not-so-wee wii problem
 

This is a really weird problem...

I've had my Wii a while, but didn't get a 2nd controller until I bought Wii Play.

The controller didn't work. No problem right? I exchanged it. *That* controller didn't work. So then I purchased another controller and *that* controller also didn't work.

The problem these controllers have is always the same. They are found by the system when I go into the system menu and do a RECONNECT. Then when I try and launch into a game, they shutoff and are no longer recognized by the system.

The weird thing is the original controller *DOESN'T have this problem. It works fine every time.

Before I go to Nintendo with this odd problem (the place I bought it is beyond the 30 day warranty and it's hard to find anyways) I figured I'd see if anyone had any ideas...

Thanks!

What does the controller do? Do the lights come on?

I assume you're synching these controllers with the synch button on the front of the Wii and the button in the battery compartment of the controller...?

Methinks you are not synching the remotes with your system. Fairly easy thing to overlook. The directions are in the owners manual for the Wii but basically you hit the synch button on the Wii in the SD card slot (it's little and red) followed by the red synch button in the battery compartment of the remote. I may have reversed the order of the button pushing... also, do this at the startup screen where you push A. This synch's the bluetooth and your first remote comes pre-synced. If you are already doing this and it is still not working then you have a real problem.

That's what I was thinking as well...it would explain most of the problem you are describing...and sadly may show that you returned two perfectly good Wiimotes.

I thought there was something wrong w/ the one I picked up on launch day until I was reading the system manual out of frustration on said day. I thought I had a defective one as well until I read that and was afraid I was stuck w/ a defective one with none to be found anywhere.

I struggled a bit as well...but not as much as I did figuring out that gamecube controllers plug in in reverse order. :lol:

Wow, I never noticed the synch button on the Wii, just the one on the remote. I've always been able to get a controller to work in the end, but I've had similar problems as the OP, looks like that may help make things a bit easier for me.

Glad I'm not the only one that screwed that up.

Wow, talk about RTFM.

I'm with you there. Took another 15 minutes to figure out how to use the Wavebird as a fifth controller for Bomberman. Manuals really do work wonders.

:up: :up: :up:

Did no one having there problems even bother to look up the answer in the nice booklet that Niintendo conveniently provided? Honestly, it exasperates me that so many people expect complex technology to just work properly if they play around aimlessly for a bit. Plus, you'd be amazed at just how many features of various devices you don't even know exist, because they are described in TFM and aren't easily found or recognized by just playing with some buttons.

FWIW, I read the manual when I got my Wii. Knew of the synch buttons. Synched both wiimotes with no problem. Apparently I'm not alone, but in the minority.

I guess I'm weird. Though I like to jump right into things... I also enjoy reading manuals. Even though I setup my Wii and messed with it right away, later that day I sat and read the manuals all the way through. Then, when I bought my 2nd controller, I didn't remember how to hook it up, but I remembered reading about it, so I knew to look through the manual again.

In fairness, if you play Wii Sports or Wii Play, it has a screen where it allows you to synch up the controllers you want to use before starting to play. So it wasn't until I played a two-player game with a title that didn't have it (which was just in the last week) that I had any kind of a problem, because the original controller worked right out of the box.

And playing around aimlessly for a minute DID allow me to find a solution to my problem. Just because someone doesn't want to sit and read through the entire manual to discover every nuance of the machine doesn't mean they can't learn how to do things themselves or in a different way. I don't need all the features it offers. Anyway, I tend to remember how to do things better when I figure it out myself. Otherwise, I'd be looking things up in the manual all the time.

I always find it curious that when it comes to electronics devices or things like PC software, the first inclination people have is that the device/software itself is the problem. Any time I have a problem, I just assume it is my fault. And 4 out of 5 times, it is.

Exchanging first remote, I could sort of see. Not something I would have done so quickly. But I suppose people just don't read manuals. But then assuming the second one was also bad and buying a third? Then upon finding the third one doesn't work either, posting to an internet forum asking for help, before contacting Nintendo for support. All this instead of reading the manual? Just mind boggling.

I did have a problem with one of my wiimotes. It would synch fine and i could point and click fine, but it didn't recognize wrist movements. I called Nintendo, and they told me to whack it against my palm a few times. Problem solved.

Nintendo customer service is pretty great actually, and as far as I know isn't famred out to an overseas call center.

LOL, RTFM indeed.

In fairness, it's not even in the manual proper, but in the cliff notes card they provide. It's pretty much monkey proof provided you are willing to take 30 seconds to read it before you return 2 remotes.

...not to mention the fact that these are Nintendo products we're talking about, which are practically legendary for their build quality. The odds of getting one bad remote is miniscule...and the odds of getting two in a row is downright astronomical.

Of course, it could be a problem with the console itself, but I wouldn't bet on it...and GP isn't coming back with any intel on his progress...or lack thereof.

Oh, well I agree with that! If I couldn't get a remote to work no matter what I tried I wouldn't just take it back, I would look for a solution in the manual. I look at the manual as my problem solver if I can't figure it out on my own. I was just commenting on the apparent surprise that not everyone sits down and reads the thing cover to cover. If you can figure it out on your own, why bother with the manual if you don't need to? For the most part, if you have some basic understanding for how electronics on consoles work, you really don't need it except for problems that may arise. That's all I was saying.

:mad2:

;)

Did you really "Laugh Out Loud" when you typed that??

Anyway, I feel like such a wiitard LOLOLOLOL...

Totally forgot about that hidden compartment and I despise reading anything, especially manuals.

4 controllers now locked and loaded! Thanks guys!

on a side note i wish they made diff. color controllers... only a matter of time i guess.

Yea, they do sell those Wii-gloves and Wii-skins.

I was going to mention that. I think they're overpriced though. If you got 2 for $10 it might be worth it.

I got some from a mail order place for less than $4/set shipped. Ah, here it is. Summitimage.com. Many colors of skins. Use the code WII60OFF for 60% off and free shipping. A set of skins is $3.60. Many colors to choose from. They fit just fine.

As for reading manuals, I agree that it should at least be a first resource if something doesn't work right. But I stand by my statement that reading a manual can often reveal many features that would be difficult, if not impossible, to figure out "other ways" like by messing around. Many times I've helped people with their various equipment, where a quick skim through the manual on my part and some appropriate twiddling yields the reaction "I didn't know it could do that!" You might be able to get most basic functions working by trial and error, but often the advanced features, if present, will not be easy to discover and often will go unused.

Thanks. I may do that.