"Child predators are migrating from traditional methods to alternate media," says Detective Lt. Thomas Kish of the Michigan State Police. "They are going to places where children are."

This is the kind of story that would be easy to dismiss as anti-gaming propaganda - were it not entirely factual.

I personally know someone in the computer forensics field who has attended a National Conference, during which they recieved training from Microsoft on how to retrieve data from Xbox systems to aid in investigations, and some of the stories he has told me are completely chilling. Adults pretending to be children, asking if they can stop by to drop off a new game for their little friends after bonding via Xbox Live, for instance. Hell, Nintendo's friend code system is only safe until your child starts visiting internet forums to exchange them with 'friends'.

The sad fact of the matter is that child predators do indeed go where children are, and parents need to pay extremely close attention to who their children are interacting with when gaming online via console or television. All of the major consoles contain parental controls, but they are not electronic replacements for true parental controls.

Predators use gaming consoles to 'get foot in the door' [USA Today - Thanks David]

During this tour they learned that video games help prison guards do their job:

From the front of a computer-filled control room inside Housing Unit 4, prison Warden John A. Rowley said Nintendo was a great tool to train today's officers. Every aspect of an inmate's cell life can be controlled by a touchscreen video monitoring system inside the control room, he said. When the doors open and close or whether a cell has water or not is up to the staff on duty.

Let's think this through. If some people say that video games help train criminals and if warden Rowley says games help train prison guards. Then... it's a wash?

A view from behind bars - Cumberland Times News. Image courtesy of Morgan-Keller Construction.

Some video games teach children important skills, from cooperation to patience, but others really are just about gorily blowing other people's heads off. The more you understand about which games your child uses, the more you'll be able to guide their choices.

A Washington State GameStop employee was robbed at knife point Monday night by a man muttering to himself, Bellingham police report.

The employee told police that a "tall, very skinny white man" in his 20s was browsing in the store for about 45 minutes before taking several games to the register. After the employee rang up the games the man began to walk out of the store talking to himself. The muttering man then turned around and pulled out a small knife and demanded cash and games.

The man took the lucre and ran from the place. Fortunately, this time around no one was killed. The story does remind me that periodically we get a slew of emails from GameStop employees complaining about how very unsafe it is to work at their particular store, due sometimes to the late hours and sometimes to the one-person shifts.

I can't help but think of my brother, who worked part of his way through college back in the 80s at a 7-Eleven, he was robbed several times and eventually quit because of how dangerous the low-paying job was. Has GameStop become the 7-Eleven of this generation?

I've contacted GameStop for comment on this issue, but haven't heard back.

Young man Robs Game Stop [Bellingham Herald] [Pic from previous story]

The deadly flying wiimote epidemic of 2006 very well could have been avoided if only Nintendo had maintained the same safety standards it had back in 1982. Kotakuite Astrofox has unearthed evidence proving that the venerable company once dedicated itself to saving its products and customers from the vile infant scourge.

I just found my original donkey kong game and watch and it had all the documentation with it. You thought Nintendo of 2007 was paranoid, try Nintendo 1982. Stickers specifically designed to keep babies from breaking open the unit, and feasting on the sweet sweet batteries inside.

Following news that Nintendo is issuing a "corrective action" to replace defective or underpowered Wiimote straps come details on Nintendo's future plans to better inform consumers.

In the following weeks, Nintendo will continue to spread the gospel about Wii Sports related safety. Here's how they'll do it:

• Send electronic messages to Internet-connected Wii systems to highlight key Wii safety points.
• 
  
• Update the Wii operations manual and the manual for Wii Sports with additional wrist strap cautions and specific game advice.
• 
  
• Update on-screen wrist strap advisories to include additional messaging.

Considered, but not put into plan yet, is the program in which Nintendo of America prez Reggie Fils-Aime comes to your house and personally kicks your ass until you get it through your thick skull—proper Wii safety practices, that is, not his giant Frankenstein boots.

My suggestion? Just launch a Safety Channel already, Nintendo. When someone goes into cardiac arrest during an extended Wario Ware Smooth Moves session, you'll thank me. Michael McWhertor

"We will be watching to see whether or not the change is effective in reducing the reports," said Julie Vallese, director of information and public affairs for the commission.

She said that there are two ways in which the commission can get involved in a product safety issue. One is by discovering the problem on their own, either through consumer complaints or their own research, the other is by the company notifying them of an issue.

In this case Nintendo contacted the commission and asked to fast track the solution, which involved offering to replace about 2 million Wii remote safety straps.

"Nintendo wanted this to happen very quickly," Vallese said. "We worked with the company and their representatives to get an announcement out very quickly for this program."

In the report, Nintendo told the commission that they had received three reports of injuries that were not serious. Vallese did not have details but said typically that would include minor cuts and bruises. She said the commission only receives detailed reports if someone is treated by a health care provider like a doctor or in an emergency room.

All three of the injuries, she confirmed, were a direct result of the strap breaking. None of them, she said, were connected to people getting hit by someone playing the game too close to them.

Because Nintendo self-reported the issue, the commission will not do its own investigation unless new issues crop up with the new strap.

"If the problem continues with the new strap that's where we might step in," she said. "We also would have to decide if it's a safety issue."

Vallese added that that means that if remotes were, for instance, smashing into a television hard enough to cause the tube to explode or somehow stop working in a dangerous way, it could also be deemed a safety issue.

While the commission has the power to issue civil penalties, Nintendo wouldn't likely fall into that category because they reported the issue and are following the program they developed to replace the straps, she said. Brian Crecente

I think Ashcraft has it right: Nintendo needs to start shipping replacement brains to the Wii owning populace. It's the only solution!

Actually, I'm going to take this opportunity to call out the product development chumps at Nerf for not already having a Wii-mote accident preventing Nerf product on store shelves already. Missed opportunity, people!

Thanks to everyone who sent this in. Michael McWhertor

Maybe this has been up since launch day, I'm not really sure, but a reader just sent us a link to Nintendo's safety information page for the Wii which prominently discusses the issue of flying Wii Remotes.

I think this is the first Safety Manual for anything that cautions you about having "too much fun."

Hold the Wii Remote firmly and do not let go. Even while wearing the wrist strap, make sure you don't let go of the Wii Remote during game play and do not use excessive motion. For example, in Wii Sports bowling, the proper way to let go of the ball while bowling is to release the "B" button on the Wii Remote—DO NOT LET GO OF THE Wii REMOTE ITSELF. If you are having so much fun that you start perspiring, take a moment to dry your hands. If you use excessive motion and let go of the Wii Remote, the wrist strap may break and you could lose control of the Wii Remote. This could injure people nearby or cause damage to other objects.

Yes, yes it could. I'm still not letting any kids anywhere near my Wii until I fix it up with some zip ties. Brian Crecente

Wii Safety Precautions [Nintendo, thanks Richard]