Normally, the mainstream media can't say enough nice things about the Wii. From giving old folks one more reason to crawl out of bed for the 30,000th time to fostering family gameplay to getting portly youth off their cellulite ridden asses, the media is all about Nintendo's Blue Ocean strategy.

But the Times Online? They want their readers to be aware of the dangers and corporate lies surrounding this potentially harmful device. They've contacted some of the world's best clueless experts about how the Wii may be a silent killer (read: you'll have a sore lower back if you play too long).

They cite know-it-alls like personal trainer Jo Tuffrey who spews: "They claim that the Wii closely simulates a game such as tennis, so why not give kids a real racket and get them to go outside and play?" Yeah! Why not go down to the corner tennis court in every neighborhood at any hour and play a pick up game of tennis with your best mates? Chuck that Wii in the trash on your way out!

Sammy Margo of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists fearmongers with: "To play a Wii tennis game, for instance, they need to build up a fair amount of speed to hit the virtual ball. They wouldn't play two hours of conventional tennis, yet they are doing that with this game — and that is bound to result in some injuries." Looks like Margo hasn't played the lazy man's Wii Sports Tennis, which requires nothing more than a properly timed flick of the wrist.

The Times suggestion? "So save 179 and buy a pair of tennis rackets instead."

Fortunately for Wii playing holdouts who hate the outdoors, the Times has put together a Wii warm up program that will hopefully reduce the risk one of playing this menacing video amusement machine. Good thing Nintendo decided to model the Wii controls after a television remote and not a rusted bear trap, as originally planned. Things could've been much worse. Michael McWhertor

Er, Nintendo, Wii have a problem [Times Online]

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