Topic: Revolution Name Announced!

[Karl Castaneda #2]

We will not be PlanetWii.com. We're currently discussing our options.

[Epitaph]

The one aspect I really like about the name its look, it has a very appealing look to it. Its a modern look, kind of a newage branding.  

Its only when you say it that it really just doesnt work. Quite frankly I thnk I will call it w2, W2 doesnt seem to bad. But in terms of how it looks and how the flash animation was pulled off its not too bad.  

[Avinash_Tyagi]

Don't you mean Wii're

[MegaByte]

Add a few lines to
WII
and you get
WTF
And that about sums up my thoughts on it.

People may compare this to the initials reactions to the controller, but it's not the same.  For me, the controller idea was redeemed when they showed the video of ideas for games based around it (and hopefully the real games will complete the redemption).  In this case, there really isn't anything to redeem it.  If they at least changed the logo to better portray what the i's represent (controllers, people, etc) then that would help (because I doubt most people are going to figure that out on their own), but that still doesn't change the fact that it sounds dumb.

I know they warned that the name would change, but I don't really understand it... they had such a powerful force going behind their codename, there really wasn't a good reason to change it.
"Wii" doesn't seem "fresh," it seems like the old Nintendo "you will like it because we say you will."
It's also really close to "Wifi," sure to cause all sorts of typo problems...

Also, it sounds really similar to Intel's VIIV (pronouced with a long i sound) initiative, which has not only already flopped, but doesn't even have the same pronunciation despite the two i's...

"By letting the gaming community vent now about the name, they will be less distracted as launch titles for the system are announced and initial reports about what it's like to play the games begin to come in." - Perrin Kaplan
Seriously, if they were expecting that everyone would think it was horrible, then why did they go with it?

[couchmonkey]

Quote
Originally posted by: MegaByte

People may compare this to the initials reactions to the controller, but it's not the same.  For me, the controller idea was redeemed when they showed the video of ideas for games based around it (and hopefully the real games will complete the redemption).  In this case, there really isn't anything to redeem it.  If they at least changed the logo to better portray what the i's represent (controllers, people, etc) then that would help.

You haven't seen the video yet, have you?

Quote
Originally posted by: ViewtifulGamer

We will not be PlanetWii.com. We're currently discussing our options.

Too bad...when the Wiivolution comes, you'll be left behind.


Edit: Having seen the video myself, I have a feeling Nintendo's marketing departments are probably strewn with concepts using the i's as people (and controllers).  People who think Nintendo hasn't thought this out better think again.  And if you think that they're going to change the name due to gamer pressure...think again twice.  

[ruby_onix]

O_O


O_O


Horrible. Absolutely horrible. At first glance, I thought it was supposed to be pronounced as the Nintendo "Why?" (as in, Why Bother). But the Nintendo Wee? That's even worse.

I would say this is possibly the worst decision Nintendo has ever made. Worse than carts. Worse than the purple lunchbox Cube design. It doesn't even fit the appearance of the system (at least "StarCube" matched the overall "gayness" of the Cube's design, and then "GameCube" improved on it).

I think Nintendo's only hope right now is to call it the "WII" or the "W2".

[MegaByte]

Quote
Originally posted by: couchmonkey
You haven't seen the video yet, have you?

Yes, I have.  That's how I came up with that point.  People aren't going to see the video when they see the logo, they're just going to see 3 letters.

Incidentally, the use of i's is similar to the logo redesign of my old ISP (that I worked for)
We hated that one too, and the designer also had to explain what it meant.  

[ShyGuy]

You know what bugs me? Revolution was a strong name with violent undertones. It was like "Yeah! when the Revolution comes, we will drag Peter Moore through the streets!"

No they have this crap:

Quote
Because, it’s really not about you or me. It's about Wii. And together, Wii will change everything.

I'm not drinking the kool-aid you dirty hippies!


(please note: post is not serious)

[miedo]

Wii will win!  Won't Wii be our savior?

I'm waiting for the Sony fanboys to hit Nintendo's head with their boomerang controller.

[nemo_83]

worst name since StarCube; the fake Go logo was better.  lol, seriously this name is shitey

[couchmonkey]

Quote
Originally posted by: MegaByte

Quote
Originally posted by: couchmonkey
You haven't seen the video yet, have you?

Yes, I have.  That's how I came up with that point.  People aren't going to see the video when they see the logo, they're just going to see 3 letters.

Well, I believe Nintendo is going to use variations on the i's all the time to make it clear.  I'll even go so far as to predict that every telivision spot will involve animated i's, which should make the concept pretty clear.  (Edit - see: Pixar lamp)  It's a name and a logo in one.  Maybe I'm nuts though.
 

[nemo_83]

I have an idea, how about the media and consumers all ignore what Nintendo has done and continue to refer to the system as Revolution until they change it back.

[KnowsNothing]

PGC sould change to www.wiipedia.com

[slacker]

 Wii? Why? This is a horrible name. It sounds like crap. Couldn't they just keep it as Revolution? There's more marketing material in that name than Wii.  Once again, Nintendo shoot themselves in the foot.   They should have two brands, one for Japan, the other for the rest of the world. WTF is a Wii!!! This is ridiculous. I don't  want to go to the store to ask about a game for the Wii. It doesn't sound right.

[wandering]

Wow, the name is so bad, it has the power to make Rick Powers post.

You know, if honed properly, I think this power of Wii could be an effective weapon. Like the world's funniest joke the allies used to defeat the Germans.

[couchmonkey]

Looks like planetwii.com is already owned.  I wonder if someone just snapped it up, or if that's the reason planetgamecube isn't going with it?
(Edit: wiipedia is taken, predictably, and Nintendo itself seems to own wiiworld.com)

[Michael8983]

I think they went with the name because it's something they can truly call their own.
There have been revolutions in the past, but this is the very first wii.
It may seem odd at the moment but who would have thought ten years ago we'd someday be going around talking about "Google-ing" each other and playing with our "iPods".

Of course it will really all come down to the marketting.
The wii movie on Nintendo's site is awesome. It's sleek and cool - not at all childish. Like an Apple commercial but with a lttle Nintendo flare added. If Nintendo can get that and other ads like it out to the mainstream and get them all talking about the "wii" - it could set the seeds for a true revolution.


 

[ruby_onix]

The Revmote is going to need a new name now.

"Waggle Wand" seems to be the next most popular name for it.

It fits now, unfortunately.  

[Hostile Creation]

Wiimote, obviously.

[Jiggy37]

Quote
Originally posted by: RickPowers
Official prediction: Gamers everywhere will go back to saying "I'm playing Nintendo." In that light, maybe this is a good move. But only in that light. In every other light, this is bowling-shoe ugly.

I agree, but the thing is that even then, they could have just called it "the Nintendo" and been better off for it.

[MegaByte]

http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200604/N06.0427.1154.38678.htm
Game Informer has an interesting interview regarding the new name.  Their last question wins:

GI: (laughs) The name Wii makes me think of peeing!  You said you have to hold the DS like a book for Brain Age, I hate to know how I’m supposed to hold the Wii controller.  

[stevey]

why before e3? maybe a better name instore but it still worst then revolution so this will make it look better... Oh god please!

[Ian Sane]

I'm thinking that maybe if it wasn't just one syllable it would work better.  What if they went with something like WiiMachine?  Do you think iPod would catch on if it was just i?  Ignoring the pee issue there's the issue with "we" mangling up our speech.  But if it's WiiMachine or WiiTube or WiiPad or WiiBot or something like that it's more comfortable to say as a noun.  And then it sounds more like it's "we" instead of "wee".  They can use the same marketing "Wii will rock you" strategy as well.

[Jin-X]

I've come to this forum for a long time but never post, but my god this is horrible, and before people say they like it or they'll still buy it (of course we'll still buy it), this isn't about us, they could name it the rainbow and we'd still buy it, this is about everybody else, the casuals, and in the West, image is everything and having such a horrible name is going to be a major problem with a lot people knocking it with jokes and not even giving it a chance.

Who didn't like Revolution? It was perfect, in Japan it's not going to matter and that's why I bet this was NCL's doing. I hope NOA was/is fighting this and they just broke it before E3 to show NCL how unbelievably stupid this is. They can call this in Japan, but here it needs to stay the Revolution.  

[Ian Sane]

That Game Informer interview was like that NASA Q&A on the Simpsons where they annouced that Homer or Barney were going into space.  "No more questions on whether this is a joke."

It's also kind of like the Seinfeld episode where Jerry is on the Today Show and is trying to just keep on topic and the interviewer keeps bringing up his puffy shirt.

Maybe if every interviewer spends the whole time making fun of the name Nintendo will get a clue.