You can swap your Wiimote strap if you want...
Nintendo have announced that they are offering up a voluntary exchange for owners of Wiimotes who may be concerned about the straps breaking after numerous reports that the straps aren't sturdy enough to cope with the amount of vigorous wrist action needed in many of the Wii games.
The main issue appears to be with the Wii Sport's title, which comprises of 5 energetic games, where jumping around the room and swinging your Wii-mote enthusiastically, as you return tennis balls across the net and attempt to hit baseballs out of the park, has caused many injuries and led to broken furniture in peoples' homes.
UPDATE
We've just had a mail from the lovely people at Nintendo to clarify this story. This is not a product recall but a voluntary exchange, the difference being that you can keep your Wiimote and its thinner strap if you want, or swap it for the new, thicker strapped version.Here's the official Nintendo Q+A on the subject:
Will you be issuing a recall?
No. There is no problem with the wrist strap as long as the Wii Remote is used sensibly and properly in accordance with the guidelines provided by Nintendo. However, we will be providing replacement wrist straps free of charge to consumers who request them. Consumers who break their wrist straps and consumers who are worried about their wrist strap they should contact their nearest Nintendo Service Center 0870 6060247.
Proper Wii Remote™ Usage Nintendo is confident that by using the Wii Remote and wrist strap in compliance with the guidelines provided by Nintendo, people will fully enjoy their games without causing injury to other people or damaging surrounding objects. Nintendo is continuing a dialogue with its customers about the proper and safe use of the motion-sensitive Wii Remote controller when playing Wii Sports. The following tips are advised for safe play:
• Always wear the wrist strap while playing.
• Keep a firm grip on the Wii Remote at all times.
• Make sure people and objects are out of the range of movement before play begins.
Other things to keep in mind include:
• Players should keep at least three feet/ one meter from their televisions and dry their hands if they become sweaty or wet for any other reason.
• Remember that the Wii Remote is responsive enough to detect minor movements – so excessive and forceful actions are not necessary. Therefore we recommend not to use excessively rapid, violent or wide swinging motions while using the Wii Remote during game play.
These tips complement efforts that are underway to reinforce proper Wii Remote use.
• Nintendo will replace broken straps free of charge for consumers who have requested them.
• All new Wii hardware shipments include enhanced wrist straps.
• Links about Wii safety are being added to various Nintendo Web sites
• Games include on-screen advisories about proper wrist strap use.
• The Wii operations manual and the manual for Wii Sports will be updated with additional wrist strap cautions and specific game advice.
• Nintendo will update on-screen wrist strap advisories to include additional messaging.
If you have any questions about your Wii Remote wrist strap or which to replace yours please contact the Nintendo Service Centre on 0870 6060247.
For more information about Wii, visit Wii.com.
