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Developers React To 'Wii' 499

Posted by Zonk from the gnashing-of-teeth dept.
Gamasutra has reactions from game developers to the announcement of the Revolution's new commercial name, 'Wii'. From the article: "It doesn't change my personal opinions of the console in the slightest. It changes my opinion of the Nintendo marketing department considerably. Did they even bother to research this? Why do they do these things? What was wrong with 'Revolution'? It's bad enough that the Japanese have a drink called "Sweat," but at least they don't try to export it to the English-speaking world with that name. Am I supposed to be happy about having to go down to the game store to purchase the 'Nintendo Wee'? For God's sake, where was Miyamoto? I can't believe he would have let this get by. - Ernest Adams"
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Developers React To 'Wii' More

Developers React To 'Wii'

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  • Story title misspelled (Score:5, Funny)

    by UbuntuDupe ( 970646 ) on Tuesday May 02, 2006 @01:36PM (#15246984) Journal
    It should be "Developers React to Uus".

  • What a Constructive Mentality! (Score:5, Insightful)

    by eldavojohn ( 898314 ) * <eldavojohn@noSpAM.gmail.com> on Tuesday May 02, 2006 @01:38PM (#15246999) Journal
    Let us post some more articles about how stupid the name 'Wii' is.

    Let us ignore the fact that we all like gaming consoles and instead resort to childish puns to evaluate something before it's even released.

    Let the developers (and leaders of developers) proclaim to the world just how stupid this name is so that not only does the public think it's stupid, so do the developers. Think about that, the one group of people that are truly going to determine how this console does is jointly standing up and bashing it before the API is even in their hands. It is within their power to take this console--regardless of its name--and create some truly genuine games with a new controller interface. Before they even start that, they are all communally agreeing that the name is 'stupid.'

    Kind of sounds like a self-fulfilling prophecy to me.

    The only two responses I read that defended the name were weak. Did no one stand up and say, "No comment until I've got this thing in my hands and I can really see what it's made of."

    Let us all make fun of Dick Butkus [wikipedia.org] now for his name. Hahahaha, dick. Hahahahah, butt. Get it all out of your system.

    This is sheer madness. I use a piece of software called "The Gimp 2.0" but I have never once heard anyone make fun of it. "Gimp" means disabled where I grew up, why would you call a piece of software 'disabled?' Who cares? No one because it kicks ass and it's a free alternative solution to photoshop.

    It's not like they called it "Engelbert Humperdinck's Genitals" so that when you want to use it you would have to say, "I want to play with Engelbert Humperdinck [wikipedia.org]'s genitals now." For crying out loud, "wii," "wee," or "we" all sound the same and the latter is good pun. You hear it how you want to hear it so grow up and stop wanting to hear it as "wee wee."

    • Re:What a Constructive Mentality! (Score:4, Insightful)

      by mcc ( 14761 ) <amcclure@purdue.edu> on Tuesday May 02, 2006 @01:44PM (#15247055) Homepage
      Let us post some more articles about how stupid the name 'Wii' is.
      Why not? It's a stupid name.
      Think about that, the one group of people that are truly going to determine how this console does is jointly standing up and bashing it before the API is even in their hands.
      Surely this demonstrates how big of a mistake Nintendo made here by giving their console a stupid name then, if the name is to some degree alienating the exact people Nintendo needs to reach out to most to make this console work.
      Let us ignore the fact that we all like gaming consoles and instead resort to childish puns to evaluate something before it's even released.
      But the name has already been released. We are in a perfectly good position to evaluate the name at this time.

      It is a stupid name.

      • There is no such thing as bad publicity (Score:5, Insightful)

        by gclef ( 96311 ) on Tuesday May 02, 2006 @01:50PM (#15247137)
        Nintendo has had front-page headlines in the game world for a week with almost zero marketing cost to them. *Everyone* in the game community knows the name and identity of their product.

        From a marketing point of view, this name is a colossal success. It worked. You know what their product is, you know what it's for, you remember its name. That's all that matters.
        • People know the name but their primary market won't want to own one because of the name. Not good. It'd be as if Ford renamed the Mustang to the Oh My Gawd it's Ponies car. People would comment on the name but 99% of the market wouldn't buy it with that name printed on the side.

          • Re:There is no such thing as bad publicity (Score:4, Informative)

            by VJ42 ( 860241 ) on Tuesday May 02, 2006 @02:04PM (#15247266)
            their primary market won't want to own one

            "Hardcore" gamers and geeks aren't their primary market anymore, the're going for the casual gamer market in a big way, gamers are now a secondary market. People like me, who just like to play Tetris DS, or Mario Cart for an our or so, will be their main focus. seeing how Nintendogs and Animal Crossing etc. did, it seems that the're hitting that market almost perfectly.

            • Re:There is no such thing as bad publicity (Score:5, Insightful)

              by MikeFM ( 12491 ) on Tuesday May 02, 2006 @02:15PM (#15247351) Homepage Journal
              Could be, but I don't see the name Wii as especially attractive to any market (at least not English speaking) and it's repulsive to most their existing market. It just seems to be a huge risk they didn't need to take. If they did want to take this risk then I think they could have found a name better than Wii to take it with. I can't think of any successful products with a name anything like Wii. Even something like WiiPlay would have been better I think as at least then it'd convey some meaning to the buyer.

              • MOD PARENT UP (Score:2, Insightful)

                by UbuntuDupe ( 970646 )
                I can understand why they don't care what people who will buy the system anyway would think about the name. I hate the name, and based on what I've heard about the system itself, I would still buy it, even despite the name. If they had named it "Flower Power", I would still hate the name, and I would still buy it in spite of the hatred, but -- and this is important -- at least I would understand why the name would appeal to other people. You're right: who would like this name? And who wouldn't have to o

              • Exactly (Score:5, Insightful)

                by moultano ( 714440 ) on Tuesday May 02, 2006 @03:23PM (#15248084)
                My girlfriend's only exposure to console gaming was watching her brother play nintendo when she was younger. I showed her to promotional video of the new controller, and she thought it looked like a lot of fun. I told her about the new name for the system, and even she thought it was a really really bad name.

                Seriously, how on earth could they have picked something that is a homonym for a word that means either diminutive, penis, or urine and thought it was a good idea?

                • Re:Exactly (Score:3, Insightful)

                  by c_forq ( 924234 )
                  I really wonder if this is a regional thing. In my area (Mid-Michigan) if I hear "Wee" I think of we, yes (as in the French oui), or WHEE!!! Now if I hear Wee-wee that is another story. I don't associated wee with small unless in an Irish accent or followed by lad, lass, little, or leprechaun.

                • Re:Exactly (Score:4, Interesting)

                  by ObligatoryUserName ( 126027 ) on Tuesday May 02, 2006 @05:28PM (#15249173) Journal
                  If she thought it was a bad name you told her about it wrong. I told my girlfriend that it was named Wii - and quickly added "as in wheeeeee!" --- she thought the name was awesome.

                  Simply put, the fact that the most exciting and innovative game system in the last 20 years is not targeted at hardcore gamers is a slap in the face to a subculture that takes itself far too seriously. However, since it is the most exciting and innovative system in the last 20 years any hardcore gamer without it has outed himself as something of a fanboy and/or hypocrite. Catch-22, baby!

                • Re:Exactly (Score:5, Insightful)

                  by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday May 02, 2006 @06:37PM (#15249693)
                  "Seriously, how on earth could they have picked something that is a homonym for a word that means either diminutive, penis, or urine and thought it was a good idea?"

                  I'm 31, this will be my first console (after probably 5 generations of $1,000 PC gaming rigs over the past 8 years). I am fed up by the duplicity of MS OS and gaming (I find their actions are pushing me out of putting together another gaming PC), and Sony's stock has dropped in my opinion.

                  When I first heard of the name change, the following occurred to me in order: (1) I was more surprised that they made a name change (I liked Revolution); (2) I thought Wii was "W2" (backwards compatible with Gamecube so an effort at making it sound like a 2nd generation console); (3) when read it was "we" then thought it sounded like "Whee!" as in something a roller coaster rider would exclaim, all rather simple and fun, rather apropo for a game console. A little while later, (4) I thought maybe the Japanese had gotten a little too much idol-like in their culture, since it sounded like they were trying for some pop band name for their product.

                  Only when I hit the comments link and read the various /. and other internet sites' responses did I realize how immature or mob-mentalitied many people truly are. In fact, *I* find the responses and arguments of those who dislike the name Wii rather low-browed, boorish, and ignorant, so much so I wonder how much exposure those individuals have with other cultures or with rational thought. To me, many of the lesser arguments are like saying Xbox360 is hence referring to someone's "box" or 360 a la circle or "hole" and thereby sexual references, when it clearly isn't. People appear more insulted by the name Wii than the hijinks of the original Xbox launch.

                  Further, it's clear that people identities are truly determined by product names, sort of like how people buy BMWs or Mercedes or whatever knowing shit about the product and buying it for the sake of the reputation or to get ahead of the Joneses. I think someone on /. called this low end luxury item snobbery or something to that effect.

                  The closest though I can approximate the response of the "other people" is similar to when I read about some foreign film or anime being imported and there has to be a name change because the distributor thinks Asuka or Ree sounds too male, too butch, too foreign. Except in this case, I think the distributor/publisher here, Nintendo, made the correct decision, and the audience did indeed turn out to be as childish as the producers of other media outlets assume them to be.

                  I realize this may be extreme to many, but if the responses were not so immature or mob mentalitied or insulting, and I did not perceive some of the better ones as passionate for the product's success, I'd think I was reading some xenophobic site bashing a foreign named product for the sake of it.

                  Which unfortunately makes me either (or maybe both) an ass for thinking "everyone else" are just plain stupid, or correct and that folks are really and can't think outside of their domestic situations and nature.

                  Even writing this and venting, I am rather astounded the bashing Nintendo has taken by /. for a damn simple name change. If I were in the market for a new gen console, Xbox360 is by an illegal nasty bullish hated company, and the PS3 by a MPAA, RIAA, DRM, and rootkit supporter.

                  What I do know is that *I* like the name (although less than the Revolution), I will be buying the product around 2 months after it is released (always do to to see if any overt bugs or problems exist and to see demand), and I like the controller and backwards compatibility and supposed price point.

                  What will I call it when I enter the store? "Do you have the new Nitendo console, the W two or the Whee?" If some idiot salesperson makes a joke, I'll calmly say I like the name and shut 'em up, and if he/she/it keeps going, I'll walk out and buy it elsewhere.

                  Maybe Nintendo will rename the pronunciation to W2 or something to appease the ignorant masses, but for me, the name change hasn't changed any of my perception of Nintendo but rather of people in general.
            • Wii may sound good on the ears of our friends on the far side of the Pacific. But to be successful here in the US of A, it'll need a powerful strong name like "Nintendo Maxx Power Xtreme GS"!
            • Right, Nintendo isn't selling to hardcore gamers... unfortunately hardcore gamers are the ones who would buy a system for specs or games regardless of marketing. The Nintendo market are the ones who would say "Wee? Eew."

          • Re:There is no such thing as bad publicity (Score:5, Insightful)

            by msaulters ( 130992 ) on Tuesday May 02, 2006 @04:22PM (#15248621) Homepage
            Agreed 110% mod parent up! I'll throw out another example for consideration:

            While 'Wii' sounds like 'wee' and can be compared to urine, they could have accomplished most of their goals by calling it the 'Shiit'. It still has the double-i's they want, and it's just as fucking stupid! Their marketing dept could get on blogs (because it wouldn't be allowed in print or on tv) and say something like "It's the Schiit", but seriously, NOBODY in the US is going to buy a console with the word 'shit' in any form on the side of it. Too many negative connotations. Would people TALK about it? Sure! Doesn't mean they want to buy it.

            You take POSITIVE buzz about a product called the Revolution and turn it 180 degrees into completely NEGATIVE buzz for a product called the Wii, and ONLY marketing could turn that shiit into a wiin.

        • Re:There is no such thing as bad publicity (Score:3, Insightful)

          by Anonymous Coward
          Michael Jackson had front-page articles for a long time. I don't think it helped him sell records.

          • We'll call it the WiiNES! (Score:4, Insightful)

            by gameforge ( 965493 ) on Tuesday May 02, 2006 @02:18PM (#15247393) Journal
            Michael Jackson had front-page articles for a long time. I don't think it helped him sell records.

            I realize you're either kidding, or you're an idiot.

            If he was in the headlines simply because of his outlandish name change (had he done so), it would indicate that he was already so huge that changing his name to something considerably stupid was headline news; if the music was good, he would then subsequently sell a substantial amount of records just because of all the publicity.

            If Nintendo was in the headlines because they allegedly molested children, they would undoubtedly never sell another console or game again.

            For that matter, Nintendo should have called it "The Entertainment System Formerly Known as Revolution".
            • Alrighty then, what about Prince's phase as "Unpronounceable Symbol"?

              I'm not a fan, and I think he still sells a decent amount of records and did even while he was switching to "Unpronounceable", but he's never sold as many as his earlier records. The name-change got him loads of press, not much of it good, and I'd guess no sales outside of his existing fanbase. (who may, for all I know, have loved his craziness with a true passion.)

              Great, now I've got Little Red Corvette stuck in my head...

            • Re:We'll call it the WiiNES! (Score:4, Funny)

              by Firehed ( 942385 ) on Tuesday May 02, 2006 @03:21PM (#15248066) Homepage
              Nintendo Entertainment System FOrmerly Known as Revolution: NES FOKR. It'll be a huge hit! Hell, they might as well go modify the design so it resembles an oversize NES cartridge.

              However, I'm fairly confident that Revolution was just the codename (much like how Dolphin became Gamecube), but people just liked it and assumed it would be the final name. I liked it too, but having the name Wii won't stop me getting one if I do indeed end up wanting one (of the upcoming three, it's the only one in which I have a vague interest, unless an FF7 remake comes out for the PS3 which was vaguely hinted at by that tech demo a while back).

            • But if Nintendo were in the headlines because they named their console "The Nintendo Pedophile" it wouldn't be good publicity. They'd certainly be in the headlines, though.

              Now, granted, this name change isn't as bad as that, and it's even beginning to grow on me (I'll never *like* it, but I've come to accept it), but who knows whether it's a good thing or not? A lot of the articles I saw about the name change mentioned the puerile jokes being made on game sites. Now maybe that won't affect anyone's opinion
      • Surely this demonstrates how big of a mistake Nintendo made here by giving their console a stupid name then, if the name is to some degree alienating the exact people Nintendo needs to reach out to most to make this console work.

        Nintendo doesn't need to reach out to the game news reading segment of the population. Nintendo is trying to reach out to people who have never played video games before. By my empirical examinations 'Wii' as a product name is a big hit for this group. And you can't beat the tagline

      • Re:What a Constructive Mentality! (Score:3, Insightful)

        by Anonymous Coward
        Imagine for a second that you've never heard of the Nintendo Revolution. One day, while watching TV, you see a commercial for a dog petting game available for something called Wii. The next day, Oprah gives a this Wii system to all the members of her audience with something called Brain Training. The day after, you read in your local paper that Nintendo has a new game system called Wii, and it's very fun and simple to use.

        Nintendo didn't make a mistake when they changed the name to Wii, they simply chose
        • Most men, of any age above about 12, will not want to buy a console called Wii regardless to it's games and especially when the PS3 and XBox 360 are so much more powerful. Nintendo seems to be gambling that children and women will be a better market. Possibly this is true but it's still a gamble and the name could still be a disaster in those markets too as it's not especially a cute or female name either.

          • "most" men? (Score:3, Insightful)

            by gaijin99 ( 143693 )
            And naturally you have demographic evidence to back up your statement that over 50% of men will refuse to buy the Nintendo Wii simply on the basis of its name, yes? Of course not, you were just talking out of your ass.

            Personall I'm a man, and I'll be buying one even if they decide to rename it "My Dick is Small" or the "For Men Who Need Viagra" or whatever. I'll be buying one, and not a Sony or Microsoft for two reasons: Zelda and Metroid. I can't afford multiple consoles, and those two games series are

      • Re:What a Constructive Mentality! (Score:5, Insightful)

        by mdielmann ( 514750 ) on Tuesday May 02, 2006 @03:06PM (#15247887) Homepage Journal
        My first impression of the name was "How the hell do you pronounce that?" We? Why? Double-u Two?

        Once I was clear on the pronunciation, my first thought was "Well, kinda goofy, but reminds me of 'Whee!'" You know, the sound people make on a roller coaster, when they're excited or having fun?

        But then, I've never called a part of my anatomy "wee", and it's been a long time since I called my <insert phallic slang here> a "wee wee". Since before I started school. While I wouldn't be surprised that kids would make the connection to such, I doubt it will deter them from buying the console. I think more jokes will fall along the lines of "I'm gonna go home and play with my wii" or, for the (slightly) older crowd "Wanna go to my place and play with my wii?" Lots of laughs, for the first week or two, I'm sure.

        So, why is it a bad name? It's unique, distinctive (read: easily trademarked), and has multiple connotations, none of which are overly offensive and some of which are titillating (hmm, another funny word). And it's been the buzz pretty much everywhere in the gaming world. I wouldn't be surprised if it's touted as one of the most innovative names in the gaming world a couple years from now.
    • I understand your point, but the truth is that marketing and image are important. People _will_ judge by name alone, and while it's certainly not the right way to judge it (as you have pointed out), that's what will happen.

      It also happens that this last week has been 'It's cool to make fun of Wii' so everyone is inundating us with reviews of the name.
    • Let the developers (and leaders of developers) proclaim to the world just how stupid this name is so that not only does the public think it's stupid, so do the developers.

      I think thats the point. Nintendo will NOT listen to the fans on this one, because they figure they will get over it. But they might listen to the developers who will say. "I refuse to market a game as 'exclusivly for the Wii'". Nintendo might listen to that and change their name.

    • Re:What a Constructive Mentality! (Score:5, Insightful)

      by Control Group ( 105494 ) on Tuesday May 02, 2006 @01:48PM (#15247103) Homepage
      Sure, cracking wise about "wee-wee" is immature and and unproductive.

      So would be making fun of a girl named Ima Hooker.

      But if I run into young Ima Hooker, I'm going to assign just as much blame to her parents as to the other kids. It doesn't matter what people should do, it only matters what they actually do, and any native speaker of American English could have told the big N that this name was begging for abuse.
      • I have to say, I always felt bad for that Hoare girl who lived near me. She never got a break.

      • There are some of us who really liked Corporal Ima Hooker of the Empress' Own Regiment. But apparently her father was rather a cruel guy.
      • ...and any native speaker of American English could have told the big N that this name was begging for abuse.

        Sometimes even the native English speakers don't get it.

        When I was in high school, the school district I lived in (Indian Prairie School District in the Chicago suburbs) was building a new high school. When it came time to name it, the name the school board came up with, and were in near-unanimous agreement on, was "Indian Prairie High School." It took one of the board member's kids to start laughing
    • If the system has what many consider to be a stupid name it will damage the product image. Names are important. Everyone knows that.

      Yes, 'wee wee' is a childish pun, but since children are part of the target audience, this matters. If I buy one and the system ends up orphaned over a thing as stupid as it's name, it doesn't matter that the name is a delicious pun that has different meanings in different languages or whatever.

      I'm not saying the system will fail. And if it does it may not be because of i
    • I don't think anyone's mudslinging the console itself in terms of it's ability to enable developers to create cool games. And I hestitate to say it was a "communal" opinion, since it's more plausible Gamasutra contacted them by email separately rather than fly them into a room together to get their opinions as a group. Like it or not, the name is different. It won't define the types and quality of games that will show up on the console itself, but it does present a lot of challenges to Nintendo to market
    • The whole point is that from a PR point of view Revolution was a name that made a statement and sounded cool. Wii does neither of these things. It's a stupid name that will drive away many gamers from even considering buying one. Given Wii's less than stellar power it's primary chance for excitement was in the revolution of the new controller and game interactions. How many people are going to rush out and buy an underpowered system named Wii? It sounds like a kids toy. What are they trying to compete with?

    • [...]It is within their power to take this console--regardless of its name--and create some truly genuine games with a new controller interface. Before they even start that, they are all communally agreeing that the name is 'stupid.'

      That's because it is stupid.

      Kind of sounds like a self-fulfilling prophecy to me.

      Kind of sounds like Nintendo brought it on themselves, to me.

      Let us all make fun of Dick Butkus now for his name. Hahahaha, dick. Hahahahah, butt. Get it all out of your system.

    • The people who will invest a great deal of time trying to make the games to run on the console are living in fear that a crap name will make their work worth less (or downright worthless) because the juvenile customers will respond saying "dude, I don't want to play with your wee-wee, okay? Go get an X-Box 360 and we'll talk." They're screaming "please, for the love of god, name this thing something that will sell so MY products will sell." The fact that you could come up with so many painful it-could-be-wo
    • Gimp is an incredibly stupid name. And there is countless software out there with some particular awful names, especially when it comes to emulators. Nesticle and RAPE are two particular gems.

      The key distinction here is that Nintendo presumably spent tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands coming up with the Wii in addition to the logo and all the marketing materials. In addition, Nintendo is competing in a market where perception matters. If people can't even accept the name how will they ever embr

    • Re:What a Constructive Mentality! (Score:4, Insightful)

      by poot_rootbeer ( 188613 ) on Tuesday May 02, 2006 @02:58PM (#15247809)
      The only two responses I read that defended the name were weak.

      Well, there you go. Sounds like the name Nintendo chose isn't very defendable.

      I use a piece of software called "The Gimp 2.0" but I have never once heard anyone make fun of it.

      Do you browse Slashdot at +5 or something? I don't think I've ever seen a discussion of The Gimp where it was not mentioned what a terrible name that is, and usually cited as a major reason why the product is far from being the Photoshop-Killer that it could be.

      Names matter. Refraining from saying that a name is stupid doesn't make it any less stupid.

      For crying out loud, "wii," "wee," or "we" all sound the same and the latter is good pun.

      And the middle one is a BAD pun. So that cancels out the good pun, leaving us with only a non-word that not only has no connotations in English, but doesn't even have intuitive pronounciation.

  • Collective developer reaction... (Score:5, Funny)

    by TooMuchEspressoGuy ( 763203 ) on Tuesday May 02, 2006 @01:41PM (#15247031)
    "Wii don't care about the console's name."

  • Not exactly Game "Developers" (Score:5, Insightful)

    by fistfullast33l ( 819270 ) on Tuesday May 02, 2006 @01:43PM (#15247050) Homepage Journal

    Did we expand the definition of developers to include "columnist and game design lecturer" and "director of business relations?" Someone at Gamasutra didn't exactly get a scoop. And what's with two quotes from the same company, Blackbone Entertainment?

    Anyways, they all say the same thing. The name sucks, the console is good. However, the best point to get out of the article is from David Sirlin:

    "Your mother or girlfriend doesn't want something called an Xbox 360, but that's okay because they won't find any games they like on an Xbox 360 anyway (beside xarcade, that is). They might be less intimidated by the "Wii" and will definitely find Nintendo games and non-games that sound more interesting than "Madden 2007" and "GTA 2008". "

    Totally true. The iPod wouldn't have succeeded with a name like "SongGiant 3950" (no product would). I say the name is horrible and acceptable all at the same time. Horrible because it lends itself to multiple negative connotations, and acceptable because it draws in customers that names like Xbox and Playstation won't.

    • I agree and have been wondering for awhile now what Nintendo was going to do with their console.

      I think Xbox 360, 360 degrees it's one revolution. I think this swayed their decision to distinguish and distance themselves from the Xbox 360 by changing the name from Nintendo Revolution to Nintendo Wii.

      On a plus note anyone who watches Family Guy can now say you are going to play some "wicked yes" now.

  • Corrected title. (Score:5, Insightful)

    by GundamFan ( 848341 ) on Tuesday May 02, 2006 @01:44PM (#15247059)
    Developers "over" React To 'Wii'... Seriously, this stoped being funny or shocking about an hour after I heard it... and I doubt 12 year olds giggling at the name will be the end for big N. Now to more important matters... will Nintendo make the same 10 games again (this time with Wii on the end) or will they continue to inovate internaly and encurage 3rd party support? The Wii has great potential, so did the Gamecube.

  • Next Up On Slashdot (Score:3, Insightful)

    by American AC in Paris ( 230456 ) * on Tuesday May 02, 2006 @01:44PM (#15247064) Homepage
    Sales Representatives React To 'Rational Trigonometry'

    We get it. By and large, people who eat, sleep, and breathe video games think that "Wii" is stupid. Fortunately for Nintendo, we're not their target demographic. Even more fortunately for Nintendo, the bulk of gamers who think that "Wii" is stupid follow the sentiment up with "but it isn't going to influence whether or not I actually buy the thing."

    We, The Hardcore, need to come to grips with the fact that we are now, in Nintendo's eyes, a seecondary market. The sooner we do that, the sooner we'll be able to get past all this bloviating about what sorts of fools are heading the ship at Nintendo.

    s/we/wii, if you're so inclined...

    • Great except.

      Radio 1. Indicative of the general public, spent considerable time ripping the name apart when announced.

      My Dad. Indicative of people who don't give a toss about games answered me telling him with "You're kidding right?"

      So, The hardcore hate it, the softcore hate it and the nocore hate it.

      Just who exactly IS their target market again?

    • Re:Next Up On Slashdot (Score:5, Insightful)

      by identity0 ( 77976 ) on Tuesday May 02, 2006 @02:35PM (#15247587) Journal
      Oh, bullshit. It sounds even stupider to non-gamers or very casual gamers(which I consider myself to be).

      Unlike Playstation, Dreamcast, Famicom, Genesis, or Xbox, which I've heard people say are also "bad names", "Wii" is a horrible name on a purely viceral level as well as having bad puns. At least every other console has more than one syllable, sounds like an acutal product name instead of a squeal, and has some 'character' to it. "Wii" doesn't even sound like a name, it sounds like part of a name that got chopped off.

      How would you even say it in normal sentences? "Have you gotten a wii yet?", "Is this game coming out for the wii?", "Hey check out the graphics on the wii", "Wanna play some wii games?", "Wii rocks!", "Do you have any wiis in stock?", "I think my kid wants a wii for christmas", "Wii is way cooler than the PS3". It just feels wrong, somehow - maybe because it sounds like "we", and "The we", "we's", "wes", and "a we" are ungrammatical in English. I suspect most people will just end up calling it "the Nintendo".

      I was looking around for the Japanese reaction to it, and at least on Slashdot Japan [slashdot.jp], there seems to be about as much bewilderment at the name as there is over here. The name doesn't have any bad meaning in Japan, but it still sounds wierd.

      • Re:Next Up On Slashdot (Score:5, Insightful)

        by American AC in Paris ( 230456 ) * on Tuesday May 02, 2006 @03:09PM (#15247929) Homepage
        At least every other console has more than one syllable, sounds like an acutal product name instead of a squeal, and has some 'character' to it. "Wii" doesn't even sound like a name, it sounds like part of a name that got chopped off.

        I differ with you on this point. "PlayStation" and "Xbox", to my mind, are utterly devoid of personality. One sounds like a purely utilitarian description of the device; it's about as personality-laden as "RoadCar" or "FoodCutter". The other just takes "box"--a dreadfully exciting word--and tags the ubiqitous "'X' for extreme" bit to the front. At least "Wii" is evocative; whether you think "fun", "small", or "ha ha pee pee!", it engages your imagination more than either of its competitors.

        And what makes a longer, multi-syllabic name better than a shorter, monosyllabic name? In marketing, short is sweet. It's why the "Macintosh" is now simply the "Mac", why the "High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle" is called a "Humvee", and why "fluoxetine hydrochloride" is known as "Prozac".

        In any case, we have yet to feel the brunt of Nintendo's marketing. Once you plaster the airwaves with "Wii", it's likely going to be about as silly sounding as "iPod"; you won't even remember when you first shook your head and said, "what the hell kind of name is that?" Familiarity comes from repeated exposure, and in another few months, the name "Wii" will probably seem no more stupid than the name "Nintendo" to most people out there.

  • Slashdotters react to Wii... (Score:3, Funny)

    by Spez ( 566714 ) on Tuesday May 02, 2006 @01:52PM (#15247143)
    Wii are tired of hearing about how many bad puns we can do with the name. Wii don't care. Wii want to try the console. Wii want to try the controler.

  • Stupid Nintendo (Score:5, Insightful)

    by winmine ( 934311 ) on Tuesday May 02, 2006 @01:54PM (#15247159)
    Those dumb Nintendo marketers, they only got FOUR slashdot frontpages from a name change. C'mon, they can do better than that.
  • A 360 is a complete revolution. To revolve also means to go around in circles. To go around in circles also means to make absolutly no progress. No progress in a next generation video game system is stupid. Note: This is a joke.

  • Grow Up (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Stalyn ( 662 ) on Tuesday May 02, 2006 @02:08PM (#15247294) Homepage Journal
    Seriously, Wii is a good name. It's a playful name and I think that's what Nintendo was aiming for, the more you think about it the more the name makes sense. Yes, there is some sexual innuendo involved but that makes it even more fun. And also just because some of you might be shy about talking about your Wii doesn't mean you still won't play with it all the time. I mean come on.. this is Slashdot.
  • Wii must be assimilated.

    Puns aside, the above statement is still true. Whether or not we like the name now, it needs to be assimilated by the masses, accepted as 'okay' and we move on. As has been pointed out before, nearly all electronic gadgets have rather non-sensical names when you think about it. Once they simply become a proper name, you forget how strange it sounds.

    We need to stop fighting Wii, and simply wait and let the gameplay talk for the system. Resistance is Futile.

  • Pocari Sweat == Gatorade (Score:3, Interesting)

    by extrarice ( 212683 ) on Tuesday May 02, 2006 @02:19PM (#15247411) Homepage Journal
    It's a sports-type drink. Perfectly reasonable name for a drink, if you look at the context at which it is sold.

  • Geez... (Score:3, Funny)

    by BTWR ( 540147 ) <americangibor3@ya[ ].com ['hoo' in gap]> on Tuesday May 02, 2006 @02:28PM (#15247510) Homepage Journal
    Making fun of the name "wii" is so April 2006...

  • The cuddly-wuddly Wii (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Neuracnu Coyote ( 11764 ) on Tuesday May 02, 2006 @02:34PM (#15247576) Homepage Journal
    I wonder when the haters are finally going to fess up to why they find the name 'Wii' stupid for a gaming console. It has nothing to do with the French "yes" or kiddie-talk for urination.

    It's cute, and gamers (especially the kind that spend their evenings arguing on the internet) hate cute.

    Come on, admit it. You don't want the coolest new console on the block to be adorable. Why is this so hard to say?

  • can't believe I havent seen this yet... (Score:4, Funny)

    by Churla ( 936633 ) on Tuesday May 02, 2006 @02:37PM (#15247599)
    ohmigawd I was going down the street and I saw this Nintendo console and I said Wiiiiiiiiii

    (Shameless threebrain reference, but I know a bunch of you get it...)

    On a more serious note, what I really see this as is a big gamble on the part of Nintendo. They are hoping to create a catchy enough name that the name gets a life of it's own on some level. It's a big gamble, and one I would not have put the remaining reputation of the company on myself.

    From a development standpoint, the thing to note here is that I would be willing to bet they're going to target marketing on this more at the child audience and much less at the young adult/adult audience (which is basically how the gamecube worked out for them.) At that level then you can target what kind of game development you are going to do on this platform. Don't expect a bunch of high concept fantasy rpg's and gory blood drenched FPS's on this one. Expect a lot of -Kart , generic sports game, generic mario franchise extension, and stuff your 6 year old niece/nephew won't be able to get enough of. All packaged in a name easy enough for a 3 year old to chant.
    • I am not in marketing. This is ENTIRELY my experience. With that it mind, feel free to skip this post...

      I have two children: 6 and 8 years of age (bring on the "you can't be a real geek" jokes).

      My 6 year old is just getting into some games on the "Nintendo" (N64).

      My 8 year old has a Gameboy Advance (bday) and enjoys playing a couple of hours a week.

      When my 8 year old saw "Wii", the first question was "Why? that is a strange name. Why?". No, its prounced "Wee". "Like small?, Like PEE? Can we get two of them?
    • Don't expect a bunch of high concept fantasy rpg's and gory blood drenched FPS's on this one

      Which is exactly why the first game which was officially presented is a gory blood drenched FPS, made by Ubisoft, a 3rd party developer. The game is called Red Steel [slashdot.org].

      While some other games introduced include a new Madden game, a game called "Sadness" in black&white and well the standard Nintendo games (mario, zelda, metroid...)

      I'd say that's pretty Wii-ked
  • The question is simply unsuitable, as it does not give us the choice of deciding that it is both or neither.

    On one hand, yes, the name is rather silly in a sense, as it has connotations that sentences the console to ridicule before it can even prove itself. However, may i ask this question? Don't you think Nintendo have already thought of the consequences? They are not going to name a console such a name for the hell of it without carefully weighing up either sides. Yes, the name does sound silly at fi

  • Heh (Score:2)

    by g0at ( 135364 )
    And everyone complains (often rightfully so) about open-source projects coming up with stupid names. Well, such insight is obviously not limited to non-commercial enterprises!

    -ben
  • The last console to have a great name was Genesis. NES, SMS, SNES, N64, Gamecube, Playstation, Playstation 2, Xbox and Xbox 360 are all stupid names.

    Playstation was an ok name, but Playstation 2 is the most unoriginal name ever. Xbox 360 not only doesn't sound fun, but it doesn't even make sense (why 360? What does that number signify?). At least Nintendo is trying to communicate its system's goal: wii means "we" as in we all play this system. Jokes about urinating are stupid. When you say "we went to see

  • Problem is not the name but the reason (Score:3, Interesting)

    by SmallFurryCreature ( 593017 ) on Tuesday May 02, 2006 @02:53PM (#15247757) Journal
    We keep hearing that the hardcore gamers are not the core market anymore at least not in Nintendo's eyes. Is this smart?

    Given that the Revolution will lauch together with the PS3 after the 360 in what may be considered a crowded market. Crowded? Well yes, if you happen to own either of the handhelds then you might realize that gone are the days of the Gameboy and even the GBA and you know can truly enjoy gaming on these without needing the eyesight of a 10 year old to make out the screen.

    That means plenty of competition. Offcourse if you are certain that you could tap a different market then your competition is aiming for then good luck.

    But does this market even exist?

    I would very much like to know how many gamecube owners own only that console (I thinkt that any person owning more then 1 game platform could be considered harcore).

    We all know the DS sells by the bucketload. Hell I overpaid to get a Lite from Lik-sang instead of waiting till the end of the year.

    BUT I am a hardcore game. The Revolution intrests me. I used to think that console games were stupid, limited, crippled (PC gamer) and I am right but the GBA thought me that sometimes this can be enjoyable. I no longer always want to play a System Shock or a Baldur's Gate. Well I want too but I can't because there are so few of them and the light bubbly Nintendo games pass the time.

    Say the DS sold 10 million units. Just for arguments sake say that an astounding 50% were bought by non-gamers. Girls who loved Nintendogs and Peach Princess (me a sexist pig?). That leaves 50% NON-non-gamers.

    Now how many of the non-gamers bought these devices on the advice of gamers?

    Who helped these non-gamers setup the wireless access of the DS? Told them in fact that you need a wireless router or access point to use it?

    Attempting to reach new markets means running the risk of alienating your existing markets.

    What I think may come as a shock to Nintendo is that there is no such thing as a non-gamer who games. Either a person plays games or they do not. The moment you get a non-gamer to game they either turning into a gamer OR a never-again-gamer. The last is harldy a market you want to enlarge.

    The name itself is not important. What matters is if this is going to be the entire style of the launch. If all the games are going to be Wii too then I would very much like to congratulate Sony and MS on winning 1st and 2nd prize in this round of the console wars.

  • Matter of curiosity - do Nintendo make bigger bank from the EFL world, or the ESL (or NFEAAYIC) world?

    And is wii 'silly' in any language besides English?

  • Brilliant name (Score:2, Interesting)

    by BlueCollarCamel ( 884092 )
    Personally, I think Wii is a brilliant name.

    Think about it...

    It's the sound the execs at Nintendo make when they go down their slides that land into their boardroom chairs.

    It's the sound EVERYONE (if you don't, you're not American) makes going down a slide...

    We just spell it differently.

  • Homonyms, what a concept! (Score:3, Informative)

    by atomic_toaster ( 840941 ) on Tuesday May 02, 2006 @03:19PM (#15248030)
    We = Us, our
    Wee = Small, tiny
    Whee = Used to express extreme pleasure or enthusiasm (Dictionary.com [reference.com])

    If you think about as meaning any of the above, the Wii isn't that silly of a name. Granted, if you have a puerile mind, it can also be a homonym meaning "pee". With so many words with double-meanings in the English language, you have to take it all in context. As a well-known example, "faggot" can be an offensive term for a homosexual man -- or it can be a bundle of twigs, or a kind of stitch, or a bassoon. A "fag" is a short form for the offensive term, or a cigarette. And you know damn well which one someone means when they ask if you'd give them a fag. When your child asks you to buy them a "wee", you'll know exactly what they're talking about.

    One of the major complaints about the Wii name is that it doesn't define what the product actually is. Well, neither do iPod, Dreamcast, frisbee, Dr. Pepper, Lego, Nike... And yet these all are now memorable household names. Words can be created and then given a meaning, not just the other way around.
  • It changes my opinion of the Nintendo marketing department considerably. Did they even bother to research this?

    The Nintendo marketing guys who came up with this are geniuses. I've never heard more about a new game console release than this one.

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