Satoru Iwata Defends Naming of Wii

[fitbabits]

GamesIndustry.biz (http://www.gamesindustry.biz) is reporting that Satoru Iwata has been taking time out to defend the name of Nintendo's next generation console.

You can read the full article here (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=17593).

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has defended the name of Nintendo's next-generation console, saying he's glad he helped come up with it despite all the criticism it has come in for in the media.

Speaking at a Tokyo press conference, Iwata said: "I have never thought the name was a mistake. Some people seem to have a problem with it now, but I think they'll grow to like it."

Iwata argued that people should look at the example of the Game Boy - a name which was also criticised, with some saying it suggested girls were excluded from playing with the handheld. But once the Game Boy caught on, so did the name, he claimed.
I guess it could have been worse, but it could also have been a lot better. I'm still partial to Revolution. Other than Revolution, what would you have named it?

[MasterEvilAce]

I would have stuck with Revolution.

I understand why they went for Wii, and everything, but come on. Logic suggests that's a bad reason for a name.

Would you drive a Toyota Wii?

[Rakael]

And here I thought everyone had grown up and gotten over it.

[Heretic Machine]

It is a crappy name. I don't really think twice about it anymore, but it is still bad. Certainly worse than the Revolution, which most people agree was quite flashy and represented the console very well.

[score]

The name felt really awkward at first but now I don't even think about it.

[Doctor Setebos]

Fresh-pickled Tingle Rose-Colored Happy Land!

...system. :D

[mkelehan]

Yes, we'll all get used to it. The fact that we have to makes it terrible. We'll get used to anything; the only difference the name makes is the first impression. And the first impression when I tell people it's called the Wii? "You're joking. If they actually called it that, I'd laugh SO hard."

[bapenguin]

I would have went with the Nintendo Banana Monkey Fairy. But that's just me.

(Nintendo: BMF for short).

[drakkarim]

i >personally< don't give one rat's a*s WHAT the name of it is. i care about what games are going to be on it.

[jacktion]

I would have named it Boobie.
The Nintendo Boobie.

[Kefkataran]

Who WOULDN'T want a Nintendo Banana Monkey Fairy?!

[Rirath]

I guess it could have been worse, but it could also have been a lot better. I'm still partial to Revolution. Other than Revolution, what would you have named it?

It's an awful name, and the worst part of it is their resolute defense of it. No, it won't stop me from playing it, but it'll stop me from ever having a serious conversation about it. It's not even like it has some kind of deep meaning. It's just dumb for dumbness sake.

Seeing as I really like the name Super Mario Galaxy, if Revolution is out, I probably would have went with Nintendo Galaxy. Emphasis on the virtual console aspect, the free-space movement, and abbreviates nicely to "GXY" or "GAL". Makes for a nice logo and you can start adding "Galaxy" onto everything. ie Smash Bros Galaxy

[Yeti2005]

When I talk to non-gamers I refer to it as Nintendo's new console. I got tired of referring to it as the wii to non-gamers and getting blank stares or "That's a dumb name" or "Why the hell did they name it that?" or some other negative statement.

[NoName]

When I talk to non-gamers I refer to it as Nintendo's new console. I got tired of referring to it as the wii to non-gamers and getting blank stares or "That's a dumb name" or "Why the hell did they name it that?" or some other negative statement.
It's sad that we have to do this but it makes our lives so much easier...

[Hydroeric]

I would have went with the Nintendo Banana Monkey Fairy. But that's just me.

(Nintendo: BMF for short).

Why not one step further and go Banana Apple Monkey Fairy. Cuz, then you got a BAMF which also doubles as Bad Ass Muther-shut-yo-mouth!

[Manzy]

N5 was always a cool one in my book. I always secretly wished Nintendo would go from N64, N128, N256.... N1024, etc. etc.

[Rirath]

Why not one step further and go Banana Apple Monkey Fairy

I'm sorry to be a grammar nazi, but any time you use the combo of "apple monkey", you clearly have to throw in "apple monkey carburetor". So in this case, the Nintendo Banana Apple Monkey Carburetor Fairy.

[direwolf]

I wish they would have stuck with Revolution.
Although maybe they didn't feel the hardware matched up to the name after all :)

[KamaItachi]

I never understood th hatred for wii. When I first read it it struck me as a kind of neutral, home appliance kind of brand. The sort of name you could imagine being attatched to a breadmaker or a tv. It just seems to fit in well with the whole idea Nintendo is trying to cultivate at making it more something for the family, less Thunder Cougar Falcon Bird.

[swiftdraw]

Yeah, I'm going up to my room to play with my Wii.... At Gamestop there was a bunch of middle schoolers giggling about the name, "Doesn't Wii mean, like, pee?" The name has endless value if you're into bad puns.

Personally I'd of tried the Nintendo Motion or something that had to do with it's more interactive aspect. Or go back to the good ol' days and name it the Nintendo Entertainment System III or something (I consider the SNES to be the II.)

[LilEvilFish]

I'll admit when I heard the name Wii, I thought it was a joke. It sounded rediculous! But I've become very accustomed to it and I fully understand why they changed the name from Revolution.

It had the effect of sounding like a hard core games system. The Wii has the effect of sounding like a toy, something innocent and non-threatening.

In a way, the name Wii is revolutionary in that it breaks away from the normal naming conventions of consoles.

Although the whole banana pixie shit sounds sweet!

[toranaga]

I'd the say the plain fact that the president feels the need to defend the name, so long after it was announced, speaks for itself...

[AversionFX]

I personally liked Revolution, as it was "hip," and very representative of the direction Nintendo is going.

However, Wii doesn't bother me. I was more upset over the name change simply because Revolution really fit the bill.

But really, the penis jokes are about as old and un-funny as Dick Cheney shot a man in the face.

I'd the say the plain fact that the president feels the need to defend the name, so long after it was announced, speaks for itself...

Yes... it speaks for itself. Not that it's a bad name, but because idiots are still bitching about the name. Totally speaking for itself.

[GigaFuzz]

Or go back to the good ol' days and name it the Nintendo Entertainment System III or something (I consider the SNES to be the II.)

SDNES

Super-Duper Nintendo Entertainment System.

[Sophism]

Nintendo Gamecube 361

[Tohoya]

I thought it was stupid at first, but the name has started to grow on me. I think it's about as good as revolution.

[Rook34]

Who WOULDN'T want a Nintendo Banana Monkey Fairy?!

I'm not sure... The Nintendo Banana Monkey sounds a bit scary...like he's going to do something very naughty with that banana...

[joruussuun]

How 'bout "New NES"?

[Pigeon]

The Nintendo Poke-box!

[Rirath]

Nintenbox.

[fitbabits]

Nintenbox.
I wonder who capitalized your name... ;)

[gspot]

Though "The Nintendo Boobie" is tempting, most cool movie names end with cool words at the end, like "evolution", or "reloaded" This is obviously true for everything

I would either enjoy "Revolution: Resurrection" or
"Revolution: Revolution"

[absolut taco]

At least it's not called the "Satoru Iwata".

[askheaves]

Seeing as I really like the name Super Mario Galaxy, if Revolution is out, I probably would have went with Nintendo Galaxy. Emphasis on the virtual console aspect, the free-space movement, and abbreviates nicely to "GXY" or "GAL". Makes for a nice logo and you can start adding "Galaxy" onto everything. ie Smash Bros Galaxy

Actually, that isn't the worst idea.

Either that or Nintendo: Grandma Edition

[jeffbax]

I thought Revolution was the only cool name out of the bunch.

Wii is just as horrible as Xbox 360 and Playstation 3... though its "original"

[Kefkataran]

Why not the Nintendo Vagina (http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2006/04/28)?

[EternalGamer]

Who WOULDN'T want a Nintendo Banana Monkey Fairy?!


That depends. Would that be a fairy that brings bananas to monkeys, a fairy that brings "bannana monkies," or a monkey who is a fairy that brings bannanas?

Cause, well, I'm not a monkey. So if there is nothing in it for me, then I guess I"m out. Howeever, I would totally dig being brought either a bannana or a banana monkey.

[Beansly]

I'd say the "Nintendo Finger Slot 3000"

[DoubleUranium]

Like Metallica and the black album, how about just calling it the Nintendo? I'm stuck calling it that anyways since the Wii is such a crap name. How about the Uuuu? We love our players so much it's all about Uuuu.

[UglyPimp]

The Nintendo Blam!

[Carnisaur]

The Nintendo Dolphin

[benig]

How about the..
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a1/HCSelf71/whoa_small.jpg

[LogainAblar]

I personally liked Revolution, as it was "hip," and very representative of the direction Nintendo is going.

However, Wii doesn't bother me. I was more upset over the name change simply because Revolution really fit the bill.

But really, the penis jokes are about as old and un-funny as Dick Cheney shot a man in the face.



Yes... it speaks for itself. Not that it's a bad name, but because idiots are still bitching about the name. Totally speaking for itself.

sorry, but only an idiot would defend either Dick Cheney or the changing of the name to Wii.

[Last of the Red Hot Mamas]

You can hate Dick Cheney and still think that Cheney-with-a-shotgun jokes became played out sometime during the afternoon of February 12.

[OldBrownShoe]

But really, the penis jokes are about as old and un-funny as Dick Cheney shot a man in the face.

Hehehe, he shot someone in the face.

[AversionFX]

sorry, but only an idiot would defend either Dick Cheney or the changing of the name to Wii.

Sorry, but only an idiot would think their opinion was of higher value than someone else's.

Go back to lurking.

[fitbabits]

Sorry, but only an idiot would think their opinion was of higher value than someone else's.

Go back to lurking.
Sorry, but only a... Fuck it!

[KSmitty]

Well Nintendo should have combined the 3 coolest things ever for the new name:
Nintendo:Pirate Monkey Ninja


Seriously though I liked Revolution, they could have had 2 names for the system ie Famicom. As far as other names go uhh... Nintendo Tilt, shit I don't know. Galaxy sounded cool too, maybe they should have called it the Katana. ;)

-K

[Kefkataran]

You can hate Dick Cheney and still think that Cheney-with-a-shotgun jokes became played out sometime during the afternoon of February 12.

But the shotgun! In the face! There's so much rich humor there!

[Butter]

Defend it all you want, I will always call it the revolution.

[LogainAblar]

But the shotgun! In the face! There's so much rich humor there!

I guess we should just kind of dismiss it, and let it slide like all the other PR screw-ups of the white house. I mean after all, finding humor both in the fact that the U.S. vice president shot someone in the face, and then the fact that it took him half a week to make a statement about it is rather juvenile. I mean, this thing is really only on the same level of, say, Bush not knowing what "sovereignty" means. Limited vocabulary and inattention to detail (like the person standing between you and the quail you're trying to shoot) are nothing more than personality quirks.

Man, putting spin on bull shit isn' all that hard it seems. Maybe I should go work for a console manufacturer!

[Kefkataran]

Limited vocabulary and inattention to detail (like the person standing between you and the quail you're trying to shoot) are nothing more than personality quirks.

Holy crap, for a second I thought you were serious. Almost gave me a damned heart attack.