To date we’ve been warned to keep the Wii sensor bar away from the influences of strong light sources for fear of them causing interference in, as Nintendo puts it, “exceptional conditions”. But Christmas tree fairy lights?

Apparently so, at least as far as one unlucky blogger is reporting it in the Metro newspaper today. This poor chap made the cardinal error of placing his Xmas tree a tad too close to his telly. Result: the Wii started “acting weird in not picking up the Wiimote on the side of the Christmas tree.” Obviously the burning magnesium-bright dazzle of his fairy lights was just too much for the delicate little Wii sensor bar to take. Whatever caused the problem things were rectified when the lights were turned off.

Scrambling for something corporate and soothing to say Nintendo responded: “In exceptional conditions where the Wii sensor bar is sat near a direct light source there may be some minor interference - this does not mean that there is any fault with your Wii. For the best performance of your Wii, avoid bright light sources behind or near the TV, shining towards the Wii remote or reflecting off the TV screen." Okay, but fairy lights – bright?!

So let’s summarise all the Wii wisdom we’ve learned to date. Keep it away from strong light sources. Okay, all light sources. Make sure the wrist strap is securely attached, that you have enough space to play, are out of range of breakable household objects/friends/pets and that overly dramatic arm movements are kept to a minimum. In fact best play it alone in an open and very dark field, using a TV with a non-reflective screen. Does anyone mind if we actually turn the unit on...?