If you're using a real Wiimote, make sure you have panic alerts on or you won't get the Wiimote desync messages. The wiimote tends to not work at some point during the initialization process, usually (in my experience) right around when the game tries to turn on the motion sensing and IR pointer functionality.
The solution? Stupid though this sounds, just keep restarting the game until it makes it to the title (or sometimes a bit past that) without desyncing. Yes, brute force starting the game until the wiimote works, and I know that sounds stupid, but I've been dealing with it for months now. Also, while in the game, don't ever let the wiimote "sleep" or it will desync and not come back. This appears to be game controlled actually, but it's still an issue sometimes.
The solution? Stupid though this sounds, just keep restarting the game until it makes it to the title (or sometimes a bit past that) without desyncing. Yes, brute force starting the game until the wiimote works, and I know that sounds stupid, but I've been dealing with it for months now. Also, while in the game, don't ever let the wiimote "sleep" or it will desync and not come back. This appears to be game controlled actually, but it's still an issue sometimes.
The only good zombie is a live zombie.