Slashdot Mirror
Developers React To 'Wii'
Gamasutra has reactions from game developers to the announcement of the Revolution's new commercial name, 'Wii'. From the article: "It doesn't change my personal opinions of the console in the slightest. It changes my opinion of the Nintendo marketing department considerably. Did they even bother to research this? Why do they do these things? What was wrong with 'Revolution'? It's bad enough that the Japanese have a drink called "Sweat," but at least they don't try to export it to the English-speaking world with that name. Am I supposed to be happy about having to go down to the game store to purchase the 'Nintendo Wee'? For God's sake, where was Miyamoto? I can't believe he would have let this get by. - Ernest Adams"
It should be "Developers React to Uus".
Apology to Ubuntu forum.
Let us post some more articles about how stupid the name 'Wii' is.
Let us ignore the fact that we all like gaming consoles and instead resort to childish puns to evaluate something before it's even released.
Let the developers (and leaders of developers) proclaim to the world just how stupid this name is so that not only does the public think it's stupid, so do the developers. Think about that, the one group of people that are truly going to determine how this console does is jointly standing up and bashing it before the API is even in their hands. It is within their power to take this console--regardless of its name--and create some truly genuine games with a new controller interface. Before they even start that, they are all communally agreeing that the name is 'stupid.'
Kind of sounds like a self-fulfilling prophecy to me.
The only two responses I read that defended the name were weak. Did no one stand up and say, "No comment until I've got this thing in my hands and I can really see what it's made of."
Let us all make fun of Dick Butkus now for his name. Hahahaha, dick. Hahahahah, butt. Get it all out of your system.
This is sheer madness. I use a piece of software called "The Gimp 2.0" but I have never once heard anyone make fun of it. "Gimp" means disabled where I grew up, why would you call a piece of software 'disabled?' Who cares? No one because it kicks ass and it's a free alternative solution to photoshop.
It's not like they called it "Engelbert Humperdinck's Genitals" so that when you want to use it you would have to say, "I want to play with Engelbert Humperdinck's genitals now." For crying out loud, "wii," "wee," or "we" all sound the same and the latter is good pun. You hear it how you want to hear it so grow up and stop wanting to hear it as "wee wee."
My work here is dung.
"Wii don't care about the console's name."
Many Bothans died to bring you this sig.
Did we expand the definition of developers to include "columnist and game design lecturer" and "director of business relations?" Someone at Gamasutra didn't exactly get a scoop. And what's with two quotes from the same company, Blackbone Entertainment?
Anyways, they all say the same thing. The name sucks, the console is good. However, the best point to get out of the article is from David Sirlin:
"Your mother or girlfriend doesn't want something called an Xbox 360, but that's okay because they won't find any games they like on an Xbox 360 anyway (beside xarcade, that is). They might be less intimidated by the "Wii" and will definitely find Nintendo games and non-games that sound more interesting than "Madden 2007" and "GTA 2008". "
Totally true. The iPod wouldn't have succeeded with a name like "SongGiant 3950" (no product would). I say the name is horrible and acceptable all at the same time. Horrible because it lends itself to multiple negative connotations, and acceptable because it draws in customers that names like Xbox and Playstation won't.
Maybe they should have called it the nintendo w00t, or even better yet the RES (revolutionary entertainment system).
sudo mod me up
Developers "over" React To 'Wii'... Seriously, this stoped being funny or shocking about an hour after I heard it... and I doubt 12 year olds giggling at the name will be the end for big N. Now to more important matters... will Nintendo make the same 10 games again (this time with Wii on the end) or will they continue to inovate internaly and encurage 3rd party support? The Wii has great potential, so did the Gamecube.
I don't give a damn for a man that can only spell a word one way.
Mark Twain
We get it. By and large, people who eat, sleep, and breathe video games think that "Wii" is stupid. Fortunately for Nintendo, we're not their target demographic. Even more fortunately for Nintendo, the bulk of gamers who think that "Wii" is stupid follow the sentiment up with "but it isn't going to influence whether or not I actually buy the thing."
We, The Hardcore, need to come to grips with the fact that we are now, in Nintendo's eyes, a seecondary market. The sooner we do that, the sooner we'll be able to get past all this bloviating about what sorts of fools are heading the ship at Nintendo.
s/we/wii, if you're so inclined...
Obliteracy: Words with explosions
Actually Nintendo have never given any product a particularly cool name. "Game Boy" for example, is about as un-cool a name for something as you could ever come up with, at least from the point of view of anyone over age 10. If the GB had a cool name they would probably have sold several times as many of them.
"Hey Bob, whatcha up to?"
"I'm playing with my, um, Game Boy".
Bleah.
G.
Yeah, the first response to Pokari Sweat tends to be euw.
But then you figure out that it's meant to balance the body after sweating, or in marketese "with the appropriate density and electrolytes, close to that of human body fluid", and suddenly the message makes sense. Kinda.
The same will happen with 'Wii'. It's actually pretty good in most languages.
J
I look forward to E3, when Nintendo announces the real name for their system, and bloggers the internet over explode for being tricked by a video game company.
Nintendo has had front-page headlines in the game world for a week with almost zero marketing cost to them. *Everyone* in the game community knows the name and identity of their product.
From a marketing point of view, this name is a colossal success. It worked. You know what their product is, you know what it's for, you remember its name. That's all that matters.
Wii are tired of hearing about how many bad puns we can do with the name. Wii don't care. Wii want to try the console. Wii want to try the controler.
I wouldn't mind you in my head, if you weren't so clearly mad -Lews Therin Telamon
I do not like this name. As a gamer, I won't be asking for a 'Wii' over a shop counter. Nintendo had better shape up and get their act together, as I don't think that my opinion is isolated in this matter. Why won't they settle for a compromise like "iTwo" (too Apple?) or "Uss" or "Yii's" or "@ii", etc. The list goes on.
It's so silly. What western development company is going to seriously develop a product that will be associated with taking a whazz / leak / you-get-the-idea and have that image attached to their 'good-for-now' name?
Well, I don't know. Not many, I can imagine.
I think things will get so bad, only in-house releases will become the norm, Mario Wii, Donkey Kong Wii, Starfox on Wii, and so on and so forth. Quake Wii, Doom Wii, and Warcraft Wii? Ain't gonna happen...
Guy walks into the store, ask the clerk: " - Bonjour monsieur, je voudrais une Nintendo Wii. - Une nintendo Wii?. - Oui! " /ducks in shame
Wii don't need no thought control. No more students in the classroom. Nintendo, leave the Rev alone.
Proof by very large bribes. QED.
Those dumb Nintendo marketers, they only got FOUR slashdot frontpages from a name change. C'mon, they can do better than that.
To those who are complaining that people are still making fun of the name:
People *still* make fun of the Wang computer, and it's been out forever.
"UHAHAHA I GOT ME A HARD DRIVE FOR MY WANG UHUHUHUHUHHA!"
Classic.
Given the amount of babble on the net about this, and the 4 Slashdot articles in the last four business days, I'd say that Wii is thus far a complete and total success.
People knock their marketing department because it can be construed as urine, but you know what? We're all talking about = they win.
People who say they should have left it as revolution (I like revolution too, don't get me wrong), have missed the point. The Nintendo marketing department has gaffed, they've had a resounding success. They're generating buzz and "word-o-o-mouth" (even if it is online word-o-mouth), which is what marketing is all about.
One of Nintendo's claims about "Wii" is that it will appeal to everyone: young, old, male, female, gamer and non-gamer.
The only opinions about that *name* that I've heard so far have come from *male gamers*. Those are the people who are going to buy the system *anyway*. So why do you care?
What about the other people -- the normal, non-male and/or non-gaming populace? Do they care? For now, I think probably not. Later this year, when the system is released, will they care then? Probably not, but I'd wager that the name will draw attention long enough for them to play with a display unit.
Does it sound like a stupid game to you (male and female gamers)? Probably. Does it matter? I don't see how.
this name is going to create an even worse social stigma, it's bad enough when girls find out you're still playing video games, it's worse when they laugh at you because you own a nintendo wee.
for xist sakes, nintendo! change the awful name!
nintendo should be ashamed of themselves, we should all send emails to nintendo to get them to change the stupid name.
The tech community has been talking about the Wii non-stop because of the puzzling name. That's great publicity. It matters far far more that people hear and talk about the name than whether they like it.
A 360 is a complete revolution. To revolve also means to go around in circles. To go around in circles also means to make absolutly no progress. No progress in a next generation video game system is stupid. Note: This is a joke.
Ooo man the floppy drive is broken. No wait. The computer is just upside down.
Seriously, Wii is a good name. It's a playful name and I think that's what Nintendo was aiming for, the more you think about it the more the name makes sense. Yes, there is some sexual innuendo involved but that makes it even more fun. And also just because some of you might be shy about talking about your Wii doesn't mean you still won't play with it all the time. I mean come on.. this is Slashdot.
The best education consists in immunizing people against systematic attempts at education. - Paul Feyerabend
I (along with probably a few dozen other people on /.) used to go out with a promiscuous girl who's surname is Hooker. She was hot, but she's married now. Anyone want to start a fanclub?
The tech community has been mocking the Wii non-stop because it's a stupid name. Nintendo must be desperate for publicity. It matters far far more that the general population gets a good first impression if they are going to purchase it.
Puns aside, the above statement is still true. Whether or not we like the name now, it needs to be assimilated by the masses, accepted as 'okay' and we move on. As has been pointed out before, nearly all electronic gadgets have rather non-sensical names when you think about it. Once they simply become a proper name, you forget how strange it sounds.
We need to stop fighting Wii, and simply wait and let the gameplay talk for the system. Resistance is Futile.
Wii may sound good on the ears of our friends on the far side of the Pacific. But to be successful here in the US of A, it'll need a powerful strong name like "Nintendo Maxx Power Xtreme GS"!
the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Michael Jackson had front-page articles for a long time. I don't think it helped him sell records.
I realize you're either kidding, or you're an idiot.
If he was in the headlines simply because of his outlandish name change (had he done so), it would indicate that he was already so huge that changing his name to something considerably stupid was headline news; if the music was good, he would then subsequently sell a substantial amount of records just because of all the publicity.
If Nintendo was in the headlines because they allegedly molested children, they would undoubtedly never sell another console or game again.
For that matter, Nintendo should have called it "The Entertainment System Formerly Known as Revolution".
The people who will invest a great deal of time trying to make the games to run on the console are living in fear that a crap name will make their work worth less (or downright worthless) because the juvenile customers will respond saying "dude, I don't want to play with your wee-wee, okay? Go get an X-Box 360 and we'll talk." They're screaming "please, for the love of god, name this thing something that will sell so MY products will sell." The fact that you could come up with so many painful it-could-be-worse puns should be an indication of how the 14-24 market will respond.
Imagine if you were lined up to make the aftermarket parts in Latin America for the Chevy Nova. You'd be quite astute to full-stop your production and bitch about the doomed-to-failure name. It's hardly childish. It's educated foresight and straight-forward, cold, bottom-line business sense.
It's a sports-type drink. Perfectly reasonable name for a drink, if you look at the context at which it is sold.
"Jesus saves, but everyone else in a 10 foot radius takes full damage from the fireball."
Making fun of the name "wii" is so April 2006...
I wonder when the haters are finally going to fess up to why they find the name 'Wii' stupid for a gaming console. It has nothing to do with the French "yes" or kiddie-talk for urination.
It's cute, and gamers (especially the kind that spend their evenings arguing on the internet) hate cute.
Come on, admit it. You don't want the coolest new console on the block to be adorable. Why is this so hard to say?
--
For many years gaming systems have come and gone.
Each system pushing the limits of your pockets with better graphics for terrible gameplay.
Wii see a brighter future: games beyond your imagination and not beyond your wallet.
This christmas, say Wii to videogames.
----- You know you have ego issues when you register a domain in your name.
ohmigawd I was going down the street and I saw this Nintendo console and I said Wiiiiiiiiii
(Shameless threebrain reference, but I know a bunch of you get it...)
On a more serious note, what I really see this as is a big gamble on the part of Nintendo. They are hoping to create a catchy enough name that the name gets a life of it's own on some level. It's a big gamble, and one I would not have put the remaining reputation of the company on myself.
From a development standpoint, the thing to note here is that I would be willing to bet they're going to target marketing on this more at the child audience and much less at the young adult/adult audience (which is basically how the gamecube worked out for them.) At that level then you can target what kind of game development you are going to do on this platform. Don't expect a bunch of high concept fantasy rpg's and gory blood drenched FPS's on this one. Expect a lot of -Kart , generic sports game, generic mario franchise extension, and stuff your 6 year old niece/nephew won't be able to get enough of. All packaged in a name easy enough for a 3 year old to chant.
I'm a fiscal conservative, it's a pity we don't have a political party anymore
I admit it's been a LONG time since I've been a 10 year old boy, but what I do remember is that it was all about the image, spending stupid amounts of allowence money on shoes that had the right logo on the side of them, shirts with the newest sayings on them, etc... there would have been no way under the sun I would want a game system named after pee in my room. "Look at Johny, he's going home to play with his wee! HA HA HA!"....
horid name, it's going to cost them huge in the pre-teen to 18 male market.
The question is simply unsuitable, as it does not give us the choice of deciding that it is both or neither.
On one hand, yes, the name is rather silly in a sense, as it has connotations that sentences the console to ridicule before it can even prove itself. However, may i ask this question? Don't you think Nintendo have already thought of the consequences? They are not going to name a console such a name for the hell of it without carefully weighing up either sides. Yes, the name does sound silly at first, but that's about it. People will get over it in a few months, both now and after release and it will become a fairly normal product name.
The truth is, Nintendo know what they're doing with this dramatic name change. Revolution sounds 'cooler' to the casual and hardcore gamer, but would it make it stand out and known amogst the general public, like the brand name 'Playstation'? Doubtful, unless they had a particular consistent unique style of advertising campaign. With Wii, it differentiates the console from it's competitors, it gets it noticed more, and it has great marketing potential. The only thing Nintendo have to do now is keep 3rd party support going the way it has been, and pull off a decent marketing campaign to get it noticed. Nintendo wants a Revolution, but how do they get it - via 'Wii'.
"Wii" makes me think of the fun little kids have with swings and slides. I think it's a great name for a Nintendo machine where their big franchises are that kind of fun like Mario, Pokemon, Animal Crossing, Nintendogs.
You would think ONE developer out of a batch interviewed could figure that out instead of trying to look like a bunch of tough guys with all this negativity.
And everyone complains (often rightfully so) about open-source projects coming up with stupid names. Well, such insight is obviously not limited to non-commercial enterprises!
-ben
myselfmusic
The last console to have a great name was Genesis. NES, SMS, SNES, N64, Gamecube, Playstation, Playstation 2, Xbox and Xbox 360 are all stupid names.
Playstation was an ok name, but Playstation 2 is the most unoriginal name ever. Xbox 360 not only doesn't sound fun, but it doesn't even make sense (why 360? What does that number signify?). At least Nintendo is trying to communicate its system's goal: wii means "we" as in we all play this system. Jokes about urinating are stupid. When you say "we went to see a movie last night" I don't giggle "he he, he said 'we'" like Beavis and Butthead do. What sound do kids make when they swing? "Weeeeee!" sounds like what I want to be screaming when I'm playing a fun game.
Saying "wii" is also a lot easier for more languages. Revolution might be great in English, but they'd definitely have to change their name for other languages, which hurts global branding.
If the system is any good nobody will remember that they hated the name.
The global economy is a great thing until you feel it locally.
"Am I supposed to be happy about having to go down to the DMV and tell them my name is Ernest'? For God's sake, where were my parents? I can't believe they would have let this get by"
yeah, i'll probably still buy one, i just wont tell anyone....
DOH!
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
This is MY galaxy...go find your OWN!
I know people who think the name of a cow is better than something meaning a broad view (Longhorn vs Vista.)
That's because Vista is taken, multiple times. For instance, the electronic records application used by the US Department of Veterans Affairs' hospital network is called VistA. But then it could be argued that Wii is taken too.
The only well known developer is Backbone Entertainment. The rest are comments from companies that have yet to make it big.
----- You know you have ego issues when you register a domain in your name.
Given that the Revolution will lauch together with the PS3 after the 360 in what may be considered a crowded market. Crowded? Well yes, if you happen to own either of the handhelds then you might realize that gone are the days of the Gameboy and even the GBA and you know can truly enjoy gaming on these without needing the eyesight of a 10 year old to make out the screen.
That means plenty of competition. Offcourse if you are certain that you could tap a different market then your competition is aiming for then good luck.
But does this market even exist?
I would very much like to know how many gamecube owners own only that console (I thinkt that any person owning more then 1 game platform could be considered harcore).
We all know the DS sells by the bucketload. Hell I overpaid to get a Lite from Lik-sang instead of waiting till the end of the year.
BUT I am a hardcore game. The Revolution intrests me. I used to think that console games were stupid, limited, crippled (PC gamer) and I am right but the GBA thought me that sometimes this can be enjoyable. I no longer always want to play a System Shock or a Baldur's Gate. Well I want too but I can't because there are so few of them and the light bubbly Nintendo games pass the time.
Say the DS sold 10 million units. Just for arguments sake say that an astounding 50% were bought by non-gamers. Girls who loved Nintendogs and Peach Princess (me a sexist pig?). That leaves 50% NON-non-gamers.
Now how many of the non-gamers bought these devices on the advice of gamers?
Who helped these non-gamers setup the wireless access of the DS? Told them in fact that you need a wireless router or access point to use it?
Attempting to reach new markets means running the risk of alienating your existing markets.
What I think may come as a shock to Nintendo is that there is no such thing as a non-gamer who games. Either a person plays games or they do not. The moment you get a non-gamer to game they either turning into a gamer OR a never-again-gamer. The last is harldy a market you want to enlarge.
The name itself is not important. What matters is if this is going to be the entire style of the launch. If all the games are going to be Wii too then I would very much like to congratulate Sony and MS on winning 1st and 2nd prize in this round of the console wars.
MMO Quests are like orgasms:
You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.
I am not in marketing. This is ENTIRELY my experience. With that it mind, feel free to skip this post...
I have two children: 6 and 8 years of age (bring on the "you can't be a real geek" jokes).
My 6 year old is just getting into some games on the "Nintendo" (N64).
My 8 year old has a Gameboy Advance (bday) and enjoys playing a couple of hours a week.
When my 8 year old saw "Wii", the first question was "Why? that is a strange name. Why?". No, its prounced "Wee". "Like small?, Like PEE? Can we get two of them? Wee Wee?" At which point, she breaks down into a gale of laughter.
At least she isn't pushing for one (however, the pressure is on for a "play station" - Look Dad, they are on sale!).
It reminded me of the time I was working for a chip vendor, who wanted to release the "Copro" series of chips. Get it? "Coprocessed". No one with a classic education in marketing. Went along with "V-Ram" when the ads had upside-down sheep.
Plus ça change...
Ratboy
Just another "Cubible(sic) Joe" 2 17 3061
Would you make the same argument if they called it Nintendo Poo?
Only Disney would release a video game product called Pooh.
Matter of curiosity - do Nintendo make bigger bank from the EFL world, or the ESL (or NFEAAYIC) world?
And is wii 'silly' in any language besides English?
fortune -o
Ultra 64 was a way cooler name but Nintendo64 eventually was it.
Only because "Ultra" was taken in a major market. But then before it was "Ultra 64" it was "Reality".
And in all honesty when I first read it I wasn't sure how it was supposedly pronounced; at first glance I read it as WWII, as in World War Two.
Given that the Wiimote is good for both FPS and RTS, I can see how a lot of games would exploit the "War II" connotations.
We like to be teabagged by a company called Bawls, but when we're faced with Wii down our throats we are suddenly offended?
Personally, I think Wii is a brilliant name.
Think about it...
It's the sound the execs at Nintendo make when they go down their slides that land into their boardroom chairs.
It's the sound EVERYONE (if you don't, you're not American) makes going down a slide...
We just spell it differently.
1&1 - Cheap domain and web hosting.
I can understand why they don't care what people who will buy the system anyway would think about the name. I hate the name, and based on what I've heard about the system itself, I would still buy it, even despite the name. If they had named it "Flower Power", I would still hate the name, and I would still buy it in spite of the hatred, but -- and this is important -- at least I would understand why the name would appeal to other people. You're right: who would like this name? And who wouldn't have to overcome embarassment to get it?
Apology to Ubuntu forum.
Comic entitled 'Whence Wii'
http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2006/04/28
At least every other console has more than one syllable
"Rev'"? "'Cube"? "Lynx"? "Jag'"? "Spec'"? "Snes"? (Formerly Revolution, Nintendo GameCube, Atari Lynx, Atari Jaguar, ZX Spectrum, Super Nintendo Entertainment System)
Apple loves teh cock.
..
..
sorry... had to be done
I'm failing to see why the name of a console is such a big deal. Every single person that is complaining about it is simply doing so because they are afraid of letting xbox360 and PS3 fanboys have another reason to flame them for using the nintendo console. Quit your damn complaining, I doubt nintendo cares about your opinion anyway.
Always wondered what kind of crowd needs to ascertain their manhood while playing with what is essentially AN ELECTRONIC TOY.
Get over it, boys. Have fun with your Madden$YEAR, let me play my Mario, and stop trying to convince yourselves you bought the better console.
Just play in your corner. Wii will be having lightsaber fights over there.
That's both wrong and insanely stupid. I asked a publicist (buddy of mine).
People get confused. The correct slogan is "Bad publicity is better than no publicity". This sometimes applies to startups. However its also suspect and just something people say when they have egg in their face.
Nintendo is the last company that deliberately tries to make mistakes to get bad publicity. When their President takes a dump, it gets covered by at least 10,000 news articles.
So please, stop with the nonsense spin. Take a look at gamespot's video poll. Every single editor there thought the name was terrible. If nintendo does well with their wii, it despite the name, not because of it.
Leave it to penny arcade to nail this one.
http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2006/04/28
Oh they'd be remiss if they didn't name the portable version Mini Wii.
The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.
I am looking forward to the sense of "Wii-ness" that this product is advertising.
Revolution for a game console name? You got to be kidding!! that sound like another Californian Yuppie name.
:D
Be a man and name it the J-9000 or something like that
Wii is the sound fun makes when you have it.
What sound do people on rollercoasters make? Hint: it's not Xbox 360.
A quick look at the posts about the name change shows that "Wii" is being used in the connotation they want. Just about every post that uses a pun uses "Wii" to replace "we". For instance: "Wii will be assimilated." "Wii just want to play the console." "Wii don't care about the name." There's also the occasional "Wii" used as "Whee!": I was walking down the street and when I saw a Nintendo, I said Wiiiiiii! As well as Oui: say Wii to Nintendo. Plus, I don't think many kids above the age of 5, or even below refer to urine as wee. From what I remember, most call it pee or whiz. I would say often say urine, myself. Also, think of when people get up to go to the washroom/restroom/WC/lavatory. I never hear it reffered to as wee.
Headlines from The Mysterious Future:
2006: After over a hundred years in business and only one unprofitable quarter, Nintendo is finally forced to shutter its doors for good. In spite of its lower price, innovative technology, built-in back catalog emulation, strong first-party licenses and third-party support from industry giants such as Electronic Arts and Ubisoft, the Wii's chances are destroyed by an endless barrage of trenchant insults from brilliant internet punsmiths who refuse to 'play with Nintendo's Wii.' Microsoft and Sony duel over the gradually diminishing population of hardcore gamers.
2007: Videogame industry continues to shrink. Internet punsmiths realize that 'PS3' sounds kind of like 'piss three,' sort of. Sony is subjected to ridicule from hardcore gamers and Microsoft leaps ahead in market share.
2010: Microsoft releases new console, the Microsoft Penetrator. Ads featuring a man whipping women in the face with his erect penis (tag line: The Penetrator. Is it in you?) are met with enthusiastic approval by the hardcore crowd.
2011: The release of Sony's new console, the Sony Overcompensator, is too little and too late. The consumer electronics giant shutters its doors for the last time.
2012: The Phantom is released. A console so masculine that it actually impregnates women who've never even laid eyes on one, the Phantom quickly dominates the now-anemic videogames industry.
2013-2099: The Phantom precipitates a population boom. Resource wars trigger a new global dark age.
2100: The end of videogaming, forever. A new era of social, civic and intellectual engagement dawns.
If you thought Pocari Sweat was an awful name to export to US drinker, how about Calpis? Wikipedia mentions this.
"Wii" has pissed off legions of people. Nothing that has pissed off so many can possibly be bad. Ha ha ha! Whine, GaMeRz! Whine like little piggies!
We = Us, our
Wee = Small, tiny
Whee = Used to express extreme pleasure or enthusiasm (Dictionary.com)
If you think about as meaning any of the above, the Wii isn't that silly of a name. Granted, if you have a puerile mind, it can also be a homonym meaning "pee". With so many words with double-meanings in the English language, you have to take it all in context. As a well-known example, "faggot" can be an offensive term for a homosexual man -- or it can be a bundle of twigs, or a kind of stitch, or a bassoon. A "fag" is a short form for the offensive term, or a cigarette. And you know damn well which one someone means when they ask if you'd give them a fag. When your child asks you to buy them a "wee", you'll know exactly what they're talking about.
One of the major complaints about the Wii name is that it doesn't define what the product actually is. Well, neither do iPod, Dreamcast, frisbee, Dr. Pepper, Lego, Nike... And yet these all are now memorable household names. Words can be created and then given a meaning, not just the other way around.
He Hate We
Enjoy, or not, at your leisure.
There was some failed pop musician who stole the name...only a source as dubious as Wikipedia would even bother with reporting the fact. I doubt anybody will be selling his recordings over 80 years after he's dead.
Pining for the fjords
My girlfriend's only exposure to console gaming was watching her brother play nintendo when she was younger. I showed her to promotional video of the new controller, and she thought it looked like a lot of fun. I told her about the new name for the system, and even she thought it was a really really bad name.
Seriously, how on earth could they have picked something that is a homonym for a word that means either diminutive, penis, or urine and thought it was a good idea?
We all know the name sucks. Some of us are making jokes about it, some of us are kind of just looking at it and trying to figure out whether or not we can persuade ourselves to like it, and others are talking about how great and clever it is because they are in denial.
Some rationalists argue that Nintendo is a successful, multi-billion dollar company that is quite old. They can't do wrong, right? There is no way that they couldn't have put forth a great amount of effort in choosing a name. They have clever explanations about its significance, and peple claim it's aprt of some grand marketing scheme.
I blame this on groupthink.
Nintendo vanguards can say what they will, but it's just an awkward name that rubs people in the United States the wrong way (I can't speak for other countries).
Personally, I am very excited about the console itself, and I plan to buy one when it is released. I expect it to be the best console on the market holistically.
It's just a bad name.
"Revolution" packed power. It stood for what Nintendo was up for. It fit the console so well. It's control system was, indeed, "revolutionary".
But "Wii"? Nintendo is setting themselves up for failure. This move probably cost them thousands of customers who wouldn't be caught dead pre-ordering a "Wii". That, and now they're subject to endless jokes, all revolving around "Mom, me and my buddy are going to go upstairs and play with my Wii!"
I just don't see why they made this move. But, then again, Nintendo has done a lot of quirky things and managed to pull them off (Wind Waker, anyone?). Hopefully they'll put something together with Wii.
But, this is just from your average consumer's point of view. From a gamer's point of view, nothing has changed, other than a label. I'm still going to (try to) purchase one when they come out. The control system seems awesome, and well worth getting a Wii for. As far as I care, they could call it the Nintendo P.O.S., and it'll still be the same gaming experience, which, in the long run, is all that matters.
But, if nintendo is trying to market to "casual gamers and non gamers", They had better realise that it's a very fickle market. Whats cool one month may not be cool the next. trends and fashions change weekly, and in a year we may see nintendo switching back to serve its "hardcore" base. Alienating it's current fanbase with arguably, imho, one of the most stupid names ive ever seen in my life.
It's bad enough that the Japanese have a drink called "Sweat"
Pocari Sweat is actually a Coke product, so blame them. Not all the world speaks English, so don't be surprised if a name doesn't translate too well.
I completely agree with your argument, but I also wanted to congratulate you on your outstanding use of the word 'bloviate'! That'll definitely be my word of the day for tomorrow.
Jeez, you people are all missing the obvious portable version name: Wee Wii.
"If you make people think they're thinking, they'll love you; But if you really make them think, they'll hate you." - DM
(I thought Sony already was using animated rodents in their PSP ads.
the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
dmorelli on these-jokes-never-get-old
I can only paraphrase the Official Ninja Homepage website to say...
I think I will love the new Nintendo box with all of my body (including my wii wii).
Army Recruiter: We will send you to Fort Dix.
Butthead: Is that anywhere near Fort Nuts?
You know the world is probably OK if people are bothered by the naming of a video console.
First... the word revolution is nearly impossible to pronounce by the Japanese. That means Nintendo (a Japanese company) would have to deal with that either by forcing Japanese people to pronounce 'Ls' or by significantly changing the name. Of course, that's not unheard of. But the word Wii is pronounceable pretty much by anyone. Second... the word 'Ii' is one way to say yes in Japanese. Third... this stays exactly in line with the "revolution" name by being a revolution unto itself. Game systems (especially recently) have had more aggressive, more game system sound-ish names. Xbox, playstation, genesis, saturn, dreamcast. Wii is totally different. Wii sounds like nothing you've heard of... one of the ideas behind the revolution itself. Fourth... does anyone else remeber way back when what people said about the name "Nintendo." I do. I think it was something to the extent of: "what the hell is that?" Well, here Nintendo goes again. And I for one like it
I can't believe people are getting that excited about the name of a console.
I mean, is "Playstation" a brilliant name? Does "Xbox" really inspire you? Is "Gamecube" marketing genius? Is N64 the name that makes you want to play? Dreamcast? Saturn? Genesis? Super Nintendo (talk about a dumb name!).
I guess if we go by success, the greatest names in videogames are:
2600
Nintendo Entertainment System
Playstation
Because once you saw 2600, you said "yeah, that's the name I want!" and you bought it.
And so Nintendo calls it "Wii". So what? Does the name of a console affect your desire to buy and/or play the thing? I can imagine saying "dumb name" and then you're done with it, but it sounds like a lot of folks are obsessing over the name.
You were mistaken. Which is odd, since memory shouldn't be a problem for you
Dick Butkus didn't choose to be called Dick Butkus.
Nintendo thought of ALL the names they could have picked for their console, and they chose "Wii." It's a fucking stupid name, man. Nintendo fans have as much of a right to complain as Nintendo does to tell them "fuck you, we're doing it our way."
+++ATH0
I concede, that indeed is better.
The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.
Aal Yoour Deveelopers Aare Beelong Too Uus?
Ignore this signature. By order.
A. Revolution was not the best name because it is a difficult word for the Japanese to pronounce. Besides, they would have a hell of a time battling the French and American revolution (and all others) in search engine ranks. I really believe that this day and age this is a very important factor.
the proof:
Revolution
vs.
wii
B. Personally I don't think wii is a bad name (but that is not the point) if people are going to mock the fact that it sounds like "wee" why not mock every sentence containing the word "we" as well.
Since we're on the subject again, I reckoned that *someone* should post this... 8)
http://www.funnyjunk.com/pages/squirrel.htm
Nintendo might have a hit on their hands, think about it! All the cool named systems underperformed: Lynx, Jaguar, TurboGrafx, Dreamcast, Saturn!!! What were/are the popular systems: 2600, NES, SNES, Playstation, Playstation 2, Nintendo DS? All very lame. I hate to break it to you people but it's not about the name, the hype or the specs... It's about the games. If you have the best games they will come. \
There's a reason the codename is revolution: they are planning a coup de tat of the console emperor -- Sony.
Taken from dictionary dot com, these two definitions seems appropriate:
1. A sudden or momentous change in a situation.
2. The overthrow of one government and its replacement with another.
Obviously, Nintendo changed the marketing situation of the console wars. All eyes are upon Nintendo and E3 for the "Wii". After E3, the throne will be usurped by Nintendo and Sony will either be beheaded (die in the console war) or sent to peasant land (2nd place) or exiled (last place).
Of course, any rebels that fail to achieve their goals usually result in death.
Every geek has some sort of website, programming or computer project. Here's mine: www.youtasteit.com . What's yours?
The DS is selling great and that's named after the major selling point of the system, the Dual Screens. They should do the same with the Revolution. So, let's see, the main selling point is the motion sensitive controllers. I'm guessing they use some kind of solid state gyroscope for the sensors so, basically, they're gyroscopic controllers. So there you have it, call it the Nintendo Gyroscopic Controllers or Nintendo GC for short. Yeah, sounds good, that could work. I should be in marketing.
You know, when it said "game developers" in the summary, I expected, oh, perhaps someone from a big studio? You know, one that people care about and respect? I really should stop taking those summaries seriously.
Graduate of the LeRoy Funkified Badass School of Soul.
I thought it was pronouced "Why".
Obama's legacy: (N)othing (S)ecure (A)nywhere and (T)error (S)imulation (A)dministration
There is a japanese music video that is titled Aieeeeee.
It is half japanese and half english -- sounds like this...
Aiee, Aiee, Aiee, Aiee -- Aieeeeeeeeee
Aiee, Aiee, Aiee, Aiee -- Aieeeeeeeeee
Aiee, Aiee, Aiee, Aiee -- Aieeeeeeeeee
Aiee, Aiee, Aiee, Aiee -- Aieeeeeeeeee
Come-on Let's go ENKJ@$PIFN@$*U@# @$F(N)F)@F Aieeeeeeeeee
Ooh yeah @#$IM@#F @#)FM@#)F
I yi yi yi
230fi2f092409tg204
I can't find the music video at the moment, but at that disgusting website Stileproject (found on a search engine) -- and the video has been "craptured" by the Admin of Stileproject, so beware of nastiness mixed throughout the video... ~10MB download.
http://www.stilemedia.com/?v=eke1.wmv
There is a japanese music video that is titled Aieeeeee.
It is half japanese and half english -- sounds like this...
Aiee, Aiee, Aiee, Aiee -- Aieeeeeeeeee
Aiee, Aiee, Aiee, Aiee -- Aieeeeeeeeee
Aiee, Aiee, Aiee, Aiee -- Aieeeeeeeeee
Aiee, Aiee, Aiee, Aiee -- Aieeeeeeeeee
Come-on Let's go ENKJ@$PIFN@$*U@# @$F(N)F)@F Aieeeeeeeeee
Ooh yeah @#$IM@#F @#)FM@#)F
I yi yi yi
230fi2f092409tg204
I can't find the music video at the moment, but at that disgusting website Stileproject (found on a search engine) -- and the video has been "craptured" by the Admin of Stileproject, so beware of nastiness mixed throughout the video... ~10MB download.
http://www.stilemedia.com/?v=eke1.wmv
Anyway, now that I've gotten over my female-gamer rage...
In my opinion, we should stop snickering behind our hands at "Wii" (look! I said "we" in that sentance! Did anyone crack up?). A console's worth does not fall in it's name, but in its specs and power. For example, I love my laptop, but I hate the name "MacBook Pro." Did that stop me from wanting to buy it? No! What I'm trying to say is... The majority of the criticism coming at the name is from gamers that already have a firm foothold in the gaming world, so the name really shouldn't matter to you.
On the flip side, Nintendo is making a smart move with it's "friendly and cutsey" name. As a previous user mentioned with the iPod, a name is the first thing a new consumer uses to assess an item. A little name is easy to remember, and provides the less techniogically inclined consumer with an illusion of a friendly trinket that wont take them hours to figure out how to program. As apple proved, that's smart marketing to increase your customer base.
Did Wii arise out of a collection of names? Did they roundtable and focus test it?
Hurr hurr hurr this person is just as bad as the marketing people who came up with Wii in the first place. Focus groups are just a magnet for mediocrity in any product because they're usually composed of ordinary joe-blows who are too ignorant about the product to give an opinion that isn't SHIT.
Wii is a stupid name but if it's an indication that Nintendo doesn't care about the spiteful ignorance of fat midwestern housewives who make up most focus groups, and instead named it Wii out of principle... well, I'd certainly respect Nintendo even more if that's the case.
Does anyone on this site realize that the name Wii is NOT supposed to appeal to you? The whole point is that they are trying to create a larger market for this device than the young male techno-weenie. If the name appealed to anyone reading this, the marketing dept would have failed.
Nintendo should hire this guy for their commercials.
Lets see...
1) Super Mario Wii... check.
2) Wario Ware: Unwiired!... check.
3) Zelda: The Musical iinstrument... check.
4) Animal Crossing: Nook's Wiivenge... check.
5) Star Fox: Wiing Command... check.
6) Mario Kart 4-Wiilin'... check.
7) Metroid omega ii... check.
8) Harvest Moon: Wii Wii Wii, all the way home... check.
9) Kirby: Wand of Wii... check.
10) Mario Party 8... and, check.
There's your starting lineup.
Of course we'll get Pokémon and lots of Mario sports as well. But that's a no brainer.
---k--
</stupid>
There's a reason why Microsoft, Google, Yahoo, etc. are all so successful. Particularly Microsoft: its name is 3 syllables; the logo is plain and simple, with a simple font and a stylized "O". Short and sweet. People recognize it right away. This is the reason why large firms have an entire department (marketing) dedicated to researching this. "What makes our product stand out?" "What provides that 'punch'?" Wii sure is short. But I'm not sure if it's "sweet"....
An internal Microsoft email which will feature in a Nintendo/Microsoft trial in 2010 has slipped through a freak timewarp and come into my possession. It says,
"Of course, we'll wee on this at every opportunity"
How about Nintendo Gay Boy?
After all the dust settles, and people regain composure, there WILL be positive angles to the name.
Imagine ad slogans such as "Wii will rock you" (complete with the rock anthem soundtrack).
They may not market it here (unless you watch the international channels) but it's easy to find.... if you like that kind of thing.
-- your Web browser is Ronald Reagan
Google is a pretty goofy sounding name too but NOBODY cares now that they have made their goofy name mean something.
This just in! 3 out of 4 people make up 75% of the population.
Grow up, indeed.
Apparently gamers will giggle uncontrollably when hearing the phrase "we went to the store" and will squirt milk out of their noses when someone mentions golfer Michelle Wei.
If anything, Wii is a slightly childish name, and in that respect Nintendo apparently got it right on target.
ENDUT! HOCH HECH!
... a game about a jumping plumber. Those Nintendo folks are just marketing idiots, and I love 'em for it.
-G
www.pixelstatic.com
A large part of me thinks this a just a plot so that everyone will just refer to it by the generic name "Nintendo". I suspect that there is still a large part of the non-gaming public that still thinks that "Nintendo" == "game system" the same way that "Xerox" == "copier", "Kleenex" == "facial tissue" and "Coke" == "sugary carbonated beverage", and I think that this is Nintendo's attempt to capitalize on that. Seriously, I would never go into a store and tell someone that I want to buy a "Wii", I will tell them that I want a Nintendo, and I cetainly won't ever ask anyone where the "Wii games" are.
I also have to observe that most people here who were looking forward to buying a Revolution haven't suddenly decided not to buy i because it is now known as "Wii". So in that sense, this is a success in that Nintendo has generated a huge amount of buzz while not actually losing any of the customers that were probably going to buy it no matter what it was called.
If I don't put anything here, will anyone recognize me anymore?
I used it because it's amusing and makes the point. If some pissy pedant couldn't see the forest but for a toothpick, I'd just use a different amusing example of why names are important and culturally sensitive. Say, this one:
n gkong-services.html
http://www.nytimes.com/specials/hongkong/062797ho
Regardless of whether you are consciously thinking about the other meanings for the word, their connotation is still going to stick with you when you say it. Imagine for instance if the machine was called corpse or cadaver. Your initial reaction is going to be bad regardless of whether you mentally distinguish the game system from an actual dead body. That's the type of feeling that most of us are getting with this name. We know that the system isn't urine, or a penis, but the connotation of those things still arises when we hear the name.
Wii is just really awkward to say.
My apologies, people. It's not a Pr0n link, on my perspective. I just see the "Download eke1.wmv" link, then it goes to a huge page with some crap that I need to scroll past (admittantly advertised Pr0n), but none of this gets in my way because I used LYNX webbrowser!
Anyone that uses a graphical webbrowser while at work deserves neither security or safety.
Sincerily,
Bob Gorvand, Network Associates
This kind of mistake is common. When I was in business school, one of the great instances of this that was cited in our textbook was a rather unfortunate product launch related to the character woody woodpecker. There are many versions of the story on the net. Here for example:
. html
http://www.petting-zoo.net/~deadbeef/archive/1959
Given some time, everyone will be used to the name. Some people are saying it's a bad name because people are going to make jokes like "Wanna go play with my wii?" Come on, that's not going to really have an impact on sales or how well the system does. Thinking that name is going to ruin them is like saying Virgin Airlines was going to fail when announced because people would make jokes like "Wanna go ride a Virgin?" Everyone will get used to it and it won't be a big deal.
It changes my opinion of the Nintendo marketing department considerably. Did they even bother to research this?
The Nintendo marketing guys who came up with this are geniuses. I've never heard more about a new game console release than this one.
No Sigs!
Am I the only one that noticed this was coming from a bunch of no-name developers?
Simply put, the fact that the most exciting and innovative game system in the last 20 years is not targeted at hardcore gamers is a slap in the face to a subculture that takes itself far too seriously.
Dude you SO hit the nail on the head. It is impossible to add to that - my sentiments in a nutshell.
It doesn't matter what the model name is.
Touch my Wii!
"WII -- your station for all the great hits of the 80s. Up next Shorty Smith with the weather."
Coder's Stone: The programming language quick ref for iPad
What good would considering the opinions of /. readers be anyway if you're already assuming gamers won't like it... /. is for geeks, most geeks are hardcore gamers too. Basic statistics here people... lol
DISCLAIMER: Generated by a random text response bot.
Has anyone else noticed that a 360 rotation is a full revolution? 'Tis a sign, I tells ye!
+1 IDisagreeSoHeMustBeATrollOrAnAstroturferOrAShill
Still, I don't recall reading about the greatness of their choices.s sibly-be-seen-in-the-xbox-or-ps2 games that are surely coming, really!...
:)
Xbox360? Bloody brilliant. Turn a 360 and get some more. Of the same?
PS3? How imaginative and original is that? Truly awesome. Take a PS2, add a bit to it, and get some more. Of the same?
I for one can't wait to see the fun-and-original-gameplay-loaded-that-couldn't-po
Wii? I don't know, but wouldn't Gamecube2 have been a much better name?
I hear the scottish version of this console is shipping with a Wii DRM.
"Nine times out of ten, starting a fire is not the best way to solve the problem." - my wife
'wii' stands for We Ignore Idiots.
Without reiterating too much of what's already been said, the notion that video games are for 20-30 year old males must die. Nintendo are right to steer towards a better target.
Here's proof that the name change could not have been any less of a publicity success: One already, only a few days after the news broke, gets Google results for 'OMGWTFWII'.
Perhaps life really is full of possibilities.
And naturally you have demographic evidence to back up your statement that over 50% of men will refuse to buy the Nintendo Wii simply on the basis of its name, yes? Of course not, you were just talking out of your ass.
Personall I'm a man, and I'll be buying one even if they decide to rename it "My Dick is Small" or the "For Men Who Need Viagra" or whatever. I'll be buying one, and not a Sony or Microsoft for two reasons: Zelda and Metroid. I can't afford multiple consoles, and those two games series are important to me, thus Nintendo gets a sale no matter what they call the console.
Besides, no one I know actually calls their Game Cube a Game Cube, they just call it a Nintendo. That's what they'll call the Wii too.
In general though, people use all sorts of stupid sounding products every day. I'm running GNU/Linux (Guh-new Luh-nux) for my OS, someone already mentioned the Gimp for photo editing, when you think about it the PS3 sounds like "piss three", UNIX sounds a lot like "eunichs" (and people make stupid jokes about it too), I write programs in a language called "PHP" which also has the potential for urine jokes, etc, etc, etc. Stupid names abound, and they don't stup things from being used.
"Mission Accomplished" -- George W. Bush May 1, 2003
One big gimmick after another.
I'm surprised that nobody thinks that the name Wii is an attempt to attract the Ipod crowd. That was my actually my first thought when I saw the name. Just like how 360 was meant to make the XBox sounds superior to the PS3, the two i's in Wii might be trying to take advantage of the connection the letter i have to technology and style. Not to mention the influence the Ipod clearly had on the console and the controller...
The first thing that came to mind when I heard the new name was "Whee!" as in, "we're going to have fun!" Now, who's to say that people that play the console are going to be enjoying themselves enough to utter a squeal of delight such as this? Words like "Playstation" and "Gamecube" were descriptive names of the piece of solid-state electronics used to play games. They made sense. "Wii" has so many connotations, and not a single one of them describe the system well. "We?" Maybe I want to play single-player. "Whee"? You're presuming your console is that much fun to control? "Wee"? It's small. Who cares? Or are you trying to say the CD drive leak yellow fluid every once in awhile?
Everyone's seen this Firefox 'Ad' Right?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euZ0j7vtKEQ
Wheeeeee!. Er, Wii!!!!!!!
As a reaction to Nintendo, Sony have decided to rename the PS3 as the Poo. That's right, this christmas it will be a full on retail battle between the Wii and the Poo. Who will win? Only time will tell.
Haven't you got anything better to do than read my stupid signature?
I was in Japan a year ago and ran into a drink call "Calpis" I was disappointed when it didn't taste like cattle urine in the least.
Wii-Wii ... I said I was sorry *ducks as the rotten vedge gets thrown at him*
excellent, sir. i feel exactly the same way and it's refreshing to see that i'm not alone.
That's all nintendo have to do to turn this wii problem around while getting support from eveyrone around the world. The "super nintendo entertainment system II" come on mod me up, this is a brilliant idea! who's with me!?
I want no more articles about Wii unless it has to do with the actual technology or games behind the name.
If it looks like it will be a good console with good games then I will buy it.
Coca-cola is named after a drug, and look how that did.
You are aware that there is no barrier for people to continue referring to it as the revolution.
i know pronounce it as w i i or w double i. oh wait...
Live your life each day as if it was your last.
Also, who the hell would be too embarrassed to ask for a Wii?
Customer: "I'll take a Wii please."
Store Clerk: "The food court is down the hall."
Well, what the hell exactly is a "wega" (pronounced Vega)?
I still bought an XBR-400 a few years ago, despite the name. It's a pretty bitchin' tube TV, even though it's named after a "economy" car from the 70's.
Google Translate absolutely chokes on this. The "Japanese(BETA) to English" utility spits out hiragana, katakana and kanji characters. How English is that?
Can anyone do a quick translation here for the anglophone crowd?
Do you often find yourself remarking: "My subconscious enjoys me?
Jeun goe di, die hommeu di, je bork de du di mmm bork bork bork! Es weg di hög des wög aal yoor develuupers aru beluung to us!i. Um gesh dee bork, bork!
No seriously, why not just call the damn thing 'R'.
It both leverages the revolution moniker, AND gives them the team-building connotation they are looking for, as in 'our'. As in:
R controller
R new direction in gameplay,
etc. etc.
You can also call the controller the Rmote, make it cute by making it lower case (if they so desire). Plus of course NO DAMN SOPHMORIC JOKES.
Ed
(ps - just a disclaimer, I saw this on digg first, but it seems apropos to post it here, just to spread the meme.)
Amazon.com was originally going to be called Cadabra as in abra cadabra, but someone thought it sounded too close to cadaver and would have a negative connotation. They changed the name. I wasn't suggesting that people are seriously going to be consciously associating the console with the various meanings of wee, but subconsciously the connotation carries over.
It is a stupid name. To me, and most people over the age of 10, but remember nintendo's past market share has been kids, and they would like to keep that market share.
Calling there system war machine or revolution is a little too complicated for kids. A three year old can say the name of this product very easily, and nintendo wants to get them hooked young.
Now as to the older generation Nintendo has a few things up there sleave to capture that as well. Mainly the ability to play old retro nintendo games that we all grew up on, plus the ability to also play all the old sega genesis games as well. That draw will help them capture some of the older gamers, but the real key for nintendo is if they can land the latest and greatest gaming titles for their platform.
Landing the latest titles by the like of companies like Rockstar Games will solidify the possibility to capture all three markets. Something no gaming company has done is a long time.
Nintendo is just trying to retain its previous market share, and of course that is young children, and in the process snag some of us in the process.
For the record I hate the name, but I understand why the chose it.
No, it's not a good name. In case you were asleep, they already had a perfectly good one: Revolution. Now they've change it from that to something that is flat out fucking stupid.
Wii had to be explained. Worse the explenation is one of new age crap about i and i coming together and taking a piss or something.
The name on its own I can live with. It is the whole "meaning" thing that gets up my nose.
MMO Quests are like orgasms:
You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.
Humperdinck
What he's smoking is called education. His whole point was that the guy in his 50s took the name from a famous composer who died in 1921.
First time I saw the name, I tried to spell it out loud for a friend and it hit me:
Double you, double I = We
Genius
On top of that, everyone I've met who's heard of the name change has said "Wii? Wheeeeeeee!!!"
It just pushes the idea of you and me playing together Mario Kart shouting "wheeee!!!" and having fun fun fun!
Most people who deride this name appear to be hung up on the childish notion of "wee-wee": get a grip. Anyone to associates this name with that is either under the age of 10 or REALLY has to get out more.
For God's sake, where was Miyamoto?
;)
Shh!! Don't interrupt him or they'll delay Zelda again
I will forever be a student.
It's a Nintendo. Call it a Nintendo. Alot will buy it, and alot will enjoy it. Anything to get outta soul-absorbing MMO's and redundant first-person shooters. Just bring back "Strider". It's all I want for christmas!
Im seeing dozens of comments pointing out how many headlines Nintendo have stolen, how many people are talking about it, and claiming this as some sort of victory.
The saying any publicity is good publicity refers to people not pieces of hardware. If Jack Nicholson gets caught shagging a prostitute with that big grin on his face he will get infamous and probably a few movie deals. If Nvidia come out with an advertising slogan saying. "Buy our graphics card even though we havent finished the drivers and itll probably blow up your computer" They wont sell any units despite the many headlines im sure that would steal.
Now the name Wii certainly isnt a faulty graphics card that blows up computers, but, assuming that because a piece of hardware has gained lots of publicity thats always going to be a good thing is ridiculous.
Id be fairly stunned if Nintendo didnt alter the name before release. Id be even more stunned it this terrible name got them a single sale because of the interest its generated. Theyll no doubt make a fair bit of cash but itll be despite the name, not because of it.
P-NES is probably a lot worse than Wii.
Meh.
So many people have heard about the Wii now and so many of them think that it is a stupid name right.
When they go into the store to buy something theyll be like "oh theres that stupid Wii! lets see how stupid it is!" and when they play it they will go "Shit man that was so good! Why the hell did I pay it out so immaturely."
That is how Nintendo have helped their cause and besides, Wii aint that bad as a name. At least Nintendo have the guts to name something unique and completely different. Unlike Sony who are coming up on the fourth console to use the Playstation name. Cmon they know that if they stop using that name they are back on the same playing field as Nintendo. Xbox and Xbox360. What a stupid name! A box with an X on it! Shit thats an innovative! Sounds depressing to me.
Nintendo's name describes what the system is about; and everyone knows it now! You will enjoy it, just find the balls to admit it - or 'wii' off!