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Miyamoto Explains Why Wii and Wii U Are White

by James Jones - June 16, 2011, 8:12 pm EDT
Total comments: 21 Source: Game Informer, http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2011/06...

Colorful systems are associated with children while white has the broadest appeal.

The Wii and Wii U are both white because Nintendo determined that a simple aesthetic appeals to more ages. In an E3 interview with Game Informer, Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto explained, "We found over the years when we included a lot of different colors in our hardware is people would kind of point to that and use it to paint us as more kid-oriented."

He notes that previous Nintendo systems, such as the Famicom and Super Famicom, were far more colorful. The GameCube famously launched in purple and black. Miyamoto noted that while his preference is to "make greater use of color in our hardware," Nintendo has found that minimizing the number of colors maximizes appeal to all age groups.

Nintendo went with white for Wii and Wii U because they "found that rather than going all black - all white seems to have a broader appeal to people."

Talkback

AdrockJune 16, 2011

Or "because Apple used white and they're hip."

MorbidGodJune 17, 2011

Actually, that's my belief as well. Reggie worked for VH1 before Nintendo and Apple is very important to the music industry. However, the reason Apple choose white is probably a similar reason. So you know. He says tomato and we say tAmato ....

Kytim89June 17, 2011

I bought my white Wii back in 2008 just because I wanted one. At the time I wanted a black Wii and to this day I kick myself because I prefered a black Wii over the white one. I would have already replaced my white onew with a black one if the WiiU was not so close to being released, which I hope launches in black because if it does not then I will wait for a black WiiU to launch.

I always thought they went with white for heat dissipation or something.

broodwarsJune 17, 2011

So basically he's saying that people would call the Wii U "kiddy" if they released it in a black model?  Yeah, that makes a lot of sense.

*eyes his now "kiddy" PS3, 360, and PSP.*

They certainly didn't have any problems releasing the DS in multiple colors, and it's one of their best-selling products of All Time (if not THE best-selling) that had no problems appealing to all age groups.

BlackNMild2k1June 17, 2011

Quote from: Kytim89

I always thought they went with white for heat dissipation or something.

There are no words....


edit:
http://i53.tinypic.com/a40ljr.jpg

EnnerJune 17, 2011

Quote from: broodwars

So basically he's saying that people would call the Wii U "kiddy" if they released it in a black model?  Yeah, that makes a lot of sense.

*eyes his now "kiddy" PS3, 360, and PSP.*

They certainly didn't have any problems releasing the DS in multiple colors, and it's one of their best-selling products of All Time (if not THE best-selling) that had no problems appealing to all age groups.

I don't think he's singling out the color black for being "kiddy". If anything, I think he's talking about the purple color choice for the Gamecube. At least I don't recall much of the kiddy trash talk during the N64 days.

CalibanJune 17, 2011

Gold. At launch. Please. Thank you. Take my money. Bye.

MorariJune 17, 2011

Quote:

Miyamoto Explains Why Wii and Wii U Are White

It's because Nintendo is a racist corporation! They don't think anyone would buy a colored system.

Lady MushroomJune 17, 2011

I like the white. It looks cool and sophisticated. Black looks like a cheap PC or twentieth century electronics. I like colors too - I liked the purple cubie (dear cubie!) but if you want to look elegant and grown-up, white is a good choice.

FlipsterJune 17, 2011

Some people think the Apple-esque white is sleek, I think it's bland. Seriously, I would have loved a touch of red on the Wii U, although it's obvious that Nintendo doesn't really care that much about how the console itself looks anyways seeing how they've hardly shown it.

MorbidGodJune 17, 2011

Quote from: broodwars

So basically he's saying that people would call the Wii U "kiddy" if they released it in a black model?  Yeah, that makes a lot of sense.

*eyes his now "kiddy" PS3, 360, and PSP.*

They certainly didn't have any problems releasing the DS in multiple colors, and it's one of their best-selling products of All Time (if not THE best-selling) that had no problems appealing to all age groups.

They are saying white has more appeal then color and then just plain black. I think going white and then all black with chrome would be a good choice. Let the gamer choose.

ThePermJune 17, 2011

i like candy red

AilingforaleJune 17, 2011

Quote from: Caliban

Gold. At launch. Please. Thank you. Take my money. Bye.


Yeh... just very yeh...

AdrockJune 17, 2011

I thought the black console looked better with the blue light but I'm not about to buy a new Wii just for aesthetics.

I definitely was not a fan of the glossy finish on both the console and controller, but especially the controller. It looks nice until you touch it.

KeyBillyJune 17, 2011

I think white is just not offensive.  Like black, it's boring, but most people are fine with it and I think white is a little classier (if it doesn't turn yellow).  I would like green, but many would hate it, so I won't complain.

StogiJune 17, 2011

Give me burnt orange with a gun metal trim. Sick.

CericJune 17, 2011

Personally I want Indigo. But handhelds are much like phones which enjoy a wide variety of looks and colors.  Consoles are like TVs, their is a general standard everyone sticks to when it comes to coloring.  Nintendo wants to produce the highest yield with the least amount of variation at first till costs are recouped thus making white the most neutral least controversial color.  Its a good but bland chose.  Now what they should do is allow for the case to be swapped like the 360.  Then we can all get are colors, graphics, and custom cases without risking the system or needing to buy a new one.

I want transparent.

Ian SaneJune 17, 2011

Black, white and grey are neutral electronics colours.  No one would make any assumptions about target audience from either colour.  Yeah making the Cube purple was a STUPID idea, though they had a black Gamecube.  Really the stupid idea was promoting purple in all of the marketing in North America.  They HAD the neutral colour Gamecube but they focused on the purple one.  Probably a classic example of NCL dictating to NOA what to do in the North American market.

White is the Apple colour but it is also the trendy cool colour to use right now.  Apple is the most likely cause of that (and Nintendo is so full of shit for pretending like they thought of the idea on their own) but it is the hip colour right now.  White is the modern equivalent of wood panelling in the 70's.

Chozo GhostJune 17, 2011

I like silver/platinum. My GBA SP, Gamecube, and DS Phat were all in this color. I don't think they even offered that color for the Wii. How is silver metal a "kiddie" color?

ShyGuyJune 17, 2011

IBM came up with white electronics back in the 70s.

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