aren't being morons, or acting foolish when these accidents may happen. They're probably just having a good time, which is exactly what the Wii is for.
I'm definitely going to do this strap fix for my Wiimote. - bobsacks, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2So far my wife has wacked the wiimote against our metal dog cage and i have stuck mine up in the fan. Both still work with only a minor scratch from hitting the dog cage. Last night a buddy came over and we were playing wii tennis and the wiimote slipped out of his hand but the strap caught it. Good thing he wasn't swinging too hard.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4I brought my wii to a party once and one guy brought his kid and he lost his grip on it playing tennis and I watched in horror as my wiimote went flying into a brick wall. fortunately not a scratch on it, after that I made that kid cinch that thing down so tight his hand turned purple. Before I go back to his place I'm gonna break out my tackle box and shore up my mote just in case, thanks for the idea.
- stian, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1The reason why things like this happens:
http://www.wiihaveaproblem.com/show_article.php?id=48 - ahawks, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1The pictures I've seen showed the cable breaking, and all plastic parts still intact.
And yes, clear line would be better.
Also obviously you'd want to test the line. It may have a 30 or 60lb load, but that's not from sudden tension. A quick application of tension may still break it. - Quix, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3"They have done so much already to combat accidents" - Coestar
They could have done one more thing and not tethered the wrist strap to the Wiimote with a piece of dental floss... - Torawk, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1The other day I was at a mall in Richmond, BC that has four demo units setup by Nintendo Canada... they were using two straps per controller on the one I used.. so perhaps they're worried too.. or it was just a way to easily switch from having the nunchuk for certain demos or not... I didn't look that closely at how it was done up...
- jldugger, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Do you really want the strap fixed? I mean, this works both ways; before if you somehow put too much tension on the line by like snagging the cord or wiimote on something, the cord breaks, and maybe your wiimote flys somewhere interesting. With a stronger cord, now that tension works to injure your arm once you've gone too far.
- enigma487, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1What about the obvious question?
Is 30 lb test Spider Line stronger that the wrist strap? - MaxSteele, on 10/12/2007, -0/+11) It's not the line that is breaking. It is the fastener that attaches the line to the actual wrist strap, encased in that piece of plastic at the end of the strap.
2) The fishing line solution would probably be better if one were to use *clear* fishing line instead of contrasting *dark green* line.
3) Stop throwing the wiimote. -
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