Say Wii?

[khaosworks]

I don't know about you guys, but I'd rather not buy a machine named after something I do when I go to the bathroom.

Revolution renamed Wii
Nintendo announces the console formerly known as the Revolution has a new--and surprising--moniker. Analysts' reactions are mixed.

By Staff, GameSpot
Posted Apr 27, 2006 9:14 am PT

In a surprise announcement this morning, Nintendo revealed the new name of its forthcoming game system: Wii. "As in 'we'," the official statement adds. For the official announcement, visit the Revolution...err...Wii Web site.

After a brief Flash introduction, the site explains Nintendo's move. "While the code-name 'Revolution' expressed our direction, Wii represents the answer. Wii will break down that wall that separates game players from everybody else. Wii will put people more in touch with their games...and each other."

The site goes on to say that Wii should be easy to remember for people around the world, no matter their language, and that it will avoid abbreviation. The "ii" spelling is intended to represent "both the unique controllers and the image of people gathering to play." It may also be worth noting that "ii" means "good" in Japanese.

More at the link...

For another take on it, as usual Penny Arcade delivers the goods.

In other news, Thorin is now Level 44.

Comments

[etherial.livejournal.com]

Wow. April Fools came late this year.

[marmota.livejournal.com]

I'm viewing it as an interesting experiment; is Nintendo's brand recognition sufficient to overcome a terrible product name, a controller with a design that makes even a standard TV remote look elegant and that will instantly be replaced with third party designs, and a CPU/RAM/VCU combo that is more anemic than most 1999-era PCs? Well, ok. Seriously I'm thinking they realize they've already screwed it up beyond saving, and now they're just messing with us. Nokia probably sold more N-Gage units than Nofriendo will sell of this.

[pbristow.livejournal.com]

Perhaps it's just official recognition that the product is "piss poor" (as we Brits - well some of us - would say)? =:o}

[almeda.livejournal.com]

Don't look at me; I'm still saving my pennies for a GameCube (and a PS2).

[ichibancrush.livejournal.com]

I'm actually one of the few nutty hardcore console kids out there that actually likes the name "Wii", but even if I didn't, yeah... some people are refusing to even check out the system for the name alone. And that's a bit overboard. Because "Dreamcast", "Gamecube", "PlayStation" and "X Box" were such far more sophisticated names.

...and a cutting edge name automatically sells the system, like "Lynx", "Master System", "Duo", or "Jaguar". Man, I bet a system called JAGUAR would instantly sell.

Personally, I don't care if Nintendo wants to call their system "Nintendo Lad Rape 76L" (in fact, I kind of wish they would, just to make a point) as long as it delivers as a product.

[haloumi.livejournal.com]

But now we get such puerile delights such as:

"Madden Rushing to Wii!"

As I commented when I first heard, "What's next? The Microsoft X-Pu?"