Nintendo has begun offering Wii owners free replacement wrist-straps for folk who become way too aggressive in their gameplay and end up snapping the straps or simply - and literally - losing their grip.

Since the Wii debuted in the US and, last week, the UK, the web has played host to a torrent of gripes from irate Wii fans who've been unable to restrain their Remotes. Tales of broken TVs and windows, of damaged ceilings and walls, and even of physical injuries to fellow players and innocent bystanders have become commonplace.

The sound you can hear in the background is millions of lawyers rubbing their hands in glee...

Nintendo's in-game nagware should ensure folk fit and hold their Remotes correctly, but for those who find the current strap too much of a temptation to ignore, the company is offering a thicker one, free of charge to owners who call the company's service centre. ®

Read Reg Hardware's Nintendo Wii Review here