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The argument that it will be accepted if they put out a billion ads/sell a billion units. That's true of anything.
Including iPod, as it turns out.
I never had to ask how Ipod was pronounced. Google either. Tivo could only be one of two things-T-vo, or Tiv-o. Wii isn't even pronouncable, meaning I now have to ask how it's pronounced, and why it's pronounced that way, and what is meant by that. To the supporters of Wii, they say that's great, more interest. To the non-supporters, we think why chance it? They're in no position to assume that everyone asking what the name is will be interested in buying it. They may be more disinterested than ever when they ask "What is the Wii?" and the clerk responds, "The new Nintendo console." That completely obliterates this argument that wii is so simple and different, and that it's a marketing coup-since it will have to be explained ad nauseum, and people will have to be told it's Nintendo anyway, it accomplishes nothing. People who have it in their mind that they think Nintendo is a kids company will be gagging more than ever, and that can't be good for ANY product trying to play down a stereotype.
AGAIN, this is obviously not set in stone. My stance has been, and will remain, Nintendo has disrupted peoples vocabularys, but I don't think it's going to gain that crowd which has been missing since the N64 days. Those who jumped ship to Sony need a reason to come back, and it's hard to find it when they quickly dismiss a product because of the name(and say all you want, they will). Granted, I am assuming that gamers who are not Nintendo fans are a fickle lot. I am assuming that they may not want, or have no great need, to change console allegiance. I am assuming that a lot of casual gamers are graphic whores, and the wii won't measure up there. I am assuming that people need change forced upon them, especially when they're satrisfied with their current systems, and having to spend 10 minutes explaining a name may be a detriment because everyone under 25 has ADD. I'm assuming Nintendo are looked upon as handheld giants, but weak with consoles, and that the majority of gamers will be more turned off by the name than turned on. I am assuming that those who are turned off by the name will give less of a chance to the controller because of it. I am assuming that because of the prior two decisions, they will miss all of those great games I am assured by defenders will draw them in despite the name. If any two of these assumptions are true, then it's a big problem.
I am sure that most here defending Wii are idealists, and Nintendo fans, and I can't fault you for being positive in a deluge of negativity, but sometimes there's something to the opposing side in a debate, and you may want to leave a little wiggle room in your assessments. The wii naysayers have been far less 'disruptive' to the forums than the defenders and I find it disheartening that when a valid point(which doen't mean it's a correct one, mind you) is brought to the forefront, it is sh*t upon because of the backlash of the built in defense mechanism of everything Nintendo. Please keep in mind we all want the same thing in the end, and healthy debate is good, not bad. And those who complain about whining...MARIO...read your own damn posts. THAT is whining. Venting over a name I dislike and sparking debate over it is not. Leaving the forums in a huff over the ditorial, and opposing opinions is a move only a ten year old would pull.
But hey, this editorial must be right up your alley-it sparks conversation about wii, so how could it be bad, right? Right?