The Revolution has an OFFICAL name!

Richard Kim · 04-27-2006, 12:41 PM

It's called... the Nintendo Wii.

http://revolution.nintendo.com/

Here's Nintendo's explanation:

Quote:

Introducing... Wii.
As in "we."

While the code-name Revolution expressed our direction, Wii represents the answer. Wii will break down that wall that seperates videogame players from everybody else. Wii will put people more in touch with their games... and each other. But you're probably asking: What does the name mean?

Wii sounds like "we," which emphasizes 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 "ii" spelling that symbolizes both the unique controllers and the image of people playing it. And Wii, as a name and a console, brings something revolutionary to the world of videogames that sets it apart from the crowd.

So that's Wii. But now Nintendo needs you. Because it's really not about you or me. It's about Wii. And together, Wii will change everything.

Wow. It's a wierd name, to be sure. I liked the name Revolution. But I guess Wii symbolizes the radical new direction the big N is going with their new console.

Russell G · 04-27-2006, 12:48 PM

As nifty as the XBOX360 and the Playstation 3 seem to be, I have to admit I'm most excited to see what Nintendo does with this.

The marketing is working, as I'm even mor intrigued now!

Simon Massey · 04-27-2006, 07:02 PM

I think the Revolution/Wii is an interesting gamble by Nintendo. Rather than compete with the Xbox and Playstation 3 which are essentially graphical upgrades of the exisiting consoles, they seem to be trying to do something a little bit different and they should be applauded for it. I think if the price point is right, this could be a huge success - Nintendo supporters will buy it anyway but a lower price point could see a lot of Xbox/PS3 owners getting it as a second console. I own a 360 and am certainly interested in the Wii. (Stupid name though I suppose it is in keeping with trying to be different - revolution is basically another moniker for 360).

Jason Harbaugh · 04-28-2006, 01:05 AM

Absolute worst name for a console ever. They had it nailed with Revolution to begin with.

Anyway I know the jokes are going to be flying so had to get mine out of the way early.

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nolesrule · 04-28-2006, 01:21 AM

Jason, that's terrible.

**HTF Ads**

Joe D · 04-28-2006, 08:02 AM

I agree, the name is terrible. What is wrong with the Revolution?

Kevin Ley · 04-28-2006, 10:46 AM

I think I'm with most people, thinking that Wii is a dumb name. However, that's not what bothers me the most.

What bothers me is that Nintendo seems to be trying to pass off this naming campaign as some kind of heartfelt message to the gaming community; that they're going against the status quo with this name. That'd be great if that was what was really going on.

It seems to me that some people at Nintendo felt that a name change was absolutely necessary and some marketing monkey came up with this "Wii the people" advertising campaign. When I read Nintendo's message on the Wii website I don't think of new ways to play my games; I think "This is a corny play-on-words." I see no warmth of any kind, just the same corporate motivational yammer that I got from working at places like Gamestop.

That being said; I'm still very excited for the (sigh) Wii. I've always loved Nintendo's products. And the Wii is still a step forward in gaming. I just don't think they need such a wacky campaign to prove themselves.

The good news is that, good or bad, this change is generating press. People are talking about it more than ever and that's the whole point. The comments on this forum are the most positive I've seen so far in Nintendo's favor; so I think we (or Wii) all realize that, in the end, it's about sitting down and playing the damn game.

Chris S · 04-28-2006, 11:41 AM

From an IGN interview with Perrin Kaplan (NOA's VP of corporate affairs)

Quote:

IGN Wii: You have said that you're going for a name that's unique, like Google. But Wii is also used as "we" every day and therefore only unique in spelling. Do you think there is a risk of confusing potential buyers with a title like this?

Perrin Kaplan: I think it's really fun to look at, the logo. I think people are going to see that on the box and our package art. I think people will get it straight after a while - it's just something they're going to have to get used to.

"... just something they're going to have to get used to."?? Such arrogance. This name obviously sucks and she knows it. According to the interview the naming process took close to a year. I'm really surprised, that given a year, ANY group of people couldn't come up with a much better name. I'm sure the backlash from the gamer community is going to be a major headache for them at E3.

My other favorite quote was

Quote:

We actually have had a day of a lot of smiles around here with a variety of things that fans have created, let me just say that. It shows you that people are big fans of Nintendo.

No, Perrin, its not because people are big fans. Its because they hate the name and are going to make fun of Nintendo because of it.

sigh... calming down... calming down...

I other article I liked from Gamespot had this quote

Quote:

One industry analyst who spoke in the condition of anonymity said flat out the choice was wrong, for a number of reasons. "It's a sound that doesn't exist in Japanese, so Japanese people will struggle to pronounce it."

Acknowledging that Nintendo has had code names for their consoles before--Dolphin became the GameCube, for instance. But this time, the analyst said, "Nintendo let the code name gain a little too much currency: people were used to it, and it was widely accepted as the console's name."

"Now they have a stupid-sounding manufactured name that probably wouldn't have tested well with English speakers if they'd bothered doing any market research," the analyst said. "And they're going to try to use it to replace an evocative, well-accepted name that people have been using for well over a year. Bad, stupid move."

However, Nintendo is confident that, after the initial shock wears off, people will take to the Wii name. "The other systems have an extension of their current names--ours is a new leap to something different," Nintendo of America vice president Perrin Kaplan told CNN/Money. A rep for the company echoed similar sentiments, assuring GameSpot that "the name will grow on you."

I guess it'll have to grow on me.

Joe D · 04-28-2006, 12:45 PM

I've got a very serious question for a Nintendo insider.

In the past few years, have they been introducing laughing gas or other chemicals into the workplace environment?

Does Nintendo employees ever play video games?