Topic: HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, WII!

[GoldenPhoenix]

Quote
Originally posted by: Kairon
The great thing about the name "Wii" is that it comes with no gamer baggage. Non-gamers can adopt to it with fun, ease, and the promise of something new.

~Carmine "Cai" M. Red
Kairon@aol.com

That is true, what I like most about it, is that people are now using "Wii" instead of "the new Nintendo system" or the "Nintendo Wii" it is just "Wii" and that is indeed promising, showing that the name isn't "embarassing" to use.

[Kairon]

Another great thing about the name is it connotes movement... WIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!! It sounds like a swoosh, an arc, something that comes at you fast and then speeds by... just like the wiimote!

And I think it's true that the monosyllabic nature of the name and its uniqueness helped it immensely in non-gamer circles. It's amazing to hear that people couldn't pronbounce gamecube or playstation, but since they can all seem to pronounce and remember and spell Wii it looks like the name was an essential if not integral portion of their blue ocean outreach.

~Carmine "Cai" M. Red
Kairon@aol.com

[EasyCure]

Quote
Would the Wii still be a success without the "Wii" name, perhaps, but how much so is definately in question. Regardless of what some may think, naming of products can be quite important to their success. Do you think the iPod would have been nearly as successful if it was named the Revolpod? Or something long and overly wordy, without the visually attractive, short nature of the name?

take for instance the popular ipod vs say.. the mp3 player i have with one of the ugliest names i've heard:

iRiver H10 ...?

no one calls it the apple iPod, just iPod. does that mean i can get away with calling my mp3 player from iRiver the H10 and have it be as well known as an iPod? NO. i stick to calling it my mp3 player because no one on earth knows what the hell it is. so yeah, names help. i cant think of a single good way to advertise something like the "H10." iPod on the other hand has a catchy sound to it, as does Wii, so its easier to market (and easier for the consumer to remember which is also important)

[Robageejammin]

     

[Hostile Creation]

I always said it was a fine name, still do, and I think anyone who still thinks it's a bad name, who thinks Revolution would be better, just has their head up their ass.
Is it the best of all possible names?  Christ, I dunno.  But it works, and it's worked very well, so that says a lot.

[GoldenPhoenix]

Quote
Originally posted by: Hostile Creation
I always said it was a fine name, still do, and I think anyone who still thinks it's a bad name, who thinks Revolution would be better, just has their head up their ass.
Is it the best of all possible names?  Christ, I dunno.  But it works, and it's worked very well, so that says a lot.

Some of the biggest proof of the name working was today. I camped out for the Xbox 360 elite and a Wii, during that period when people kept pouring in (Most wanted a Wii and not the Xbox 360 Elite) they were throwing "Wii" around with a sense of excitement, not in a mocking nature. That tells me something right there, everyone from kids to adults in their 40s and 50s were talking excited about the "Wii" without a hint of "What a silly name".