Play the Nintendo Wii Safely

Safety Information for Playing Wii

There is a lot of press running around about how unsafe the Wii is. Black eyes, broken televisions, windows, light fixtures and a whole list of other things have been damaged by overzealous Wii gaming. The good news is that a little forethought and preparation can go a long way toward preventing Wii-related damage and injury.





1. Clear your area. Before you start playing, make sure your play zone is clear of ANY obstacles: people, hanging light fixtures, furniture, pets and anything else that might get in the way. Create at least a five-foot circle around you to ensure that nothing gets damaged.

2. Watch the commercial for a good example of how much movement is needed. It doesn't take very much for the Wii controller to register movement. Use light, easy movements and the players will do what you want them to do. If you need to see what this looks like, watch a Nintendo Wii commercial. All of them show proper Wii gameplay.

3. Get a new strap if you got a Wii before early December 2006. It has been largely publicized that the wrist strap that came with early-model Wii consoles is too small to hold the controller and can break. If you purchased a Wii before December 2006, fill out Nintendo's online Wrist Strap Replacement Request Form (see Resources below) for a free replacement strap. If you bought a Wii after early December 2006, your Wii should already come equipped with the new strap.

4. Use the wrist. It's all in the wrist, not in the shoulders. Use light, slow movements. This cannot be overemphasized! Fast, violent movements are not only unnecessary, they are dangerous.

5. Take it easy! Relax, and have fun. If you find yourself getting frustrated or angry, simply put the game on pause or turn it off, walk away and come back later when you've cooled down.

6. Take a break! The Wii itself will even say “Why don’t you take a break?” and show you a picture of an open window and the outdoors every now and again. It's good advice: Take a break! Go outside, run around! Yes, the Wii is a physically active video game, but take your eyes off the television for a while and move around in the great outdoors. It’ll do you good.

7. Try and remain aware of your surroundings. Take a quick second when the game is loading and look around you for anything or anyone that might have moved into your play circle without you noticing. It is easy to get sucked into the games and become oblivious of the world around you, but doing so can blind you to something or someone about to stumble into the path of your hand and the Wii controller.

Don't forget safety when playing games!