Topic: uh-oh: Nintendo reconsidering Wii?

[GoldenPhoenix]

Then again the message boards (which are not a fair representation of the world I might add) erupted with anger over the controller. Let's face it though, if you are going to let a stupid Gamestop employee embarass you for asking about it, maybe you should A) Go some place else B) Live with it. The GS employees pretty much smirked at me when I asked about the Revolution, so honestly I don't see much changing. Besides once the knee jerk reactions are over I really don't think your ego is going to be damaged much for asking to reserve it.

[Smash_Brother]

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Originally posted by: VGrevolution
Then again the message boards (which are not a fair representation of the world I might add) erupted with anger over the controller. Let's face it though, if you are going to let a stupid Gamestop employee embarass you for asking about it, maybe you should A) Go some place else B) Live with it. The GS employees pretty much smirked at me when I asked about the Revolution, so honestly I don't see much changing. Besides once the knee jerk reactions are over I really don't think your ego is going to be damaged much for asking to reserve it.

It's not a question of ego: I don't look to GS employees for acceptance, but I don't want to have to turn the other cheek, either (on a bad day, I'd punch the guy).

Why give your console a name where such a thing is even remotely possible? If there's even a slim chance that your customers will be laughed at for buying the thing, then you've picked a sh*tty name and should probably reconsider.

[GoldenPhoenix]

Personally most console names are laughable when you look at them, Playstation, Xbox, PSP (I know it is Playstation Portable but it can have a negative connotation as well), Game Boy, etc. Not to mention the goofy product or business names out there that are not console related like Google, monster.com, amazon, iPod, Apple, and I'm sure I am forgetting some. But as those prove, people get over it if the product or the seller is able to prove themselves. Wii will die down in a few months, and will no longer be something to be ashamed of when you face that dreaded GS employee.

[eljefe]

Why would you be embarassed buying something so cool?

As you mentioned, game store employees have been snickering at Nintendo fans since PSX came out. That didn't stop me from buying an N64 and games, Dreamcast and games, and a Gamecube and games.

Generally, since I know more about their products than they do, I never ask them anything. The only words spoken are when he/she tells the total price and tells me to sign the receipt.

I see this as an issue only for non-gamers who need info and prefer asking instore clerks rather than doing a search on the web.

[GoldenPhoenix]

I get odd looks when I want Gamecube games (which is yet another silly name when looked at from an objective viewpoint), so basically if they didn't have Wii to snicker at you with it would be something else. Alot of it is derived from their bias against Nintendo, no matter what the name is. Once the product is out and IF it does do what is promised for gaming, that smug look will be rubbed right off their face.

[Smash_Brother]

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Originally posted by: VGrevolution
I get odd looks when I want Gamecube games (which is yet another silly name when looked at from an objective viewpoint), so basically if they didn't have Wii to snicker at you with it would be something else. Alot of it is derived from their bias against Nintendo, no matter what the name is. Once the product is out and IF it does do what is promised for gaming, that smug look will be rubbed right off their face.

Truth be told, with games like Red Steel at the forefront, I thought it was becoming exponentially more difficult to mock Nintendo.

I think the "wee" name unfortunately reopens that door, and it's not just me talking to a GS clerk that I'm worried about, it's that, when it's universally accepted to mock a company, it's rare that someone will buy their products. I'm quite certain that Nintendo being mocked this past gen greatly reduced their sales. When someone is on the fence about buying something, it's not hard for image to be what finally tips them.

I'd think something as simple as "Don't open your product up for mockery" would be learned in marketing 101. If people don't respect the product (starting with the name), how will they ever be swayed to buy it?

[Smash_Brother]

On further investigation, I think the survey is fake.

The last question doesn't make any sense and it was supposedly sent in by an "anonymous tipster".

[Mario]

The people Nintendo are aiming at capturing are not going to give a crap what a game store employee thinks, because they aren't giant nerds, and giant nerds are going to buy it anyway because we are informed.

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The best way to put it is to ask yourself this: were there any hate threads when the name Revolution was announced? Was there an outcry from gamers the world over? Did messageboards erupt into flame? Did Nintendo's feedback system crash?

No, thus it wasn't very effective and made no impact. I'm not saying Revolution is bad, i'm just saying that "Nintendo Revolution" stands for a gaming revolution, Wii is going for much more than just the usual gaming crowd.

[GoldenPhoenix]

Then again you have something like Dreamcast, with an intriguing sounding name and that failed. Personally I am not of the mindset that a name will kill a product but instead it will depend on how it is presented to the consumer. There is more to marketing than how the name sounds but also how slickly it is presented to the consumer, unique/strange names also can be good marketing tools. In addition to that some of best names also tell alittle bit about what the product is just by looking at the name.

The double i in "Wii" has potential to do just that. so I think the rational thing is sit back, calm down and wait a couple of months, then if you still have complaints vent them but at least give the marketing a chance first! This whining and complaining is not doing any good, Nintendo will not change the name. All someone is doing is adding more fuel to the fire, maybe even causing more problems from the constant negativity, which will rub off on others who may otherwise be indifferent or even intrigued by it.

[Smash_Brother]

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Originally posted by: Mario
The people Nintendo are aiming at capturing are not going to give a crap what a game store employee thinks, because they aren't giant nerds, and giant nerds are going to buy it anyway because we are informed.

Given that there's zero guarantee that this audience is going to be captured, I don't think Nintendo's in the position to burn any bridges just yet.

The DS is a runaway success in Japan where it did reach the untapped audience, but I don't think it's done anywhere near the same damage in the US where people aren't nearly as hung up on electronics.

If 1 of every 5 girls owned a DS and Nintendogs, I'd have to agree, but since that's far from the case, I don't think there's any reason the Rev will do in the US what the DS did in Japan: reach the untapped market.

Besides, getting the Rev into the home is half the battle, and whether that happens because of little Billy buying one or reaching the untapped market is irrelevant.

If Billy buys a Rev, his mother will be far more inclined to pick up the Bob Roth painting game for it.

[Mario]

I don't really see your point there, should they just give up trying to capture the mainstream? Obviously the conservative strategy with the DS didn't work in the US, so I don't think they should try the same thing again with Wii.

[Smash_Brother]

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Originally posted by: Mario
I don't really see your point there, should they just give up trying to capture the mainstream? Obviously the conservative strategy with the DS didn't work in the US, so I don't think they should try the same thing again with Wii.

Yeah, I guess I can respect that more as a marketing decision. My thought was that they seem to be pushing away from the hardcore in an attempt to capture more market. Ideally, they'd try to acquire more without losing or falling away from the current market.

I think they could have come up with a name that would have been big and daring without sounding diminutive or be on the receiving end of many jokes.

[Mario]

That's the thing right there, the reason it's big and daring is because it can be joked about easily.

[Smash_Brother]

I agree that it's a daring gamble, I just don't know if it's the right kind of gamble.

An example of the right kind of gamble is the new controller because it opens up many possibilities.

Maybe if they played the angle of "It's so badass, it can have a wimpy name." then it'll garner respect for it, but that would take a TREMENDOUS amount of advertising.

Basically, it can happen, but they need to roll out a hundred million dollar ad campaign (if the DS made $800 million last year, then they should be able to do it).

[Ian Sane]

I stand by my assumption that NCL came up with "Wii" and NOA has nothing to do with it.  When you hear NOA reps talking about the name they sound almost embarassed by it and all their answers are canned.  There's no enthusiasm or legitimate interest shown by them whatsoever.  So I wouldn't be suprised if after the huge backlash that resulted Nintendo would at least consider using a different name outside of Japan.

Even if they stick with the "Wii" idea I suggest they change the spelling to "We".  That way it's CLEAR that they don't mean piss and there's no doubt about the pronunciation.

People mention iPod and I think one thing that makes that name work is the "Pod" part of it.  A pod is a thing.  It's an object.  "We" isn't.  It's just a pronoun that can only be used in certain context.  So something like WeMachine or something would work better because it identifies it as an object.  The "We" part is still there but a name like that I think would fly better in North America.

I also think "Unity" would get across the togetherness idea without sounding childish or wimpy.  That sounds cool but still has the same theme behind it.  Hell even calling it the "Us" would sound better.

[Smash_Brother]

It's about "Us" would work.

Plus, it'd be effectively named after the US, making it the "Patriotic Console".

[Mario]

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Even if they stick with the "Wii" idea I suggest they change the spelling to "We". That way it's CLEAR that they don't mean piss and there's no doubt about the pronunciation.

What, why? "We" is way more like "wee" than "Wii" is. Same pronounciations, but "we" is closer in spelling, plus Wii looks more exciting than We, and actually establishes itself as a new brand.

[Smash_Brother]

I like "Us" more and more.

"We're the gamers, and it's all about Us."

"If we want Revolution in gaming, it's up to Us."

Plus, everyone already knows how to pronounce it.

I just hope they drop a colossal ad bomb on the US and other english speaking territories. The way I see it, Nintendo is trying to change what people think of when they hear "wee" to be the name of their console. That's gonna take a huge campaign, but I think it's doable.

[NWR_pap64]

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Originally posted by: Smash_Brother
It's about "Us" would work.

Plus, it'd be effectively named after the US, making it the "Patriotic Console".

Then every country in the world will hate the Wii even more because it reminds them of an egotistical, power hungry, money grabbing country...

Congratulations, Smash_Brother! You just have created a name worse than Wii! :-P

[Smash_Brother]

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Originally posted by: pap64 Congratulations, Smash_Brother! You just have created a name worse than Wii! :-P

Then call it the UK in England, the CA in Canada, etc. etc.

Make it the console for everyone, regardless of country or nationality.

[NWR_pap64]

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Originally posted by: Smash_Brother

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Originally posted by: pap64 Congratulations, Smash_Brother! You just have created a name worse than Wii! :-P

Then call it the UK in England, the CA in Canada, etc. etc.

Make it the console for everyone, regardless of country or nationality.

Then call Nintendo's Online service the UN- United Nations.

It will easily replicate the experience of the REAL UN! Right down to the mud slinging, smack talk and violence!

YAY VIOLENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[UltimatePartyBear]

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Then call it the UK in England, the CA in Canada, etc. etc.

Or just call it the *.  That's the wildcard character, so everyone could call it whatever they wanted.

[NWR_pap64]

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Originally posted by: PartyBear

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Then call it the UK in England, the CA in Canada, etc. etc.

Or just call it the *.  That's the wildcard character, so everyone could call it whatever they wanted.

Great, you turned the Wii into Prince..

"Hey, wanna play with my *? Sure! I would love to play some *! Let's get gather our *s together and play online!"

[mantidor]

Im calling it the nostros, is an abreviattion of nosotros, we in spanish, and sounds like a million times better...yeah Im not kidding anyone, the name is simply unavoidable and unchangable, its the Wii... urgh...  it sounds so awful!

[Smash_Brother]

The name definitely sounds awkward to say.

I feel like I shouldn't be using it to end sentences, knowing how it's pronounced...