Official Wii Thread

[Mike the Metal Ed]

Originally Posted by Kane Knight Wow. So they think that changing the name like that makes it what...Clever or something?

They didn't "change" the name. Revolution was always just a working title that caught on, Wii is the first official name for the system.

[Jonster]

In France it will be the Nintendo Yes.

[Jonster]

I can see playground bullying coming from this:

Kid 1: I got a PS3, what do you play with Kid 2?
Kid 2: I play with my Wii.
*Kid 2 gets bullied for eternity*

[Jonster]

But seriously I can see where they're coming from. It's not too bad as I'm an adult and socialise with other adults who will understand why I play a console named Wii.

[Jonster]

http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Sto...1154.38678.htm

We still scratched our heads, so we spoke with Nintendo of America's Public Relations Manager Matt Atwood to get Nintendo's explanation of what the name was really about. Game Informer: Why change the name in the first place when people are already used to The Nintendo Revolution? Matt Atwood: We always stated that Revolution was a code name. While it indicates the disruptive nature of the system, we wanted a name that represents all inclusiveness, because that’s a huge point of the system. It’s not about you or me – it’s about Wii. So, it’s basically a different kind of a system. GI: Whose idea was Wii? Atwood: It was actually several people internally. But beyond that, we aren’t disclosing specifics on how the name came about. But it was several people at NOA and NCL. GI: So it wasn’t Yamauchi coming in with his iron fist and saying, “We’re calling it Wii!” Atwood: (laughs) No. No, it wasn’t. For a long time there we’ve been discussing the name and there was a lot of talk, and this is what the committee came up with. It was a large group of people that came up with the name. GI: This is going to sound really crass and rude, but a child’s way of saying they have to go to the bathroom is saying they have to go wee. Doesn’t that concern you at all? Atwood: No. Anytime you announce a new name you’re going to get a lot of questions and the whys. If you look at what TiVo did or Virgin Airline for instance, a sort of tie in for example. Those names have become household names and it had nothing to do with that at all. We wanted a name that represented the fact that this system was really for everyone to play. And Wii, the word, is W-i-i, and the two I’s represent both people and the controllers. So, it’s really not about this sort of tongue in cheek. Again if you look at things like Yahoo! Or Virgin, or Caterpillar or Naked Juice, or Prius – the car, or Napster – these names either have funny connotations or don’t make sense initially. But if you look at how we support this, and what the name represents, I think it makes sense. GI: So there were never thoughts of, “Let’s just stick with Revolution? It’s a really cool name” Atwood: I think there were thoughts across the board. There were thoughts of sticking with Revolution, then there were thoughts of a completely different name, but once everything came together this was the name decided. I think they wanted a name that was very unique. Because this system is not about an upgrade of an old system. This is about an entirely new way to play, an entirely new type of system. GI: Just seeing the reactions in our office and seeing what people are saying online – it seems people are really shocked at this name, and aren’t really that thrilled about it. Atwood: I think the first time you hear any name, it sounds odd. I think one of the reasons is that it’s totally different and unexpected as you said. The first step will be getting to E3, and getting hands-on. We’re pretty confident it’ll become a lexicon like Google, or Amazon, or Virgin. Obviously there will be first reactions, but once you get your hands-on with the system and understand, and watch the video, and read the back story of what this name is supposed to represent, I think it all ties in. GI: Isn’t it a little tricky that you have to give us a one sheet to explain what the name means and it doesn’t say it by itself. Atwood: No, the point is we want it to be very clear what we’re saying. Again, we’ll go back to your traditional naming conventions for systems. They tend to be fairly literal. That’s not what we want at all. We want something that isn’t as literal. But once you understand it, it makes a lot of sense. Once you touch the Revolution, this will make more sense. Once you play more games, and once the system is out, and more and more people play it, and you’re realizing these different experiences, it’ll make more sense. Again, it may sound a little bit of a line, but I think it fits well. This is not about you or me, it’s about Wii. GI: Is that the new “Blue Ocean”? Atwood: It’s all relational. It all fits. The Wii name fits in with the Blue Ocean strategy as far as going different, going unique, making a statement, but at the same time really pointing to the fact that this isn’t a traditional system and not done the traditional way. This is about expanding the audience, while not at all ignoring our core, in fact appealing to them, which you’ll find at E3. It’s about broadening. GI: Are you trying to connotate a Wi-Fi type thing? Atwood: I thought the same thing too. The Wi-Fi thing isn’t really part of it, though, once you get to E3, there may be news on that. We’ve already said the system will be online out of the box, but while it lends itself and kind of fits, it’s not the overall intent. GI: Why reveal the name now? Why not wait until your E3 press conference? Atwood: E3 for us is all about the games. We understand that when you announce a name it’s going take a bit of time to get comfortable with it, and when we get to the show we want the focus to be completely on the games, and the gameplay. The focus of E3 is to get everyone to play this system. You can only appreciate the system when you play it. I know for a long time we’ve been talking about all the possibilities, and I know you guys have been talking about all of the possibilities of the system. The key is to focus on the games and the gameplay at E3, not a name, but anything but that. GI: Speaking of E3, has Nintendo figured out how to control all of the different freehand controllers that are going to be pointing at 80 different directions? Atwood: Yes, NCL has worked on that and have a pretty good solution which you will see at the show. GI: This is a very different name and it’s going to be really interesting seeing what the world has to say about it. Nintendo has always paved their own path since the NES, so is this sort of following in that tradition you think? Atwood: I think that the last few years – the best comparison would be the DS. When we announced DS everybody wasn’t sure about the name, obviously that one is quite literal. But it’s about the concept behind the DS and the concept behind the Revolution. So while Nintendo has gone their own way since the NES, as you stated, it’s really about this new direction of expanding the market, taking care of our traditional gamers, but also developing games like Brain Age, Nintendogs, and the new titles you’re going to see at E3. Really approaching videogames in a very different way, because we don’t believe that staying the course is the right way to go. We believe that a new way to play is the answer. People want more immersion and we will deliver it. GI: What did you honestly think of the name the first time you heard it? Atwood: First time I heard it, I sat down and thought about it for a bit, and “Do I like it, Do I not?” and as I thought, “Hmm, it seems a little bit different. I don’t understand it." And then I did the same thing you guys did and watch the video, and the more I understood about the system, the more it’s made a lot of sense to me. Yeah, initially I went, "Wow, this is different." And then once I started getting more hands on with the system, and once I started to understand the concept behind the system and how the name ties in, I actually really like it. I think people will talk about it. You’re definitely seeing it on the net, and people will continue to talk about it. What I like about it is, it’s not about abbreviating anything. There will be no abbreviation needed. There is no Nintendo Wii. It’s just Wii. It’s a very inclusive name in that respect. GI: So what are you going to tell the people that think you’re crazy for naming it the Wii? Atwood: We’re going to tell them, one, play the system. Kind of what we told you. I think initially you’re going to see some reaction, and I think its going to make a lot of sense. Get your hands on the system. Once you see entirely what we’re doing with the system it will make more sense. I would suggest really trying to understand looking at the background story of the name because it’s really telling of the system. The system really supports it. I would say get your hands on the system first and then make your decision. The first look will be at E3, but that won’t be the entire one. The system comes at the end of 2006 and we’re pretty confident and comfortable. GI: It’s been rumored that the new big Revolution secret is the fact that the nun chuck controller is also motion detecting… Atwood: Really. That’s interesting. I would say 9:30 in the morning on Tuesday of E3 will be filled with surprises and I would just show up. Because there’s been a ton of speculation. Some of it’s right. Some of it’s not. We’d say that if that’s the only secret you’re expecting you’re going to be very surprised. GI: Do you think Nintendo is going to take home E3 this year? Why do you think Nintendo will be the big buzz at E3 this year? Atwood: I think it comes down to totally what I’ve been talking about with the name. I’ve been a gamer since – well I got my NES when I was 11 – and I am starving for a new way to play. I was cynical about the DS when it shipped, I was completely cynical. And long before I worked at Nintendo I found myself playing that system far more than any other handheld. The reason being is that I could do different things. Right now I’m playing Trauma Center for instance. I love that game. You cannot do that anywhere else. Those types of experiences are really what is compelling. When I can do something new – Nintendogs, Brain Age – those are completely different ways to play and it’s what I’m playing right now. I love the classics, but I’ve played them for a very long time and with the Wii we’ve already talked about you’re going to have the classics, you’re going to have the hardcore games, but you’re also going to be able to play new unique types of games. That’s huge. To me that has massive social implications. For instance, I’ve played games for many years, and I’ve tried to talk to my mom about a game and it was completely Greek. I believe Wii will open that dialog. I believe it already has with DS. When you look at Brain Age, you can take that game to your parents, your uncle, your niece, and everybody likes it, and gets it, and wants to take it from you. It’s taking this very personal experience and allowing to become more social. And people can understand it more. I mean, when you play Brain Age, you hold it like a book, that’s very easy to understand. You’re going to see more things like that. GI: (laughs) The name Wii makes me think of peeing! You said you have to hold the DS like a book for Brain Age, I hate to know how I’m supposed to hold the Wii controller. Atwood: I’m not going to go there, but you won’t be surprised. When you look at it, there’s so many different things you can do. But come to E3 and you will appreciate it.

[Boondock Saint]

That name sucks.

[#BROKEN Hasney]

I am so fucked off with this it's crazy. Revolution was good enough and now they're pissing about. Honest to god, I am calling it revolution until they actually REALISE what a stupid fucking name that is and change it back. They can fuck right off.

[Boondock Saint]

Wii will Wii will rock you

[Kane Knight]

Originally Posted by Joey RoXer Because thats what you do when you're having fun. You refer to yourself and some other people.

That's wiitarded.

[Kane Knight]

Originally Posted by Mike the Metal Ed They didn't "change" the name. Revolution was always just a working title that caught on, Wii is the first official name for the system.

A working title really doesn't count as a working title once it's been treated like this. Honestly, when you're putting up subdomains and announcing it to the public, it's no longer a working title.

...Unless you're George Lucas.

[Mike the Metal Ed]

Of course it is, they've gotta call it something until they're ready to come out with the final name. http://newconsolefromnintendo.nintendo.com isn't going to work as well as http://revolution.nintendo.com

[Xero]

Well, if they keep the name through E3, it'll stick.

Otherwise, they'll say it was a late April Fool's joke and change it to something, you know, less stupid.

[Xero]

This will be a bit of a rant...

I just had a thought on another forum replying to a fanboy who asked what my "ace in the hole" against Revolution/Wii is.

One, Resistance. Swords have weight. Fishing poles have resistence. You aren't going to get a good experiece out of playing with a remote control. Go ahead, pick up your remote and pretend you're flailing a sword around. You won't feel much.

Two, third party support. This is basically a given since the Gamecubed bombed on it.

Three, retro games. There is something TERRIBLY wrong if you have to rely on SELLING OLD games to sell your NEW console. That proves that they're clearly not looking at this generation as a money maker for new games and they clearly don't have faith in it. Their biggest selling points are a remote control and old games that if you like you probably already own.

[Kane Knight]

Nintendo relies on gimmicks.

But I have to argue about resistance. Most guncons don't have recoil. Vibration doesn't make you feel like you just got kicked in the gut. Steering Wheels don't feel like a real car's, nor do you get the sensation of turning.

Otherwise, yeah. The Third Party Market will be pretty dead for the Wii. Even with a controller add-on to have a normal controller simulation, it's going to be too alien a system to mesh with mainstream.

And the games from the past being a selling point is pretty much proof of how weak the concept is.

But then, Philips found that out the hard wya.

[Mike the Metal Ed]

From what I've heard, the third party developers love the idea, but seeing as 3rd party was so poor on the Cube, I can't see them coming out with loads of great games for it.

[Xero]

Originally Posted by Mike the Metal Ed From what I've heard, the third party developers love the idea, but seeing as 3rd party was so poor on the Cube, I can't see them coming out with loads of great games for it.

And another problem is the multi-console game. Never mind limitations, I've always said that if every single game didn't use the motion sensor in one way or another it's completely wasted. And that would mean not only rewriting graphics, game size, etc, but also implementing at least one thing with the motion. That's not going to look pretty.

As for the motion, I don't know, I just can't buy swinging something like a remote and thinking it's a sword. At least the guns look like guns and the wheels are wheels. This is an elongated brick with buttons.

I've also brought up problems with personal injury. Flicking your wrists around with this is going to put MUCH more stress on them than holding a controller. I've been playing video games since I was about three (probably more than the average boy) in addition to years at a computer, and suffice to say I've got multiple problems with my hands.

Ever see that Simpsons episode where Bart makes a comment about writing on the chalk board and his wrist sounding like a cement truck? That's me. So I'd hate to have had this kind of technology back then, as swinging and flicking your wrists has to be much more dangerous than keeping your hands on a controller.

[Mike the Metal Ed]

I fail to see how it's "completely wasted" if a few developers (namely EA, probably) are too lazy to use the controller properly.

As for the second comment, I'm sure years of pad playing has put people's wrists in worse condition (see also: forcing your hands to stay in one place against the pressure of the controller for ages, twisting the controller around as some people do), the way the Wii controller works seems like much more natural movement than a traditional pad.

[Xero]

Why even make the sensors if every game won't use it? If they take that attitude, it'll just go to shit and only be used for menus and shit instead of gameplay.

The way your fingers will be positioned (thumb on top, index on bottom) won't make it much better.

But my point wasn't the positioning, it was the actual movement of your arms. I can't see how flicking and flailing your wrists around (as that's how most people will do it) is good for your wrists.

[mitchables]

Originally Posted by Xero Limit 126 Ever see that Simpsons episode where Bart makes a comment about writing on the chalk board and his wrist sounding like a cement truck? That's me. So I'd hate to have had this kind of technology back then, as swinging and flicking your wrists has to be much more dangerous than keeping your hands on a controller.

Swinging and flicking your wrists has to be much more dangerous than keeping your hands on a controller?

Right.

Inform our discus throwers, our bowlers, our baseball players, and our frisbee players. Inform the golfers, the basketballers, and the fishermen. Inform the guitarists, bass players and drummers. Tell them all that they'd be better off sitting motionless on a couch developing cement trucks at the end of their arms. Come on.

If you're really that worried about your fragile wrists snapping, you might be pleased to know that a) there are GameCube ports on the Wii so, at the very least, there will be some games that won't break your mixers; b) the whole "nunchuck" analog stick attachment suggests that you might even get to try something new without harming your wrists by violently flailing and swinging, and; c) that Nintendo have announced a "dock" for the remote-controller, which will adapt it into a more "traditional" wireless controller anyway.

[Blitz]

Did you guys hear? Sony has officially announced that the PS3 will be called the PuPu when it launches.

[Blitz]

I think that is probably the most juvenile joke I could have made here.

[Drakul]

Originally Posted by Jonster I can see playground bullying coming from this: Kid 1: I got a PS3, what do you play with Kid 2? Kid 2: I play with my Wii. *Kid 2 gets bullied for eternity*

Beat me to it!

Originally Posted by Xero Limit 126 As for the motion, I don't know, I just can't buy swinging something like a remote and thinking it's a sword. At least the guns look like guns and the wheels are wheels. This is an elongated brick with buttons

Well is you want it realistic then you could buy this.

[DS]

I think I would be so embarassed playing with that controller. Even if I was alone.

[Drakul]

Just wait for it to get recalled when some kid from San Diego puts on a green sweater and stabs his little sister for eating the last cookie from the jar.

[Kane Knight]

Originally Posted by Mike the Metal Ed I fail to see how it's "completely wasted" if a few developers (namely EA, probably) are too lazy to use the controller properly.

A few?

[Kapoutman]

It seems like Mike is the only other one agreeing with me on this, but Wii is only a name. People ragged on Nintendo for the N64 saying it was too simple of a name and you are still all acting pissed off because of a fucking name. I don't care what's written on the front of the console, I want to have fun playing it.

Yes, the name sounds bad, but who cares if the games are as good as what Nintendo usually develops? There is a lot of third party support already announced for the Revolution, as the Gamecube actually helped Nintendo regain some of the support it lost with the N64.

In the end, I don't care if I'm playing a "Nintendo Poop" or a "Playstation 134¼". I just want good game for the system.

[DS]

It's more then just a name. The name sums up the console. Revolution worked because that's what they were going for with the console and the controller specifically. Wii just sounds like they were trying to think of something that could be used in a lot of tag lines.

Overall, it does affect the console.

[Drakul]

I know its just a name but, who is going to ask for a Wii for Xmas? I can see everyone who asks for a wii getting directions to the toilet instead.

"Now you can go and get that wii, of yours!"

Ps3 and stuff works better because its called Playstation, a console you already own and the number at the end means its new but its familiar so people will have more trust in it and buy it. Thats how I see it, anyway.

[Kapoutman]

Originally Posted by DS It's more then just a name. The name sums up the console. Revolution worked because that's what they were going for with the console and the controller specifically. Wii just sounds like they were trying to think of something that could be used in a lot of tag lines. Overall, it does affect the console.

It's nothing more than a name. I will go to the counter and ask the clerk for a "Nintendo Wii", and a lot of other people will. That's because few people past the age of 12 care about what a store clerk thinks about them.

If you're put off just because the name sounds like pee (which didn't even occur to this Frenchie), you'll probably be missing a lot of great games just because you think it doesn't sound "cool". I think that it has been proven countless times in the industry. A name doesn't mean a thing. You can call your game/system by any weird name, as long as it gets some publicity and the product is good, people will buy it. I'm not even talking only about Nintendo here.

[DS]

I could care less about the name. It would not really affect my decision to purchase the console or not. I am put off by the other aspects of the console.

To me, the name Revolution was the only thing Nintendo had going for this console.

[Drakul]

Yeah if I was interested in the console, I'd still buy it regardless of the name. I'm not that intesrested though. I did prefer Revolution to Wii, though.

[Funky Fly]

Mike, Guy... you 2 need to take a marketing class. The name can make all the difference in the world.

[Jonster]

Originally Posted by Blitz I think that is probably the most juvenile joke I could have made here.

Try:

I'm finding the name change to Nintendo Wii hard to swallow.

[Jonster]

Originally Posted by Kane Knight A working title really doesn't count as a working title once it's been treated like this. Honestly, when you're putting up subdomains and announcing it to the public, it's no longer a working title. ...Unless you're George Lucas.

I remember the Nintedo Gamecube having the working title Dolphin. Does that mean the Gamecube is badly named for the same reason?

[Mr. Monday Morning]

Seriously, like the guy in the interview mentioned, it makes *no* sense to give something like this a name which requires cliff notes to fucking understand it. Do you get a free dossier at time of purchase explaining how the machine was created?

It has ZERO commercial appeal. It's all well and good saying "we want to expand and create new gamers" yadda yadda...they are going to do nothing but alienate people with the way this entire project is going.

And what is with this bullshit "well the two i's look like people!"? What? What amount of crack had been consumed when they came up with that? Does DS look like a snake going over a hill? WTF SERIOUSLY.

[Tornado]

Nintendo have seriosuly fucked themselves over on this one. The majority of people will look at that name, and then at the funky controller, and then go and buy a PS3.
I am by far a huge Nintendo fanboy, and will still be buying a "Wii", but damn, sometimes I wonder if Nintendo know what the fuck they are doing.

[Mike the Metal Ed]

Originally Posted by Funky Fly Mike, Guy... you 2 need to take a marketing class. The name can make all the difference in the world.

I'm not saying it won't, I'm just going to wait until the shock wears down. Maybe then wii'll (lol) see.

[Bad Company]

Terrible name.

[Kane Knight]

Originally Posted by Kapoutman It's nothing more than a name. I will go to the counter and ask the clerk for a "Nintendo Wii", and a lot of other people will. That's because few people past the age of 12 care about what a store clerk thinks about them. If you're put off just because the name sounds like pee (which didn't even occur to this Frenchie), you'll probably be missing a lot of great games just because you think it doesn't sound "cool". I think that it has been proven countless times in the industry. A name doesn't mean a thing. You can call your game/system by any weird name, as long as it gets some publicity and the product is good, people will buy it. I'm not even talking only about Nintendo here.

Actually, I doubt I'll be missing many great games at all.

Nothing on the DS has hooked me, save for Advance Wars DS and Meteos. Most of the other games are gimmicky crap and/or get boring fast.

GCN turned off a lot of gamers because ofthings other than the "kiddy" label too. People were turned off by the small discs (Which, if use properly with the GCN's compression, should be more than capable of handling anything a DVD-9 can do, but almost no developer went that route, instead saying DISC TOO SMALL and moving on). They were turned off by a lack of solid third party support.

Wii will be in the same boat. The controller's a turnoff (Where it's supposed to be bringing everyone together, it's perhaps the biggest dividing point), the probability of weak 3rd party support is a turnoff, multiple attachments is a turnof, the back catalog speaks of what they're expecting their currents to look like (Though to be fair, most of the time nintendo just ports old games to new systems, gets called brilliant, etc., so this is nothing new), and it's still aout a generation behind the other systems in terms of the features folks are looking for.

Wii is just the tip of the iceberg.

[Kane Knight]

Originally Posted by Jonster I remember the Nintedo Gamecube having the working title Dolphin. Does that mean the Gamecube is badly named for the same reason?

Nintendo didn't put up a subdomain at dolphin.nintendo.com. They didn't put updates on said nonexistant url for the dolphin. Much dolphin news was leaked and was still understood to be a codename even when it wasn't.

Nintendo didn't get this far into the hype process before changing its name.

Dolphin wasn't practically a household name already associated with the Gamecube. In fact, MOST people never knew it had the codename dolphin (And most people are unaware that, aside from the DS, pretty much every system from Nintendo in the last 15 years has had a codename pre-release).

I'll repeat that: Dolphin was not already heavily associated with the GCN.

Hell, most of this I already said; I'm just hoping that maybe your mind'll catch some of it now that it's being used within the context of the Gamecube.