On this day, 6 years ago, Nintendo called their new console "Wii"

MD1500MD1500 Posts: 14,234
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The horrified reactions from 6 years ago are hilarious to read.

http://www.1up.com/news/wii_2

(Weirdly, they're very similar to the reactions to the Wii U name...)

Comments

  • Super BanditSuper Bandit Posts: 1,183
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    Nintendo Revolution sounded way sexier imo
  • The TerminatorThe Terminator Posts: 5,312
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    I dunno, it seemed like a shitty name then and still does today.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 0
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    Nintendo Revolution sounded way sexier imo

    I always thought that sounded really naff. As if trying too hard. Wii, well that didn't give a f**k did it!
  • DavonatorDavonator Posts: 4,406
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    Hmmm yeah Wii isn't a great name, but it was a nice simple term that reflected the 'we' focus of the console, that was to get families playing.So branding wise it worked well. In all honesty though rubbish/silly name have always been synonymous with consoles

    Wonder Swan
    Neo Geo
    Game Boy
    N-Gage
    Famicom
    Sega Nomad
    Gizmondo
    Dreamcast
    XBox
    Vita

    they're hardly great names, and whilst i don't mind the term 'Playstation', Sony aren't exactly winning any creativity prizes for naming their consoles PSone, PS3, PS3
  • lordOfTimelordOfTime Posts: 22,266
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    Hang on... Wonder Swan? :D
  • TheSilentFezTheSilentFez Posts: 11,103
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    The Wii was originally going to be called the Nintendo Revolution?! Why the hell did they change it to "Wii"?!
    What does "Wii" even mean? Is it "Wireless Interactive" or something? If so, then what can "Wii U" possibly mean?
  • 0lly0lly Posts: 168
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    The Wii was originally going to be called the Nintendo Revolution?! Why the hell did they change it to "Wii"?!
    What does "Wii" even mean? Is it "Wireless Interactive" or something? If so, then what can "Wii U" possibly mean?

    They used "Wii" because it sounds like "we", meaning that it's for everyone, and because it's simple for all languages.
  • gdjman68wasdigigdjman68wasdigi Posts: 21,705
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    0lly wrote: »
    They used "Wii" because it sounds like "we", meaning that it's for everyone, and because it's simple for all languages.

    and the " ii" represents two people..

    all consoles have working titles

    n64 ultra 64

    gc dolphin

    kinect project natal

    xbox err xbox
  • -GONZO--GONZO- Posts: 9,624
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    , then what can "Wii U" possibly mean?
    I'm pretty sure when it was announced, Reggie said it means We and You.
  • gdjman68wasdigigdjman68wasdigi Posts: 21,705
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    -GONZO- wrote: »
    I'm pretty sure when it was announced, Reggie said it means We and You.

    to me, to you..
  • 2dshmuplover2dshmuplover Posts: 8,271
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    The Wii was kind of a crap name, it still is tbh. I'd of also preferred Revolution or something like that.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 1,077
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    0lly wrote: »
    They used "Wii" because it sounds like "we", meaning that it's for everyone, and because it's simple for all languages.

    Exactly that. Rather than having to use different names worldwide, universally, it is called Wii because it is very easy to say.
    and the " ii" represents two people..

    all consoles have working titles
    n64 ultra 64
    gc dolphin
    kinect project natal
    xbox err xbox

    Nintendo DS was called Project Nitro, which even to now can still be seen on the back of the 1st Gen DS, and above the barcode on DS cases they have product codes that include NITRO without the vowels (NTR-ABCD-EFG)
  • lordOfTimelordOfTime Posts: 22,266
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    The Wii was kind of a crap name, it still is tbh. I'd of also preferred Revolution or something like that.

    The Wii-volution. ;)
  • BinaryDadBinaryDad Posts: 3,988
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    Lots of people laughed at the name, including Sony and Microsoft.

    They're not laughing any more....
  • 2dshmuplover2dshmuplover Posts: 8,271
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    This is true. If you ask me all consoles have sad names,

    Playstation (sounds childish),
    Xbox (boring),
    Wii (stupid, stupid name)

    They could all be so much better!
  • BinaryDadBinaryDad Posts: 3,988
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    This is true. If you ask me all consoles have sad names,

    Playstation (sounds childish),
    Xbox (boring),
    Wii (stupid, stupid name)

    They could all be so much better!

    The last console to have a great name, was the Saturn. It didn't exactly do well...and neither did the jaguar. Oh well...
  • 2dshmuplover2dshmuplover Posts: 8,271
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    True, Saturn was a awesome name :) You didn't like Dreamcast? That was a cool sounding name too.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 2,784
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    Sh*t name but excellent console. even better when modified :)
  • gdjman68wasdigigdjman68wasdigi Posts: 21,705
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    True, Saturn was a awesome name :) You didn't like Dreamcast? That was a cool sounding name too.

    the wonderswan...


    :rolleyes:
  • DavonatorDavonator Posts: 4,406
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    I typically liked the names of Sega's Systems. Master System, Game Gear, Mega Drive, Saturn....all cool names IMO. Not as fond of the Dreamcast name but it's not bad
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 24
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    I know I am coming to this a bit late and it's probably dead, but I always remembered that they called it the 'Wii' because it could be said in any country exactly the same. As to get rid of the language barriers and everyone would know they are talking about the same console.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 482
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    Stopher wrote: »
    I know I am coming to this a bit late and it's probably dead, but I always remembered that they called it the 'Wii' because it could be said in any country exactly the same. As to get rid of the language barriers and everyone would know they are talking about the same console.

    But the console's become a brand, so even if (let's say) Sweden don't use the english words Play or Station, they will when refering to the console.
  • MinnimoMinnimo Posts: 5,741
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    to me, to you..

    Hehehe this made me laugh :D
  • Jimmy_McNultyJimmy_McNulty Posts: 11,378
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    This is true. If you ask me all consoles have sad names,

    Playstation (sounds childish),
    Xbox (boring),
    Wii (stupid, stupid name)

    They could all be so much better!

    xbox sounds so ****ing corporate, i'm surprised it wasn't invented on an edition of Apprentice USA.
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