Revolution's Final name

[Sqrt2]

It sounds like someone's been slipping the marketing people 'silly pills'....either that, or they were all drunk/high when it came to deciding the final name for the console.

Hopefully they'll see the error of their ways and eventually decide a better name than wee wii.

[Fryguy64]

If we keep kicking up a stink then perhaps they will... at least in English-speaking markets.

Wii? I mean... I hate the fact I've blocks all of the main swearwords on this forum... because I have a million of them stored up ready to unleash on this name.

Think about it... If you see it written down you might think it is called the "Why" or the "Wee". If you say it, you have to justify yourself by saying "Wii... that's W.I.I..."

Nintendo has justified it by saying that Google, Yahoo and iPod were all silly names that have become commonplace... which they are... but they're not embarassing to say! Wii will always be embarassing to say. It's not even Wheeeee... it's just wee. Grrr... this has made me so angry.

I agree with Penny-Arcade's stance:
"What makes me mad isn't that Nintendo has chosen a name based on bizarre, interstellar philsophy. It's that they chose a name that was and is so readily used to obscure and discredit the imaginative power of the system."

[Sqrt2]

Isn't a google 10¹⁰⁰? ....which is about how many items come up if you search for anything on google.

Personally I'd just wished they'd left it as Revolution - seeing as the freehand controller WILL revolutionise the way people play computer games, it seemed approriate.

[wanderingshadow]

An article I just saw says it all: "Nintendo Shoots Themselves in the Foot." I hope that they announce a new name at E3. If not, perhaps we could just call it the new Nintendo?

Anyway, some things I found:

Wii can change the world

Wii will rock you!

We are the Champions

[flamedude]

This angers me. The justification for using Wii is pure a-grade crap. Not only is it hard to work out how to pronounce Wii, but when you realise that its prenounced "Wee" you think that they must have spelt it wrong.

It looks like a typo. When my mate this morning said "They're calling it the nintendo wii" i thought he had made a spelling mistake.

Bah I can't hide my annoyance but once again Nintendo build up to a point where i almost consider themselves "cool" and then they knock themselves back down with stuff like this. I pray that this name is not permanent.

[wanderingshadow]

www.grapheine.com/bombaytv/play_uk.php?id=1132544

I think this video expresses how we're all feeling.

[luigi]

smashchu2 said:

First I think everyone need to get there panties out of a bunch and cool down. Now if I may.....

First is that Nintendo is crazy like a fox. There a good reason why they did this. The first is that it does grow on you. When I first saw it I said WTF, but after mulling it im my head it grew on me. Not everyone will like it at first but it will grow in due time.

Next its obviously more for visual appael rather then auditory. You may think the name is dumb(and it kinda is) but by looking at the logo you get another feeling. The color scheme and letter combinations make for a satisfiing look. Nintendo is probobly going to use more billboards and flyers then comercials.

Lastly they did not through them selves out of the race. First it will DEFINATLY sell well in japan. They'll go gaga over the name. Here it wont be received as well. The up side is the price the titles, the originality and fact it launches before the PS3. The name just isn't that importain and will seem to grow on fanms as it progresses.

This is obviosly not the focus of the system. Nintendo desided to show this before E3 bcasue they expected this reaction. It will settel and Nintendo will move to its main focus, gameplay. Also this will not loss it 3rd party support. Chances are they knew it was going to be called "Wii" atleast a month before they told use yet the games are still flying in.


If it was something serious then you can freak (like them canceling SSBR or SSBW or whatever). Nintendo will provide on the gameplay and that might be all that matters. Nintendo has done some crazy stuff so have faith in them, or as some say "Leave Luck to Heaven"

Very well said. I also had my moment of despair but now I think it's kind of grown on me. I was so used to the Revolution already and I thought it was such a cool name too...so getting it taken away from me like that was kind of rough. I never...had a chance...to say goodbye...sniff sniff.

Seriously, though, I have to agree with you on the visual appeal factor...the logo does look pretty damn sleek. And if you really have that much of a problem saying it (and believe me, I'm not exactly 100% comfortable with the idea of saying Wii) you can always just call it Nintendo, like the majority of the populaton does anyway. "I'm gonna get the new Nintendo." Problem solved.

Plus, you have to admit, the puns are kind of fun. And as much as you say the marketing department on this one dropped the ball, can you imagine the commercials (which, keep in mind, Nintendo has always had pretty awesome commercials)? You're sitting around, watching TV, a commercial comes on, rapid flashes of the remote in action, all types of different games, you get blown away at the versatility of the thing, and then all of the sudden...it all goes white....and the slogan slowly fades in...

"Wii will change the world."

Not too bad if you ask me.

[Nester the Lark]

Here's another interesting mainstream news article:
www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/other_business/article/0,2777,DRMN_23916_4656343,00.html

"It's interesting how bad it is," said Steve Manning, managing director of branding company Igor International, the company behind such names as MTV's Urge and The Signature at MGM Grand. "I don't know who's going to love it."
...
"The biggest key to figuring out it's a bad name is when they explain it," he said. "You don't have to explain a good name; you have to explain a bad name."

I'm trying very hard not to be too judgmental until I've given it plenty of time to sink in. The reactions I've seen so far are pretty typical for something like this, and I fall into the category of people like Fry who are upset by the initial shock. I just can't see it the way people like Smashchu and Luigi do.

Having said that, I think I can at least comment on it as far as initial reactions go. When I first saw the cell shaded graphics of Zelda: The Wind Waker, it was a shock, but I loved it right away. I didn't have to "get used to it." When I first learned about the DS, it was weird, but I embraced it because I completely understood the reasoning behind it. When I first found out about the Revolution/Wii controller, it wasn't what I expected, but I, as many other people, was able to imagine the great possibilities it provided within a few minutes, and I loved it as well.

When I first saw "Wii" yesterday, I hated it. I hated it all day. I hated it when I woke up this morning. As far as "getting used to it" or "letting it sink in," given a day, a week, or a month, I may not be indignant as I was initially, but it's unlikely I will ever "love," let alone "like," the name. Not with such a strong, negative first impression.

[Old Man Rupee]

Its grown on me, but its not like its a big deal. I mean, I don't think of urine every time I say "we" in a sentence, why should this be any different?

And seriously, what's in a name? No matter what Nintendo name it, you can still call it any name you like. I can see fans sticking with "Revolution" as an unoffical nickname long after the release.

I remember saying at one point ages ago that "no matter what it's called, I'll still buy it, because its Nintendo". I still stick by that choice now. Even if its a little embarrassing...

[Old Man Rupee]

Tee hee, just found these on Gamesradar ;D

"Never did Siemens any harm."

"So can we expect the new Game Boy to be called the PuPu?"

"I may still splash out on one. It depends if they can keep up a steady flow of releases."

Q: Been playing on the new Nintendo console much?
A: Yes, I've been Wii-ing like a racehorse."

"This time next year I'll have a Wii under my television. I might even have a Wii in my bedroom."

;Dpriceless. ;D

[Smashchu]

Acctually that brings me to my next point.

I think the Wii and Pee relation was intended. When you tell someone about the Nintendo Wii you'll get 2 reaction; either inquiative which makes you want to learn more and laughter which will bring someone to ask why.

Nintendo is using it has a hook more then anything by using the name to either look cool or sound weird or whatever. This will burn it into there mind and even try one for themselves which woulkd let them buy it.

Lastly it is strucred fopr maximum use. Its short which makes it easy to remember. Not only that but its relation to a common word makes it also easy to remember

This shows that Nintendo is focusing on the Blue Ocean. The name is to attract people outside gaming and the games will get the ones inside. You must also rememebr that Genius is borderlin Isanity.

EDIT: if you hate the name enough then go here

[Fryguy64]

Thanks Smash!
*posts petition link on website*

I can see why Nintendo would settle for a name LIKE Wii. It's short, easy to remember, and very different from the competition (leading to no more "X-Cube" confusions by parents).

But ignoring for the moment the relationship to excretory bodily fluid... the word looks ugly. In English it has takes two narrow letters rarely seen together and puts a large W in front of them, causing a confused, almost alien word. The Japanese language does not even have a Wi sound... the Romanised Japanese is ui~.

I had heard people saying that the name was going down well in Japan... but I have seen evidence to the contrary. It's not going down well in Japan... maybe better than it is here, but that's not hard.

The name needs constant explanation. You have to say "wee... that's W.I.I."... or if it's written down, you have to say it's pronounced "wee, not why". The Apple iPod, which Nintendo definitely wants the Wii to mimic in success, is a self-explanatory name. It's a small device containing stuff (like a pod), and the interface is shaped like an eye (shortened to "i"). It might look a little silly the first time you read it - like everything else on Nintendo's silly list - but it doesn't cause confusion and uproar.

It provides an endless supply of marketing slogans, but alone it is a meaningless little word. You know damn well I will be first in line to buy one of these on release day - I might even take a day off work to play it - but I was talking to my girlfriend about it earlier, and I will never get used to using Wii in typical sentences out loud. I'm getting used to writing it... but spoken it still sounds embarassing, and I still don't know why.

What worries me is the Mark Ecko style arguments being used against gamers by Nintendo. It's not about what the gaming elite want to hear, it's what the larger public will respond to. Gamers are stuck in a rut, and we will let them know that we run the show, etc. etc.

Will it grow on me? Will sleeping on it make it all better? Will seeing the public response to this make me more comfortable with the name? No, because I suspect the public response will be as negative as current press coverage...

Don't get me wrong though. The console is still an amazing piece of kit, and I'm still excited at the prospect of new games and the new interface. And online goodies too. But (unlike Gamecube) I really do not see myself feeling any more comfortable with the name with time. And I REALLY hope Nintendo reconsiders it.

[mrmolecule]

I agree with Smashchu. It's a bad initial reaction, and all you wimps will all get a life. Besides, I've only heard "wee" as in "urinate" once on AFV.

I HOPE it sells well.

[nas]

I too had a bad initial reaction to the name Wii, but actually after dwelling on it over the last few hours, I actually quite like it...

It is true that I initially thought it was a joke, and as always, it was trusty NinDB that set the record straight for me. After all it could have been an unofficial announement like the Nintendo GO. But no...

Don't get me wrong, I love the name Revolution and would be extremely happy if they reconsidered the name but Nintendo Wii isn't that bad is it?

The fact is, if it is released as Wii (most likely I would think) I doubt that people will still knock it after it has been out for months and they will see past the poor marketing efforts and release a kick-ass console with kick-ass games... remember Super Smash Bros 3, Mario, Zelda...?

All I say is GO NINTENDO (no pun intended) thats my opinion.
Later everyone!

[Nester the Lark]

admin said:

Will it grow on me? Will sleeping on it make it all better? Will seeing the public response to this make me more comfortable with the name? No, because I suspect the public response will be as negative as current press coverage...

That reminds me. The name "Wii" hit me hard in another way. Earlier this week, I was thinking about what a great position Nintendo was in. The "Revolution" had strong, positive buzz. The media was optimistic. And E3 is only a couple weeks away. Then the Wii thing came, and I thought, "there goes the positivity and optimism." I suppose that's a little extreme.

However, contrary to what a lot of the defenders say, names do matter. People are superficial. They judge books by their covers. It happens all the time, whether they're aware of it or not.

I suppose a lot of you have also come across the conspiracy theory that it's all just viral marketing campaign. ("Wii" has not been trademarked, and www.wii.com has not been registered... yet.) It would not be Nintendo's first, but it would certainly be their most devious. Here's the most well-written version of it I've come across:
nintendonow.e-mpire.com/index.php?categoryid=6&m_articles_articleid=3629&PHPSESSID=8aab8236f2206b49c8301d6b16e12b56

Phew! I don't think I've been this opinionated on a message board before (at least, not lately). Nintendo must've really struck a nerve. But I do want to say one last thing. It's about something nintyboyuno said: "no matter what it's called, I'll still buy it, because its Nintendo." Nothing against him or his opinions. I agree with him except for the "because its Nintendo" part. I love Nintendo because their games and products usually win me over, but not because I decided, at some point, to devote myself to them without question*. It's not a marriage. If they do something I don't like, I don't have to pretend I do, or be supportive. There are reasons I'm a fan.

*I'm not saying this is what nintyboyuno did. His quote just made me think of it.