Nintendo sez Wiimote strap lawsuit "without merit"

With the class action lawsuit over defective Wiimote wrist straps apparently going full steam ahead despite Nintendo already addressing the main demand to replace the straps, the big N seems to have deemed it necessary to issue an official statement on the matter. Not surprisingly, they're not buying it, saying that they believe the lawsuit to be "completely without merit," according to GamesIndustry.biz. We're guessing that's also about the only thing they're going to be saying about it (publicly, at least) until the whole thing's over and done with.

[Via Reg Hardware]

[Adrian Williams @ Dec 22nd 2006 3:34PM]

Hey Engadget If I kick one of these bloodsuckers a55 can I win a free Wii or something

[John Papola @ Dec 22nd 2006 3:38PM]

Good for Nintendo for calling a spade a spade. This repulsive class action suit is the perfect example of yet another trial law firm trying to freeze innovation and destroy the future while lining their pockets with 40% of the take and giving a pittance to the "victims". Anyone that signs on for this suit or any like it is an enemy of society. Grow up people. You aren't owed anything by anyone and being stupid does not make you a "victim". Grrrr... where's John Stossel when you need him?

[jsmcd20 @ Dec 22nd 2006 3:44PM]

Is that image on the top-right trying to show that somebody lost a limb? What is that?

[Cosmos @ Dec 22nd 2006 5:49PM]

It's a dislocated knee. If I remember correctly, the lady was wearing high heels while playing.

*sigh*

[Neebs @ Dec 22nd 2006 3:49PM]

Eddie ftw

[Joe @ Dec 22nd 2006 3:59PM]

/agree with Eddie.

It pisses me off so much, I want to punch the other eye now.

[Tim @ Dec 22nd 2006 3:59PM]

@jsmcd20: It's susposed to be an image where a girl had "dislocated" her knee while playing Wii Tennis. There was another image where the image panned out and clearly showed that someone had poorly photoshopped a leg to the girl.

[Chris @ Dec 22nd 2006 4:00PM]

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one getting annoyed by this ridiculous crap about the wiimote strap. I've been playing my wii for ages and the only way the controller would even slip out of my hand would be if i doused my hand in lube. The damn thing doesn't slip!

[humpty @ Dec 22nd 2006 4:02PM]

That woman with the fake black eye should get royalties every time that photo is posted; you guys are extracting commercial gain from using it.

On that note, keep using it; seems to get the Nintendo fanboys all riled up... lol

[Porkchop Flavored Cupcake @ Dec 22nd 2006 4:02PM]

There once was a time when it was funny for Engadget to push the Wiimote injury update status to new levels of absurdity, but that time has now passed.
Engadget, on the really real, stop it. now.
Give us updates on Iraq if your bloodlust is that insatiable.

[Gadget Chick @ Dec 22nd 2006 4:03PM]

its not nintendo's fault that people are stupid. all of those injuries were preventable.

[Matt @ Dec 22nd 2006 4:05PM]

eddie deserves an award.

[Ralph @ Dec 22nd 2006 4:09PM]

Please PLEASE stop not only showing that stupid picture, but also please refrain from discussing the entire issue of STUPID, STUPID PEOPLE injuring themselves with a game controller.

Nobody cares, we're sick of it. Enough said.

[KellyDude025 @ Dec 22nd 2006 4:22PM]

CAN WE PLEASE STOP SHOWING THESE DISGUSTING PICS!

[John @ Dec 22nd 2006 4:27PM]

Too bad these weren't lethal injuries.

I bet these people could injure themselves with a cotton ball.

[blot @ Dec 22nd 2006 4:28PM]

Forget the pictures, I'm sick of seeing "sez" used in the titles. It's not cute, it's just stupid and annoying.

[John Doe @ Dec 22nd 2006 4:30PM]

god forbid Engadget uses a Wii logo instead of this shit.

[falcom @ Dec 22nd 2006 4:45PM]

Wii sales should be preceded by an IQ test. Failure to complete your own name resulting in death, being ground up and fed to a more intelligent dog, or horse, or any other creature that deserves to pollute the air by breathing out CO2.

[jalapeno @ Dec 22nd 2006 4:46PM]

I have never seen a picture cause so much strife on Engadget...for that reason alone I would keep showing them!

[Jeff @ Dec 22nd 2006 5:05PM]

Engadget guys: Read your comments, and for the love of God, stop using this photoset!

[Pants @ Dec 22nd 2006 5:19PM]

I think the girl is kind of cute... and that black eye shows that she's sassy and willing to WiiFight. Someone give me her myspace page!

[Megaton @ Dec 22nd 2006 5:30PM]

WOW, these people are STUPID! Their lack of common sense makes me so angry.

[Sam @ Dec 22nd 2006 5:39PM]

Wanna know the funniest thing?

The lawsuit claims that the breaking of the straps cause the wiimotes to leave the user's hand.

I was pretty sure that the wiimote had to leave the user's hand for the strap to break, and, come to think about it, then wouldn't it be the users fault the strap broke?

The wrist strap is an unnecessary feature that Nintendo put on the wiimotes, and now they're paying the price for being nice.

[goodbye @ Dec 22nd 2006 6:00PM]

Well I've had it with Engadget. Now deleting link from toolbar......goodbye.

[ken @ Dec 22nd 2006 6:36PM]

keep the articles, ditch the photos, and mandate a licese to use anything more complicated than a toaster cause the problem almost always lies between the keyboard and chair damn ambulance chasers

[David @ Dec 22nd 2006 7:01PM]

I don't care much about the picture, but please stop using "sez" please? It is stupid.

[tekdroid @ Dec 22nd 2006 7:55PM]

"The suit claims the wrist strap for the controller of the recently released Wii console is ineffective for its intended use and Nintendo has breached the warranty of the device."

...

"The controller is an essential component of any video game console, and so plaintiff is unable to use the Nintendo Wii for its intended purposes as a result of the broken wrist band. Accordingly, it renders the Wii console, which retails in the United States for $250, useless," details the lawsuit.
------------

There are really no words to describe how low man goes to get the cash. It's laughable and sad at the same time, just to read it.

[FrankTheCrank @ Dec 22nd 2006 8:18PM]

By the looks of these pictures..

People who play Wii's are complete f*cking retards.

Anyone who pays $249 for 480P graphics has got to be RETARDED!

Now, Wii fanboys, circle jerk my post!

[Dave @ Dec 22nd 2006 9:58PM]

So...everyone who picked up a PS2 or XBox at launch is retarded?

[Joshua @ Dec 22nd 2006 11:54PM]

That picture is gonna get the adblock cause I am tired of seeing it.

[KC @ Dec 24th 2006 4:25PM]

Great idea. Pic adblocked.

[Sam @ Dec 23rd 2006 10:33AM]

I'm guessing that this guy is a fatass that just doesn't want any exercise that doesn't involve "circle square x L1".

Dude, stfu, its a great system. Why do you think graphics control gameplay? It's like saying you have to have a $200,000 car to have fun driving.

[MrWhite @ Dec 23rd 2006 7:51PM]

Of course its without merit, I have a 5,7,8 and 10 year olds playing the Wii at home. Not a single problem yet. :| It's over exaggerated adults "acting" like there plying the real sport. When in reality all you really have to do is flick your wrist to achieve the same affect.

Plus this is a class action lawsuit brought on by lawyers and history shows, it really doesn't benefit the people in class action suit anyways, just the greedy lawyers. I was sent a letter to be involved in an Apple class action suit, after reading it and what I would get if involved, I tore it up and threw it away. While the lawyers got millions. That is gay.

[cloud811 @ Dec 23rd 2006 9:47PM]

all these injuries these people gain and from the wii, its gods way of saying "your a moron

[Dolomite @ Dec 24th 2006 11:48AM]

Someone actually did that girl a favor. she was butt ugly to begin with.

[FUnkbaDunk @ Dec 28th 2006 12:23PM]

Nice pic!

All this whining about a photo sounds just like the class of greasy fingered fat-fffffs that can't hold onto der wIIddle game contwower...get a grip...ha!....

[Tim @ May 25th 2007 3:41PM]

I play strapless (because I love the danger!) and have yet to launch the controller anywhere. My three year old wouldn't hit the TV for losing at Tennis, because she's not so simple.

I think you need not sue a large corporation for not knowing how to live.

-Tim