Wii Warm Up: It's been a year
by Alisha Karabinus 
{ Apr 27th 2007 at 9:00AM }
A year ago, Nintendo announced that the Revolution had a name, and that name was Wii. And lo did the voices of a million gamers rise in a chorus of, "WTF?! Wii?? OMG, it's so over for Nintendo!"
Obviously, we were wrong. Oh, sure, not everyone thought the name was a bad idea, but it was such an overwhelming majority that the dissenters hardly mattered. A year later, however, it's become apparent that the name that curled so many lips was actually a brilliant move, marketing-wise. But no harm, no foul; we all already admitted that we overreacted. But this strange anniversary still seems a good time to look back at not just the name change, but everything about the Wii. These days, analysts are predicting epic Wii shortages, whereas eight months ago, it was far more popular to predict the Wii to lag behind both the PS3 and the 360. How has your overall attitude changed in the past year? Is there anything you think or predict now that runs counter to your mindset last April?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Steve @ Apr 27th 2007 9:16AM
It was a stupid name on 4/26/06 and it's still a stupid name on 4/26/07.
Fortunately the console is so unique that no one cares what it's called.
Jared @ Apr 27th 2007 9:20AM
I second what Steve said.
What runs counter to my mindset in April is that I actually thought that the PS3 might provide viable competition in the console market. We all now know that to not be true. I'm not just saying that to take a cheap shot at Sony, either. They are bleeding market share like it's coming out of a deep flesh wound. They still sell more PS2s than PS3s. Who would have predicted that?!
OrganicShadow @ Apr 27th 2007 9:47AM
Agreed. The name is still dumbashell. It makes it hard to talk to someone about that hasn't played...STILL. "Hey dad, have you seen the Wii yet?" "Have I seen weed?!?!" "NOOO..no no....the WEEE W-i-i..." "Oh...no, I think I've heard it somewhere before though."
It's especially bothersome when talking about it around my boss. I bet he thinks im a pothead.
Although the name is new and different, yes, I still don't see the Wii going beyond the same N64/GC routine. Super popular at first and then the third party games drop to a trickle and it's only the hardcore Ninty fans left. I don't know anyone that got a Wii as their first gaming device(ie: they are new to gaming) that have any interest in playing anything beyond Wii Sports.
Let's hope some first party stuff, and some more good marketing can help keep it afloat.
Zan @ Apr 27th 2007 10:01AM
We don't know if the name has anything to do with the success of the console or not, I'm pretty sure "Revolution" would have been even better. In any case, YOU STOLE THE STORY IDEA FROM GONINTENDO! SHAME ON YOU!
Neal Eaton @ Apr 27th 2007 10:18AM
I was surprised last year when the 'new' name Wii was revealed...but I got over that within a couple of days.
I for one like the name...there is not ANY other product that has a name that sounds like it (with the exception of weed...but that is not easily attainable in stores (except in San Fran)). I think that this name was exactly what Nintendo needed to shake up the status quo. I think that by NOT using a name that sounds like a gaming machine is a masterstroke in marketing to non-gamers. While 'Revolution' does have a great sound to it...it is not a very 'friendly' name.
And what of the mane of the DS...no one cried foul when it was changed from NITRO to Nintendo DS now did they? I know that Nitro was an internal name...but so was Revolution.
Now...let's see if the next one is Wii 2 or something else altogether.
Sherry @ Apr 27th 2007 10:24AM
I have not had a video game system since I was about 30 years younger, and all I want is a Wii of my very own. I don't know what games I want to go with my Wii (if I ever find one) but I am sure I will get more than Wii Sports. I just want the Wii and I will borrow games or rent games until I figure just exactly what kind of games I enjoy. I tried one and am sure that with practice I can do as good as the kid.
I think you should all shame Alisha into giving me hers.
UpIrons @ Apr 27th 2007 10:25AM
I was appalled when they renamed it. Then I was embarassed having to ask for it for Christmas from my mother in law (she usually likes to get me one big gift like that).
But now, everyone, including my own mother, knows what a Wii is. And for my own mother to know (who has no interest in gaming at all) that is a major feat.
So 1 year later, yes I think they made the right choice in changing the name. Although I think the Revolution would have been just fine too.
Barry @ Apr 27th 2007 10:44AM
I actually like the name. Revolution is also a good name as well, but definitely the Wii is much better from a marketing standpoint
blasphemizer @ Apr 27th 2007 11:08AM
They couldn't call it the revolution because they didn't want to be associated with Prince. Also Wii is a great name, it has provided me with an endless supply of Wii jokes. Q. So what are you going to do tonight?
A. Sit around and play with my Wii.
nuff said.
Sam @ Apr 27th 2007 11:25AM
Well, I thought the name "Wii" was a little weird at first but I tried to think about its fun factor because thats what counts on any video game system. All my concerns about the name went away when I heard that at E3, there was a very long line for the Nintendo Wii section while the PS3 section only had a few people.
I know Nintendo has a creative streak in them to give a unique name to its consoles and handhelds instead of adding a number to the end of it (*cough* Playstation 3 *cough* Xbox 360 *cough*) and I still like the fact that they do this.
Keep up the unique work, Nintendo.
HTML_Earth @ Apr 27th 2007 11:59AM
@ 10
and the only nintendo console that had a number at the end was the N64
vidGuy @ Apr 27th 2007 12:02PM
Then, I was "cautiously optimistic", now I'm glad that it's Wii rather than Revolution. I doubt I would hear 50 year old businessmen, grandparents, parents, teenagers, college students, and grade schoolers all talk about the Revolution. Wii is just so much more mass-market friendly.
I found the Joystiq page (http://www.joystiq.com/2006/04/27/nintendo-revolution-now-called-wii/), which is fairly funny to read. Here's my comment from one year ago:
"Love the logo. I'll have to get used to saying it, though. I think it'll work out in the end. It's a more media-friendly name than NES5 would be, and I think it significantly sets it apart from the competition, which is Nintendo's goal, for good or bad.
I'd rather keep Revolution, but I think Nintendo wanted to shy away from that name being used anymore. After all, it is pretty bold.
Shock value is high for this... I'm pretty sure no one expected it. Overall, I'd give it a 6.5 out of 10. Plenty of room for improvement (Revolution was about a 9/10 for me) but still decent. Just to get an idea of my arbitrary scale, I'd say PS3 ranks at 2/10 because of its lack of change (ok, there's name-recognition value in PlayStation, but you can probably afford to take a risk with the name since you are taking so many other risks with this console) and XBOX 360 lands a 4/10 because it's something different but keeps the horrible XBOX name, and lands them back where they started (360* right? I know that's been overused.)
So, I'm probably what they say "cautiously optimistic"."
Bruce Deschacht @ Apr 27th 2007 1:37PM
Wow, I seem to be the minority....
I liked the name from the off. Nintendo's logic is pretty good. Revolution only really works in English, so the solution was just to create a nonsensical word which can have an implied meaning. Wii is the epitome of this choice.
Alisha Karabinus @ Apr 27th 2007 2:11PM
Yes, Zan, you're SO right! ONLY Go Nintendo could have possibly thought to commemorate a year of Wii! Wow!
Don't be silly. But big ups to RMC and Go Nintendo for being awesome. He's an honest blogger who tells it like it is.
And I see you there, Mom. You still can't have my Wii.
Back when they first announced the name, I thought (like so many) that it had to be a joke. Wii? What? Really? *insert lame jokes here* But the man of the house, in his infinite wisdom, said, give it a chance... in no time, you'll like it. And he was right, of course, and so was Nintendo.
I do like the name Revolution, but it's too obvious, and it's somewhat egotistical. You can't come out and say, 'HAY GUYZ LETS REVOLUTIONIZE GAMING!!111' Rhetoric can work against you just as easily as it works for you. Instead, Nintendo just did it; they made revolutionary hardware, and while it's not perfect, it has certainly changed a few things about gaming. They found a name that hinted at what the console would do -- bring people together (i.e. 'we') -- and kept it simple and unique. And it worked.
I'm totally okay with admitting I was wrong. Sometimes, it's good to be wrong.
JC Fletcher @ Apr 27th 2007 3:36PM
It's a terrible name, but it does the job of not sounding like the name of a game console. Really, most video game consoles have terrible names anyway. Playstation? Dreamcast? Xbox? Master System? Pippin? FM Towns Marty?
Mr Khan @ Apr 27th 2007 4:44PM
You all miss the big thing that was wrong with "revolution"
Communism, Fascism, Nazism, Radical Islam
The Bolshevik Revolution, the Spanish Revolution, the Iranian Revolution, Maoist Revolutions that currently wreak destruction across Peru and Nepal (although they aren't marketing to those areas)
Yes, Revolution was cool (especially to quasi-socialists like me), but many regions or nations would sour on the idea