Wii Can Do Better

Brian says

Ultra Famicon King Monkey has a nice ring to it. Maybe.

Carson McComas says

Seriously though, how are we supposed to pronounce that?

Jer says

The same as you pronounce the child's word for what you do in the lavitory.

Arik says

I am quite put off by the name. I was really expecting nintendo to show some growth. But no. No man on earth is gonna feel even remotely good about telling their friends they have a nintendo...."wii". lol. I would feel very much not like a man. This console would be great for women. Wow. I am appalled by nintendo's decision.

Web Man Walking says

Am looking forward in a few months to my now 17 month old son Jack saying "Dad, I want a wee". How will I know what he means!

web says

I dont know why -- but I am somewhat a fan of picking a name for the console and then using generations.

At some point they will run out of trendy names and I can't wait for the Playstation 5 also known as "Happy Fun Box"© to hit the shelves.

If Nintendo did stick with the generational naming convention -- this would be Nintendo 5 -- or more simply "V"

reese says

web, I like "V". But it's likely politically loaded.

I see two problems with Nintendo's name for the new system: 1. it reinforces it being a "children's" console (a shame, because there are some great grown up games on it) and 2. it seems named to appeal solely to the Asian market.

Perhaps two naming conventions: one for the east and one for the west, would have been more appropriate. Branding-wise, this is, of course, up for debate.

Rob Hulson says

I posted this on another blog, I might as well post it here.

At first glance I thought this was ridiculous. Then, thought I, "I'm one who thought that 'iPod' made no sense when Apple announced it."

Yeah, I hear those of you who think it sounds ridiculous. It sounds awkward. But I can see myself getting over it.

I love, love, *love* the description and the simplistic approach to the new Nintendo Wii splash page. It reminds me of the first time I was exposed to the "Think Different" campaign.

Nintendo mimics Apple yet again. I'm all for the change, though Revolution could have carried the product. Oh well, here we are. "It is what it is," as they say.

Josh Williams says

But it is still pronounced "wee". Regardless of marketing and whatnot (I'm impressed by the system, no doubt), it still has a horrific name. For instance, let's take the next to situations...

"Hey Cristian! Do you want to come over tonight to play Xbox?"

"Hey Cristian! Do you want to come over tonight to play Wii?"

I rest my case. Don't touch my Xbox 360. ; )

John Marstall says

“iPod” was at least explained by later developments. Part of what made it weird was that it didn’t seem to refer to music; now we know why. Apple envisioned the device holding all sorts of content. It really is a “pod” after all.

I can’t imagine what future circumstance will make “Wii” seem less of a miscalculation than it does today. I love the logo, and I get what they’re trying to do with the double i. But it’s just not comfortably pronounceable at the end of a sentence. “We” the pronoun is always followed by another word, which makes it work.

Names that would have worked better, IMO:

Vii–prounounced “vee.” Has the double i, but sports a harder sound. Instantly calls to mind the letter V, which is the Roman numeral 5. As the Rev is Nintendo’s 5th console, this is perfect.

Wiidget–Looking for something that won’t put off the general public by sounding too techy? “Wiidget” is your answer. It’s not a computer, it’s not a video game system; it’s just a Nintendo Wiidget and it’s a lot of fun. Emphasizes how new and hard-to-categorize the Rev is, while poking a bit of fun at the complexity of technology today — a key pet peeve of Nintendo’s.

FriiStyle–The freestyle controller is the most important feature of the new console; why not put that fact right in the name? “Wii” only gets you an ambiguous visual of two freestyle controllers; “FriiStyle” gets you that plus the concept itself. Also sounds fun and liberating, without being too tech- or game-oriented.

Woot–Yeah, it’s already taken by woot.com. But it would have been better than “Wii.”

Brian M. says

I think as much as the next person that it is a silly name, but I'm with Rob: if it's a good product, we'll get over it.

"Hootie & the Blowfish" sold 16 million records.

Angel~ says

Come on now, if Prince could go to a symbol, then to off-the-wall "Formerly Known As A Symbol" Why can't Luigi and Mario's Parents go by Wii?

Rob Hulson says

I think you need to change the reply text to:

Spiik now,
or forever hold your piice.

And Joshwa, what makes it even more awkward?

""Hey Cristian! Do you want to come over tonight to play with my Wii?" Network them together in the same area, someone asks, "What are you guys doing?" "Oh, we're just playing with our Wiis."

I like John's "Vii" the best. That vould have vorked. Alas, we're stuck with Wii. I do hope we get used to it, 'cause I'm still feeling totally crazy writing or talking about it. May E3 change that. "Here Wii goooooo!"

David says

I really like the name "Wii", I mean revolution had a nice ring to it, but it wasn't universally brandable IMO. Wii is... and it is short, easy to remember and it is memorable. Think about the Xbox & Xbox360, have to distinguish between the two by the "360" added on... to the average person they might have trouble distinguishing between the two.

Rock Norris says

Arik said: "No man on earth is gonna feel even remotely good about telling their friends they have a nintendo...."wii". lol. I would feel very much not like a man."

I'm not saying I like the name, but "no man"? That's pretty sweeping and presumptuous. Might I propose that if you would, in fact, "feel very much not like a man" for playing games on a box with a name that doesn't have AT LEAST two X's, then your grasp on masculinity might be pretty tenuous to begin with?

Plus, am I the only gamer that likes to have my living room filled with WOMEN? let others go ahead and have their sausage-fests 'round the 360. enjoy.

James AkaXakA says

I think it's a good name.

http://www.playwithyourwii.com/

Josh Williams says

James: Well that didn't take long. Watch out for those cease and desist letters my friend. ; )

vuong says

If Nintendo uses Vii, as a previous post suggested, they will be sued by a pro-photo club call VII (Seven). "Revolution" would get Warner's "Matrix: Revolution" marketing people up in arms.

The last I heard people calling "X-box 360" I immediately thought that person had no idea how to play video games. Seriouesly, it often referred as "360," as in, "Hey, got my '360."

My first theory for why the Big N call it "Wee" is the anticipation of this golf girl Michelle Wei to take off in Japan big time.

Secondly, some could pronounce it "Wai-I" and carries off the Chinese flavor, which is a market the Japanese companies are desperately looking to break into.

If anyone is put off by the trend of the Big N sticking with kids' theme despite loading up some of the most adult-level technologies and designs, they should have learned about the N64.

Did you really think using names like "The F-Box" will bring more adults into the market?

Actually, weird "Wii" might generate more buzz than anything conventional. The fact that we are talking about the console's name alone here is enough to make BiG N PR people dancing.

One comment said Big N is taking lessons after Apple, I agree. The Cube-look is totally Mac. The milky-cloud-white design this time is totally Mac. If E3 comes around, expect to hear Mario's voice shouting "MamaWiiya."

-V-