Dtoid PSA: How to prevent Wiimote stress

3:29 AM on 11.13.2006   |   Niero

12 comments

As you may have seen, Nido and I spent a lot of time at the Miami Nintendo Wii event this weekend and Robert Summa also received his Wii last Friday (Don't miss his various videos from unpacking to gameplay ). Besides having our own respective blasts, there were some Wii sores from exercising with the Wiimote. Even Summa's girlfriend reported weary elbows after Wii Sports Tennis. We can empathize -- after three long laps on Excite Truck while standing at the press event I began to feel my shoulders burn slightly as I had my arms extended, steering wheel style.

Don't get me wrong -- it's a blast and it felt very natural, but making the full gesture in suspended air over the course of a few 5 minute stages would have surely rendered my underused geek deltoids useless after 20 minutes. So! Unless you aspire to build rocks on your shoulders, here's some pointers on how to reduce joint stress and last longer when playing Wii games in general:

Don't:

• Extend your arms outwards unless absolutely necessary
• Let your elbows and shoulders do all the work
• Stand (unless you hate being at the edge of the sofa)
• Allow little chilluns form a line near you for their turn

• Try to handle the Wiimote with arms relaxed at your sides
• Be patient with it -- there is definitely a learning curve!
• Attempt to perform the majority of the actions with your wrist
• Sit on nearby little chilluns if no sofa is available

At the heart of this principle is holding the Wiimote just below your chest (racks or manboobs) as if it were a microphone. Thus, you can achieve greater precision with subtle wrist movements and angling your torso slightly while maintaining a tight and precise grip on the joystick. A specific example is Zelda: Twilight Princess -- by resting your elbow on your lap you will have a much easier time controlling the fairy pointer and the slingshot than if you have your arms outstretched like a real slingshot (not to mention allow you to slide your fingers up and down to change items on the Dpad).

Obviously, there is definitely a learning curve with this new remote and play styles will vary based on taste (and steroid intake). If this article has made you think twice about flailing your arms around like an angry little monkey the first time you pick up the Wiimote, then my job is done.

[ PS. Please direct all chest-thumping gorillas who aspire to hold the Wiimote in midair for days while bench-pressing their sofas with their necks to the comment box. ]