Nintendo: Why Ask Wii? - Blue's News Comments

Nintendo: Why Ask Wii?
[Apr 27, 2006, 3:09 pm ET] – Share – Viewing Comments

Nintendo names new video game console Wii. Why Wii? Because It's pronounced "we." Why? Who knows, though CNN Money has a Q&A on the topic. Here's the announcement:

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Nintendo Co. Ltd (7974.OS) on Thursday said it has named its new video game console "Wii, which it said is pronounced "we" to emphasize that the console is for everyone.

The console up until now has been known by its code-name "Revolution."

"While the code-name Revolution expressed our direction, Wii represents the answer," spokeswoman Perrin Kaplan told Reuters.

Nintendo, best known for its Game Boy portable video players, aims to gain share in the $25 billion global video game market now dominated by Sony Corp. (6758.T)

Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq:MSFT - news) launched its next-generation Xbox 360 console late last year and Sony's new PlayStation 3 is due in November. Wii also is expected to hit store shelves later this year.

While the new consoles from Microsoft and Sony boast more power and high-definition graphics, Nintendo's goal is to roll out a machine that appeals to a broader audience than the young males who make up the traditional console gaming market.

A key feature of the Wii is its one-handed controller that looks like a television remote control and uses motion-detection sensors that allow players to control the game by wielding it like a sword, waving it like a conductor's baton, or swinging it like a baseball bat.

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Apr 27, 2006, 16:25

Masa

30.

No subject Apr 27, 2006, 16:25

Apr 27, 2006, 16:25

Masa

Would it be written with the archaic kana 'wi' then?

Probably not. I imagine they would express the name using kanji. I'm curious about that now, I'll have to look around on Nintendo's Japanese website for it.

The thing that makes me curious is when I go back to Tokyo this summer and see the latest advert's for a Nintendo product. Can't wait to walk around a game shop and hearing children pronouncing the elongated "Wii!!"

If a company produces the best coffee in the world and then go call it "cum juice" and market it with the line "get your man juice flowing"

It's not the same thing. What you are implying through your example is playing off preconceived notions people have for one thing or another and applying it to your product. I'm not even sure what a Wii is. I'm pretty certain it's not to be taken as "tallywhacker."

You do realise that you've said here that you choose to buy stuff based on marketing and image?

And you do it all the time with just about every conceivable product you can imagine. Be it a need or just plain desire, the marketing and advertising gets your attention as to the fact it's out there, you just need to determine for yourself if it's worth your time to look at or purchase.

Just look at iPod. People have been paying through the nose for an inferior product for half a dacade.

Not really. The hardware is actually better than most. Most MP3 players were pretty ugly and weren't all that intuitive to use; even today my chief compain with most MP3 players are they're not all that clean looking. But that's not really a discussion pertinent to the Console Formerly Known as Revolution.