The Nintendo Revolution Has a Name!

[JoEsMhOe]

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6148462.html

Revolution renamed Wii

Nintendo announces the console formerly known as the Revolution has a new--and surprising--moniker. Analysts are baffled.

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

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. As for the unusual spelling with the lower-case letter "i" doubled up 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.

Nintendo sums up the name change with the following comments. "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."

Game-industry analysts were swift with their responses. "Looks like good solid name for Nintendo," said Michael Gartenberg, vice president and research director of Jupiter Research. The key is making sure they follow up with a strong launch campaign to evangelize the new brand and help drive the message forward.

Wedbush Morgan Securities' Michael Pachter was more mixed in his response. "My initial reaction, of course, is that the name is dumb," he bluntly stated. "However, upon reflection, I thought that the name Game Boy was dumb, REALLY thought that the name Xbox was dumb, and can't even recall my reaction to PlayStation. Let's face it, devices with cool names like Dreamcast and Gizmondo fail, and the lame names seem to do well."
I think I'm not the only one saying that Nintendo has lost something in their minds in naming it "Wii"

[Ktan]

yeah, that sounds muchly silliness...
Why mess wioth Revolution, it sounded cliched but cool.
Pffffttt, final nail in the Nintendo coffin?

[Markpyro]

Thats just... I pity them. Hahahaa

[Nedech]

Meh, i'll buy it anyway. It's not about the name.

[Tharisfal]

The new name is Wii? the name IS wii :o!!! That's really lame.

[MOJO]

wii - sounds stupi but x-box and playstation souns stupid too ( u did not heard the translation in bulgarian u will fall down in laught ) anyway Nintendo are the best in the GAMECONSOLE busines

[Mindslaver]

Wow. Wii. Wtf.

At least Revolution sounded powerful. I doubt the system will succeed in France. "Wii? Oui!"

[King_Critter]

Late April fools joke.

I hope, anyways. I mean, I still love Nintendo and everything... But Wii? WTF!?

[JoEsMhOe]

You have to remember, is seems the consoles with horrible names seem to do better (Playstation, how original) than the ones with cool names (Dreamcast). I will want to see if it is a "good" as the name.

[Neo]

oh cmon.

We thought the next windows was going to be longhorn, but was officially dubbed "Vista" (which I found retarded).

Wii is interesting, personally I feel that this is a move towards something else -- while Nintendo has been pushing "Wii" or at least using it in the spotlight, I can't help feeling that Nintendo has something else up their sleaves. If anyones ever read into that rumour about a visor (unlikely imo, but maybe not?) some points discuss that nintendo has made a boatload of money from about the n64 on, and haven't really used it on any of the projects that were released... or something. It made it sound as if Nintendo has been funding R&D stuff, which would be so cool =D

Although Wii's controller pisses me off. I hope that isn't going to be forced... I really loved the Gamecube controller =/

-Neo

[Battlecruiser]

Well... atleast it sounds unique, which is something I admire Nintendo for doing in comparison to the other console makers. It sounds like the letter 'V' which is cool. But it's just weird because it is only one syllable.

[Giantfish]

"Wii" sounds more like an acronym than an actual name...

By the way, Wii supports gamecube controllers, at least for it's old games

[Sikawtic]

Revolution is better.

[dunchy]

Sounds french. I HATE the dirty french. Nintendo has become french.

[psycho42b]

I think I'm not the only one saying that Nintendo has lost something in their minds in naming it "Wii"This isnt the first time they lost their minds. Correct me if I'm wron,g but didnt Nintendo release the NES when the console market was pretty much dead, and was about to revert back to Arcades and the Computer?

[someguyontuesday]

According to a fanatical GameStop worker, the controller can flip on its back and be just like either the gamecube controller, or the old school nintendo controller. forgot which.

[Whiteknight]

I didn't know what to make of the controller when it was first shown, but it grew on me. I hope that'll be the way with the name of the system. Obviously Nintendo is going for the market that currently isn't a gamer, so really I don't know where that leaves people like me. I'm sure there will still be the great quality games that Nintendo always offers, and I'll undoubtably get the system no matter what the name, but I'll most likely also get the PS3.

[bluemicrobyte]

Personally, I am outraged that Nintendo would rename a console after over a hear of creating hype over a code name. But then again, maybe they're TRYING to wipe people's idea of the "revolution" right before E3 for some reason......

[The_Maker]

Blegck, 'Wii'

Sounds too... Japanesey-ish :/

[MOJO]

the contoller is realy good but is unusall but tne nintendo wii has 4 ports for gamecube controlers (the original controller is wireless )

[Sirion]

I actually like it. I mean, Wii is interesting at least. It's different, fun, playful. I mean, it's original and completely unexpected. Think of the other console names:

-Xbox. Who the heck names something Xbox? I mean, it's the most obvious, easiest thing to think of it the world!

-Playstation. Play-station. Really original :rolleyes:

-Gamecube. OMGZORZ! It's a CUBE that plays GAMES! :o

In conclusion, this name is alot cooler than all of the above mentioned, succesful names.

Just imagine the comercials and advertisments. "Wii will change everything."

[hammocksleeper]

Blegck, 'Wii'

Sounds too... Japanesey-ish :/

But I thought you guys love Japanese stuff! I mean, you use their consoles, play their video games, drive their cars, watch their TV shows and movies, read their comics, eat their food, drink their beverages, buy their toys, and marvel at their inventions such as the man-pillow....

[Modred]

Personally, I am outraged that Nintendo would rename a console after over a hear of creating hype over a code name. But then again, maybe they're TRYING to wipe people's idea of the "revolution" right before E3 for some reason......
Perhaps you don't recall the "outrage" over the change from Dolphin to GameCube. The public had known about Project Dolphin for at least as long, if not longer, than Project Revolution, and there was a huge fuss when the official name was announced. You'd think everyone would catch on that the development name almost never becomes the official name. Especially when the word "Project" is in the name of the system.

I like Wii. It's different and I have fun saying it. Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!

[Veeger]

I think this is a joke, or maybe just a monker. I just read the recent issue of Game Informer, which the editors were invited to Ubisoft, Paris, where they got the first "exclusive" sneak peak at one of the first 3rd-party games to be produced for the Revolution (which they were still calling the system, which makes me think this may not be the official name).

I was among the largest voices against the controller design (the idea of having to "plug in" a joystick was ludicrous to me), but after reading the article, and seeing what Nintendo is doing, I retracted all of my arguments.

The controller is going to be outfitted with a motion sensor, which will allow your motions with the controller in your hands to translate onto the screen. The game, Red Steel, is a fps, where you use the controller to direct your shots, similar to the old gun on the NES. When you move the controller to a new location, the cpu waits two seconds, and then repositions the screen to recenter the crosshairs. This allows amazingly fast battles to take place, and allows you to completely rotate 360 degrees much faster than traditional console fps games (I don't remember the exact numbers, but it was roughly two or three times faster).

This functionality also translates to sword fights (which are also present in Red Steel, where you actually swing the sword yourself, and manually block opposing swings, instead of pressing a "block" button.

Personally, I've become very excited about the possibilities this will introduce. And I stopped supporting Nintendo not long after the Nintendo 64 system.

[Neo]

The only problem I have with the controller is that without any tactile feedback... its just not going to "feel" right.

I'm pretty sure that nintendo wouldn't host a flash and explanation why they are changing the name if it was a hoax.

-Neo

[pixels]

maybe they saw the video with the kid getting the n64 and screaming his head off about it

and they wanted to make it easier to yell.

[kongurous]

Blegck, 'Wii'

Sounds too... Japanesey-ish :/

Oh wow, a Japanese company giving their product a Japanese-sounding name? Unthinkable!

[Dayoh]

The thing with the controller is, yes its different but y is the playstations controller the same as the PS2's and y is the Xbox controller almost the same as the Xbox 360's controller, yous could replay buy saying they are great but isnt nintendo doing something different?

[Darmago]

omfWii

I find this entertaining for one reason...

"want to go play with my Wii?"

plus controllers reminiscent of sex toys...

[GrassDragon]

maybe they saw the video with the kid getting the n64 and screaming his head off about it

and they wanted to make it easier to yell.
"Oh my God! Oh my God it's Wii! Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii! I can't believe it! Wiiiiiiiiiiiiii!"

XD