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U.S. Safety Commision 'Keeping an Eye' on the Wii

Posted by Zonk on from the watching-the-flying-wiimote dept.

In the wake of this past week's offer from Nintendo to replace our Wiimote straps, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says they'll be keeping an eye on the situation in the future. For the time being they are satisfied with Nintendo's handling of the problem. Just the same, Kotaku reports that the organization wants to make sure there aren't a lot of subsequent 'flying Wiimote' incidents. From the article: "Because Nintendo self-reported the issue, the commission will not do its own investigation unless new issues crop up with the new strap. 'If the problem continues with the new strap that's where we might step in," she said. "We also would have to decide if it's a safety issue.' Vallese added that that means that if remotes were, for instance, smashing into a television hard enough to cause the tube to explode or somehow stop working in a dangerous way, it could also be deemed a safety issue."

3 of 102 comments (clear)

  1. I haven't gotten my Wii yet... by SpectreHiro · · Score: 3, Informative

    ... But when I finally get mine, I think I might do a little home modding on my Wii-Motes. I've got standard-issue sweaty geek palms, so a little Grip Tape might be a good idea. Considering the fact that my elderly parents are also interested in playing (not to mention my goofy nieces), the TV will probably appreciate it.

    --
    You can't win, Darth. If you mod me down, I shall become more powerful than you could possibly imagine.
  2. Re:Uh... what? by An+Anonymous+Coward · · Score: 5, Informative
    From TFA:

    "She said that there are two ways in which the commission can get involved in a product safety issue. One is by discovering the problem on their own, either through consumer complaints or their own research, the other is by the company notifying them of an issue.

    In this case Nintendo contacted the commission and asked to fast track the solution, which involved offering to replace about 2 million Wii remote safety straps.

    Because Nintendo self-reported the issue, the commission will not do its own investigation unless new issues crop up with the new strap."

    So the Commision is only getting involved because Nintendo asked them to.
  3. Explode? by scdeimos · · Score: 2, Informative
    "We also would have to decide if it's a safety issue.' Vallese added that that means that if remotes were, for instance, smashing into a television hard enough to cause the tube to explode or somehow stop working in a dangerous way, it could also be deemed a safety issue."
    Sheesh, have CRT's been "off the market" so long that people have forgotten how they work? CRT's are big vacuum tubes. Due to the near-vacuum inside them, they will *implode* when broken, not explode. Worst case scenario the cathode guns (at the back of the tube) will try to come out through the front of the tube but will be restrained by the pins attached to the neck board and associated cables. The glass on the front of a tube is so thick (so it doesn't self implode) that you'd virtually have to hit one with a hammer to break it, usually with only the shadow mask getting dislodged and a whole bunch of phosphor with it.