Kevin's Watch

Well, the news is everywhere right now: Nintendo have announced the official name of their new console, previously codenamed "Revolution". It will be called (wait for it...):

Wii.

Introducing... Wii.
As in "we".
While the code name "Revolution" expressed our direction, Wii represents the answer.
Wii will break that wall that exists between video game players and everyone else.
Wii will put more people in touch with their games... and each other. But you're probably asking: What does the name mean?
Wii sounds like "we," which emphasizes this console is for everyone.
Wii can easily be remembered by people around the world, no matter what language they speak. No confusion. No need to abbreviate. Just Wii.
Wii has a distinctive "ii" spelling that symbolises both the unique design of the controllers and the image of people gathering to play.
And Wii, as a name and a console, brings something revolutionary to the world of video games that sets itself apart from the crowd.
So that's Wii. But now Nintendo needs you.
Because, it's not only about you or me.
It's about Wii.
And together, Wii will change everything.

Wii? What recreational substance were they ingesting when they thought that up?

I pronounce/read it as "Why"
"ii" to me sounds like the i in ["I" went to the store]

Obviously I'm wrong but that's how I read it.

I saw the console or maybe the controller a few months ago.
It looks dumb.

Was going to post thsi last night, but couldn't be bothered restarting my pc.

Yea pronounced 'we' .
Yes its crap.

Warmark wrote:Yes its crap.

No, it's Wii.

But yeah, I think Nintendo has lost it. Then again, they lost it with the N64, when they decided to stick with cartridges instead of CD-ROMs. Caused SquareSoft to jump ship, which only gave PlayStation a bigger spoon to eat Nintendo for breakfast with.

I still might buy a Revolution--I mean, Wii--if the games turn out good. Nintendo naming skills may suck, but I've never questioned the quality of their products.

I call it brilliant.

Not the name itself, of course. But this close to E3, they release the name. Every eye is now on them. You can't buy media attention like that.

i didn't know nintendo still existed.

The name doesn't really make much of a difference. The Xbox 360 is selling well (in the USA, at least), despite having a really stupid name. The Xbox also sold quite well despite having a stupid name. (xbox? It opened it up so well for the alternative spelling ex-box, when it got thrashed by the ps2).

The nintendo Wii will sell well if it's a good console. To a gamer, the name doesn't matter, it's the power of the system, and the availability of good games to play on it that matter.

Nathan wrote:xbox? It opened it up so well for the alternative spelling ex-box, when it got thrashed by the ps2

Wii/wee. Hmm.

I agree though. The name isn't the most important aspect. Still, it does perhaps cast doubts on Nintendo's grasp of reality.

SERIOUSLY NOW! nintendo should just go the way of the dodo and leave computer consoling to the big boys. how can they hope to compete with microsoft or sony?

I NEED AN X-BOX 360 BADLY!

Tazz wrote:SERIOUSLY NOW! nintendo should just go the way of the dodo and leave computer consoling to the big boys. how can they hope to compete with microsoft or sony?

I NEED AN X-BOX 360 BADLY!

*sigh* How I long for the days when Nintendo and Sega were the only boys, never mind the big boys. The good old days...

Time moves on - the reason they weren't able to keep up is because they're games were viewed as sub standard by most of the gaming polulation.

Darth, I want what you're smoking. Nintendo has been and still is making vital and entertaining games. If anything, Nintendo is the biggest supplier of quality games for its systems, whereas Sony and Microsoft rely on a large stable of third-party developers. The reason Nintendo fell has to do not with the quality of their games but dumb marketing decisions.

For example: Nintendo had a deal with Sony to create a CD-ROM add-on for the SNES, but they suddenly cut the deal with Sony at the last second and took Phillips as a partner instead. Sony got pissed; the whole incident pushed them toward making the PlayStation in a strike back against Nintendo. Then there was Nintendo's reliance on cartridge information, estranging many developers (most famously Square, who jumped ship for Sony).

Lord Foul wrote:Darth, I want what you're smoking.

i've always wanted what Darth is smoking.

regardless of nintendo's ability to still produce good games there is no way they can compete....and thats that really. microsoft could make a loss on their next 10 consoles and still come out smiling.

i have no idea what part Nintendo had in the making of the game but i was addicted to Zelda when i was about 12. anybody else play it? i used to love those boots that could make you run really fast. how i longed for a pair *looks off distantly, with a dreamy, nostalgic wonderment on face*

Tazz wrote:

Lord Foul wrote:Darth, I want what you're smoking.

i've always wanted what Darth is smoking.

regardless of nintendo's ability to still produce good games there is no way they can compete....and thats that really. microsoft could make a loss on their next 10 consoles and still come out smiling.

i have no idea what part Nintendo had in the making of the game but i was addicted to Zelda when i was about 12. anybody else play it? i used to love those boots that could make you run really fast. how i longed for a pair *looks off distantly, with a dreamy, nostalgic wonderment on face*

Yes, yes, yes!! I was seven years old when I first rented A Link to the Past. I thought the beginning part--where Link wakes up in his bed and it's raining--was the entire game! I was wandering about outside Hyrule Castle thinking, "Wow, this is HUGE." I had no idea it was only a fraction of the game environment.

knew it was a great game then, but it felt too overwhelming. I guess the depth of the world and the puzzles intimidated my seven year old mind or something, heh. In any case, I kept playing games like Mario World and didn't buy A Link to the Past till about 6th grade, when the SNES was on its last legs.

What is it??

CRAP!!!

Lord Foul wrote:Darth, I want what you're smoking. Nintendo has been and still is making vital and entertaining games. If anything, Nintendo is the biggest supplier of quality games for its systems, whereas Sony and Microsoft rely on a large stable of third-party developers. The reason Nintendo fell has to do not with the quality of their games but dumb marketing decisions.

For example: Nintendo had a deal with Sony to create a CD-ROM add-on for the SNES, but they suddenly cut the deal with Sony at the last second and took Phillips as a partner instead. Sony got pissed; the whole incident pushed them toward making the PlayStation in a strike back against Nintendo. Then there was Nintendo's reliance on cartridge information, estranging many developers (most famously Square, who jumped ship for Sony).

Indeed. Those who've continued playing Nintendo's games have few doubts about the quality of them. Nintendo have always had a knack for crafting fine gaming experiences; as Foul said, their decline is largely a result of poor business decisions. The Wii could, though hopefully won't, be another.

Another thing: people initially laughed off the DS, but now it's wildly successful in both critical and commercial spheres--especially in Japan, where's its whooping the PSP's butt. So I'm hopeful for Wii.

I think Nintendo is taking the right direction with their "we're innovating" strategy. I personally admire their belief in game-centric consoles, instead of these "multimedia hubs" that resemble a Swiss knife in design.

I picture the Wii doing one of three things: 1) gain commercial and critical ground, like the DS did, 2) maintain 3rd place, like the GameCube did, 3) go the way of the Dreamcast, putting Nintendo out of the console business. Perhaps 1 and 2 could occur at the same time. I'm not sure what will happen, in the end; I had high hopes for the Dreamcast but look at it. It was a killer piece of hardware, very well made; I still fondly remember NFL 2K and Soul Calibur; it was out 15 months before the PS2, but Sony still crushed it.

Whatever happens, I'm going with Nintendo this generation. Call it childhood nostalgia, customer fanaticism, whatever. If they're going down, I'll be there with them. Too many hours of boredom have been slain by the likes of Zelda, Mario, and company.

Nintendo are also making huge profits, though. The majority of the games sold for nintendo systems are first-party, so a greater proportion of the profit goes to nintendo.