Released in the fall of 2006, the Nintendo Wii would go on to sell more than 100 million units worldwide, thanks in large part to its innovative control system. Instead of a traditional input setup, the motion-sensitive Wiimote allowed players to swing, swipe, and slash in order to manipulate their on-screen characters. But as is usually the case, with innovation comes an entirely new set of unexpected problems. Here’s a look at the injuries surrounding the launch of the Nintendo Wii.
In 2014, a team of researchers decided to examine reports of injuries related to Nintendo game consoles. Their findings were later published in the British Medical Journal.
Of the 38 relevant reports identified that specifically examined Nintendo-related problems, the researcher team found that reports were divided into two groups: before the introduction of the Nintendo Wii and after. Let’s start by looking at what injuries were reported prior to the Wii’s introduction.
It should be noted that these incidents are low in prevalence. We’re not dealing with some underreported epidemic.
One of the earliest injuries reported for Nintendo players was a 13-year-old girl who suffered a seizure after playing Super Mario Bros for almost three hours. Another Nintendo property would become tied to a widespread outbreak of seizures more than a decade later when an episode of the Pokemon animated series caused more than 600 young reviewers to experience medical issues.
Other early reports for Mario players involve children experiencing bathroom issues after refusing to pause their games and reports of “Nintendo neck” and “Nintendo elbow.” These latter incidents related to muscle aches due to poor posture and lengthy play times.
The most common ailment was playfully labeled “Nintendinitis” or “Nintendonitis.” This malady involved thumb, hand, or wrist discomfort tied to extended play sessions with Nintendo controllers.
Then we have the Wii. And with it, a new round of possibilities.
The Wii and its more active playstyle offered players the ability to get more physicality and exercise than traditional gaming systems. The console appealed to young and old, and rejuvenated the company. It also increased the chances for careless players to launch a Wiimote through their television screen.
“In its most popular game, Wii Sports, players swing these Wii remotes to participate in sports such as tennis and boxing. This resulted in new types of injury, mostly traumatic ones,” researchers wrote.
The first reported injury related to the console was dubbed “Wiiitis.” In this case, a 29-year-old man began to experience tendinitis in his right shoulder. Other reports included acute muscle pain in the upper extremities, swelling in the arms, and wrist and neck problems.
Due to the higher level of impact compared to traditional gameplay, Wii users in some cases fell prey to more traumatic freak accidents. One young woman dislocated her patella while attempting a serve in Wii Sports tennis. Also, since the Wii did win over older, more casual gamers, researchers found mature players, some with preexisting medical conditions, could suffer serious accidents. A 55-year-old woman experienced a massive haemothorax, which resulted from a severe fall while playing tennis.
There are also various reports of fractures related to Wii players accidentally striking other players or themselves while swinging their controllers. The most severe injuries reported include a young boy losing vision after being struck in the eye and a woman rupturing a forearm muscle when an errant tennis swing collided with a wall. While you may find all those warning messages irritating, this is the reason why.
“Nintendo has often acted on these problems — for example, the hand out of protective gloves and the massive give away of protective silicone covers for the Wii remote to prevent trauma (and smashed TV screens),” researchers concluded. “These days Nintendo even warns players with in-game messages that remind them to take a break.”
So remember, everybody: Play safe. Take plenty of breaks. And make sure to tighten that wrist strap.
