Nintendo Wii Not For the Wiik

from the pain dept

Fri, Dec 1st 2006 11:14am — Joseph Weisenthal

Every new gadget seems to bring along new maladies. The iPod and the PlayStation have both been implicated in causing injuries, owing to repetitive strain. Seems the human body just isn't designed to make certain motions for hours on end. It looks like the Nintendo Wii won't be able to avoid this fate, as already people have complained about back, neck and elbow pains after playing one. The controller on the Wii differs from typical videogame controllers, as the player swings it around in many games, as they would a tennis racket or a sword. This of course makes us wonder if the pain that people are feeling is not injury, but rather the typical soreness associated with actually getting some, you know, exercise. Nintendo seems to think that's what it is, and is telling people that if you want to play, you should stretch and be in shape. What else would you expect from the company that created the Power Pad? Of course, injuries or damage that comes from controllers flying out people's hands are a different story.

Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.

Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.

While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.

–The Techdirt Team

47 Comments

If you liked this post, you may also be interested in...

Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread

>20 y.o. Wii Owner, 1 Dec 2006 @ 11:40am

I now stretch
I completely agree with Nintendo's stance on this, the first couple days that my girlfriend and I played Wii Sports, we got aches in our shoulders and necks. It really is a workout to play these games (properly) so we've started stretching before playing a few rounds of tennis, bowling or boxing.
I've not managed to get any pains from playing Zelda... yet.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
MarioLegend, 1 Dec 2006 @ 11:41am

The New Wii exercise standard
That's right! Exercising is good. Now we are playing with power, Wii Power!

- g -
[ link to this | view in thread ]
shane peden (profile), 1 Dec 2006 @ 11:42am

thats soreness goofball
I agree with the author of the thread. Most likely the paiin they are feeling is soreness. If you've ever held a wii controller you probably agree. The controller weighs next to nothing. If there actually are any injuries its probably due to the user being a couch potato most of their life.

Next thing you know people will be trying to sue nintendo simply because they are sore.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Sanguine Dream, 1 Dec 2006 @ 12:01pm

Soreness...
tends to happen when you do something you aren't used to. Hell if gamers were supposed to run away from soreness then there would be no Dance Dance Revoution or Pump It Up followings (even though you can argue said followings have fallen off in recent times). Frankly thats why I want one, it'll make me work for my fun. Sure I don't think someone will start a series of Wii exercise videos but any bit of workout is better than none.

And sadly I see #3's comment about suing Nintendo coming true. Sometime around the end of the Wii's life cycle someone will try to sue for the equivilent of Carpal Tunnel. I really hope Nintendo has some kind of disclaimer in the Wii manual...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
KnyghtMare, 1 Dec 2006 @ 12:05pm

It's more fun
If you've ever played Dance Dance Revolution, or any game that requires physically doing more than pressing buttons, you know that with a few friends involved it can be ALOT more fun than the average game.

I'm drawn to the Wii now because at home competitions of Wii Sports just sounds like too much fun =)
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Sarojin, 1 Dec 2006 @ 12:06pm

Definitely soreness from lack of exercise
There is no repetitive motion using the Wii controllers...it even stops being sore with continued use of the associated muscles. Just make sure to not actually dive for the shot. The Pro level games can be brutal :)
[ link to this | view in thread ]
wolff000, 1 Dec 2006 @ 12:06pm

Well Duh
If you swing your arm around for hours on end when you never have before it is going to make you sore. These complainers should have thier Wii taken from them now. I hate complainers!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 1 Dec 2006 @ 12:19pm

Re: thats soreness goofball
I'm sure the lawyers are already lining up to file suit...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
wifezilla, 1 Dec 2006 @ 12:37pm

Re: It's more fun
It IS way more fun. We spent Thanksgiving playing Wii bowing and were in more pain from laughing so damn hard than we were from the elbow strain.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 1 Dec 2006 @ 12:51pm

seems like a good way for me to beat my friends easily.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 1 Dec 2006 @ 12:52pm

Looks like the Wii has beaten PS3 and XBOX360 both in the media and in internet chatter. Even hardcore sony and xbox fans are starting to hang out at the previously unpopular nintendo nerds home.

All that aside, think about this: After you've gotten over your soreness from playing the Wii initially, strap on some weights to your arms and legs(when they inevitably release the sensors for your feet in a threedimensional DDR)
[ link to this | view in thread ]
C. J., 1 Dec 2006 @ 12:56pm

RE: Lawsuits
# 3, # 9:

There is no way. If this comes to pass, I am revoking my faith in humanity, and moving to a desolate island free of my fellow mouth-breathers.

More jokingly, how do you guys think that they (the suing side) might bring a case like this to a judge? Because, "I was swinging my Wiimote around, slaying badguys on Zelda, and then.. my arm got so sore, and started.. spasming. I am scared for life," sounds a bit incredulous.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Wii Wii Kid, 1 Dec 2006 @ 1:11pm

Repetitive Injury
This is nothing new I heard of people getting repetitive stress injuries from playing with their Wii years ago. Even going blind!!!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Sue Happy World, 1 Dec 2006 @ 1:16pm

There will undoubtedly be law suits in the future. I mean hell if a woman can sue McDonalds for spilling hot coffee on herself then lazy gamers will file suit against Nintendo for voluntarily/albeit unexpectedly getting a little exercise.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
coffee guy, 1 Dec 2006 @ 1:34pm

Re:
To stick up for the woman who spilled coffee on herself:

McDonalds covered up the reason why she sued and why McDonalds lost that case. They where selling the coffee at twice the legal temperature. Thats why she burned herself so bad that they had to do skin graphs and that's why she sued.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 1 Dec 2006 @ 1:39pm

Wii Takes the cake
Ok, so the month is not quite completed yet, but google trends shows a clear launch winner.

Google Trends: wii, ps3, xbox (November 2006, USA)

I look forward to seeing the rest of the month filled out...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
uM DUH, 1 Dec 2006 @ 1:54pm

Re: Wii Takes the cake
If I have 4 million units and you have 400,000 units. Of course I am going to out sell you. It is simple math. I am getting tired of hearing about how the Wii is out selling the PS3 and 360. Of course they are they have more units on retailers floors to sell. Geesh.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 1 Dec 2006 @ 1:55pm

Re:
Suehappyworld - Please inform yourself on the situation before you start speaking about it. I am so sick of people thinking that lady was stupid and spilled cofee on herself so she sued. McDonalds has enough money and power to win a case like that if they were innocent. Obviously they were guilty.

Think before you speak.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
AC, 1 Dec 2006 @ 2:01pm

Re: Re: Wii Takes the cake
360 has had a full year head start and the wii is still more popular.
In defense to your PS3 claim... Nintendo planned ahead and at least made an attempt to meet demand. Sony didnt even try. So get tired of something else. You may want to consider converting from a sony fanboy to nintendo. Just a thought.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Voice in the Dark, 1 Dec 2006 @ 2:04pm

The Other Side Conveniently Absent?
Alright, so everyone says it's stupid that people are complaining of soreness resulting from exercise, but where are they to back themselves up? I have not seen ONE reply defending their side of the issue.

Also, these articles do portray the people who are using the Wii as potential lawsuit filers because of the resulting soreness after experiencing the Wii, but in all honesty, the articles I've seen only say that people are complaining about pains and aches.

This could mean simply that they have gone to the doctor just to get checked out and shrugged it off when the doc said it was normal because of the exercise.

Until someone sues Nintendo for causing the person to exercise, let us not judge these newcomers to physical fitness just yet, says I.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Ron, 1 Dec 2006 @ 2:31pm

Re: Hot Coffee
{They were selling the coffee at twice the legal temperature.}

I wasn't aware that there was a 'legal temperature' for coffee, but it would have to be at least 140F, and twice that would be 280F. At that temperature, it would no longer be 'coffee', and she could not spill it on herself!

***Sig Block***

-- A good compromise leaves everyone mad. --Calvin and Hobbes

******

I didn't steal your sig, I just borrowed it. You can have it back now.

Thank You.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Sanguine Dream, 1 Dec 2006 @ 2:33pm

Re: Re: Wii Takes the cake
Who's fault is it that sony only had 400,000 units to your 4 million? Sony had just as much of a chance to beef up my supply to meet the demand as Nintendo did.

Sony tried to be slick by intentionally releasing a small supply so it could build hype by bragging about how quickly it sold out and got caught with its pants down.

And let's not even talk about MS's one year head start with the 360.

Sony is trying to blind people by with big time flash and little substance while Nintendo took another route.

By the end of this generation the PS3 may beat the Wii (I live Nintendo but I still think this) but Nintendo will have more than made its mark on the industry.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[kossori hana.], 1 Dec 2006 @ 3:00pm

soreness is gone!
i got my wii less than a week ago. i went crazy with wii sports the first day. my fitness age the first day was... 67! i, 24 years old, was not shocked. i don't get much exercise.

the next day, i was sore. i couldn't extend my arm fully straight. what did i do? i pushed through a painful day of wii sports. i loosened up a bit and took the test. 31! i dropped 36 years!

i keep playing every day, and i'm no longer sore. i even have a tiny muscle on my scrawny arm! i'll have to switch to my nondominant arm soon so i don't get lopsided.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Molly, 1 Dec 2006 @ 3:38pm

silly me
I laughed really REALLY hard when I first saw an actual commercial for the Wii. The first I had seen of it was as Eric Cartman's lust object on SouthPark a few episodes back. I really just thought it was a parody... Then to my surprise, I figure out it's a real thing!

What can I say, I still play regular old NES.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Al DePansieu, 1 Dec 2006 @ 3:49pm

Re: Re: Wii Takes the cake
sooo.... Nintendo actually meets customer expectations by manufacturing enough devices to meet potential demand instead of fully enaging in the hype war by marketing and not having enough to go around. Sounds an awful lot like smart business.

Geesh indeed.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Bob, 1 Dec 2006 @ 4:18pm

Other side is absent?
So the other side is absent? Or maybe they just really don't exist. Yeah, a lot of people are saying they get sore from playing, but I have not actually heard anyone complain or consider this a negative. The few cases of pain reported usually end with, "Guess I'll have to play more to get in shape." The Wii is tons of fun, and is a nice light workout when played for a long time. It seems the media is just blowing things way out of preportion. It would be like if a new set of sneakers were the big thing and people wearing them starting jogging everyday and then blamed the sneakers for the pain they felt... the media needs to stop wasting our time with useless information.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Donkey, 1 Dec 2006 @ 4:58pm

F-you fat america...
Are you kidding me? People are actually complaining about this crap? I know gamers can resemble the portrayal south park did on WOW but come on. God forbid anyone gets up off the couch to do anything anymore. I am really beginning to hate us because of crap like this. I think Nintendo should implement a rectal controller, so anyone with complaints can jam it up their ass.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
THe Man, 1 Dec 2006 @ 4:58pm

WOW. What Next
Geeks actually getting excercise. Maybe after the soreness wears off and they can go from the couch to the fridge without loss of breath, they may actually leave their mother basement.

I am actually in the middle of a law suit against the country of Scottland. I played golf the other day and became very sore and my joints hurt. I am also suing God because I got a sunburn.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[kossori hana.], 1 Dec 2006 @ 7:39pm

Re: WOW. What Next
the suing God thing won't work. my friend tried that a year ago, and it was thrown out of court. the defense stated that he got the wrong guy. he's currently in a class action lawsuit with other gamers, goths, geeks, ginger kids, and any other group starting with a 'g' against Ra, Apollo, Helios, Wurusemu, Kee-zos-en, Gnowee, Wala , Wuriupranili, Yhi, Chup Kamui, Shamash, Huitzilopochtli, Tonatiuh, Ekhi, Crom Cruach, Étaín, Mog Ruith, Horus, Amun, Aten, Agni, Aryaman, Mitra, Ravi, Surya, Vivasvat, Arinna, Inti, Malina, Amaterasu, Marishi-Ten, Haemosu, Saulė, Ahau-Kin, Ah Kin, K'in, Tama-nui-te-rā, Alfrodull, Freyr, Sol, Wasterzhi, Malakbel, Shakuru, Mithra, Belobog, Svarog, Shamash, Meri, and even Frith and Arien. message me if you want in on the lawsuit. i'll send you the information.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 1 Dec 2006 @ 8:24pm

Re: Repetitive Injury
Years before the Wii was invented.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Anonymous Coward, 3 Dec 2006 @ 10:54am

Im sure il be seeing this on tv soon...

"Have you dealt with any of the following

carpel tunnel
wrist pain
arthritis
sore muscles
mental anguish

while playing the NINTENDO Wii, Call the law offices of James Sokolove"
[ link to this | view in thread ]
PhysicsGuy, 3 Dec 2006 @ 1:27pm

the thing about this story is (as i read somewhere else) people are complaining about soreness to everyone but nintendo. nintendo hasn't actually received any complaints about this from customers. so chances are nobody's going to sue. who would want to sue nintendo anyways? out of all video game companies nintendo is nearest and dearest to my heart. :)
[ link to this | view in thread ]
zeroJJ, 3 Dec 2006 @ 5:34pm

Time will tell...
I applaud Nintendo 100%. They are moving in the right direction. Have you been outside of the USA lately? We are a bunch of FAT, LAZY slobs, and the rest of the world KNOWS it.

Nintendo is simultaneously pushing both a trend in gaming to get your AZZ off the couch, and the direction that gaming is taking - that of moving gaming experience into the virtual, realistic world.

Lawsuits will flow-a-plenty as long as our legal system is setup to reward the frivolous, litigious insanity, regardless of whether it's warranted or not.

Hopefully, Nintendo, already showing some foresight with this, has planned for the legal conflicts accordingly.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Douglas ziesemer, 3 Dec 2006 @ 10:05pm

Re: soreness is gone!
I totally know what this guy is talking about. I mean the night I got my Wii (I waited in line for 8 hours at Wal-mart) I was not quit as old as him , I was 38, But I know how it is being sore, I woke up the next morning and I was sore, I just figured Thats what it was from, I mean That boxing can really break a sweat, But Now It is actually part of my everyday workout, I get up Stretch and go play my Wii.
I just have to say That I really enjoy Mine And I will play it for years to come.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
|333173|3|_||3, 4 Dec 2006 @ 8:24pm

Wieght
If the Wiimote is as light as it has been described, they should make wieghted add-ons so that when playinga sword-fighting game, it actually has more like the correct feel, ditto cricket/other bat sports.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
dude, 10 Dec 2006 @ 7:03am

if you think the wii sports is hard on you, you should try actual sports - now that'll leave you sore!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Glen, 10 Dec 2006 @ 11:59am

Nintedo Wii
I think the physical interaction with the game is great. So many kids are overwieght couch potatos and could use some exercise. Maybe this will bring back traditional outdoor games like cop and robbers, tag, hide and seek, stick ball, and touch football.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
andy, 28 Dec 2006 @ 8:20pm

definitely a big fan of the Wii as a way to play games and not just sit doing nothing for hours in front of a tv.

I do wonder about some of the wrist actions tho - particularly in tennis, as to do the spin shots you're doing fairly drastic quick twists that I'm not sure are that great for you....but then I'm not that clued up about RSI so may well be worrying about nothing.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Erik T. Wiik, 18 Jan 2007 @ 1:19pm

Balderdash!
You couldn't be further from the truth!

I firmly believe the Wii is perfect for me!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Jessica, 17 Mar 2007 @ 11:09pm

Lol, A Few body aches is soo worth it.
Well it was for me..
But, you cant easily avoid them too.
You dont have to really swing the controller hard at all.
But it makes it more fun when you really get into it.
Wii ftw.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
wii exercise, 19 Apr 2007 @ 3:26pm

Re:
Everybody keeps complaining about sores
just try the real thing or quit complaining

if you cant handle it give it to me:)
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Eloquius, 19 Apr 2007 @ 9:51pm

Strain
Jumping on the band wagon here. I'm amazed at the number of small minded americans who criticize video games (in general) for such problems as Carpal Tunnel... while signing their kids up for hockey, football, and rugby.

If I had a nickel for every kid I've seen walking around with an ice bag taped to their body, I could afford to buy a Wii.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Mii, 13 Dec 2007 @ 10:48am

MoveYourWii.com
It's definitely possible to exercise AND lose weight with the Wii. I even keep track of my stats online at MoveYourWii.com .
[ link to this | view in thread ]
gshfb, 5 Aug 2009 @ 6:58am

my wrists are killing me!!!!
i think i agree with the whole soreness from under-use idea. I stopped playing it for a while and then had a massive day-long session on 'Summer Athletics' to find that the next day my wrists were the size of watermelons!!!
that was two days ago now and they are still sore but nonetheless, despite being common sense i still think that nintendo need to emphasise the fact that you don't need excessive force when playing,particularly concerning games like summer athletics where you physically go through the motions of running or swimming-if you are going through those motions you are just as likely to have the same injuries.......
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Paula Travis, 11 Mar 2010 @ 1:18am

Active in Sports
EA Sports Active
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Brooke Richardson, 26 Oct 2010 @ 1:09pm

Injuries!
I love that everyone ha an opinion on wii related injuries, but I can assure you that these pains are not all general soreness. I'm was an active person before I for the wii, swimming rubbing etc. But 19 months ago I got a wii and have not been as active ever since. I played baseball 5 times and I have numerous doctors, physios, chiropractors, acupuncturist, myotherapists and an MRI that can attest to my wii related injury. While j would never even mention the word sue regarding this injury my lateral epicondylitis tendon was strained an stressed so severely that it ha not healed yet. 19 months of treatment later and numerous cortisone injections has not settled this injury. And I've been in pain everyday since. 5 times was all I played it. It was not general soreness an still isn't general soreness. It doesn't matter if your an active person or not or nintendo tell you to take regular breaks between play. An actual injury can occur, from this game system and I don't think people should make light or what is a serious problem for some people. My medical bills for treatment so far are not a laughing matter. I sold my wii earlier this year after it sat unplayed for the 19 months. I'll never play one again. So until you do suffer or no someone who has suffered from an injury don't presume to judge that alll people are idiots or inactive all it takes is 1 time playing and any one of these commenters could suffer as I have.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Jeremy, 25 Nov 2010 @ 1:35am

Injuries
I recently injured myself as well -- my neck currently hurts so bad I can't sleep, so wanted to see if others had injuries, cause I'd like to know what caused it, and the wife made the comment it could have been the Wii. I'm a gamer tho, lol, not a lawsuit happy dude... even THINKIN of suing a video game company for an injury seems to me quite absurd....

Though I must say, this pain is quite terrible, I do believe I have the same injury that baseball pitchers aquire -- only I'm not a damn baseball player. rofl. Maybe that "stretch before you play" thing is kind of important after all, eh?
[ link to this | view in thread ]