Wii knee epidemic scaremongering – stick to PS3, Xbox 360
There are going to be millions of kids receiving Nintendo Wiis for Christmas this year after Santa succumbs to the craze and delivers the console to homes around the world. But those new owners better beware. No, not because the Wii is likely to have lost its appeal by New Year (although that is true) but because doctors are warning about the risk of injury from overuse.
The Wii has sold exceptionally well in the two years since its release, leapfrogging the older Xbox 360 and outperforming the high-end PS3 in the process. Sure, it may just be a glorified toy that is likely to be covered in cobwebs after a few weeks but that doesn’t seem to be putting people off at all.
The biggest reason for this widespread adoption from the mainstream market is the innovative control system, allowing people who have never touched a game in their lives to have a go. But that real-world simulating control method has its downsides, with the risk of real-world injury the biggest. Although smashing a hole in your brand new HDTV is also a risk.
Doctors in the UK have actually issued a warning about the overuse or incorrect use of the Wii. According to The London Sun, 10 patients a week are hospitalized in the UK from playing the Wii. The catchall term for this type of injury has been dubbed Wii-itis and can affect the back, arms or even the knee.
According to The London Telegraph, researchers at Leeds Teaching Hospital have recently identified an injury they call ‘Wii knee’. Most patients suffering from the condition are people who haven’t exercised in years and then suddenly over-exert themselves playing with their new toy. There’s probably also an element of trying to keep up with the kids involved somewhere along the line.
While I think most of this is just scaremongering of the highest order, it does bring up an interesting point. Playing a Wii may be more of an active hobby than playing either the PS3 or Xbox 360 but is that slight upping of fitness levels really worth it when you can be risking serious injury?
This is just another reason to avoid the Wii and buy yourself or your kids a PS3 or Xbox 360 this Christmas instead. Both latter consoles offer much more in terms of games, online offerings and extras, and all without risk of injury. Avoid the Wii, it’s bad for your health.
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20 Responses to “Wii knee epidemic scaremongering – stick to PS3, Xbox 360”
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December 22nd, 2008
Bl**dy hell Dave, what are you on?
Was this meant to be amusing?
It’s not that obvious, sorry.
I don’t know any 1yr+ Wii owners who found the Wii’s appeal lasting only a couple of weeks or who now leave them “covered in cobwebs after a few weeks”.
Nor have I ever met any idiot who threw a controller at their TV (nevermind hard enough to wreck a TV) nor any of those now claimed to have injured themselves over-doing the exercising.
Maybe you should look into the quality of your sources.
The Sun is possibly the worst of our tabloids.
The Telegraph is about as ‘old’, out-of-touch and reactionary a paper as we have.
Neither are much of a credible source on this kind of thing.
10 patients a week?
Out of 60 million people?
That’s a story?
I bet at least that number go to hospital weekly from over-doing it at the gym.
Anything that helps combat the obesity epidemic now well underway in the USA & spreading across the rest of the developed world is a plus, right?
Or is that too serious?
What’s with the grudging attitude to the (”toy”) Wii winning out – by a mile, so far – this time around?
We can expect the other 2 brands to follow & produce more intiutive ‘pick up & play’ games. That’s a good thing, surely?
Isn’t anything that advances gaming & boosts the industry & the audiences a good thing?
…..or is it just that the fanboy in you got a run out?
Your preferred console not doing so well, Dave?
December 22nd, 2008
This is post whoring, plain and simple.
December 22nd, 2008
Hey Dave! Why the hell would write this when it contradicts your theory that the Wii is purchased and then left collecting dust. If they are getting injured for over use then it isn’t collecting dust. Come on you can’t have it both ways!
I want my kids to be active and I teach them to use it properly. I don’t give them a consol and let them hide in their room till they make the news for shooting up the school.
So stop putting down the wii for a console that will fail eventually but you never know when, and a machine that most people can’t afford and may go out of business.
December 22nd, 2008
The Wii has lasting appeal if you don’t stick to just one game. Imagine getting the PS3 or 360 and playing a single game endlessly.
Not too fun, either, eh?
And the risk of injury?
How many people in the UK go to the hospital with carpal tunnel related to video games?
December 22nd, 2008
I think some of you people need to go to wiihaveaproblem.com
December 22nd, 2008
Sorry http://www.wiihaveaproblem.com
December 22nd, 2008
Anyway I have an intresting story about the Wii. On the weekend I went to a Christmas House Party where the house hold had a Wii and a PS3. There were a few kids there and the owner hooked up he Wii for them to play. I thought I wolud see something like the commerical where the kids would be having fun swings the Wiimote. Instead it did not look tha fun and the Wii was short lived and they moved on shortly after. It was quite funny because quite a few of them actually said the Wii was crap and then went on to defend wether the 360 or the PS3 was better. It felt like dejavu. I said nothing, I just sat back and watch and laughed to myself. It made me realize that we have forgotten one thing about this generation. Just because parents buy them a Wii does not mean that these kids are not educated and know what they really want. PS3 and 360 can bee seen everywhere in the store, TV, advertisements, Internet. Kids today are not sutpid as this is the information age and they know more at their age today then I knew when I was there age. They know what is better and I’ll bet that next year this time all those Wii purchases will be turning over to a PS3 or 360 and Wii will be exposed for the gimmic it really is. I see good times ahead for the PS3 and 360 as the meer fact that the Wii may sell the most consoles for now but they are last in the game department. And the games are the most important aspect for a console. It’s what makes or breaks it. I’m predicting that the Wii will come in last this generation when it’s all said and done unless they start producing quality games.
December 22nd, 2008
‘I’ll bet that next year this time all those Wii purchases will be turning over to a PS3 or 360 and Wii will be exposed for the gimmic it really is.’
Deja Vu right there
Never happens tho…
‘I’m predicting that the Wii will come in last this generation…’
I doubt it. That said, I agree with the need to produce quality games. I havn’t used the big N’s machine in a long long time. I loaned it out in fact, waiting for the day a good game arrives for me to get it back for
December 22nd, 2008
Judging by Nintendo’s software line up… They expect there fans to be playing Wii fit and Mario Cart for the duration of this entire generation.
-Zelda was great… but that was originally a GameCube game which was delayed in development.
-Metroid – great
-Mario Galaxy – truly brilliant.
And a hand full of decent ports, but that’s it. Why doesn’t Nintendo give there fans more fantastic games like Mario Galaxy? The console is two years old now. It’s pathetic the way they are taking advantage of there first place status.
December 22nd, 2008
CAD: If that was true the kids would be telling their parents not to buy a Wii.
So there is a big hole in you theory.
Like you said they were MS and Sony fan boys defending their “Not so popular consoles”.
December 22nd, 2008
Two years into its left span and I would say there are about 10 or so NEW good games. Even the Atari Jaguar had more than that.
December 22nd, 2008
Admittedly I am a little bit of a Sony fanboy… but I am in awe that someone would go to the store with $250.00 in there pocket and walk past the 360 and spend $50 more for a Wii. *shakes head in disbelief*
December 22nd, 2008
The wii is garbage. Just because something sells well doesn’t make it good. ncasissie can go enjoy her Britney Spears albums all she wants.
I was told not to bother getting the wii version of any game as my 12 year old step brother rather play it on the ps2.
December 22nd, 2008
if you are like me and never had a gamecube… the Wii is a great deal… classic games from NES and SNES are available on the Wii Virtual store… and Gamecube games… and then get a DS… where I can play gameboy games…
its a great consoles… Im still holding out for one with a hard disk… Wii two point oh
December 22nd, 2008
I would say… two of my top 10 games of all time are Game Cube games. Resident Evil 4 and The Wind Walker… and Eternal Darkness, Mario Sunshine, and Star Fox are all definitely worth checking out.
December 23rd, 2008
Good for your 12 year old brother.
He is obviously a Sony bumboy “I mean Fanboy” also.
December 23rd, 2008
Good for your 12 year old brother.
He is obviously a Sony bumboy “I mean Fanboy” also.
December 23rd, 2008
Phranc – Noooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Resi 4 man, resi 4. Best damn version!!!!
I would probably agree for everything else tho
I just wished nintendo had of done more with zelda
I found the last game felt kind of dated. Wind waker seemed more of a step forward to me (the whole sailing the free world etc 
)
December 23rd, 2008
but why did that have to use the top buttons for the trigger instead of the damn “trigger”?
I bought the 11 year old RE4 last year. the little re’re’ couldn’t get out of town.
December 23rd, 2008
Ill need to dust it off to confirm the trigger claim
because I really can’t remember.