[Bgamer90]

It's video game week on Fallon and for tonight's episode, Reggie Fils-Aime will be on showing off the Wii U. During the start of the show, Fallon basically called the Wii U an add-on to the Wii. Video of the episode should be up soon.

How much of a problem do you guys think the name "Wii U" will have on Nintendo? There's still many people that are confused by the Wii U and think that it's just an add on. It doesn't help when people on big networks & websites state the same.

EDIT:

Beginning of last night's episode:

Uploaded the clip of Fallon calling it an addon here (temporarily): https://www.dropbox.com/s/v99rhmt6zd...allon-WiiU.m4v

Wii U demo (about 30 minutes after what Fallon said in the beginning of the show):

Video of the demo with Reggie calling it a system: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeYL-f48xoU

[pje122]

:O

[Dragonzord]

It's their own fault. They didn't even give a good visual of the system.

[shadyspace]

Hilarious. Nintendo can't even do free publicity right.

[Touch]

Production cost to much for a retake.

[Massa]

For starters, I don't think standalone GamePad's will be available at launch.

[EmCeeGramr]

Can't wait for the first local news story about some kid's Christmas being ruined.

[Good Job Bob]

This is really going to be a huge problem for Nintendo.

[DR2K]

Wii is going to crash and burn like the 3DS did initially and for the same damn reason. people will just buy the non tablet version in stead.

[angelfly]

Wouldn't be the first time that mistake was made as CNN wrote a whole article about it being an add on for Wii.

[BY2K]

If Nintendo still has to correct people after E3 that the Wii U is not an add-on but a new console, there is a problem. It is very real, and it's a big one.

Rename the goddamn thing, Nintendo. You still have time.

[Double D]

And Reggie is going to be on in a couple minutes to retrieve Jimmy's name. So watch this now people

[Effect]

It's their own fault in the end. They are the ones refusing to talk about the console itself, colored it white, named the system Wii U, and keep focusing on the controller only.

Rename the system. Reshape the console hardware and make sure you only launch it in black. Problem fixed.

[darkside31337]

Totally expected. It's a legitimate problem and has been since last year. 3DS had the same exact issue and Nintendo has been going out of their way to do the same exact thing Wii U ever since it was revealed.

[Keyser Soze]

This is obviously a problem. I'll be able to walk into stores Day One, and pick one of the shelf

[Ryoku]

Guys. Reggie will be on the show tonight. Hopefully he'll correct him. Calm the fuck down--for now, at least.

EDIT: I see this is more of a discussion about the broader audience, and not specifically about the show. In that case, go on.

I do agree that Nintendo is partly to blame on Wii U appearing to be an add-on to Wii. I seriously hope they make it absolutely clear.

[mysticwhip]

nintendo can't catch a break lololololol

[ShockingAlberto]

Does it actually matter if they pay the $250+ for it?

[Derrick01]

Nintendo deserves any damage done by this confusion as they didn't learn the lesson with 3DS. Name it Wii 2 or something new, just not that.

[shadyspace]

How do the Nintendo guys there NOT prep Fallon to make sure not to make this very easy to make mistake? Are they willfully ignorant about this being a potential issue?

[Y2Kev]

Then he called it the "Wii Poo" and dunked over Reggie's head.

[Good Job Bob]

Guys. Reggie will be on the show tonight. Hopefully he'll correct him. Calm the fuck down--for now, at least.

Would be hilarious if Reggie doesn't correct him.

[Kurod]

I'm guessing a fair number of parents are going to get a bit of sticker shock when they go to buy their kid that new WiiU accessory for the holidays.

[DanteFox]

Yeah at this point it's time to abandon the name and come up with a new one that's impossible to confuse with the Wii.

[Tookay]

We've been saying this for a year. It's a huge branding problem.

Apple can afford to get clever with its branding. They're part of the cultural conversation and have enough clout to pull it off. Nintendo doesn't.

[brandonh83]

It's their own fault in the end. They are the ones refusing to talk about the console itself, colored it white, named the system Wii U, and keep focusing on the controller only.

Agreed 100%. I mean, obviously I don't think it's confusing but I'm a gamer nerd who keeps up with everything. Not everyone is.

[Emitan]

It's a stand alone expansion pack

[Dragonzord]

Does it actually matter if they pay the $250+ for it?

'Why do I have to pay 250 dollars for a controller? i'm not buying this.'

[ClovingWestbrook]

Nintedo deserves the confusion people will have. I so wanted to fall in love with this system but like the Wii, Nintendo made sure that wasnt going to happen.

[ShockingAlberto]

'Why do I have to pay 250 dollars for a controller? i'm not buying this.'

Didn't seem to stop Microsoft.

[darkside31337]

Does it actually matter if they pay the $250+ for it?

Nobody is going to pay $250 for something that's an add on to a thing they could have sitting in their closet.

[Bloodrage]

Wii A-o.

Can't say that's surprising with a name like Wii U.

[bigtroyjon]

As an old man said to me at a blackjack table in a Spanish casino, "Desastre, Desastre, Desastre!"

[Bgamer90]

Guys. Reggie will be on the show tonight. Hopefully he'll correct him. Calm the fuck down--for now, at least.

But the demo will more than likely be right before the music performance... aka the end of the show.

Many viewers could fall asleep before watching the Wii U demo. So yeah, it can definitely cause some possible problems.

[Duxxy3]

To the average person the console looks the same as the Wii. The only difference is the controller.

Nintendo ran into the same problem when they stupidly named their handheld 3ds and many people assumed it was just a ds with 3d.

[Tomat]

It's over, Nintendo is officially dead. Last nail in the coffin cast by none other than the Fallon.

Nintendo shares dropping like crazy, Microsoft looking to buy. It's all over guys, pack your bags.

[?oe?oe]

This is totally thread worthy! :/

EDIT: MAN. This thread is hook, line and sinker. Look at you guys!

[Xyrmellon]

Fallon is reportedly a big gamer, that's why he has these showcase weeks, so I'm suprised. Perhaps he misspoke?

[Riposte]

Can't wait for the first local news story about some kid's Christmas being ruined.

Nintendo needs to just not sell separate controllers at launch. That would be a very easy solution.

[Fourth Storm]

Does it actually matter if they pay the $250+ for it?

Exactly. The price and box should make things quite clear.

[EmCeeGramr]

Does it actually matter if they pay the $250+ for it?

I think the problem is people seeing ~$100 "tablets" on store shelves and thinking "now I can use this on my Wii!"

[Strike]

Nintendo is really fucking this up, huh?

[bon]

If Nintendo still has to correct people after E3 that the Wii U is not an add-on but a new console, there is a problem. It is very real, and it's a big one. Rename the goddamn thing, Nintendo. You still have time.

But then Ubisoft would have to change the name of Zombiu. And that would be terrible.

[Seik]

The 3DS situation all over again...people will think its just a controller just like they thought 3DS was just a DS with 3D.

They should have called it the Super Wii. At least it gives a hint that its superior to Wii and it sounds kinda nostalgic. :P

[Tookay]

Does it actually matter if they pay the $250+ for it?

I don't know. Tell me how the 3DS is fairing.

[Double D]

Then he called it the "Wii Poo" and dunked over Reggie's head.

One does not simply 'dunk' on Reggie.

[CyReN]

Its on now.

[nullset2]

Mighty fucking backfire here o:

[Bgamer90]

This is totally thread worthy! :/

Don't see why it isn't.

Didn't the CNN mix up get its own thread?


Would it have been better if I titled the thread differently?

[Vilam]

It's Nintendo's own fault. They should have seen this coming after the disaster that was HD-DVD and the more recent 3DS. Names that imply an incremental upgrade and don't clearly usher in a brand new generation of technology are doomed to cause mass confusion amongst the public that doesn't follow announcements with baited breath.