The Nintendo... Wii? W-T-F?

[Ben Sones]

So Nintendo has decided to call their new console the... Wii (and believe me, I can hardly type that without laughing), thus trading what was perhaps the coolest game console name ever for what is, BY FAR, the lamest.

Video:

http://revolution.nintendo.com (http://revolution.nintendo.com/)


Better video:

Wheee! (http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/weeee.php)

[Tom Ohle]

oof. That's ridiculous.

[Fugitive]

I don't care what the site says, I'll be pronouncing it as "why". I will not go up to a clerk and ask "Hey, do you have any of those Nintendo *sigh* 'wee's in stock?"

[Tom Ohle]

On further thought... does Nintendo not have a marketing department? Focus testing didn't tell you that "wii" is not, in fact, a good name?

[Ephraim]

Sometimes market research is just plain wrong. No matter how positive your focus group, no matter what the survey results say, you can get a baaaaaaad sample.

And Nintendo got a bad sample.

I'm going to be calling it the "Nintendo Whyy", as in "Whyy did they choose such a stupid, stupid name."

[ElGuapo]

It's 26 days too late for this joke, my friends.

Please say this is a joke.

[Ryan Markel]

A reply to this escapes me completely.

[Lunch of Kong]

"Revolution" has always been a codename, but I didn't know they were going to call it "Wii". Honestly.

[Quitch]

Okay, that's gotta be a joke. May as well call it The Shaft, or something equally stupid... then again, X2 almost got released as X2: The Khaak Threat, and only a last second intervention stopped that (and I believe the VO in X3 has people calling them the Cock, so who knows what's possible).

[extarbags]

I guess they were feeling like they had too much of a chance of selling a lot of them. Sigh.

After reading their explanation, I feel a little bit better. But you know, it's kind of classic Nintendo marketing in a way. It's like they sat down and came up with all these things they wanted the name to express, and when you look at it in that light, it really makes sense. It does everything they set out to do. The 'i's really do look like people playing the machine together, and the controller. Pronouncing it like "we" definitely does convey the sense of unity that they're trying to foster, and the fact that it doesn't need an abbreviation is just cool.

But in the end, when someone who doesn't really care about all that sees the name of the console... it's "Wii." :(

[ElGuapo]

I guess gone are the magazine covers with a Marxist fist holding up the cool new controller. Man, the marketing on that one sold itself.

[Ben Sones]

Wii can easily be remembered by people around the world, no matter what language they speak. No confusion. No need to abbreviate. Just Wii.

It's genius. It can't be abbreviated, but you'll wish that it could!

"Hey, want to come over and play with my Wii?"

People who have been calling the Revmote a "waggle-stick" are going to LOVE this!


"Revolution" has always been a codename

Yeah, but it should have been the final name. Seriously.

[Justin Fletcher]

Almost as bad as its ridiculously twee pronunciation is the impenetrable look of the word itself. Unless a Ninentendo representative is shipped with each store's allotment to explain to shoppers how to say the name (nevermind what the fuck it means), I predict consumer reaction will be less "Wow!" and more "Huh?"

Why-i?
Double-U Eye Eye?
Whih?
W2?
And, of course, puzzlement will change to distaste once the correct pronunciation is revealed. Fantastic marketing choice.

[Charles]

That revolution.nintendo.com site sounds like the exact reason why you don't let marketing people make decisions. Reading that text is a real groaner.

And really, who lets people name their console a euphemism for urine?

[nixon66]

Please let this be wrong...

[Ben Sones]

The GAF forums seem to have just gone down. GAF am explode!

[quatoria]

Want some wee? 'Course ya do!

[Hawkeye Fierce]

Sometimes market research is just plain wrong. No matter how positive your focus group, no matter what the survey results say, you can get a baaaaaaad sample.

And Nintendo got a bad sample.

Sure that can happen, but at some point doesn't somebody with decision making power say "Wait a second, I don't care what marketing says, this sets off alarm bells"?

[Union Carbide]

Okay, that's gotta be a joke. May as well call it The Shaft, or something equally stupid... then again, X2 almost got released as X2: The Khaak Threat, and only a last second intervention stopped that (and I believe the VO in X3 has people calling them the Cock, so who knows what's possible).

http://www.g4tv.com/pile_landing.aspx?video_key=10925

[Charles]

Sure that can happen, but at some point doesn't somebody with decision making power say "Wait a second, I don't care what marketing says, this sets off alarm bells"?


I guess that's what happens when your board of directors have another name... "Great Grandfathers"

[Charles]

Oh oh oh oh!

Someone, quick! Grab the WOOOOOOOOOOOO! photo and photoshop it to WII!

[Hawkeye Fierce]

http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/6792/owiiwii27mt.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Sam Jones]

People who have been calling the Revmote a "waggle-stick" are going to LOVE this!

I want to plug my stick into your wii hole.

Nintendo Wii: Urine the Game.

[Slainte Mhath]

So I hear the first add-on for it is slated to be the Nintendo External Removable Storage device.

"Excuse me, do you guys have those new Wii-NERS yet?"


Thanks, I'm here all week, try the veal and tip your waitress generously.

[CaseyRobinson]

Damn you Nintendo! I thought you wanted to sell these things.

[Wholly Schmidt]

I thought this was going to be a thread about WiFi problems and someone just made a typo. This is insane.

[Charles]

Man, and to think that people used to think "Gamecube" was a stupid name. Apparently, no one knew just how stupid nintendo could be.

[Rob_Merritt]

Ennui (Pronunciation: "än-'wE) is a feeling of weariness and dissatisfaction.

related terms:
EnnWii is a feeling of weariness and dissatisfaction with Nintendo.

[Hanacker]

Maybe they're planning on bringing in Michelle Wie as they're spokeswoman.

[Ephraim]

The more I think about it, the more I hate it.

It's that kind of name.

I, too, thought that when I first saw "Wii" that someone had made a typo for WiFi. And let's not forget the Intel "Viiv" platform, pronounced "Vive". Directly in opposition to Nintendo's "Weeeeeeee".

Ugh.

[Squirrel Killer]

So this is why GAF is down...

[Warning]

It's a really really bad name. Colossally bad name.

[quatoria]

So, you say you want a WII-volution?

[Drastic]

Stupidity is normally liquid, and flows freely from marketing exec to marketing exec. It only freezes at very low cognitive temperature.

But Dr. Hoenikker discovered how to make stupid-9, a seed crystal that teaches stupidity to freeze at brain temperature.

Someone dropped the thermos at a staff meeting.

EDIT: Not stupid-9. wii-9.

[Charles]

I can't wait for the WII-views.

Cue the rest of Life of Brian.

[Supertanker]

Are they porting Shadow Warrior to it? "Who wants some Wii Wang?"

[MikeSofaer]

So, you say you want a WII-vowution?
Fixed. Nicely done, BTW.

[Ben Sones]

Oh oh oh oh!

Someone, quick! Grab the WOOOOOOOOOOOO! photo and photoshop it to WII!

Done!

http://www.odditorium.net/Wii.jpg

[Drastic]

More advanced task--make that the wiimote he's holding.

[Miramon]

Nintendo's main website is erroring out at www.nintendo.com. The flash on that revolution site is so slow to load I haven't gotten it yet after 15 minutes.

I see no other web references to the "wii" except for some typos.

Is it possible someone hacked the nintendo website? Is there any other confirmation of this name.

[edit: bah, I see some other articles mentioning it now. Sigh.]

[dogbert]

It's official, Miramon. Here's the press release.

http://www.mcvuk.com/newsitem.php?id=961

[Ben Sones]

Is it possible someone hacked the nintendo website? Is there any other confirmation of this name.

The official Nintendo Magazine (UK) actually broke the news before the official site announcement went live:

http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/


More advanced task--make that the wiimote he's holding.

Okay. That'll take a little more time, though.

[Charles]

Nintendo's main website is erroring out at www.nintendo.com. The flash on that revolution site is so slow to load I haven't gotten it yet after 15 minutes.

I see no other web references to the "wii" except for some typos.

Is it possible someone hacked the nintendo website? Is there any other confirmation of this name.

From the flash:

Introducing ... Wii.
As in "we."
While the code-name "Revolution expressed our direction, Wii represents the answer.
Wii will break down that wall that separates video game 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 this 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 gathering to play.
And Wii, as a name and a console, brings something revolutionary to the world of video games that sets it apart fromthe 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.

[Drastic]

Okay. That'll take a little more time, though.
Swiit, take your time. Good things come to those who wiiait!

[Charles]

Oh, another interpretation of the name!

French porn!

Wii! Wii! Wii! Wii!

[Peter Olafson]

The more I think about it, the more I think they're likely to change it.

Peter

[Charles]

I say we start a movement right now to name it the NW, pronounced "New". It's not as stupid. And I won't be embarrassed saying it and then being forced to explain it around other people.

[Hawkeye Fierce]

The more I think about it, the more I think they're likely to change it.

Peter

Maybe when it comes time to set up distribution in America, some non-Nintendo folks will say "Wii? I dunno about that. What happened to that 'Revolution' name you were throwing around?"

We can hope.

[RichardC]

I'm reminded of a game called The Tone Rebellion, which focused on a race of watery creatures called 'Floaters'.

[Rob Beschizza]

I can only imagine being the only sane person in the marketing meeting that decided this.

"We can't call it Wii, Erica," Susan shook her head, a smile turning the corners of her lips into a pout. "People wi--"

"It's perfect," said Erica. She didn't look at Susan. "It's unusual, unique. Alien. I didn't want to bring up Intel, but it's the same deal as Viiv. The kids will wonder how it's pronounced, and..."

"Wee." Susan said.

"and they'll want to find out more," Erika did not give even the slightest indication she had heard her. Susan's smile began to fade.

"Good, good," muttered James, his brows arching over those opaque lenses, which slipped a little down his nose as he scanned the list of candidates.

"Good?" Susan coughed. "You cannot be seriously considering calling our console 'Wee.'"

James shrugged. "I think you're being silly, Suze. It's a fantastic name, as Erica says. A few good spreads, some viral, and the mythos will be set. You've got a bit to learn about how easy it is to build an idea around a word, especially with kids."

Susan opened her mouth to reply, but her voice was drowned by the general parliamentary muttering of assent. The Director of Marketing had Spoken. Susan felt her bottom lip drying up, and realized her slack-jawed astonishment was a little too obvious. Erika smirked, but still, did not look at her.

"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU THINKING?" Susan's chair wheeled back from under her and slammed into the wall, then toppled over. "ARE YOU ALL ON CRACK? THIS IS THE MOST FUCKING FUCKTARDED NAME YOU FUCKERS HAVE EVER COME UP WITH! WEE!?!?!111! THAT MEANS 'PISS,' LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. PISS. ARE YOUR BRAINS PROLAPSED? DO YOU NEED SOME FUCKING CHOCOLATE MILK?"

Susan whipped out an AK and eliminated the marketing department, and lived happily ever after.

[Drunkagain]

LOL @ Nintendo. I actually thought Revolution was a good name for a system.

I guess it ultimately dosen't matter what the sytem is called but I think you would have a hard time finding a dumber name.

[Charles]

LOL @ Nintendo. I actually thought Revolution was a good name for a system.

I guess it ultimately dosen't matter what the sytem is called but I think you would have a hard time finding a dumber name.

Well, sure, you could be obvious about it, and just name it the Nintendo Stupid.

[Justin Fletcher]

I guess it ultimately dosen't matter what the sytem is called but I think you would have a hard time finding a dumber name.
The Nintendo Puu?

[Gary Whitta]

What are they going to do in the UK, where "wee" means "piss"?

[Charles]

What are they going to do in the UK, where "wee" means "piss"?


I think that was addressed earlier...


Nintendo Wii: Urine the Game.

[Rywill]

I like the name, if only because I laughed out loud at this thread. Wiiii!

[Robert Sharp]

Really? You mean in the UK wee means something dirty? Wow, that's very interesting.

[Drunkagain]

The Nintendo Puu?

Heh, I like that better! =)

[Fugitive]

"So, who do you think will dominate the next generation?"
"Wii will."
"We are working on a console?"
"No, Wii is the console."
"Oh, I think I get it. So we are going to increase our enjoyment by reassessing our own expectations of what we will get out of our games?"
"No, Wii will just have a funky new controller."
"Gotcha."

[Rimbo]

Thanks, I'm here all week, try the veal and tip your waitress generously.

Unless she's a cow. We don't condone cow tipping.

[Rimbo]

What are they going to do in the UK, where "wee" means "piss"?


Oh, it means that here, too. And the wee-wee is the thing where piss comes out of on little boys.

Yeah, Nintendo didn't think this one over very carefully. Nintendo--;

[Jake Plane]

My theory - someone in marketing made the point that "Revolution" conveys a type of hardware muscle that Nintendo isn't delivering. It connotes a masculine, gasoline powered, turbo-charged machine, when in point of fact, Nintendo is only offering a suped-up midsize in comparison to the two exotics being offered by Xbox and Sony.

Wii on the other hand is more family friendly, and emphasizes Nintendo's traditional role in the marketplace, one of fun, family-friendly gaming geared primarily toward children and not the hardcore gamer.

And yes, I really do believe that something like this was presented to the suits in Nintendo.

[KaoFloppy]

I am breathlessly waiting for the inevitable cross-promotion with the long-awaited-arrival-to-North-America of Qoo (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qoo), with a giveaway of a console per hour. "Drink Qoo, Get Wii!"*

*Only available in yellow colour. Not available in Hawaii.

[MattKeil]

So I assume "Wii" is Japanese for "the nail in the fucking coffin"? I am honestly stunned beyond belief. I keep trying to think of a console with a worse name, and I can't. I just can't.

[txa1265]

Hey, c'mon guys, I can think of worse names!

... um ...

... let's see ...

... um ...

oh. never mind.

[BobJustBob]

Eh, Xbox 360 is worse. At least Wii has an explanation behind it.

[Mike Cathcart]

Actually, I kinda like it. It's cute, plus when you say the name you're already having fun. Yep, I like Wii. Bring it on, jerks.

[MattKeil]

Eh, Xbox 360 is worse.

It really, really, really isn't. If "360" was slang for taking a shit, maybe. But it isn't.

[Bill Dungsroman]

From the flash:

Introducing ... Wii.
As in "we."
As in, how most people pronounce "Hawaii," unless they know how to really pronounce things in Hawaiian. So in Hawaii at least, it's the Ve-e.



While the code-name "Revolution expressed our direction, Wii represents the answer.
Ha ha, "We represents the answer." Way to blow your whole "Wii=We" parallel, dingleberry.



Wii will break down that wall that separates video game players from everybody else.
How late is Nintendo to this party? There is no wall. It's more like a garden fence with the gate thrown wide open. Unless you mean the wall between the hardcore and the casual gamer. In which case, you're right: the causal are looking confused and asking the hardcore, and we're all laughing and say "We know, we know-we don't get, either."



Wii will put people more in touch with their games... and each other.
Wait...what? I smell a DOAX Volleyball clone.



But you're probably asking: What does the name mean?
No. You are all marketing drones. We got over the whole "Brand Name Mystique" marketing gimmick sometime shortly after Spam. Nothing means anything anymore...although sometimes something accidentally means something else, because marketing people are stupid.



Wii sounds like "we," which emphasizes this console is for everyone.
It emphasizes this by being just obtuse enough that you have to explain it? Would Coca-Cola not relinquish its trademark on IYDKYGTG?



Wii can easily be remembered by people around the world, no matter what language they speak. No confusion. No need to abbreviate. Just Wii.
Except Hawaiian, or any language that doesn't use the alphabet. The rest of us will remember it because it's stupid.



Wii has a distinctive "ii" spelling that symbolizes both the unique controllers and the image of people gathering to play.
And, presumably, having to share one controller? The IQ break evidently exists at the subpar decision to not go with Wiwi yet being fine with Wii. Wiiw is out because, well, nobody with a marketing job can conceive of its pronunciation, except some who think it might be God's true name. I'd go with Iwiw, pronounced "I woo" because, well it sounds a lot sexier than a synonym for piss.

EDIT: Ah, I see, it's two two seperate units for one controller. Maybe they should've called it Iwi. Regardless, still dunno how that shows more than one person playing it.


And Wii, as a name and a console, brings something revolutionary to the world of video games that sets it apart from the crowd.
Oh, there's the revolution tie-in we were all waiting for (sort of). Exciting. BEATS SOMETHING BANAL LIKE PS3 AM I RIGHT FOLKS?



So that's Wii.
"So that's we." This is reading like Engrish...intentional? Because that I might go for. Wii...Setting You Up The Bomb In 2006.



But now Nintendo needs you.
Worst. Marketing. Phrase. Ever. Is Nintendo non-profit? OH THE JOKES THEY WRITE THEMSELVES.



Because, it's really not about you or me.
It's about Wii.
And together, Wii will change everything.
I'd start with your marketing department.

[Dave Long]

So you all just decided you won't buy one because of the name or something? Cause if that's not the case, then who cares what it's called?

Sure seems like the kind of name that generates discussi... oh, would you look at that... three pages already!

[Mike Cathcart]

I don't know if this is the kind of conversation I'd want to generate. Anyway I still like it. Wiiiiii!

[Gary Whitta]

Nintendo probably could have developed one additional Triple-A launch title for the system with the money they paid the marketing consultants to come up with this.

[BobJustBob]

Fuck, my post got eaten. Anyway, it sucks. Nintendo We would have been a better choice, although Revolution is pretty much the best possible name they could have ever conceived.

I was telling someone at work about it, and others (casual gamers all) overheard and were drawn in, just so they could stand there stupified with a "Who the fuck thought that was a good idea?" look upon their faces.

[zabuni]

So you all just decided you won't buy one because of the name or something? Cause if that's not the case, then who cares what it's called?

Sure seems like the kind of name that generates discussi... oh, would you look at that... three pages already!

This will affect how many casuals pick up the system. It will be much harder for a little kick to pick up a video game if the name sounds like a word for piss.

[stusser]

Huh. Can't wait to see how they spin this one.

[Bill Dungsroman]

So you all just decided you won't buy one because of the name or something? Cause if that's not the case, then who cares what it's called?
Dave Long: Still Not Getting This Whole Internet Thing

[Keith]

Sure seems like the kind of name that generates discussi... oh, would you look at that... three pages already!

And they could have generated the same level of discussion by calling it the "Nintendo Pedophile" accompanied by the marketing slogan: "It will fuck your kids up!"

Creating a flurry of discussion ain't necessarily a measure of success...

[rjcc]

They should've just called it the nintendo urin and be done with it. I'd type more, but I'm laughing too hard.

[noun]

Someone needs to be fired over this. Viral marketing is a powerful tool (right, George?), but in general, it's not supposed to make potential customers laugh AT you.

[Gary Whitta]

How long before they announce the tie-in with Queen (Qwiin?) for the TV ads: "Wii Will Rock You", anyone?

[Fugitive]

Maybe the successor to the DS will be called the Wee Wii.

[Shadarr]

We got over the whole "Brand Name Mystique" marketing gimmick sometime shortly after Spam. Nothing means anything anymore...although sometimes something accidentally means something else, because marketing people are stupid.
So true. So pathetically, tragically true.

I will still be calling it the Revolution.

[BobJustBob]

No. You are all marketing drones. We got over the whole "Brand Name Mystique" marketing gimmick sometime shortly after Spam. Nothing means anything anymore...although sometimes something accidentally means something else, because marketing people are stupid.

This will actually work in their favor. Just like every other horrible product name, after a month or two you won't even think about how horrible it is. I remember swearing to always call the 360 the Xbox 2.

[Hawkeye Fierce]

Ok, so which is worse - Nintendo Wii or the McDonald's "I'd Hit It" ad?

[Dave Long]

Everyone thought Dreamcast and 360 were dumb names too. Heck, even PlayStation was a joke to people on the Internet.

That's really the bottom line. It doesn't matter what they had called it, people were waiting to call it a failure. If it had stayed Revolution, you'd have a whole thread of folks saying "Well, THAT'S awfully pretentious!"

As Bob says, in a month or two no one will care.

[Jason Cross]

Maybe the successor to the DS will be called the Wee Wii.

I'd go for Mini-wii myself.

I can just see myself walking into EB. "Hey did you guys get the latest Animal Crossing?"

"For the DS?"

"No, I want to play it on my w...y'know what? Just forget about it."

[Ben Sones]

Swiit, take your time. Good things come to those who wiiait!

I dunno about that. We waited a long time to find out what the real name for the Nintendo Revolution was going to be, and it ended up being the Nintendo Wii.

http://www.odditorium.net/Wii2.jpg

[Matthew Gallant]

Launch title: Gonads and Strife.

[Ben Sones]

Sure seems like the kind of name that generates discussi... oh, would you look at that... three pages already!

What discussion? So far, all it has generated is ridicule. And if you think that's the same thing, then there may be a job in Nintendo marketing for you!

[Keith]

Everyone thought Dreamcast and 360 were dumb names too.

Even if this is true, there's no way there was the level of negativity about those names that we're seeing here with Nintendo's.


As Bob says, in a month or two no one will care.


Personally, I don't think I've ever given a shit about the name of a console. At most, it would be a passing "that's okay" or "that's kinda cool/dumb" when the name was announced and then I never gave it another thought. But here, there's really an unprecedented level of revulsion and dismay (especially at the idea of having to say the name out loud, in public!), which isn't going to simply fade away in the same way any "eh, kinda dumb" reactions to the DC and 360 did.

[Jazar]

To me it will always be the Revolution

[Stroker Ace]

I'm with Keith. "Kiddie" and "gamey" aren't the same as "excretory".

[Wholly Schmidt]

Everyone thought Dreamcast and 360 were dumb names too. Heck, even PlayStation was a joke to people on the Internet.
Dave, get a clue. The Dreamcast sounded bizzare. The 360 was a pretty transparent marketing ploy to keep from sounding inferior compared to the PS3. But that's all they were. Neither of them were stupid or words that described urine. If they'd tried to sell us the WetDream and the Xbox69 with a straight face, you'd have a point.

[Jason Cross]

Everyone thought Dreamcast and 360 were dumb names too. Heck, even PlayStation was a joke to people on the Internet.

That's really the bottom line. It doesn't matter what they had called it, people were waiting to call it a failure. If it had stayed Revolution, you'd have a whole thread of folks saying "Well, THAT'S awfully pretentious!"

As Bob says, in a month or two no one will care.

Dreamcast and Playstation were two of the most-derided console names before release. Dreamcast still sounds totally retarded, you have to admit. Everyone said Playstation sounded like a silly kiddie toy, and would run around saying "oooh...I want to play with my play station" in that same juevenile condesention voice they used to mock Wind Waker as "cel-da."

Xbox actually worked out well. It was the code-name, and everyone liked it, and they market-tested it against some other names and everyone just liked Xbox. As for the 360 - eh, I can see what they're going out. I don't HATE it.

Wii is just awful. Seriously.

[Kirian]

The only people who will not make peurile jokes are the Scots, who will probably just exclaim "Aye, it's a dinky little thing, ain't it?".
Is it possible the potential backlash could cause Nintendo to retract the announcement? Or will NoA simply scream at the person who came up with the name.
Frankly, NoE appear not to care any more. About anything.

[tim edwards]

The office upstairs holds the UK Official Nintendo Mag. We went up to take the piss a bit. I kind of felt sorry - just one staffie sitting there, completely silent, rocking back and forth, just holding his head.

Oh man. Funniest thing, ever.

[slantz]

I thought the 360 was a good name, especially from a business sense (skipping their '2' to PS's '3' and such). But as a consumer I liked it just fine too.

The "Wii" doesn't exactly invoke the same response from me... I, for one, am less likely to talk about the system in a flattering light or to show my enthusiasm for the Wii... (see how that sounds?)

[Tyjenks]

http://www.corante.com/mooreslore/archives/images/whatizit.gif

Has someone mentioned this stupid thing from the Atlanta Summer Olympics? Wii easily ranks up with Whatizit.

[Wholly Schmidt]

Frankly, NoE appear not to care any more. About anything.
I'm sure they'll come around. Even now, someone at Nintendo is thinking to themselves "We really need to generate more support in Europe, what happened to all our fans? Wait, that's it! The Nintendo Fanny!"

[Wholly Schmidt]

http://www.corante.com/mooreslore/archives/images/whatizit.gif

Has someone mentioned this stupid thing from the Atlanta Summer Olympics? Wii easily ranks up with Whatizit.
Every time I see that I want to brush my teeth.

[metta]

What are they going to do in the UK, where "wee" means "piss"?

They'll sell the unit with DVDs of Free Willy O.o

[Hawkeye Fierce]

Why hasn't Kitsune weighed in on this thread yet?

[Stroker Ace]

It's less than three hours old?

[Hawkeye Fierce]

Bah. That's no excuse.

[Keith]

Oh good god. (http://www.quartertothree.com/game-talk/showthread.php?t=25919)

[Tom McNamara]

Looks like Nintendo overthought this by a wide, wide margin. They claim to not care about what Sony and MS are doing, and their funky controller bears that out to a certain degree... but then they decide to generate a name that has the fewest international pronunciation barriers (and language mishaps -- you don't want the name of your console to mean "stool sample" in Ukrainian). And as they've discovered, what you end up with is a word that requires an overheated marketing push to explain what the hell is going on and why you should think it's awesome and exciting.

[MattKeil]

As Bob says, in a month or two no one will care.

I'll care when I have to go into an EB and say, "I'd like to preorder a Wii." It is a horrible, horrible name. Double-meanings you do not want associated with your product, plus it's an incredibly weak word. "Dreamcast," "GameCube," "Xbox," these all have hard consonants, closure to the pronunciation of the word. "Wii" is just a weak, trailing little vowel sound.

I predict mass jeering at the Nintendo press conference.

[Alex Dolce]

Mountains out of molehills. A system's name is about as unimportant as anything. I can't tell you how many mothers used to come into the store, many years ago when I briefly worked retail in my younger days, asking for Intendos. No one cares about the name, when you get down to it. Forum posters on the Internet care, but that's about the extent of it. As long as it has fun games, the name won't matter. If the games aren't fun, on the other hand...

[RickH]

Stoooooooopid.

I can't believe this is the result of any focus testing whatsoever. This reeks of someone with power forcing their stupid idea, possibly originating from a family member, on a company.

Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stuipid.

[Angrycoder]

Seriously, has anyone here ever bought or not bought a console based on its name?

I think the name is kinda silly, but I also think its pretty smart move for free advertising by Nintendo. We can look forward to many many months of Wii jokes and Wii photoshops - all of which just spread nintendo's brand.

[MattKeil]

Mountains out of molehills. A system's name is about as unimportant as anything.

Yes, surely the huge numbers of articles mocking the retarded name that will run in the mainstream press aren't going to impact perception or anything.

[Stroker Ace]

Oh yeah, like anyone's going to listen to the liberal media. /roll

[MattKeil]

Oh yeah, like anyone's going to listen to the liberal media. /roll

Dammit, shot down with bullets of pure logic!

[Charles]

I'd go for Mini-wii myself.

I can just see myself walking into EB. "Hey did you guys get the latest Animal Crossing?"

"For the DS?"

"No, I want to play it on my w...y'know what? Just forget about it."

Other interesting discussions:

Following any shortages...

"Hey, do you have any Wii in stock?"

"Oh sure, I've got plenty of wee..."

Following multiplatform game releases

"Hey, do you have a Wii version of Game?"


Following multiplatform game announcements

"Also for the Wii system"

[Charles]

You know, the more I think about it, the more I think this is some strange push to get brand-influenced markets to go back to calling nintendo systems "The nintendo".

[Mike Cathcart]

Yes, surely the huge numbers of articles mocking the retarded name that will run in the mainstream press aren't going to impact perception or anything. Because clearly tomorrow's front page headline in the New York Times will be "Wii! LOLLERSKATES! It's like teh piss!" Aren't you maybe overestimating the mainstream's love of piss jokes?

It'll probably be the best selling system of all time. Clearly things don't work out when Nintendo tries to play everyone else's game. The Gamecube is pretty similar to the PS2 and Xbox, it did OK. Then Sony was like "We're gonna give you Grand Theft Auto on a handheld, beat that" and Nintendo said "Fuck it. Here's this thing that looks like a fake PDA you'd find in some kid's 'IT worker playset' that has N64 graphics. And oh yeah, we're gonna make you do arithmetic problems." Bajillion dollars. Now they're gonna bump it up a notch just to see how ridiculous they can make something sound and still sell more than they can produce.

That is, of course, assuming they deliver on the software. If not it's piss all around.

[Ryan Markel]

http://www.corante.com/mooreslore/archives/images/whatizit.gif

Has someone mentioned this stupid thing from the Atlanta Summer Olympics? Wii easily ranks up with Whatizit.

IZZY!!!!

My wife has a Hallmark Keepsake Ornament of this little dude.

I'm not joking.

[Veinless]

Looking forward to the titles of WIIWWI & WIIWWII. Maybe even WII:WWE?

WWJD?WII.

[MatthewF]

Oh my god.. I mean seriously.. what in the fuck?

[jim crawford]

Oh no :(


Huh. Can't wait to see how they spin this one.
I think they started the spin before the press release was over.

[Lunch of Kong]

Seriously, has anyone here ever bought or not bought a console based on its name?

I have made purchasing decisions based on branding before, yes. I won't buy the Fatal1ty branded motherboards and sound cards, for example.

[BobJustBob]

And Gamespot (http://www.gamespot.com/news/6148455.html) reminds us why this will be the best system ever.

[Hawkeye Fierce]

http://money.cnn.com/2006/04/27/commentary/game_over/nintendo/index.htm

From the article:


Kaplan said the criticism was not unexpected, given Wii's uniqueness.

"I think people have to look back and let it settle in," she said. "I'm sure people felt the same way when Google was named – or the iPod. Napster. Yahoo. There's a whole host of unusual names that have become a part of everyday conversation and I think they're viewed now as unique."

I think the thing that Kaplan is missing is that all those unusual names were not - and I think this is kind of important - were not synonyms for piss.

EDIT: HA! Eat my dust, Keil! :-)

[MattKeil]

Because clearly tomorrow's front page headline in the New York Times will be "Wii! LOLLERSKATES! It's like teh piss!" Aren't you maybe overestimating the mainstream's love of piss jokes?

Not particularly, no.

http://money.cnn.com/2006/04/27/commentary/game_over/nintendo/index.htm?cnn=yes

Edit: Beaten, but the point stands. Hours after the announcement, CNN Money has already made a piss joke. In the headline.

[Drunkagain]

That is, of course, assuming they deliver on the software. If not it's piss all around.

Don't you mean "Wii all around"?

[Joel]

I thought it was the Nintendo WWII at first.

[bago]

How long till the japanese make a virtual urination game, where you aim the wii with the wii controller?

[Ben Sones]

Seriously, has anyone here ever bought or not bought a console based on its name?

I'm not sure why Nintenfans have to turn this into a debate over not buying the console because of the name. (Who was the one who brought that up? Oh yeah--Dave Long.) All we're doing is mocking the name.



I think the name is kinda silly, but I also think its pretty smart move for free advertising by Nintendo. We can look forward to many many months of Wii jokes and Wii photoshops - all of which just spread nintendo's brand.

My cat was just in his litter box spreading Nintendo's brand.

[Jasper Phillips]

Can they even really call it "Wii"? You know everyone is going to refer to it as "the nintendo", and everyone selling one will know exactly what machine they're refering to. Maybe they'll change their mind, once word gets out that all their english speaking could be customers are laughing at them.

I wonder how many sales this pretentious choice will cost them? They should just keep "Revolution", license the Beatlles song, and be done with it.

[Charles]

My cat was just in his litter box spreading Nintendo's brand.


Do you get paid for that?

[Daly]

How is there so much hate for this name? C'mon, it's hilarious. I've lol'd a pile of times since this thread started.

If it doesn't work they'll change it. If it does work then who cares? I think it's wiicked.

[Charles]

Did you mean Wiik?

[Ben Sones]

I don't hate it--I think it's the funniest thing I've heard in a really long time. But not really in a good way for Nintendo. It's a terrible product name.

[Gary Whitta]

How soon before someone starts an officie Wiikipedia?

[Jonathan Blow]

I'm waiting for Nintendo to announce their flagship title, Super Mario Wii, where you run around with a hose that shoots water...

[Justin Fletcher]

The problem is that "Revolution" was the perfect name for the kind of system they are trying to pull off: one that intends to change gameplay dynamics through a weird new control system. Why screw that up with a name like "Wii" which:

Has, at first glance, the same kind of annoying "What the fuck is that?" quality as VIIV

Has an extremely saccharine pronunciation

Is based on a marketing backstory which makes the console sound like the ultimate online multiplayer machine...which it isn't

Could make people think of "childlike," which would only add to Nintendo's kiddie aura

Could make people think of "urine," which will be great for the press if there are quality problems with either hardware or software
Can the American version please be called the Nintendo US?

[Ben Sones]

I'm waiting for Nintendo to announce their flagship title, Super Mario Wii, where you run around with a hose that shoots water...

Way ahead of you:

http://www.quartertothree.com/game-talk/showpost.php?p=623994&postcount=6

[Tyjenks]

Just like in an episode of 24, it looks like we will have this whole thing sorted out from initial reactions, to furious debate, to mass media exposes, to laying it to rest. We are 3 quarters of the way there already.

Revolution > Wii

Isn't there a magazine full of Bi-curious women spelled Oui, but pronounced Wheee?!?! I like the cross marketing possibilities between the two.

[Quitch]

http://www.g4tv.com/pile_landing.aspx?video_key=10925

Oh man, that was hilarious :)

[Backov]

Revolution would have been a great name to run with, except probably in China.

And licensing the Beatles song to go with it, also ++good.

[MightyMooquack]

At least now we know Nintendo will be number one this generation.

[Fugitive]

The name won't stop me from potentially buying it; I'm still just as on-the-fence about it as I was before, and the decision still come down to other factors.

It'll just make me more embarrassed about owning one.

[Ben Sones]

Oh man, that was hilarious :)

My stomach hurts from laughing so hard.

"What's a girl got to do to find some Kha'ak around here?"

[Jasper Phillips]

To Dave Long et al. who say "it's just a name". Sure, I don't think the name will affect whether anyone here buys one. Personally, I'm all over the Star Wars potential.

The problem I have is that the name will make it sell less, which will mean that less games get developed for it. Personally, I'd rather the company taking a chance on interesting innovation actually did well, in the hopes of seeing more new twists in the future, rather than fell flatly on it's face.

Plus, Revolution was hands down an excellent name. Who needs all the naseau inducing marketing speak that's required to explain Wii?

[MarchHare]

How long till the japanese make a virtual urination game, where you aim the wii with the wii controller?

My girlfriend, upon reading the CNN article revealing the name and mentioning how the controller can capture wrist and hand motions said to me, "How long until they release a game where you have to write your name in the snow?"

[E-phonk]

http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200604/N06.0427.1154.38678.htm

The comparison with virgin is indeed kind of similar.. We'll see. I don't hate it, it made me laugh and say WTF though. The logo looks nice, for what that's worth.

[Jason Cross]

Following multiplatform game releases

"Hey, do you have a Wii version of Game?"



Oh man, I'm gonna ask for every multiplatform game in the most outrageous scottish "partents from So I Married an Axe Murderer" voice.

"Du ya have th' WEE vers'n?"

[Bill Dungsroman]

I like the "Well, it's spreading Nintendo's brand name around, isn't it?" counter-argument. Because, like, wow, think of all the people who haven't heard of Nintendo yet.

[RickH]

Do you get paid for that?

I call urinal marketing!

[dmiller]

From that interview:

"Once you touch the Revolution, this will make more sense. Once you play more games, and once the system is out, and more and more people play it, and you’re realizing these different experiences, it’ll make more sense. Again, it may sound a little bit of a line, but I think it fits well. This is not about you or me, it’s about Wii."

I'm surprised the PR guy didn't say "Once you touch the Wii..."

I betcha he chose to avoid that connotation.

[MattKeil]

My stomach hurts from laughing so hard.

"What's a girl got to do to find some Kha'ak around here?"

Thank you. And I'd like to thank Qt3, since I first learned of the X series from here.

Back on topic, Microsoft prepares infringement suit against Nintendo:

WIIIIIIIII!!!!!
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b224/the_sidewinder/wheee.gif

[metta]

Maybe it's not pronounced 'Wee'. Maybe it's pronounced 'Fuck you macho fucks!'

[Quitch]

Nintendo have GOT to be taking the piss.

Anyway, of course the name will affect the casual buyer, why do you think they spend so much money carefully naming them?

[Angrycoder]

I'm not sure why Nintenfans have to turn this into a debate over not buying the console because of the name. (Who was the one who brought that up? Oh yeah--Dave Long.) All we're doing is mocking the name.


How did I become a 'Nintenfan' by offering an opinion other than the dick and fart jokes that seem to be the norm in this thread?

What the hell is a Nintenfan anyway - is it like a fanboi - or micro$oft? Goddamn thats some witty shit!

[Unicorn McGriddle]

Hey Nintendo, how much am I going to spend on your Wii?

[bago]

So they went from being touched with the DS to full on two handed manipulation for the Wii. Kinky.

[jim crawford]

I like the "Well, it's spreading Nintendo's brand name around, isn't it?" counter-argument. Because, like, wow, think of all the people who haven't heard of Nintendo yet.
In all fairness, I know of at least one person who found out about the Revolution via this story.

Jen: whoa
Jen: like a tablet pen in space
Me: yeah!
Jen: that's pretty fucking cool
Me: yeah!
Jen: I don't give a shit what it's called!

[Charles]

In all fairness, I know of at least one person who found out about the Revolution via this story.

Jen: whoa
Jen: like a tablet pen in space
Me: yeah!
Jen: that's pretty fucking cool
Me: yeah!
Jen: I don't give a shit what it's called!

That wasn't his argument.

[jim crawford]

That wasn't his argument.
What am I missing?

[Charles]

The part where he specifies "Nintendo" and not "revolution".

[Midnight Son]

Is this one of those cases where something didn't get translated correctly?

[Ben]

There hasn't been a good console name since the Atari Lynx.

[Ben Sones]

Sega Saturn was pretty good.

[jim crawford]

The part where he specifies "Nintendo" and not "revolution".
Hm. I'm not convinced that he was making the distinction. If I'd read it that way, I would've argued that by "Nintendo's brand name" the apologists were probably referring to "Wii."

Actually, I probably wouldn't have posted at all.

[Ben Sones]

How did I become a 'Nintenfan' by offering an opinion other than the dick and fart jokes that seem to be the norm in this thread?

That was actually directed at Dave. Sorry, I should have been clearer.

[TwiNCannoN]

I thought Revolution was the name? Actually, I guess that was rather short-sighted of me, since isn't Revolution like a curseword in the U.K.? (Dance Dance Revolution -> Dancing Stage, etc...)

In any case, yeah, terrible... hell, even the DOLPHIN was cooler than this.

[Ben]

Sega Saturn was pretty good.

I agree, but for some reason thought the Lynx came out after the Saturn.

Other good console names:
Genesis
Nomad
Odyssey

[JMR]

WIIIIIIIII!!!!!
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b224/the_sidewinder/wheee.gif

That's gonna give me nightmares =(

[Theodore Rex DX]

I like it.

[Theodore Rex DX]

*lol*

[Dave Long]

Maybe it's not pronounced 'Wee'. Maybe it's pronounced 'Fuck you macho fucks!'

I kinda think that's the entire point. They're probably laughing at the boneheads who can't help but make the vulgar jokes.

Meanwhile, everyone else in the world will play it, say "Who cares what it's called, that fucking rocks!" and laugh at the immature nerdy gamers who can't get over a name.

[Theodore Rex DX]

It's a laughably shit name. That's all.

[Ben]

everyone else in the world will play it, say "Who cares what it's called, that fucking rocks!"

Dave Long is not a fanboy.

[LesJarvis]

It put me off a bit when I first heard it, but I really don't think this is a big deal, and the name is sort of growing on me. They're trying to establish an iconic name, and I think they may well succeed.

[Dave Long]

Dave Long is not a fanboy.

No, unlike the majority of the people who have a problem with the name, Dave Long is 34 years old, grown up and realizes that most people won't bat an eye at the name.

All this thread and the millions of them like it on the various videogame boards prove is that gaming is still dominated by immature, puerile boys.

And people wonder why we can't get "smarter" articles in videogame magazines...

[Bill Dungsroman]

No, unlike the majority of the people who have a problem with the name, Dave Long is 34 years old, grown up and realizes that most people won't bat an eye at the name.

All this thread and the millions of them like it on the various videogame boards prove is that gaming is still dominated by immature, puerile boys.

And people wonder why we can't get "smarter" articles in videogame magazines...
Lighten up, Francis.

The acid test here would be if, I dunno, any company but Nintendo had tried this. Would Dave Long be so quick to jump to their defense? Would it move him to denounce not just that specific situation, but the gaming population as a whole? Would he refer to himself in the third person? We may never know.

[Jasper Phillips]

I kinda think that's the entire point. They're probably laughing at the boneheads who can't help but make the vulgar jokes.

Meanwhile, everyone else in the world will play it, say "Who cares what it's called, that fucking rocks!" and laugh at the immature nerdy gamers who can't get over a name.
So you don't think the name chosen for a console can have any impact on sales? Do you think the "nearly everyone else" you vaguely allude to will number as many gamers as the "nearly everyone else" that bought the Gamecube?

If, as you say, "gaming is still dominated by immature, pureile boys", wouldn't Nintendo be smart to put a little more thought into the name of their console? Nintendo has quite the uphill battle carved out for itself facing off against the PS3, why mess around with unpopular names?

[Theodore Rex DX]

I think we broke Dave. :(

[MattKeil]

Meanwhile, everyone else in the world will play it, say "Who cares what it's called, that fucking rocks!" and laugh at the immature nerdy gamers who can't get over a name.

Yeah, they sure are gonna show those immature nerdy gamers over at CNN.

Seriously, man, I sympathize with a lot of your Nintendo apologism, but give it a rest. "Wii" is the worst name ever given to a console. Ever. Regardless of the quality of the games or the eventual success (or lack thereof) of the system, "Nintendo Wii" is the worst name for a console in the history of the industry.

[BobJustBob]

So you don't think the name chosen for a console can have any impact on sales?

I certainly don't.

[MattKeil]

I certainly don't.

I didn't know you worked for Nintendo.

[quatoria]

No, unlike the majority of the people who have a problem with the name, Dave Long is 34 years old, grown up and realizes that most people won't bat an eye at the name.

All this thread and the millions of them like it on the various videogame boards prove is that gaming is still dominated by immature, puerile boys.

And people wonder why we can't get "smarter" articles in videogame magazines...

Puerile immature boys... like the ones writing for CNN Money. Renowned for their love of piss and shit jokes.

[Ben]

Hey, I don't have a problem with the name. It's a stupid, stupid name and it's a terrible decision, but I'm not the sort of person who ascribes far reaching and vast effects to trivial announcements. If the games are there, people will buy it.

Is it possible for you to admit Nintendo has made an error? I mean, they change the name of their console from the best name in a decade to a terrible piece of marketing inspiring crap and you chime in to call us all immature and puerile idiots.

[Dave Long]

Yeah, they sure are gonna show those immature nerdy gamers over at CNN.

Seriously, man, I sympathize with a lot of your Nintendo apologism, but give it a rest. "Wii" is the worst name ever given to a console. Ever. Regardless of the quality of the games or the eventual success (or lack thereof) of the system, "Nintendo Wii" is the worst name for a console in the history of the industry.

The guy who writes for CNN Money fits right into the same mold as the rest of the Internet gaming scene. There's no difference there.

This isn't an apology for Nintendo. That's not my job to apologize for them. I'm just another moron saying what I think, like all the rest of you morons.

[dmiller]

Hey, I don't have a problem with the name. It's a stupid, stupid name and it's a terrible decision, but I'm not the sort of person who ascribes far reaching and vast effects to trivial announcements. If the games are there, people will buy it.

Is it possible for you to admit Nintendo has made an error? I mean, they change the name of their console from the best name in a decade to a terrible piece of marketing inspiring crap and you chime in to call us all immature and puerile idiots.

Wow. My thoughts exactly.

[Dave Long]

Hey, I don't have a problem with the name. It's a stupid, stupid name and it's a terrible decision, but I'm not the sort of person who ascribes far reaching and vast effects to trivial announcements. If the games are there, people will buy it.

Is it possible for you to admit Nintendo has made an error? I mean, they change the name of their console from the best name in a decade to a terrible piece of marketing inspiring crap and you chime in to call us all immature and puerile idiots.

Revolution as a name would have been criticized for being too proud and too presumptuous. In fact, I think that's exactly how it was received initially. Like, "Who's Nintendo to think they have a REVOLUTION on their hands? PFFFT!"

Also, you name it Revolution and that's what people absolutely expect and many of the scaredy cats stay away because they really don't want a revolution, they want to be Drinky Crow and play the same games with slightly altered mechanics over and over again.

Calling it something made up is half the point. No one will know what it is at all. It also doesn't reference "games", "Play", "Station", "Cube" or "box" in any way which is pretty damn smart. It's suddenly this entertainment thing and that's all. People will wonder WTF is that? and check it out.

[bago]

I can't wait for some hot and heavy 3d Wii play!

[Jonathan Blow]

Like, "Who's Nintendo to think they have a REVOLUTION on their hands? PFFFT!"

Instead, they now have Wii on their hands.

[Xaroc]

Revolution as a name would have been criticized for being too proud and too presumptuous. In fact, I think that's exactly how it was received initially. Like, "Who's Nintendo to think they have a REVOLUTION on their hands? PFFFT!"

No one will know what it is at all.

My god you are in denial.

-- Xaroc

[MattKeil]

The guy who writes for CNN Money fits right into the same mold as the rest of the Internet gaming scene. There's no difference there.

So exactly who would have to make the piss joke to convince you that the disdain for this idiotic name reaches beyond those of us reading comic books and pinching pimples in our collective mothers' basements? Jesus Christ, Dave, it's a fucking stupid name couched in marketing bullspeak that reads like it came right out of the coffeehouses of the dotcom boom circa 1998. I've already had communication with people who don't even play videogames who think it's incomprehensibly stupid. And guess what? Those are the people Nintendo wants to reach.

Is it possible that "Wii" will become a success and in the end the term will be as ubiquitous in the cultural landscape as "iPod" or "Google"? Sure. But it could have been the same way with the Revolution as the name, and Nintendo wouldn't have had to surmount the gigantic obstacle they've placed in their own paths with this name. I understand they're trying to appeal to non-gamers, but actively trying to alienate actual gamers is a pretty stupid tradeoff. At the very least, they could have chosen something that doesn't mean "urine," because no matter what, the word "wee" in the English speaking world has universally childish connotations.

[Ben Sones]

No, unlike the majority of the people who have a problem with the name, Dave Long is 34 years old, grown up and realizes that most people won't bat an eye at the name.

If Microsoft had announced that they were naming their console the "Wii" instead of the 360, you would have been guffawing with the rest of us.

[Ben]

Is it possible for you to admit Nintendo has made an error?


It also doesn't reference "games", "Play", "Station", "Cube" or "box" in any way which is pretty damn smart. It's suddenly this entertainment thing and that's all. People will wonder WTF is that? and check it out.

So no, then. Just checking.

[Aszurom]

The revmote will be renamed the WiWi.

Just swing your WiWi around to make Mario do his thing.

"Mom, I lost my WiWi again... yes, I looked in the couch cushions, it's not there! I think Susie hid it again."

[quatoria]

If Microsoft had announced that they were naming their console the "Wii" instead of the 360, you would have been guffawing with the rest of us.

QFT..

[fuzzyslug]

Lighten up, Francis.

The acid test here would be if, I dunno, any company but Nintendo had tried this. Would Dave Long be so quick to jump to their defense? Would it move him to denounce not just that specific situation, but the gaming population as a whole? Would he refer to himself in the third person? We may never know.

Incidentally, I've heard the next Microsoft console will be called Puu. How's that grab you?

[Charles]

The guy who writes for CNN Money fits right into the same mold as the rest of the Internet gaming scene. There's no difference there.

No, he really doesn't.

[bago]

When you're a marketing department and you want to go Wii, but you aint got drugs yet.

[forgeforsaken]

They just redesigned the controller too
http://www.weemote.com/

[jim crawford]

http://projectperko.blogspot.com/2006/04/revolutionary-parable.html

[Ben Sones]

You know, I find the idea (the very recent idea, AFAIK) that "Revolution" was controversial (or unworkable, or pretensious, or whatever sour grapes explanation you have to come up with to justify "Wii") to be downright silly. I've never heard anyone berate that name, and I've heard lots of people say that Nintendo should just make that the real name for the system. Persdonally, I think it would have been the best console name yet.

[Ryan A]

Maybe Japan will keep the Wii launch date a secret until early one morning boxes and boxes of them descend upon the US Naval Base in Hawaii. Then they'll slowly but inexorably get the shit kicked out of them by American consumers.

[Wholly Schmidt]

None of us know yet if the next Nintendo console will be a success, and 10 years from now, long after the fact, we'll still be arguing about that much anyway. I also don't think any of us can provide any concrete evidence about the degree to which, if any, the specific name of a console directly affects sales.

But Dave, we have all the information we need right this very moment to decide for ourselves if Wii is the worst console name in history. Give us a straight answer Dave, Cathcart, whoever. Has there ever been a worse--WAIT I DON'T CARE IF YOU THINK IT MATTERS OR NOT, STOP INTERRUPTING--ever been a worse name for a console? Tell me there has with a straight face, please. Because that's what this thread is about for most of us.

[Charles]

And while you are at it, regardless of anything else, answer: Was it a good idea to name the game with something which when pronounced outloud is a euphemism for many things a product probably doesn't want to be associated with?

[Kitsune]

And why is Nintendo naming their new console with a sound that is so rare in Japanese that it might as well not as exist? The character for Wi is so unused that often instead people use U+I to mean Wi, but not always, as sometimes it connotates a Vi. In either case, neither is very natural for Japanese.

And I know they'll sell this console in all sorts of places where that isn't true, but didn't it cross their mind at some time that this is kind of like Microsoft using a different term for hi-definition television than is the accepted word in Japanese?

Wi is not a naturally occuring sound to me. Yes, you use U+I to spell katakana words like wink, window, winter and wind. But still, its not like Wa. (In Japanese at least, the Nintendo Wa would be TIGHT.) But if I see U+I, I think of a different pronunciation, Ui, for sadness and depression, that's the whole reason Ui = Wi is for foreign words only.

*shrugs*

Just strikes me as odd. Alienates a part of me, similar the N64's name (In order to say Nintendo 64 in Japanese, you have to say Nintendo Rokujuuyon, which really sounds awkward, so most of us just say rokuyon. At least, however, that was something that could be rendered in normal Japanese.)

-Kitsune

[DaveC]

Sorry, I had to - http://carltonwii.ytmnd.com/

[Qenan]

Seven pages of carping about a name?

It isn't like "XBox360" was good.

[forgeforsaken]

Seven pages of carping about a name?

It isn't like "XBox360" was good.

No, but Wii sure makes it look good in comparison.

[extarbags]

But Dave, we have all the information we need right this very moment to decide for ourselves if Wii is the worst console name in history. Give us a straight answer Dave, Cathcart, whoever. Has there ever been a worse--WAIT I DON'T CARE IF YOU THINK IT MATTERS OR NOT, STOP INTERRUPTING--ever been a worse name for a console? Tell me there has with a straight face, please. Because that's what this thread is about for most of us.

I don't know, what's so great about "Playstation?" "Intellivision?"

This name kind of sucks, but it's not a disaster. I didn't even think of the word "wee," as in urine, until you guys mentioned it. Because I'm not three years old. In fact, I didn't use that as slang even then. I'm fairly certain I've never used that word that way in my entire life.

And hey, people still learn French, despite a similar problem.

Edit: Oh! My point was, the name is not going to stop the Rev^U^U^UWii from selling. That job is better left to the fact that people don't go for innovation, are more comfortable with standard controllers, stick with their console brands inexplicably, prefer a new iteration of Madden to a Carlton dancing sim, etc.

[Ben]

Seven pages of carping about a name?

Can anyone find the thread where Microsoft announced the Xbox360 as the name? My searchfunctionfu is weak.

[Dave Long]

And why is Nintendo naming their new console with a sound that is so rare in Japanese that it might as well not as exist? The character for Wi is so unused that often instead people use U+I to mean Wi, but not always, as sometimes it connotates a Vi. In either case, neither is very natural for Japanese.

And I know they'll sell this console in all sorts of places where that isn't true, but didn't it cross their mind at some time that this is kind of like Microsoft using a different term for hi-definition television than is the accepted word in Japanese?

Wi is not a naturally occuring sound to me. Yes, you use U+I to spell katakana words like wink, window, winter and wind. But still, its not like Wa. (In Japanese at least, the Nintendo Wa would be TIGHT.) But if I see U+I, I think of a different pronunciation, Ui, for sadness and depression, that's the whole reason Ui = Wi is for foreign words only.

*shrugs*

Just strikes me as odd. Alienates a part of me, similar the N64's name (In order to say Nintendo 64 in Japanese, you have to say Nintendo Rokujuuyon, which really sounds awkward, so most of us just say rokuyon. At least, however, that was something that could be rendered in normal Japanese.)

-Kitsune

Well, that seals it for me. They did this to create their own brand name. It's the same thing thousands of companies are doing every day to have a name that they own that is not centered on some known phrase. It's "new".

And no... it's not the worst name for a console ever. I don't even know what that means. I really couldn't give a shit what they're called as long as the games are good.

[DaveC]

Xbox actually worked out well. It was the code-name, and everyone liked it, and they market-tested it against some other names and everyone just liked Xbox. As for the 360 - eh, I can see what they're going out. I don't HATE it.

Wii is just awful. Seriously.

Funny, a lot of die-hard Nintendites are saying Xbox is the dumbest name ever because it's trying to be "Xtreme". When people explain that the X stood for DirectX they then ridicule that. So, there are people that didn't like the Xbox name. I've never had a problem with any console name up until now. Wii is just silly.

[Ben]

what's so great about "Playstation?" "Intellivision?"

Consonants?

[Ben Sones]

No, but Wii sure makes it look good in comparison.

Seriously. Xbox is a dumb name, and PlayStation is only a little better. Intellivision is just sort of dorky. But lumping "Wii" in with those is sort of like saying that I'm not bad at basketball in the same way that Michael Jordan is not bad at basketball.

[DaveC]

Oh god, I am dying laughing - http://wiiwiipot.ytmnd.com/

[Ryan A]

And no... it's not the worst name for a console ever. I don't even know what that means. I really couldn't give a shit what they're called as long as the games are good.

I'm sorry Dave, but this sort of deliberatly obtuse thinking only belongs in P&R. We all know you know what it means. And you know too.

[Ben]

Also, I love that Wholly even said
WAIT I DON'T CARE IF YOU THINK IT MATTERS OR NOT, STOP INTERRUPTING but both people who responded felt compelled to phrase their answer in the form of "It doesn't matter!"

[Qenan]

Tempest in a teapot. If the games are good, it will do fine.

[Theodore Rex DX]

Funny, a lot of die-hard Nintendites are saying Xbox is the dumbest name ever because it's trying to be "Xtreme". When people explain that the X stood for DirectX they then ridicule that. So, there are people that didn't like the Xbox name. I've never had a problem with any console name up until now. Wii is just silly.

XBox is a terrible name. You don't have to have something wrong with you to realise that, but it looks like it can help. It was the worst console name ever - I would have said the worst possible - and then Wii came along. Ha ha. Oh man.

[extarbags]

Also, I love that Wholly even said but both people who responded felt compelled to phrase their answer in the form of "It doesn't matter!"

No, I phrased my answer in the form of "It doesn't strike me as all that bad, there are other consoles with bad names that don't seem to have suffered for it, I'm the smartest person here because I don't immediately think of preschool-level slang when I hear the name, and it doesn't matter."

[Ben]

It was the worst console name ever
I'd say Xbox 360 is objectively worse than Xbox.

[Wholly Schmidt]

And no... it's not the worst name for a console ever. I don't even know what that means. I really couldn't give a shit what they're called as long as the games are good.
Dave I hope the joke's on me and you're just trolling.

You've got kids, right? What did you name them? You know what, who cares, but you did name them something, right? And you didn't just let the cat walk across the keyboard and then pick that string of letters as a name, right? And you did this all long before you had any clue how they'd grow up and develop, right?

So you decided on a name for your child because the name itself, apart from the kid that got stuck with it, had something about it that made it better other names. Maybe it was based on how the name sounded in comparison to other names, or maybe it was because of someone else who had that name before, but somewhere you had to come up with some criteria, right?! Or are you really this fruity about everything in life?

"Name the kids honey? Why does it matter? I could give a shit what they're called, as long as they turn out fine. In fact, let's call the first one Shit! It's not the worst name for a child ever, I don't even know what that would mean!"

[Theodore Rex DX]

I'd say Xbox 360 is objectively worse than Xbox.

I dunno, 360 is just a number. The only way you could really make XBox worse is to call it XBox Wii.

[The Bitter Cynic]

Wii?

"Gonna go play with my Wii now."

If my kid said that, his mother would just pass out.

[Dave Long]

Dave I hope the joke's on me and you're just trolling.

You've got kids, right? What did you name them? You know what, who cares, but you did name them something, right? And you didn't just let the cat walk across the keyboard and then pick that string of letters as a name, right? And you did this all long before you had any clue how they'd grow up and develop, right?

So you decided on a name for your child because the name itself, apart from the kid that got stuck with it, had something about it that made it better other names. Maybe it was based on how the name sounded in comparison to other names, or maybe it was because of someone else who had that name before, but somewhere you had to come up with some criteria, right?! Or are you really this fruity about everything in life?

"Name the kids honey? Why does it matter? I could give a shit what they're called, as long as they turn out fine. In fact, let's call the first one Shit! It's not the worst name for a child ever, I don't even know what that would mean!"

http://shoutluton.com/attractions/images/strawman.jpg

[Not One Of Us]

The Straw Man is the ultimate straw man.

[Tyjenks]

As name doesn't matter, then ShitBox would have been as good as XBox, I guess.

[extarbags]

Now that I think about it more, "Xbox 360" is definitely worse.

[Theodore Rex DX]

As name doesn't matter, then ShitBox would have been as good as XBox, I guess.

It would have been better than XBox. Seriously.

[DaveC]

Tempest in a teapot. If the games are good, it will do fine.

True, but why make it harder than it has to be? Someone in their marketing department had to have raised their hand when this name was floated. Now, they have to deal with all the wisecracks. I still think Revolution was a far superior choice.

[bago]

So he has a kid named Straw. But because we haven't seen it yet, we only have a 50% chance of knowing wether or not he will grow up to be a straw man.

[MattKeil]

I dunno, 360 is just a number. The only way you could really make XBox worse is to call it XBox Wii.

I think a closer parallel here would be if they called it the Xbox Deuce.

[DaveC]

I think a closer parallel here would be if they called it the Xbox Deuce.

Or Xbox Number 2.

[Lizard_King]

I would have bought a dozen of them. Shitbox would have been unbelievably cool.

I think there's more to this. The upcoming Nintendo box will actually be sentient, and its daddy is just trying to toughen it up, Shel Silverstein-style. It may not win the console wars, but it will be one tough sumbitch.

[Wholly Schmidt]

You want a strawman, I'll give you a strawman:

"Dave, what choice did I have when you claim to not even understand how someone could have an opinion?"

Because that's really what it sounds like when you tell us you don't understand what it means for one console name to be worse than another. Sure it's ultimately subjective, and if it ever comes to

"I think Wii is a bad name"
"Well I think it's a good name"
"But I think it's a bad name"

Then we'll just have to leave it at that. But you can't even recognize to the idea that someone could think one name is worse than another, regardless of the hardware it's applied to? That's some mind-boggling evasion right there Dave. Nothing you have to say in this thread is worth a damn unless you've got the balls to pick a side.

NO NO SHUT UP I KNOW you don't have to pick a side on the name itself to have an opinion about whether or not the console will be a success. But you're being asked directly: "Do you think that Wii is a better or worse name than other console names that have come before it?" and if you don't know what that means, then get out of this thread.

[Ryan A]

Dave -- normally you seem like an intelligent guy and I enjoy reading what you have to say about games. But it's shit like this that makes you look like raging fanboy lunatic and taints any otherwise reasonable things you may have to say.

hehe... he said taint...

[Theodore Rex DX]

I would have bought a dozen of them. Shitbox would have been unbelievably cool.

I think there's more to this. The upcoming Nintendo box will actually be sentient, and its daddy is just trying to toughen it up, Shel Silverstein-style. It may not win the console wars, but it will be one tough sumbitch.

'Sue' would have actually been a pretty good name.

[Dave Long]

Then we'll just have to leave it at that. But you can't even recognize to the idea that someone could think one name is worse than another, regardless of the hardware it's applied to? That's some mind-boggling evasion right there Dave. Nothing you have to say in this thread is worth a damn unless you've got the balls to pick a side.

NO NO SHUT UP I KNOW you don't have to pick a side on the name itself to have an opinion about whether or not the console will be a success. But you're being asked directly: "Do you think that Wii is a better or worse name than other console names that have come before it?" and if you don't know what that means, then get out of this thread.

So this thread was created to pick a side on whether or not Wii was a good or bad name? Who died and made you the thread police? I can answer and post how I like with only one person stopping me, Tom.

My answer to your question is that I simply don't care about these names. They're all iconic, as they should be. That's really the only reason they exist. I'm older now and I love the games the industry is putting out as much if not more than ever. I'm more excited for gaming than maybe ever in my life but what I'm totally worn out on is this coolier than thou attitude that drives it.

It's a made up name that they explained to everyone why they named it that. It's like Lucent or Agere. They mean nothing but the company they represent. That's exactly what Wii will represent for Nintendo...their own brand. Seems fine to me. And like extarbags, I never even thought about the pissing angle until I walked into this place AND I HAVE KIDS WHO STILL PEE THEMSELVES OCCASIONALLY!

[Dave Long]

Dave -- normally you seem like an intelligent guy and I enjoy reading what you have to say about games. But it's shit like this that makes you look like raging fanboy lunatic and taints any otherwise reasonable things you may have to say.

hehe... he said taint...

So wait...because I'm not engaging in the pee jokes I'm less intelligent?

HUH?!

[steve]

I can't say I'm an expert in branding, but I'm guessing that while it's true people talking about your chosen name is a good thing, choosing a word that's a fairly standard euphemism for urination isn't exactly the connotation you're looking for. And if the name really doesn't matter, why not go with the Golden Shower?

Since some of the appeal of the RevoWii (or is it WiiVolution?) is retro, they should have called it the Nintendo Entertainment System. Who wouldn't love calling it an NES?

[MattKeil]

It's a made up name that they explained to everyone why they named it that. It's like Lucent or Agere. They mean nothing but the company they represent.

Because THEY AREN'T ALREADY REAL WORDS. Nintendo could have made up ANY weirdo word they wanted, and they went with one that is recognized universally by the English-speaking world as a childish word for urine and a childish exclamation of delight. It is, by definition, ridiculous.

[Ben Sones]

So this thread was created to pick a side on whether or not Wii was a good or bad name?

I made this thread, and so I can say with authority that it was created specifically to ridicule Nintendo's awful name for their new console. So technically, he's wrong. But you are wrong, too, and it's pretty obvious from the thread title that this thread is all about the name "Wii," and how inexplicably lame it is.

[extarbags]

a word that's a fairly standard euphemism for urination

Ok, seriously? How standard is this? Do you guys say to your coworkers things like "oh hey yeah, let's go to lunch, let me just go take a wee first?" Have you ever had one to many beverages at dinner, and drove home a little bit fast, thinking to yourself "Man, I have to wee so bad?" Ever stepped out of your car into a poorly maintained public parking garage, and remarked to your wife, "Damn, it smells like wee in here?" Seriously, I have to know, because the closest I've come to ever hearing someone actually say that word is when they had the retarded character make that joke on Rocko's Modern Life.


Since some of the appeal of the RevoWii (or is it WiiVolution?) is retro, they should have called it the Nintendo Entertainment System. Who wouldn't love calling it an NES?

Ok, but this! This is a great idea.

[Ben]

So wait...because I'm not engaging in the pee jokes I'm less intelligent?

Oh, if I only knew where to get a picture of a man made out of straw.

[Wholly Schmidt]

So this thread was created to pick a side on whether or not Wii was a good or bad name? Who died and made you the thread police? I can answer and post how I like with only one person stopping me, Tom.
Dave, if we were hanging out playing some games and talking about this in person, I'm sure we'd just be laughing at each other in a friendly good natured way at the complete breakdown of communication. But this is the internet, I'm writing this on a forum, and I get frustrated and attached to the idea that maybe if I keep explaining things in stupider, louder, terms maybe I'll break down the barrier and get through to you. So sorry, no, you don't have to leave the thread. But seriously yo:


My answer to your question is that I simply don't care about these names. They're all iconic, as they should be. That's really the only reason they exist. I'm older now and I love the games the industry is putting out as much if not more than ever. I'm more excited for gaming than maybe ever in my life but what I'm totally worn out on is this coolier than thou attitude that drives it.
All I'm trying to get you to admit is that that's not answering the question, and then it's continuing to not answer the question by explaining to me your reasons why you're not answering the question, but that's still not answering the question. That's where we stand, and it's got me smacking my forehead and typing LOUD WORDS SHUT UP OK I'M DONE SORRY.

[Ryan A]

So wait...because I'm not engaging in the pee jokes I'm less intelligent?

HUH?!

No -- I really didn't mean to say you're less intelligent, but saying "I don't know what it means" when you're asked if you think the name sucks or not sounds like an unartful dodge. The answer you gave in the post above was more along the lines of the thoughtful and intelligent reply I think everyone was hoping for the first time (though I did enjoy Mr. Strawman sitting in the garage)

Here's you sounding like some P&R pedant:

And no... it's not the worst name for a console ever. I don't even know what that means

Here's you sounding like a human being:

My answer to your question is that I simply don't care about these names. They're all iconic, as they should be. That's really the only reason they exist. I'm older now and I love the games the industry is putting out as much if not more than ever. I'm more excited for gaming than maybe ever in my life but what I'm totally worn out on is this coolier than thou attitude that drives it.

It's a made up name that they explained to everyone why they named it that. It's like Lucent or Agere. They mean nothing but the company they represent. That's exactly what Wii will represent for Nintendo...their own brand. Seems fine to me

[Shadari]

Ok, seriously? How standard is this? Do you guys say to your coworkers things like "oh hey yeah, let's go to lunch, let me just go take a wee first?"
It's a term generally used for children. I mean, I can't remember the last time I told someone I had to go poo poo either. But we all know what it means.

[Ben Sones]

Ok, seriously? How standard is this? Do you guys say to your coworkers things like "oh hey yeah, let's go to lunch, let me just go take a wee first?"

No. I also don't say "oh hey yeah, let's go to lunch, let me just go take a poopie first," and yet I'm pretty sure that "the Nintendo Poopie" would be an awful name for a console.

[steve]

It's a made up name that they explained to everyone why they named it that. It's like Lucent or Agere. They mean nothing but the company they represent.
The nonsensical names are designed to evoke a response that doesn't require an explanation. Lucent is presumably supposed to sound vaguely high-tech, or make you think of "lucid." They can backfire when you find out your nonsense word has negative meanings in other languges, or is a slang term, or is "Wii."

[Ryan A]

It's a term generally used for children. I mean, I can't remember the last time I told someone I had to go poo poo either. But we all know what it means.

Yeah I still stifle schoolboy laughter whenever somebody orders the pupu platter

[extarbags]

It's a term generally used for children. I mean, I can't remember the last time I told someone I had to go poo poo either. But we all know what it means.

Yeah, but some people who are afraid to curse say "poop" as adults, so that's the first thing you think of. "Wee" is not related to any adult term, and I'm really starting to think I shouldn't let any of you guys except Dave use my bathroom, lest you start gyrating during the act, delighting in the sight of your golden "wee" arching towards the walls and creating designs that seem truly artful in the moment.