It does NOT look exactly like the wii, unless yoi're blind that is.
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Jimmy Fallon calls the Wii U "a Wii add-on".
- Thread starter Bgamer90
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It does NOT look exactly like the wii, unless yoi're blind that is.
Heh, no one is really jaded.
And yes many people refer to the 360 as the xbox since the original Xbox has been long gone. You can't buy one anymore in a store.
lol, really?
And yes, there was more than likely confusion back then but at least the NES and SNES looked like two different consoles and different advertising designs.
In terms of the Wii U (as stated before), the name follows the line of previous wii accessories, the style of branding so far is nearly the same as the Wii, they hardly show off the system itself and if they do it's a quick glance, etc.
High price tag doesn't really mean anything since there has been expensive "add-ons" in the past.
Heck, if anything, I wouldn't be surprised if some would think of the tablet Gamepad as being expensive on its own.
I say, shown the tablet off but don't let it take the focus away from the console. Show the console just as much.
Heh, come on now. Let's not try to act as if the Wii U is a major redesign from the Wii.
They look very similar outside of one having more of a curved shape.
I honestly can't think of a time in which a system and its predecessor looked as similar as they do with the Wii and Wii U.
ClovingWestbrook
Banned
Really now. Its a bit longer and a tad curved. Other than that, yea, its a a Wii externally. Why do you think so many were confused last year at E3 and asked if the pad was a Wii add on?
My friend, it's a Wii U thread. Come on, you shouldn't even be surprised.
ClovingWestbrook
Banned
It will be the same with PS4 and 720 threads.
I'm sorry, but no. The WiiU looks more like the Xbox 360 than the Wii, which is more angular and boxy looking.
ClovingWestbrook
Banned
Lol amazing. Its a curved Wii. Thats it. There has NEVER EVER been a console that looked more like its predecessor than the Wii U.
A tablet that you can put on to the wii...
So you are saying that some people will view the Wii U tablet Gamepad as a system on it's own?
If so, that's exactly I'm trying to say.
Yeah he thought you could add it on and hook it up ("though you don't have to" lol).
Still don't get the logic in it. I mean, let me take that back, I do understand why they are doing it (since the GamePad tablet is the "unique" thing about it), but what I don't get is why they think some people won't be confused.
Kai Dracon
Writing a dinosaur space opera symphony
For all that Nintendo has bungled each reveal of Wii U to the public, just to play devil's advocate in the opposite direction: you cannot idiot proof anything against soccer moms. I've stood in Gamestop listening to parents too. Every time there is a new system launch there is a not-insignificant number of people who must have it patiently explained (in excruciating detail) that a Playstation 3 is not a Playstation 2 with an extra number on it. That no, no matter WHICH PS3 game you buy, your kid still won't be able to play it on his PS2.
And no, Nintendo games still don't work on Playstation consoles.
No, Xbox games don't work on PS3 either. Same as last time.
Ultimately it's not really about the shape of the console case or whether there's a numeral or a letter behind the name of the console. It comes down to marketing. You have to tell people what the hell they're actually looking for when they go to the store. There's still too many consumers who are from the generation where things were very simple and all toasters accept the same slices of bread.
Wii U threads are really just a test to weed out the weak before the true PS4 vs 720 threads begin.
Oh, the flesh will be tearing in the opera house that night.
And no, Nintendo games still don't work on Playstation consoles.
No, Xbox games don't work on PS3 either. Same as last time.
Ultimately it's not really about the shape of the console case or whether there's a numeral or a letter behind the name of the console. It comes down to marketing. You have to tell people what the hell they're actually looking for when they go to the store. There's still too many consumers who are from the generation where things were very simple and all toasters accept the same slices of bread.
Wii U threads are really just a test to weed out the weak before the true PS4 vs 720 threads begin.
Oh, the flesh will be tearing in the opera house that night.
You said exactly, bot longer and tad curved does not fit that criteria.
Because people with posts like your's have added on to it?
ClovingWestbrook
Banned
... Really? The point is that it looks like a Wii. Its a tiny bit more curved and long. It still looks like a Wii. The PS3 didnt look like a PS2. It was bigger, more ports, truly had a different look that screamed NEW console. The 360 was brand new compared to the Xbox. The Wii completely different from the Cube. The Wii U? Easly confused for the Wii. Its horible.
The Dreamcast is just a white Sega Saturn!
ClovingWestbrook
Banned
Ok, so the Wii U is the 2nd to most similiar of all time. Btw, was the Dreamcast called Saturn U? No. It was given a brand new name. If Nintendo called it the Wii 2 or something, it wouldnt be as big of an issue.
walking fiend
Member
Well, maybe Sega should have named Dreamcast the Genesis U? The Genesis brand might have helped them
Demoncarnotaur
Member
Its not that simple, and trust me the price doesn't really tell them a thing. That said, if the commercials put an emphasis on it being a new console with new power and a new way to play it certainly wont hurt.
Still, that name is gonna hurt them for a bit.
Zombie James
Banned
I was just joking
And I agree with you. The name/design of the console scream "Wii redesign".
Looking at the pictures of the Wii U again (that were posted in here), it's kind of strange to me that there isn't a Wii U logo on the system. Something I haven't really noticed until now.
Would probably be better if the name was on there due to how similar the system looks to the Wii.
Understand if some may think I'm being nitpicky but the reason I say that (as well as the reason why I have so many posts in this thread) is because I'm interested in branding and advertising (and took some classes involving it in college).
Would probably be better if the name was on there due to how similar the system looks to the Wii.
Understand if some may think I'm being nitpicky but the reason I say that (as well as the reason why I have so many posts in this thread) is because I'm interested in branding and advertising (and took some classes involving it in college).
I think we might be overanalyzing a bit. I can see how it can be confusing. But the major fuel to the fire was Nintendo themselves acknowledging the DS/3DS situation and stating that they wouldn't repeat the same mistake. So, I have to have a little faith that since Nintendo themselves basically brought the first problem to my attention, that they're taking action in the marketing department to make things crystal clear by the time they're ready to advertise. They just don't appear to be from our perspective, but I know they'll be sensitive to it.
They certainly want to keep the Wii name. The Wii worldwide sold more units than the GameCube and N64 combined... and you could almost include the SNES in that mix too. It was wildly successful for them, so they seem to want their portables to have DS-related names and for their hardware to be Wii branded from now on.
Even though to be honest this thing is almost like the opposite of the Wii. Wii was about simplicity. Motion controls and a couple of buttons to convince your grandma that it wasn't too intimidating to try. The U's pad has everything the Wii remote & 360 pad has plus a touch screen. Even I'm a little confused (i.e. why can't I stream Pikmin 3 to the pad when that's supposed to be a big selling point?).
Anyway no offense intended but this board isn't always the best barometer. I remember this board exploding about how stupid the Wii name and concept was. Nintendo is doomed! Then the 3DS reveal, everyone was pretty excited and the opposite of confused. As for the Wii U? Heck I dunno, it's hard to not predict problems when they could have just gone with WiiHD or Wii2. But if we generally thought "Wii" was a stupid name, then us thinking "Wii U" is stupid might actually mean it's brilliant somehow
They certainly want to keep the Wii name. The Wii worldwide sold more units than the GameCube and N64 combined... and you could almost include the SNES in that mix too. It was wildly successful for them, so they seem to want their portables to have DS-related names and for their hardware to be Wii branded from now on.
Even though to be honest this thing is almost like the opposite of the Wii. Wii was about simplicity. Motion controls and a couple of buttons to convince your grandma that it wasn't too intimidating to try. The U's pad has everything the Wii remote & 360 pad has plus a touch screen. Even I'm a little confused (i.e. why can't I stream Pikmin 3 to the pad when that's supposed to be a big selling point?).
Anyway no offense intended but this board isn't always the best barometer. I remember this board exploding about how stupid the Wii name and concept was. Nintendo is doomed! Then the 3DS reveal, everyone was pretty excited and the opposite of confused. As for the Wii U? Heck I dunno, it's hard to not predict problems when they could have just gone with WiiHD or Wii2. But if we generally thought "Wii" was a stupid name, then us thinking "Wii U" is stupid might actually mean it's brilliant somehow
Goldrusher
Member
Demoncarnotaur
Member
That's an old picture. The name is on the system.
Well it is definitely the name we are getting, its all going to come down to marketing at this point. I really don't have much faith in NOA getting the right vibes out there for this system, but one can hope. That system is sexy in a way, but its name mixed with its looks really scream redesign with a new way to play..
When the hell do they plan on announcing a price and date anyways?
Kleegamefan
K. LEE GAIDEN
The wiiu looks closer to the wii than a slim ps3 or x360 look like their launch predecessors....
Nintendo is marketing the wii u as an extension of the wii. To them its all about the controller to the point they barely talk about the wii u console. Since they have not clearly addressed the differences well enough themselves we are seeing this confusion in the media as is the case with Jimmy fallon
Nintendo is marketing the wii u as an extension of the wii. To them its all about the controller to the point they barely talk about the wii u console. Since they have not clearly addressed the differences well enough themselves we are seeing this confusion in the media as is the case with Jimmy fallon
The fact that it can't stand vertically is a big difference. Early adopters aren't people that bought slims.
They should release it only in black. It looks so good in that color.
EDIT: I'll address the current topic briefly. I think the whole 'Wii U' and the-U-looks-like-the-Wii stuff is a bit overblown and won't 'cause confusion for anyone other than people who don't care overly much. There's always going to exist some degree of needed education for non-enthusiast consumers. Honestly, people knew the 360 was different from the X-Box due to it coming in a new packaged box and having an addition to the name, in addition to people in stores telling them it was different. I don't think the average person compares and contrasts how one system looks compared to the prior one; all they look at is the packaging.
That said, I think they should have at least called it Wii 2 to ease people into the idea a bit more.
EDIT: I'll address the current topic briefly. I think the whole 'Wii U' and the-U-looks-like-the-Wii stuff is a bit overblown and won't 'cause confusion for anyone other than people who don't care overly much. There's always going to exist some degree of needed education for non-enthusiast consumers. Honestly, people knew the 360 was different from the X-Box due to it coming in a new packaged box and having an addition to the name, in addition to people in stores telling them it was different. I don't think the average person compares and contrasts how one system looks compared to the prior one; all they look at is the packaging.
That said, I think they should have at least called it Wii 2 to ease people into the idea a bit more.
Anyway no offense intended but this board isn't always the best barometer. I remember this board exploding about how stupid the Wii name and concept was. Nintendo is doomed! Then the 3DS reveal, everyone was pretty excited and the opposite of confused. As for the Wii U? Heck I dunno, it's hard to not predict problems when they could have just gone with WiiHD or Wii2. But if we generally thought "Wii" was a stupid name, then us thinking "Wii U" is stupid might actually mean it's brilliant somehow
The problem with the 3DS was that the box for the system looked made the system look exactly like a DS because all it showed was a closed system and the boxes for the games looked almost exactly like the DS game boxes. It also didn't help that the DS had revisions with name changes on the box like i and XL.
If Nintendo has learned it will make sure the Box is clear that it is different and that they need to make sure the game boxes clearly distinguish Wii U games from Wii games. Honestly it would have been worse I think if they called it WiiHD as then everyone would have just thought it was a Wii that was meant for HD.
Edit: Pretty crazy that the 360 and PS3 revision look more distinct from the original systems than the Wii U and the Wii.
It looks like Wii U is really slim indeed. Nice move from Nintendo to have achieved that, it's as unintimidating as the wii.
Demoncarnotaur
Member
You can't deny that these look alike
But I don't even think thats the main issue, the issue is their emphasis on the controller and a name that doesn't scream sequel but rather revision.
But I don't even think thats the main issue, the issue is their emphasis on the controller and a name that doesn't scream sequel but rather revision.
Phaethon0017
Member
This.
When Nintendo first unveiled it I thought it was just a controller. If I, a hardcore E3 watching gamer get that on the first impression, what chance do those 80mil Wii buying grandmas stand?
Like I said, hopefully they will change it up.
The situation is similar to the DS/3DS but different as well. Hopefully they will take the difference between both into consideration since focusing just on the similarities (i.e. the long running "Wii ____" name for accessories being similar to the names of the DS remakes being very alike), can make them lose sight of the things that are different that can cause confusion as well (i.e.: Showing off the tablet more than the system therefore making people think the Wii U is just the tablet).
Yeah I definitely get why they stuck on to the Wii name. It's just that there should have at least been a difference in overall design in branding and/or logos in my opinion to show that the Wii U is new. The similar branding makes the Wii U seem like an addition to the same exact Wii branding that has been going on since 2006 therefore possibly causing people to think that it's part of the original Wii. Heck, even the Wii U game cases are identical to the Wii (but they just have the U at the top obviously).
That's exactly what I said right after they showed it off at E3 2011.
Anyway no offense intended but this board isn't always the best barometer. I remember this board exploding about how stupid the Wii name and concept was. Nintendo is doomed! Then the 3DS reveal, everyone was pretty excited and the opposite of confused. As for the Wii U? Heck I dunno, it's hard to not predict problems when they could have just gone with WiiHD or Wii2. But if we generally thought "Wii" was a stupid name, then us thinking "Wii U" is stupid might actually mean it's brilliant somehow
While I thought that the Wii was a silly name, I made the connection with it to other silly names like Ebay and Google before Nintendo came out with their statement making comparisons to those brands.
Wii was a simple name to say, the name was waaay different from "Gamecube", and the style of branding was too. Therefore it was obvious that it was something completely different to consumers. The simplicity of the name "Wii" was shown in the games for the Wii as well since many games for it were simple to play (as you stated). It fit perfectly.
While I wasn't expecting the original Wii to be as big of a hit as it was, I definitely felt that it would do better than the Gamecube especially when people who weren't (and still aren't) big gamers were asking me about it.
Speedymanic
Banned
The lack of blue glow it somewhat disappointing. Always thought that was a very cool.
Uno Venova
Banned
Has a higher number in the name at least.
They were originally going to call it the 3600.
Yeah.
It's funny since it's almost as if the style of the original Wii fits better for the current times than the style of the Wii U.
The current style of tech products is sharp edges and no curves as can be seen with the iPhone 4(s), and even the redesigned Xbox 360.
Back 4-5 years ago, products had curves. The 360 was a curved system, the iPhone 3GS was a curved phone, etc.
It's kind of funny to me. The Wii U fits the trend back 4-5 years ago where as the Wii was a bit ahead of it's time in terms of style.
Captain Smoker
Member
This thread is pathetic.
95% of newspapers indicated that this is a new system during E3, all of them are going to indicate this at near launch time.
Nintendo will spend millions of dollars to market this correctly, and common-sense should do the rest.
95% of newspapers indicated that this is a new system during E3, all of them are going to indicate this at near launch time.
Nintendo will spend millions of dollars to market this correctly, and common-sense should do the rest.
I'd prefer the black Wii U to have a red glow like Kitt and HAL.
lol... love the insults.
[Edit: Notice a bit of a trend in which people saying how "stupid, dumb, and/or pathetic" the thread is are people who frequently post in the Wii U thread; find it kind of funny.]
Really... 95% You know that for sure?
You are absolutely sure about that?
Boss Man
Member
Yeah, how closely the consoles resemble each other definitely isn't the biggest issue. I don't really think it matters much. The name and controller emphasis is where there seems to be a lot of potential for confusion.
Captain Smoker
Member
I could ask you the same questions in the other direction.
As NeoWiiU-Hate didn't manage to post more than two threads about this issue I think it should be safe. ;P
You sure Nintendo is going to advertise the system as an add-on only?
I never stated percentages of people who were confused.
They never have advertised it as an add-on in the first place so I don't know what you are trying to say.
However, what I am saying is that the way they advertise it (at least so far) makes it easy for some people to think that it's an add-on.
If people were confused about it after watching an hour long press conference, Nintendo is really going to have a hard time if they advertise the Wii U in a similar fashion via 2-3 minute TV ads.
Nintendo, honestly, seems a bit boggled by the fact that people don't get this. Whether they rectify that or not for launch? Eh. We'll see.
Captain Smoker
Member
Well I did.
Type in Wii U at google and search for news which declare the Wii U as an add-on to the Wii or other false information. You try to stand a point with a CNN-article which is going to be corrected in the future and one comment from Jimmy Fallon, which has been distinguished in the show.
Personal experiences with uninformed people are useless as they're going to be informed by newspapers/sites and TV-commercials.
They didn't "advertise" it until now, they introduced it at E3 to the gaming community.
Newspapers usually catch up on something like that and inform the mainstream audience in that certain week.
As the launch approaches, Nintendo is going to market this correctly.
And 400,000 people on the Wii U fanpage certainly get that this is a new system.
I much prefer the aesthetics of the WiiU. Wish it still had the slot light, though.
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