Wii

[Kinoko]

I cannot believe I'm the first to start a thread on it. I claim this thread - Wii!

So, what do wii think of the name? I hate it, personally. Nintendo has become a joke. I had SUCH high hopes for the Revolution. I still think it'll be an amazing console. I can't wait for it. But I will never, ever like that name. It makes me feel embarrased to be a Nintendo fan.

[voh]

Nintendo is making an awesome console. The name doesn't matter - whatever they call it, we'll start to use. And after a while it's no longer a matter of liking, but merely a matter of... What is it? It's a Wii.

Done.

I personally like Revolution better, but I see a lot of merit in Wii. The idea behind it is very nice, and seems to fit with the way they're putting the thing on the market.

I'd buy it if it was called the Nintendo Shitshovel.

[BOYD1981]

i seriously believe that a name can make a lot of difference to how well a product sells.
i think the Nintendo DS would have sold better if it had been called the Gameboy DS, as the Gameboy name sells.
they should stick to calling it the Revolution because most people who are going to feel stupid calling it the Wii are going to call it that anyway (it's like all those silly people who refer to the original Playstation as the PSX), plus that name suits Nintendo's whole "we want to revolutionise gaming" agenda.
plus if nintendo go bust from it the headlines on sites will all be stupid stuff like "Go aWii" and "Nintendo go Wii Wii Wii all the way home" or even "Wii are teh suck"...

[MarVelo]

I think Nintendo has died as a console producer. After this wave of new gen systems they will be on their asses for good. Even if they create amazing systems in American at least, they will not be as popular as the PS3 or Xbox-360. They will sell to few units to turn a big profit. It all has to do with how their company operates. They are stuck in the past. The amazing new vision is just a new version of past ideas...that failed. On the Gamecube, there was such a lack of non-childish or party games that many American buyers sold their unit before the first year. Thats why the system is only $99 new.

[Privateer Puddin']

Nintendo the only one of the 'big three' that sell their console at a profit.

[Vince Twelve]

Merchant of Death, that was the most ignorant thing I've read today.

On Topic:

I'm a fan of the system and excited to buy it.  I'm not excited about the name, but this wired article does a pretty good job at arguing for Wii.

http://blog.wired.com/games/index.blog?entry_id=1467976

Personally, I still look at it and think it's pronounced "Why?"

[CaptainBinky]

The thing is, the logo itself looks kind of cool and the logic behind it makes a lot of sense.

"Wii will break down that wall that separates video game players from everybody else"

"Wii will put people more in touch with their games ... and each other. But you're probably asking: What does the name mean? Wii sounds like 'we', which emphasises 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."

Used as "we", I think it's actually rather clever. It's just a little unfortunate that "we" also sounds like "wee".

So all in all, I'll have one anyway - I'll have a wee on the carpet under the telly. I don't think I'm ever going to tire of that joke. In many ways, the fact Wii sounds like wee makes the console seem really cute. Bless!

I think Nintendo has died as a console producer.

Er...

They are stuck in the past. The amazing new vision is just a new version of past ideas...that failed.

Er... What? Sony and Microsoft chuck bigger chips in consoles so they end up retailing at ridiculous costs and what? That's driving things forwards and leaving Nintendo behind is it? I'm not sure how you can argue that Nintendo are stuck in the past when they seem like the only console manufacturer trying to do something different. Only thing you can get for the PS2 is an EyeToy. Whoop-de-do. Nintendo got it just right with DS and I'm sure they'll nail the wee when it comes out. DS is proof that you don't need expensive technology to appeal to a mass audience.

[Kinoko]

I'll have a wee on the carpet under the telly. I don't think I'm ever going to tire of that joke.

It made me giggle like a schoolgirl. I'm not kidding!

[Obi]

I think Super Duper Nintendo is a better name for the new console myself.

[BOYD1981]

well the N64 should have been the Super Duper Nintendo, that would make the Gamecube the Super Super Duper Nintendo which means this one should be called the Super Uper Duper Nintendo, which would make the abbreviation sound like "sudden".
also i think that Nintendo would be better if they shot that guy that does the voice of mario with a really big gun.
but i will most likely buy a Wiivolution anyway because it's cheaper and i like the idea of using that controller for FPS,  and they might decide to make another Doshin the Giant game...

[Helm]

Still the only new console I'm interesting in buying.

[scotch]

It sounded stupid when I heard it, less so now, as with almost all console names (except the boring named ones like "Nintendo DS", "Sony PSP").  Even XBOX didn't make me giggle for more than a few days.  It still seems the most interesting of the coming systems... all the comments I see about it reflect one thing, the coming consoles aren't aimed at the same people at all.

[Helm]

MASTER SYSTEM is the best name for console ever

[BOYD1981]

i'm interested in buying all the new consoles, but i'll only buy a PS3 if Sony make a sensible controller or a convertor for the old ones, and go back on their decision to make the only video output HDTV (if that's even 100% official and not just a rumour), because people aren't going to want to pay the ridiculously high price of the console and then have to go out and buy another tv and then have to pay £50 each for a game.

[modgeulator]

I know most consoles have pretty stupid names if you think about it, or when you first hear them, but it's generally in a super cheesy macho sort of way. There's just something about "Wii" that screams out "I'm insulting your sexuality!!" It's hard to imagine a generation of 15 year old Halo players going anywhere near a "wee console." Maybe Nintendo is just giving up on that market completely? Leave them to Sony and Microsoft, Nintendo will focus on everyone else - that might not be so bad actually.

[ManicMatt]

"Only thing you can get for the PS2 is an EyeToy. Whoop-de-do."

There's more than that!

What about the kareoke mics?

What about the golf swinging simulator?

And at the time, it having a DVD playing function was a big thing!

And what about programs (Yes, PROGRAMS) like Music 3000? I made some damn good tunes with that!

Sure I'll admit that all of this wasn't Sony's inventions, but it does stand that they are things you can do with a PS2. Combining the eyetoy and a PS2 music engine, and a VCR, I made my own music video that appeared on a magazine's DVD. How many consoles can you claim have been able to do that? (I know I brag about that all the time, but it's a good point, I feel.)

I've never been into Nintendo, although I'd have liked to have played all the Zelda games. And my Xbox hasn't had a very long lifespan since I got it. (When WAS the last Xbox exclusive title released anyhow?) Compare that to the PSone, that had exclusive titles years after the PS2 came out.

[MrColossal]

Also, paraphrasing a friend who works in the gaming industry and has for years:

Merchant Of Death:

You have no idea how popular the gameboy is. People are still buying Gameboy Colour games and the GBA is amazingly profitable. The DS makes up something like 40% of Ninetendo's revenue.

Also, according to him Nintendo has been profiting off of the Gamecube, correct me if I'm wrong but Sony and Microsoft generally lose money on every console they sell for a few years.

Nevermind the whole "blah blah nintendo is for kids" arguement that makes no sense and falls flat on it's face every time.

As far as the Wii, I believe the majority of people will continue calling it the Revolution until they own it. It is also the only console I'm interested in. Then again I just recently bought a PS2 so I could play Ico and Shadow of the Colossus so it's not like I'm a console guy anyway.

[BOYD1981]

the PS2 also pioneered console unreliability (which microsoft then went and adapted to the launch model 360)
the only reason i've kept my (second) PS2 is because i just can't be without Soul Reaver 2, and the only real reason i'm keeping my Xbox is because i want to get it chipped to save me having to buy a divx player and NOT so i can play copies...
sadly my gamecube died on me in the middle of playing Zelda64 so i'm kinda hoping the new machine will have some backward compatibility function or later addon.

[CaptainBinky]

There's more than that!

What about the kareoke mics?

What about the golf swinging simulator?

And at the time, it having a DVD playing function was a big thing!

Sure I'll admit that all of this wasn't Sony's inventions...

Yeah, I was thinking first-party product wise. And it took, what 5 years since the launch of PS2 to bring out a golf-swingey thing. Just in time for the release of PS3 with... wait... no announced golf swingey thing. I was at E3 the year that the PS2 was unveiled and there were all manner of cool toys showing off things you could potentially do with a PS2 peripheral-wise. And all Sony developed was the Eye-Toy which although cool, has pretty limited gaming potential.

I'm much more optimistic about a console which is driven around an interesting concept (the weird remote stick thing to wave at Wii) than a console who's only real claim is "wooo! whizzy graphics!"

[Kinoko]

You have no idea how popular the gameboy is. People are still buying Gameboy Colour games and the GBA is amazingly profitable. The DS makes up something like 40% of Ninetendo's revenue.

I don't know what the stores are like back in Australia or anywhere else, but in Japan, Nintendo handhelds are still a HUGE market. Not just DS, but as you said, gameboy colour and GBA games too. They take up a pretty large chunk of the Nintendo shelves. Remakes and new titles are constantly coming out. It's hard to keep up with them! As a comparison, the Gamecube shelf is usually pretty lacking. The handhelds are really winning out over here.

Heck, I bought a Wonderswan and a couple of WS games a little while back ^_^