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Shipoftheline
15-12-2006, 10:16 AM
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.


Publicity shots show the controller without the strap

The console has been a huge hit for the company with more than 325,000 machines sold in Europe in just two days, more than 600,000 sold in the US and more than 400,000 on launch day in Japan.

No information was immediately available about how customers can return their Wii straps.

The Wii strap is an important safety feature of the controller - which is waved around vigorously in a typical game. Games for the Wii all feature regular safety messages reminded players to keep the wrist strap on.

little_pob
15-12-2006, 01:10 PM
If your strap is broken you have to phone your nearest Nintendo service centre on 0870 6060247.

saynoto0870.com lists this number as pointing to 0239 2313882. Dialing the geographic number doesn't always work (e.g. the geographic number for Halifax's 0845 number points to an HBOS office in Scotland who are unable to deal with account queries), but is worth a try if you have free minutes on your mobile or VoIP service.

Not sure if Nintendo intend on replacing any items broken by flying Wii controllers though...

kristok
15-12-2006, 01:16 PM
seriously how bad a grip do some people have and how hard are they swinging their arms. its not that weak a strap.

trinitys_mate
15-12-2006, 05:17 PM
i cant see how any body could break one of them straps while they are playing its a case of people not using them and then letting slip and wanting to blame someone else. Nintendo are obviously aware of the no win no fee brigade!