Whoever decided that Nintendo change the name of its next console from "Revolution" to "Wii" needs to be prosecuted for willful destruction of corporate value. I mean, really: "Revolution" suggests something, well, revolutionary, something awesome, something that'll blow your socks off, something "insanely great", but "Wii?" The immediate associations which come to mind are "Wee" (as in "wee wee"), "Whee!" and "Twee": the name just screams childishness of the sort the Maxim-reading demographic would rather drop dead than be associated with*, whatever the quality of the games for the platform; Nintendo might as well paint the damn thing pink and include a free toy pony in the box while we're at it, for all the damage this dumb renaming has already done to the console's image.
PS: To pre-empt any doubts about the inanity of this name, just imagine suggesting to a friend "Hey, wanna play with my Wii?", going into a shop and saying out loud "I'd like to have a Wii", or being asked what the box in your hand is and saying "That's my Wii" ...
*I'm not talking about the fanboy types who still maintain the Gamecube's name and color had nothing to do with its last place finish: these cultic types are already hard at work trying to "explain" how "Wii" doesn't sound like a little boy delighted at finding out he can use his downstairs appendage like a mini water-gun.
I saw this yesterday and I went "Wha?????" Gawd! Some folks are incredibly dumb! Games arent about "We" its about "Me" kicking Ass. Someone else's ass, preferably. This is a dumb, stupid marketing decision - and it shows Nintendo execs have started overreaching philosophically. The name sounds downright disgusting and Pokemony. And I was looking forward to Revolutions too - with the new stick and everything. Ah well...
Posted by: Chuckles | April 28, 2006 at 03:19 PM
As bad names go it still has to surpass the standards set by the car industry- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3208501.stm
Posted by: Ross | April 28, 2006 at 03:53 PM
Looks like you beat me to it!
Posted by: Matt | April 29, 2006 at 03:07 AM
Meanwhile, in the land of the sane, Nintendo is being rightly blasted for its stupid choice.
http://www.joystiq.com/2006/04/28/was-nintendo-ready-for-wii-backlash/
http://www.forbes.com/2006/04/28/nintendo-wii-console-cx_po_0428autofacescan08.html
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/a8854402-d6a1-11da-b64c-0000779e2340.html
PS: The comments at Joystiq are hilarious - and yes, the name has been indelibly linked to Wee Wee.
Posted by: Chuckles | April 29, 2006 at 10:30 PM