Nintendo introduces Wii Jacket for Wii Remotes - free accessory
Monday, October 1st, 2007 at 10:22pm by David
What in the world is this thing? Hit the jump to see Nintendo’s press release.
From Nintendo’s press release:
Nintendo announces the Wii Remote Jacket, a durable, silicone cover for the Wii Remote™ that provides a variety of benefits for the player. Nintendo will include the Wii Remote Jacket with all Wii™ hardware systems and with all Wii Remotes sold separately or packaged with Wii Play™. Hardware featuring the Wii Remote Jacket will begin shipping to retailers on Oct. 2 and is expected to be on retail shelves the week of Oct. 15.The Wii Remote Jacket provides cushioning for the Wii Remote for people who might accidentally throw or drop their Wii Remotes while playing games. Use of the Wii Remote Jacket is meant to supplement, not replace, the basic game-play instructions: keep a firm grip, don’t let go of the controller, use the wrist strap and make sure your play area is free of people or objects. The Wii Remote Jacket also serves as a cover for the Wii Remote. Nintendo recommends players use the new Wii Remote Jacket as a cushiony shield, though the current Wii Remote is a safe product when used properly.
“We’re always looking for ways to improve our products and make sure everyone has a safe and fun experience,” says George Harrison, Nintendo of America’s senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications. “Many electronics manufacturers provide similar protective covers for products like cell phones, PDAs and MP3 players.”
Current Wii owners who want to equip their Wii Remotes with the new Wii Remote Jacket free of charge can go to Wii.com or nintendo.com, or call 1-866-431-8367 to place an order. Nintendo will begin taking orders on Oct. 2, and Wii Remote Jackets will begin shipping the week of Oct. 15.
The Wii Remote Jacket is designed to be added and removed easily, in case users want to slip their Wii Remote into an accessory like the upcoming Wii Zapper™.
What do you think? With all the wrist strap revisions, was this really necessary?
October 1st, 2007 at 10:36 pm
Hmm cool. But it kind of makes the Wiimote look like a tampon now. :\
October 1st, 2007 at 10:43 pm
looks ridiculous… But I still want one LOL
October 1st, 2007 at 10:51 pm
I’ll take four…
Say, I was trying to get the new Wristraps, can someone Please explain how to get them? I sent in my email asking for them, giving them my serial number and address but I got no feedback.
What did you guys say in your email?
October 1st, 2007 at 10:52 pm
No matter how hard Nintendo tries, they’ll never manage to make it stupid proof. They look odd, but you can’t beat free.
October 1st, 2007 at 10:52 pm
That looks really retarded. I think this will be the one time I won’t enter my serial number for some free stuff.
October 1st, 2007 at 10:55 pm
Jake: I don’t think any of us sent an email for the straps.. you just need to fill out the form here.
October 1st, 2007 at 11:06 pm
No, no, Neko, those are the second ones. I’m talking about the Third ones.
October 1st, 2007 at 11:08 pm
Hmmmm, it looks like a condom for your wii. Always use protection.
October 1st, 2007 at 11:33 pm
Actually, this could improve NES VC gameplay…soft and squishy and a little thicker…yeah I know that sounds dirty, shutup. I just think this is a nice touch, sign me up for four.
October 1st, 2007 at 11:34 pm
To get the Wii straps, just call Nintendo customer service. Forget about all the email and website stuff. Call this number, 1-800-255-3700 (AM to PM pacific time please) press 0 to get the operator if you don’t want to wait. Tell them what you need and they will take care of you.
Now, about these Wii-pads. I think Nintendo is just trying to do everything they can to fend off the people who look for any excuse to get a lawsuit going. They’re free so I will get them, but I won’t show them in public.
October 1st, 2007 at 11:42 pm
Ok then. I went ahead and tried the email thing again, so I’ll just wait.
As for these… Shock absorber-type things, as long as they’re free, I’ll take it. Especially if it’s from Nintendo! My Wii Remote will soon be Death Proof.
October 2nd, 2007 at 12:16 am
Free or not free. Will any of you guys actually use the things.
October 2nd, 2007 at 12:37 am
I’m thinking it’s to protect delicate parts inside the Wii remote from simple falls to the floor. The motion sensor pieces are tiny, so a concussive drop to a hard floor doesn’t sound too good for it. I don’t know.
So protect, I say.
Of course, it’s also a good business practice to prevent frivolous/scam lawsuits from happening pro actively, as opposed to waiting for some whiny parent in Utah to start trouble.*
*Not trying to dis any particular state in any way, it’s just that Salt Lake City has the most gamers according to recent statistics. No residents of Utah were harmed in the typing of this comment.
October 2nd, 2007 at 12:38 am
lol, wow. It’s nice that Nintendo is doing this but I can’t believe how much they’re over-compensating for all the butter-fingered idiots that keep throwing/dropping their remotes. Next I suppose will be the free full padded body suit (in Wii white, of course) you can wear in case you fall onto a cactus while swinging the remote around like a complete moron.
Again, nice effort from Nintendo but after a million wrist strap revisions, pages of details about proper use in the instruction manuals, constant in-game reminders, and now this bulbous tampon, I think they can give it a rest. The line needs to be drawn somewhere and the fact of the matter is that all the idiots out there will still find a way to destroy themselves and/or their Wii.
October 2nd, 2007 at 2:00 am
I dont use the strap and never has slip out of my hands ..but its good to have when friends come over and they have to barrow your wii-mote.
October 2nd, 2007 at 2:43 am
Does anyone know if it’s possible to, firstly, get the version 3.0 wrist straps and secondly this cussiony thing in Europe? not sure I’ll use the jackets too much, but I really want them wrist straps, I think the straps are more than enough to keep it safe. for the jerks that still somehow manage to drop it. they’re either too young, or don’t deserve the fun that is wii. my 3 year old nephew waves my wiimote around without ever dropping it…
But yeah… 3.0 wrist straps and jackets in Europe? Can I get them?
October 2nd, 2007 at 7:45 am
Hey, sometimes when a man kicks back a couple too many brewskis and is playing an intense bout of bowling, and just HAS to pick up that spare…things can go flying. If I don’t have a hand dryer (fan) around when I bowl, I make sure to strap in, I might have extra sweaty hands or something…
October 2nd, 2007 at 11:24 am
“Of course, it’s also a good business practice to prevent frivolous/scam lawsuits from happening pro actively, as opposed to waiting for some whiny parent in Utah to start trouble.*
lol. clever comment my friend.
October 2nd, 2007 at 6:13 pm
Jake: Actually, it’s for the 3.0 straps now. When I first heard about the new(est) straps I went back to that order form and plugged my info back in. Within a few days I got my Wii Strap 3.0, so I think it’s pretty safe to assume that Nintendo’s no longer making the second straps, and just the third ones.
October 6th, 2007 at 4:57 am
2words: It’s gay