Although the Nintendo Wii is a great console, no system is perfect. Here are the top 3 common problems that users have experienced since the release of this ultimate gaming console.

Trouble with Online Connection:

Some users have reported trouble when attempting to establish an online connection with their Wii's. It seems that the Wii doesn't take too well to one-bar connections, and results in a slow dial up process. The online connection used on the Wii is wireless, so is likely to suffer from all other problems associated with wireless systems. If it starts to get too annoying, you can always purchase an adapter from Nintendo and run a line.

Interference from Bright Lights:

It seems that many users who have experienced the Nintendo Wii, have noticed some kind of interference from light sources. It was reported that the consoles was unable to respond to the remote control while certain lights were on. Some gamers quickly discover that if they played on the other side of the room from the lights, there problem quickly went away.

This is a result of the sensor bar on the Wii console, a part of the unit that will detect changes in the position of the remote, which gets thrown out of whack by bright lighting. This is the reason that playing the console too near to a bright light source will mess with the remote control movement.

Nintendo's response to this was to advice that the Wii remote may not work when played too close to a bright light source. It's not an actual problem with the technology or design, they said, and suggested moving away from bright light while playing. Also, it is important to keep bright lights away from the TV, as this can also potentially interfere with the signal there as well.

Slowing Down and Crashing Wii's:

A further technical problem noted by Wii gamers is their games slowing down. This only seems to occur after 10 or more hours of straight game play. The simple solution to this is to turn the console off and back on again, but the unit should really be playable for longer than 10 hours at once. The reason for the console slowing down is likely to be slight overheating, so if this does affect you, make certain that the warm air is able to escape and the fans are working correctly. It is recommended that if the stand that comes with the console is used, the warm air will be able to get out.