Nintendo Says Wii...
Everyone else says Wha?
Thursday, April 27, 2006 by fjord | Discussion: WinCustomize News
Nintendo announced today the *ahem* revolutionary new name for their console gaming system, "Wii". According to Nintendo's website, the name arrives out of an attempt to have a short, compelling name that evokes the feeling of a community experience. And, they didn't want anyone making a shortened version of their new system's name, like the 360 or the PS3. W2 is expected to draw quite a negative initial response, which is why NoE (Nintendo of Europe) decided, along with NoA (Nintendo of America), to announce the name weeks before E3 (E.E.E. [Electronic Entertainment Expo]) in order to dispel negative connotations surrounding the new name, and brainwash help users understand their decision.
Many users have enjoyed the glimpse of upcoming games given them by Nintendo. Future titles such as Red Steel Link and a new series of Madden football games Link that all make use of the W2's revolutionary new controller scheme have gamers and analysts alike optimistic about Nintendo's future. While most potential customers of Nintendo's new system will not skip on purchasing the console just because of the name, it will surely have a great affect on a first time customer. For those outside the realm of gaming the name will be confusing at best. While the final results are far from apparent, having a system that when named sounds like you're joking with a four year old is not what marketing professionals call a home-run.
But, hey, at least you can go fishing Link
Many users have enjoyed the glimpse of upcoming games given them by Nintendo. Future titles such as Red Steel Link and a new series of Madden football games Link that all make use of the W2's revolutionary new controller scheme have gamers and analysts alike optimistic about Nintendo's future. While most potential customers of Nintendo's new system will not skip on purchasing the console just because of the name, it will surely have a great affect on a first time customer. For those outside the realm of gaming the name will be confusing at best. While the final results are far from apparent, having a system that when named sounds like you're joking with a four year old is not what marketing professionals call a home-run.
But, hey, at least you can go fishing Link
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indigonecro
Reply #2 Friday, April 28, 2006 1:30 AM
Reply #2 Friday, April 28, 2006 1:30 AM
Someone should kick Nintendo's marketing guy in the Wii. Are my thoughts on this.
TerryX
Reply #3 Friday, April 28, 2006 1:52 AM
Reply #3 Friday, April 28, 2006 1:52 AM
i wouldnt be surprised if the dude who made up the name Wii was a 12 year old..
Spectere
Reply #4 Friday, April 28, 2006 1:53 AM
Reply #4 Friday, April 28, 2006 1:53 AM
I think people should just get over it -- it's just a name, deal with it. If you don't buy a console simply because you don't like the name then you shouldn't call yourself a gamer.
Nintendo could have always went generic and just tacked on a series, or nonsensical, number after the same old generic title (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360).
And, really, the name's been good for laughs thus far ("I'm going to go to my room and play with my Wii!") so it can't be all that bad.
Nintendo could have always went generic and just tacked on a series, or nonsensical, number after the same old generic title (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360).
And, really, the name's been good for laughs thus far ("I'm going to go to my room and play with my Wii!") so it can't be all that bad.
CRasH180
Reply #5 Friday, April 28, 2006 5:35 AM
Reply #5 Friday, April 28, 2006 5:35 AM
Does Wii stand for World War II or something? Are they trying to play some kind of play on words or something like this? This is such a stupid name for a gaming system.
BtEO
Reply #6 Friday, April 28, 2006 5:54 AM
Reply #6 Friday, April 28, 2006 5:54 AM
Venom339: Find the description of the Metroid demo used when the controller was unveiled (final link in the article). You might never need your PC again. 
The name's growing on me, given that, if nothing else, the visibility level has been elevated above all competition a mere two weeks before E3. Expect more to come from Nintendo.
The name's growing on me, given that, if nothing else, the visibility level has been elevated above all competition a mere two weeks before E3. Expect more to come from Nintendo.
Island Dog
Reply #7 Friday, April 28, 2006 7:56 AM
Reply #7 Friday, April 28, 2006 7:56 AM
I have read several reports that the "Wii" will cost less than $200. At that price they can call it whatever they want.
Drop125
Reply #8 Friday, April 28, 2006 8:47 AM
Reply #8 Friday, April 28, 2006 8:47 AM
I agree with #4, The name is good for a laugh, but Nintendo is a serious gamer platform and any serious gamer would care less what it is called...Just better make sure the console lives up to its hype....I for one can't wait to own both the W2 and the PS3....I would only get an 360 if I end up buying a PC with XP Media Center...Ive seen the demo of that feature and I think it is the coolest thing out there yet for Game console and computer interaction....If you dont know about it look it up...
black_udder
Reply #9 Friday, April 28, 2006 10:44 AM
Reply #9 Friday, April 28, 2006 10:44 AM
If you go to the site, you see their reasoning behind the name:
Wii sounds like "we" which emphasises the console is for everyone
Wii can easily be remembered by people around the world, no matter what language they speak. No confusion. No need to abbreviate. Just Wii.
Wii has a distinctive spelling that symbolizes both the unique controllers and the image of people gathering to play.
Wii, as a name and console, brings something revolutionary to the world of video games that sets it apart from the crowd.
You can't argue with the logic - regardless if what you think about the name.
Everybody all over the world can say "We" and if you're speaking about game consoles, everybody will understand which console you're talking about. In addition, the name Wii doesn't have any connotations about age preference, such as Playstation which would indicate it is for "play" or the Xbox, which has absolutely no connotations for anything either.
In a year or less, the name will slip off your tongue as naturally as any other word. It's all about the newness of the word/brand which is making folks think it's stupid or dumb. There are many words in the English language (probably others as well) that if you just repeat them 10-20 times they sound completely goofy, but they are a part of our everyday life. Just like this probably will become.
I could care less what it's called. Odds are for the first several months it's going to be "Wii - Nintendo's new console" anyway
That controller is definately revolutionary and I would imagine will be a selling/detraction for many folks. It'll be interesting to see how it pans out once it reaches the hands of the masses. Will future xbox/psx consoles pale in comparison if they fail to use a similar controller?
Wii sounds like "we" which emphasises the console is for everyone
Wii can easily be remembered by people around the world, no matter what language they speak. No confusion. No need to abbreviate. Just Wii.
Wii has a distinctive spelling that symbolizes both the unique controllers and the image of people gathering to play.
Wii, as a name and console, brings something revolutionary to the world of video games that sets it apart from the crowd.
You can't argue with the logic - regardless if what you think about the name.
Everybody all over the world can say "We" and if you're speaking about game consoles, everybody will understand which console you're talking about. In addition, the name Wii doesn't have any connotations about age preference, such as Playstation which would indicate it is for "play" or the Xbox, which has absolutely no connotations for anything either.
In a year or less, the name will slip off your tongue as naturally as any other word. It's all about the newness of the word/brand which is making folks think it's stupid or dumb. There are many words in the English language (probably others as well) that if you just repeat them 10-20 times they sound completely goofy, but they are a part of our everyday life. Just like this probably will become.
I could care less what it's called. Odds are for the first several months it's going to be "Wii - Nintendo's new console" anyway
That controller is definately revolutionary and I would imagine will be a selling/detraction for many folks. It'll be interesting to see how it pans out once it reaches the hands of the masses. Will future xbox/psx consoles pale in comparison if they fail to use a similar controller?
grayhaze
Reply #11 Friday, April 28, 2006 1:05 PM
Reply #11 Friday, April 28, 2006 1:05 PM
Perhaps they should have consulted their target market first. It won't be long before teenagers are ridiculed all over the UK for their strange night-time habits.
"What are you doing tonight?"
"I'm playing with my Wii."
"Eww! That's gross!"
"What are you doing tonight?"
"I'm playing with my Wii."
"Eww! That's gross!"
razza95
Reply #12 Friday, April 28, 2006 4:56 PM
Reply #12 Friday, April 28, 2006 4:56 PM
i think this is a good thing for nintendo, they are making their console unique from all the others
never before will a child be able to say "mum i want a wii for xmas" or "my wii is on the floor in my bedroom"
this can only bring amusement to the gaming world - what's wrong with that???
never before will a child be able to say "mum i want a wii for xmas" or "my wii is on the floor in my bedroom"
this can only bring amusement to the gaming world - what's wrong with that???
rkadowns
Reply #13 Friday, April 28, 2006 6:05 PM
Reply #13 Friday, April 28, 2006 6:05 PM
Wii. You will be holding your revolutionary controller just like you hold your Wii.
It's all coming clear now.
It's all coming clear now.
NineT9mustasng
Reply #14 Friday, April 28, 2006 6:42 PM
Reply #14 Friday, April 28, 2006 6:42 PM
lol, wincustomize.com, your funny. I liked your response to wii (w2 comment and everything following)
Martin Eden
Reply #15 Saturday, April 29, 2006 3:36 AM
Reply #15 Saturday, April 29, 2006 3:36 AM
Actually it's a brilliant marketing decision.
All of us arguing about it here and on other sites are giving Nintendo all the publicity they could ever need. The 360 and PS3 never evoked this much of a response when they were revealed.
All of us arguing about it here and on other sites are giving Nintendo all the publicity they could ever need. The 360 and PS3 never evoked this much of a response when they were revealed.
pixeleyes
Reply #16 Saturday, April 29, 2006 4:23 AM
Reply #16 Saturday, April 29, 2006 4:23 AM
To me, Wii sounds and the logo looks like a Sony logo, I think they have used great marketing, but to be honest, I will never tire of saying,
"Do you wana come round later and play with my Wii"
"Do you wana come round later and play with my Wii"
FireBert85
Reply #17 Saturday, April 29, 2006 1:17 PM
Reply #17 Saturday, April 29, 2006 1:17 PM
is it just me, but how does W2 abbreviate Wii properly? i mean i understand the 2 is for the two i's. but you need to have the i in the abbreviation. surely you jest. are you too lazy to type wii?
fjord
Reply #18 Saturday, April 29, 2006 5:20 PM
Reply #18 Saturday, April 29, 2006 5:20 PM
One of my big grudges with the new name is that they took away personalization. I like being able to call my Playstation 2 a PS2. Not because it's shorter, but because it's personalized. The same reason I like WindowBlinds or any other customization software; it makes my computer unique, mine.
Nintendo thinks it's impossible to abbreviate Wii, I beg to differ. Unless they change the name, I think I'll prefer to call it the W2.
Nintendo thinks it's impossible to abbreviate Wii, I beg to differ. Unless they change the name, I think I'll prefer to call it the W2.
Hus
Reply #19 Saturday, April 29, 2006 7:44 PM
Reply #19 Saturday, April 29, 2006 7:44 PM
Ah man...I was a bit shocked by the name. I didn't like it...and I still don't really like it. Deep down, I'm praying Ashton Kutcher is going to start off Nintendo's E3 press conference and tell us we've just been Punk'd...but whatever, if Nintendo called it "Giant Crap-in-a-Box", I'd still pre-order one...and I still can't wait to play with my Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!!!! 
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Reply #1 Friday, April 28, 2006 12:09 AM
Either way, you can't tell me the system doesn't catch your eye, but as for names...
Revolution > Wii (Anyday of the week, IMHO)