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[Matlock]

PlayStation Wonderful was close, and the reaction was just as funny.

From Usenet:

Newest article states that the official name of the PS2 is the "Playstation Wonderful." Just who exactly is making these horrid next-generation names? Dreamcast? Wonderful? What happened to cool names that don't evoke cute little stars and hearts? Sony apparently hasn't lost their business-sense marbles and is pricing the system comparable to previous ones at $275, although there's no word on the game prices.

Things never change. :lol

 

[BlueTsunami]

I suggest we change the derogatory term "Nintard" to "Wiitard," it fits so much better.

:lol

I propose this too

 

[Striek]

Revolution was honestly a good fit. That or N5. I see they're going for the iPod-esque branding with Wii...good luck there. Not a fan.

 

[Mason]

I hope they license "We Will Rock You" for a commercial at launch time.

 

[PolyGone]

I would've preferred starcube. but hey, can't win em all.

 

[StRaNgE]

Well that's a weird name..I'll just be wrong and call it Rev.

I'll join ya on that.

Rev for the win..

 

[Wollan]

I remember everyone was laughing their ass off when the crazy 'Xbox 360' name rumour came around.

Oh..

 

[Y2Kev]

How is this iPod-esque branding? Because it's a short name? It doesn't really resemble iPod or evoke the same images other than the fact it has an i in it.

 

[trmas]

This is the best thread I've read since Wall Guy made his appearance last year about the same time. You gotta admit Nintendo is different. And I like the name, but I'm not a teenager who cares about what is cool, either.

 

[StRaNgE]

How are they getting "ee" from "ii" anyway?

it should be ii=eye

 

[sprsk]

How are they getting "ee" from "ii" anyway?

it should be ii=eye

japanese pronounciation

 

[citrus lump]

no one can do anything without incurring internet hatred. i had a cheese danish today morning. the "blogosphere" is seething.

subliminal marketing FTW

 

[Saoh]

Wiiiiiiii <--- up to 8 players

 

[Striek]

How is this iPod-esque branding? Because it's a short name? It doesn't really resemble iPod or evoke the same images other than the fact it has an i in it.

The lower-case I as the page icon for this clued me in, and the interview with MTV sealed that. I think you're misunderstanding what I meant anyway. It doesn't have to be like the iPod (or evoke the same images) to adopt the same marketing philosophy.

 

[THE:MILKMAN]

where do you live?

:lol @ Wii sex gif

I think scotland.

 

[Y2Kev]

The lower-case I as the page icon for this clued me in, and the interview with MTV sealed that. I think you're misunderstanding what I meant.

I'm not (or wasn't) targeting you specifically. I get how maybe the i in the logo may be similar and they may be going for a similar goal (who wouldn't? The iPod is an international smash hit) but I don't see it.

 

[Roders5]

Scotland?

Close, Northern Ireland. We use the word wee all the time.

-What did you have for lunch?
-Just a wee sandwich.

 

[jacomar]

the problem with this name is that i could see it working fine in japan, but in NA and europei it will have a mostly negative impact, especially when it comes to mindshare.

and yes its worse than 360 (as unimaginative as it is) ...it invokes an instant "wtf" reaction and more often than not its very negative.

to put it simply...

"Worst name ever"....

Most of Europe does NOT speak English, only the UK. As a matter of fact "we" sounds like yes in french and sounds like nothing in Spanish.

 

[MutFox]

With a name like "Wii" the console better come with 2 controllers and 2 analog sticks,
as the name suggests...

Though, I would have rather they dropped the "W" and just called it "ii"
and kept the "e" sound.

 

[citrus lump]

How are they getting "ee" from "ii" anyway?

it should be ii=eye

Hawaii

Have you been pronouncing that wrong all your life?

 

[elostyle]

I think 360 turned out to be a really great name. People just call it 'the 360' all the time. Not sure how that is gonna work for Wii, but I'm already kinda getting used to the name now. I think it will be fine.

 

[CrisKre]

I love it. It has personality.

It also shows nintendo going all out. (or shooting for the sky with wii, hahaha, soory had to =])

I just am aprehensive of how it will be used on everyday talk.

like

ïmma go play wii.

is that a game for wii?

I just bought a wii.

or how about how reggie will present it at E3?

"ladies and gentlemen, we present you Wii!!!!" sounds weird.

I still love it and concurr with kobun. Its a name as much as a logo (visual reference) and it is different and filled with personality and uniqueness. Hope it works for nintendo, they are making a huge gamble down right to the name. I say WOW.

 

[Beavertown]

Most of Europe does NOT speak English, only the UK. As a matter of fact "we" sounds like yes in french and sounds like nothing in Spanish.

It's still a stupid fucking name in any language.

 

[Smiles and Cries]

I like the NAME and the Official Logo is better...

Wii

 

[Stormbringer]

"Wii"...This sounds really...modern ?...I think I like it .

 

[Polari]

uh. it's different. i guess it's got that going for it. a name like wii isn't going to go unnoticed, even if it is for all the wrong reasons.

silly nintendo.

 

[underfooter]

Even if the name is dumb and stupid and uncool....









......the fact that its getting publicity for its fucked-up weirdness is good. Even if its 'what the fuck!' publicity, its still publicity. Like holy shit, the GAF servers were shot because of a console name? The game journalism world is going crazy.

That alone is something.

 

[drohne]

i'm sure it's been said before, but any name that needs an escort of apologies and explanations is a failure -- noa knows very well that "wii" stinks. corporations have announced massive layoffs without spinning them so hard. celebrity couples have named their children less ridiculously. it's extraordinary.

 

[MutFox]

It's still a stupid fucking name in any language.

You must only speak one language... I pity you.

 

[colinp]

I suggest we change the derogatory term "Nintard" to "Wiitard," it fits so much better.

Wiitards and wiiners.... PERFECT!

 

[StRaNgE]

With a name like "Wii" the console better come with 2 controllers and 2 analog sticks,
as the name suggests...

Though, I would have rather they dropped the "W" and just called it "ii"
and kept the "e" sound.

that i could live with and EE would go over well with Ravers then too. lol

Hawaii

Have you been pronouncing that wrong all your life?

HA HA HA, well damn...

i did not even think of that.

you got me stumped with that one. lol

 

[sprsk]

i'm sure it's been said before, but any name that needs an escort of apologies and explanations is a failure -- noa knows very well that "wii" stinks. corporations have announced massive layoffs without spinning them so hard. celebrity couples have named their children less ridiculously. it's really extraordinary.

Look at amazon, yahoo, google and virgin, those names are weird why dont you have some of this cake?

 

[poppin fresh]

When I first read it I thought it was a way to try and get the pirate market with the whole i i shiznitz.

I guess they are just copying PeeS3, the same way xbox 360 ripped off the 3 portion.

This will make for some great wiiiii wiii wiii photoshops of the 3 little pigs if nintendo fails.

Now I want to see how the public respond to this, not just the 'hardest of the hardcore'.

 

[neoanarch]

lol

I really doubt anyone at NOA or NOE had the balls to tell NCL that the name was bad.

noa: great name sir
noe: yes; certainly grand, jolly good

 

[PhoenixDark]

or how about how reggie will present it at E3?

"Excuse me while I whip Wii out"

 

[Ford Prefect]

wiijus christ!

 

[MrToughPants]

"I already have a Wii Wii and I play with it all the time, I want a Playstation three mom"

:lol :lol :lol

 

[Ironclad]

I refuse to call it the Wii. I absolutely refuse to call it the Wii. It will be known as the Revolution in my mind as far as I am concerned.

Personally I can't see what was wrong with calling it the Revolution but giving it some thought, the name isn't all that bad. Still not going to use it though.

Here's hoping the marketing campaign and the name actually help to sell units as opposed to inhibiting sales.

 

[ForzaItalia]

"Hmmm..maybe I can help with the marketing?"

 

[citrus lump]

that i could live with and EE would go over well with Ravers then too. lol







HA HA HA, well damn...

i did not even think of that.

you got me stumped with that one. lol

Look on the bright side, you'll never see us type "Revo" again. That should make you happy ;p

 

[Saoh]

I love it. It has personality.

It also shows nintendo going all out. (or shooting for the sky with wii, hahaha, soory had to =])

I just am aprehensive of how it will be used on everyday talk.

like

ïmma go play wii.

is that a game for wii?

I just bought a wii.

or how about how reggie will present it at E3?

"ladies and gentlemen, we present you Wii!!!!" sounds weird.

I still love it and concurr with kobun. Its a name as much as a logo (visual reference) and it is different and filled with personality and uniqueness. Hope it works for nintendo, they are making a huge gamble down right to the name. I say WOW.

well, you can bet Nintendo wiil call it "Nintendo Wii" at E3, always (as it should be called)

Wii just have to wait ´till the name grows on us

 

[birdchili]

It's relying more on shock value than substance

the more I think about it... the more I disagree with this.

Wii
- urine
- penis
- "we" (us, inclusive)
- small, little
- "oui" (yes (French))
- "ii" (good (Japanese))
- short, iconic, international
- ...surely some other stuff I'm missing...

Not "Nintendo Wii". Just "Wii". They don't even use "the Wii" on the site.

It allows a wide variety of interesting wordplay too - a fun word.

 

[Lucky Forward]

I like the idea of the two i's in Wii representing people and the controllers, but they should have gone with Kii. Pronounced "key". Has a Japanese ring to it. People would have no problem walking into a store and saying, "I want the Kii console".

 

[Beavertown]

You must only speak one language... I pity you.

I hope you're really not that stupid.

 

[Journeywalker]

April 27, 2006--GAFfers say "Whiiiiiiii?"

May 9th, 2006--"Wii are the champions"

May 10th, 2006--Metroid Prime Thwii rocks the West Hall

November 21(?) 2006 12:00am --Release of Wii

November 21(?) 2006 12:00am--Worldwide Wii-Wii network goes live

March 2007-- New Nintendork illness sets in: Sales-Age Onwii...Japanese weekly sales charts are so dominated by Wii that nobody bothers to post them. Not even Gahiggidy.

 

[M3wThr33]

My roommate did a search.
Ad companies already bought up the names.

 

[Jupiter_Shrooms]

Gotta post in this historic thread. "Wii" I like it.

 

[BorkBork]

Homer likes the name..

 

[Shaheed79]

I wonder if NCL realizes that they have chosen a name that in English effectively means "small penis" as a pun. Or is that the pun in itself?

Apparently you can't love Nintendo without hating them first. It's just how they roll.

 

[stalker]

I like Wii.

But I am a nintard and english is not my first language, so probably my opinion is not that relevant ...

By the way, I can assure you that for a spanish or an italian the word Wii is even more difficult to say (or better, to understand how you should say it) than for you english speaking people ...