The Revolution has been renamed
#1
Posted 27 April 2006 - 11:26 PM
It's called 'Wii''.
Nope, I'm not joking. (It isn't April 1st.) Wii will be the Revolution's name.
http://revolution.nintendo.com/
#2
Posted 28 April 2006 - 12:19 AM
Alas, its true.
I don't want to buy a console with a name i'll be embarrased to say, or explain to a friend.
"I've been playing with my Wii".
Its pronounced "We", of course, and I would've greatly prefered that spelling (admittedly that wouldn't have been great either, but at least it wouldnt have been accidentally/purposefully mis prounounced "Wee", the UK slang for unine)
Sigh. I'll still get one, but why shoot yourself in the foot now?
One place where it might work is Japan, where the word doesnt have a stupid, childish ring to it.
From the site-
"Wii can easily be remembered by everyone round the World"
unlike DS or PS2 then? I'm in a non-English speaking country, and i've yet to meet a kid who has trouble with "Purei Sutei" or "Cube"
This post has been edited by jariten: 28 April 2006 - 12:23 AM
#4
Posted 28 April 2006 - 02:48 AM
Reggies son came up with the name, wrote the press release, and put it out while Reggie was having a particularly long and relaxing dump in the mens room.
Thats the only explanation.
Its funny how the (awful) press release includes a bit on HOW TO PRONOUNCE IT! Great marketing work there fellas!
From http://blogs.guardia..._about_wii.html
This sums it up
Buying one will be hell, with the local gamestore idiots.
On release of the console I can actually imagine going into the store and being asked "Can I help you?" and replying something like
"Yes, I'd like a ... that is to say, I want a ... ugh never mind,"
I think I'll be ordering mine online
This post has been edited by jariten: 28 April 2006 - 02:52 AM
#6
Posted 28 April 2006 - 05:58 AM
http://blog.wired.co...ntry_id=1467976
JM's official press secretary, scientific advisor, diplomat and apparent antagonist?
#7
Posted 28 April 2006 - 06:21 AM
Quote
#9
Posted 28 April 2006 - 08:21 AM
"Its not just another PlayStation 3, its something different".
Fine. But couldn't they come up with something that didn't say that without being a laughing stock too?
I've no doubt we'll get used to it and forget how bad it is, but it just smacks of something designed in a board room meeting.
Its ironic that the press release speaks of its universal nature, no confusion, everyone will get it, while at the same time they had to explain how to pronounce it, then had to explain that!
Not to mention that many countries (assuming they've read the press release and dont mispronounce it of course) has its own meaning for the word anyway, none of them good ("piss" in the UK, "small" in Scottish).
I'll still buy it, and I have the luxary of living in Japan where it doesnt sound so bad, but honestly, this is the best they could come up with?
#10
Posted 28 April 2006 - 03:09 PM
Revolution was a kickass name. Nintendo is making the biggest bet I have ever seen.
'Mom, I'm going to play with my friends wii''.
''What?''
#12
Posted 30 April 2006 - 03:45 AM
It's important to remember that Nintendo is a Japanese entity first and foremost, and the company's decisions are heavily weighted toward what works in their home territory. They'll turn Metroid into a shooter and make Link all angsty for Americans, sure, but those are harmless compromises; Metroid doesn't sell in Japan, and Link's still button-cute on DS, which is where most Japanese gamers are spending their time anyway. For big decisions -- like, say, the name and branding of their next-gen console -- Nintendo caters to its own interests. Which is to say, Japan. And not just hardcore Japanese gamers, but the same non-traditional gamers who have pushed sales of Nintendogs, Brain Age and Animal Crossing into the millions.
When the press release talks about "no need for abbreviations", they're talking of course about non-English speaking countries, and more specifically, Japan.
At work tomorrow i'm going to ask a few of the gaming nerd kids what they make of it.
This post has been edited by jariten: 30 April 2006 - 03:45 AM
#13
Posted 30 April 2006 - 11:28 AM
When I get my machine (I'd get it if it were called "Nintendo Fellatio"), I'm writing "REVOLUTION" on the case in paint.