Nintendo Wii

[Silvergun X]

So I got mail from VG+ today.

PREORDER NEW SUPER MARIO BROS AND BE ENTERED TO WIN A Wii WITH VGP

Win a wii? *Snigger*

[Shearie]

As an American, while we do know that wee could stand for piss, NO ONE ever uses the word in that way unless you're talking to a baby. I do think it's a bad name for any kind of product, because we as a noun just doesn't sound right.

[Concept]

Man, sometimes i think the Wii thing is growing on me.

I'm sorry.

[Richard.John]

Nintendo GO would've been prefect or how about RS.

And Ryu of SF2 fame is not pronounced Rye yuu or Ree yuu,etc.

[Shearie]

The more I say or think about the word Wii, the more normal it sounds to me; although I still don't really like it, except that it's different.

Unless I go to any UK gaming sites, the piss and cock connection isn't there for me.

[Vince]

There was quite a good argument for the name that i read on another site. Apparently casual games and people who are not interested in games do get confused with all the names of consoles. The can't figure out the difference between the gamestations and x-cubes so Nintendo wanted to have a unique name which was quite clearly different, which Wii is.

[bingowings]

Expelling liquid waste from the human body? Interesting... If indeed Nintendo are liquid waste, then that might explain their success (or lack of) in this generations "console war".

ermm... not really. i can't be the only one who doesn't chuckle like a ****ing five year old when i hear a word that sounds like 'we'.

'...uh-huh huh huh. you said 'we'... uh huh uh huh huh...'

[Concept]

Still... look at it this way. The name is apt for five year olds, so it all fits. :P

Sorry, I know what tends to happen in these situations.

[Concept]

The more I say or think about the word Wii, the more normal it sounds to me; although I still don't really like it, except that it's different.

Unless I go to any UK gaming sites, the piss and cock connection isn't there for me.

While I acknowledge that sentiment, people in the US (to the best of my knowledge) still recognise that grown men and women (or anyone over the age of five, since that seems to be the in number right now) saying 'weeeeeeeee' as though they're sliding down a slide isn't an entirely embarassement-free phrase.

That's what wii phonetically sounds like if you disregard the juvenile bodily fluid connotations. And it's very little better.

Are non-gamers going to want to associate themselves with either of those two things when it comes to either purchasing or discussing purchasing such a device?

Yes, yes, we should be completely stonefaced and rise above it all etc. etc. in an ideal world. Practically, however, the reality is most likely going to be different.

Wii in either the urinate sense or the 'weeeeeeeeeeee' I'm looking for a Fischerprice toy sense is not really going to be attractive to all that many people over the age of infant school. Ugh. What are Nintendo thinking?

Sorry, before the Nintendo fanboys and fangirls jump all over my back SotC style looking to take down the numerous weakpoints... it's only my personal opinion.

I think the name wii fails on far more fronts than the supposedly clever and complex modern brand thinking behind it.

[Concept]

Apologies if that came over as antagonistic. I didn't mean it to.

[Concept]

Another thing with regards to the other two names:

1) Revolution = Doesn't roll off the tongue but it does at the very least send out a clear statement of intent to people. It can also be shortened to Rev.

2) Go = Like Wii, it's short and snappy. Easy to remember and connotes that the console would either be moving or going places (obviously). Already with that that there's a positive association that things aren't standing still and they're constantly on the move.

Now, let's look in comparison.

3) Wii = (some three days later) wtf?

You look at it, and it tells you nothing about the product. To get the idea behind it you have to read a press release or think about it.

Now, this isn't rocket science. Anyone in marketing or branding will tell you any major product that needs the casual or normal consumer to spend their time deciphering it is not going to catch on. It's not direct enough.

Yes, there's Virgin, iPod, Napster etc. - the difference is they don't muddle the meaning of those words to being with by implicating about five different things into them (Wii isn't a word and it's also not phonetically apparent what's the correct way to say it at first to uninitiated), and the blurb behind them isn't essential to understanding the product. The problem is the way in which Nintendo have emphasised the name Wii tying into the product. With the others there's a disassociation from function and naming... it's the other way about seemingly by the interviews with Nintendo so far, and the link between the name and the console muddies the waters.

It's such a bad decision for a name. IMO. Again.

Edit: I think I'll step out of this thread now. Old ground, walking etc.

[MoFo2]

Sorry if already posted (I'm lazy)

[Ian(not Ian)]

I'm beginning to like it now.

Wii looks a lot like Wifi without the f. The wand has no wires attached so it'e easy to make the 'connection'. Also it's simple.

IMO most of the chav types will not see it as 'Wee', but will read what they see, which will be 'Wye'. Initially they'll have a snicker when told the correct pronunciation then proceed to use the name they see.

The logo looks good to me. In yer face so to speak.

Also when lined up against the other 2 'next-gen' consoles the Wii looks the nuts and is top of my list of future purchases.

[stormbreak]

I wouldn't like the Rev to be called "Go"
I think that would be a suitable for Nintendo's next handheld.

Eg. Metroid Prime Hunters 2 Only For The Go.

Suitable (I forgot of my other examples )

[Team Andromeda]

Anyway, should Wii in the UK care at all about Nintendo after the way they've treated gamers here over the past 20 odd years. Does anyone remember the ?60 a game day's, the price fixing (which they got sued for), major titles not getting released or having major delays i.e. Final Fantasy 3, Mario RPG, Earthbound, Warioware Twisted, plus Wii see there consoles last with **** conversions of games, Mario 64 anyone!

And yet, you still get these people supporting them like some football team....morons!

You left out being being found out twice for price fixing , 2nd time one of the biggest fines the EU ever handed out .
But your console to sound the same as human waste is just talking the piss Where the hell were Nintendo Europe , or more Nintendo UK .
They should know all about the British Love affiar for toilet humour, more so after RARE making Conkers for the N64 .

These guys make SEGA Europe look like pro's