
Fitness Expert Files Lawsuit Against Nintendo for "Ill Effects" of Wii Games
February 10, 2009 | 4:56 PM PST

Ah, video gaming... will you ever run out of enemies?
Not at this rate. Michael Torchia, host of radio show "Shape Up America," is preparing a class-action lawsuit against Nintendo, feeling that "Nintendo is misrepresenting their Wii games as a replacement for sensible exercise and sports activities," and that the company should place warnings on their products that they are for entertainment, not for replacing physical activity.
"On the contrary, Nintendo is contributing to the epidemic of obesity. Young and old are putting away their gym clothes and shying away from going outdoors to play sports, because the addictive appeal to the Wii game products. Just as the tobacco companies created such a false image of their products and hid the potential dangers, so is Nintendo." -- Michael Torchia, to News Blaze
Apparently, all of those "Wii injuries" are starting to catch up, forming an impetus for the actions against Nintendo.
There is a new phenomenon that is occurring as a result of extensive and widespread usage of the Wii Fit and Wii Balance Board. As more people use the Wii as an exercise tool, they are sustaining injuries in their knees, back and wrists because of overuse and improper warm- up.
It seems that up to ten people a week are being hospitalized with injuries caused by playing Nintendo Wii games, prompting doctors in Britain to issue warnings of the dangers associated with the Wii video game system. "Most patients are admitted after playing tennis or running games which involve sudden movements, resulting in tendon stretching or tearing"says, Dr. Dev Mukerjee of Broomfield Hospital, Essex.
Torchia has set up a website, OperationFitness.com, where people can "report any injuries which have been incurred while using the Wii games." Meanwhile, he's using his talk show to spread his message.
source: via Destructoid
















