The Pipeline: Pundits go Wii!

Welcome back to The Pipeline, a weekly feature where we dig through the mainstream media and see what the pundits, prognosticators and and pencil pushers have been discussing over the past week.

This week, the media was all over Nintendo's announcement that the gaming console formerly codenamed Revolution would henceforth be known as Wii. And, not surprisingly, most of the mainstream journos covering the story concurred with our assessment that the name somehow isn't going to wiin Niintendo any kudos. "Is Nintendo being desperately silly to attract attention, or is it just desperately short of clue?" asked the Guardian, while the Financial Times headlined its article "Wii aren't too sure about this." However, Nintendo did have at least one defender, Michael Pachter of Wedbush Morgan Securities, who pointed out that "N-Gage and Gizmondo are cool names" that didn't help those products win many fans. "Consumers relate to the coolness of the product, not the name." Wii'll see, Michael, Wii'll see.

Of course, the Wii announcement wasn't the only story in the news this week, and the mainstream press managed to crank out a few other interesting nuggets. USA Today took a look at the Pioneer Inno, and declared it "a winner," while The New York Times looked at the growing number of home docking systems for cellphones. Meanwhile, Forbes looked at another way to use cellphones at home, checking out the market for UMA-enabled handsets. Our favorite media hit this week, though, came from the Washington Post, which took an in-depth look at the DDR-as-exercise phenom, with the paper's reporter declaring, "Hello, my name is Caroline, and I'm addicted to 'Dance Dance Revolution.'" Hey, at least she's not addicted to the Wii.

• Nintendo goes Wii ... (not a typo)
• Guardian - Nintendo Wii is twee
• Financial Times - Wii aren't too sure about this
• BBC - Nintendo name swap sparks satire
• Seattle PI - Wii is for everyone
• AP - Nintendo names new video game console
• USA Today - Look out iPod, Inno marries satellite radio, portable music
• The New York Times - A cellphone in park, even more powerful
• Forbes - Double-duty phones
• The Washington Post - Get a move on

[Armin @ Apr 30th 2006 11:44AM]

It seems that Nintendo is going for the Wii name. Think about it, most consoles have pretty bad names; "DreamCast", "Xbox". I think Xbox sounds far worse than "Wii"

Although I liked "Revolutino" a lot better

[gnome @ Apr 30th 2006 11:51AM]

Wii is definitely not Wee, but more of a Oui. Despite the silly name, I'll be pre-ordering...

[Tom W @ Apr 30th 2006 12:05PM]

You're being used.

The whole point of naming it "Wii" was to get everyone to report on the stupid name resulting in gobs of free publicity for the unit.

[heat @ Apr 30th 2006 12:06PM]

it really won't matter in 8 days, with everything unveiled. it was disapointing, but im sure it's telling of nintendo's direction (and their commitment to it).

i think the name is awkward (misspelled-plural-pronoun?) but will become iconic with something to associate it with. id still rather they change it to something not as ugly, and that could contend with the microsoft and sony

[heat @ Apr 30th 2006 12:07PM]

the console's real name is "nintendo v", being its fifth console. trust me. i know a guy :)

[eskimo @ Apr 30th 2006 12:22PM]

Could be a lot worse, guys. I mean, I wonder how many names were rejected before they came up with that?

[eskimo @ Apr 30th 2006 12:24PM]

http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/

[rachel weiss @ Apr 30th 2006 12:31PM]

It's the target, silly!
Great idea, totally bright.

[Abi @ Apr 30th 2006 1:03PM]

Nintendo are a true games company. Microsoft and Sony only care about their shareholders. Relying on endless movie tie-in games like King Kong or getting EA to change the title on a sports game to '06 then put it out on sale. Nintendo have even spoken out on the ridiculous pricing of said games ($60 in US $80 in Europe). I gurantee you will never see a first party Wii game for more than $45.

While Sony And Microsoft are busy comparing they size of their graphics penis, Nintendo are innovating.

Nintendo single handedly saved the American games industry in the mid-80's when Atari crashed and nearly dragged everyone with it. Without them you would have nothing. The d-pad, analog stick, rumble, handhelds, mario, zelda.

Too many 15 year olds and, i have to say, Americans, think that Microsoft invented gaming or that Halo/Half Life 2 is as good as it gets. Haters should learn their history then bow down and pay your respects.

http://archive.gamespy.com/articles/june03/dumbestmoments/index24.shtml

[The antique @ Apr 30th 2006 1:13PM]

The Washington Post also had a nice article on Wii yesterday.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/28/AR2006042802071.html?sub=AR

NOTE: requires login.

[dne202 @ Apr 30th 2006 1:27PM]

I think Wii will be used very little on it's own, it's just about staking a claim on a prefix. No one will say they're "going to play with they're wii", they'll wiixercise. People are already having a lot of fun making up they're own wii words (love it or hate it)... and it'll only get more infectious. Nintendo is staking a claim to wii like apple now rules over i. We'll use the Wiimote, use the Wiifi service... it's brilliant. People today love to make up words for things, and the Wiitendo will take off big time. I can't believe the pundits are so unanimously against the name.

[Karl Viklund @ Apr 30th 2006 1:57PM]

Well, "Wii" isn't the best name ever. It's not pronounced as "We" more like "wEE" or "w?" (in Swedish).

the name "Wii" may be good for the Asian market but I think they should call it "Revolution" in Europe and USA. You can argue that Xbox 360 and PS3 does not say you anything either or that they are totaly unlogic or what ever but did we react the same way over the Xbox 360 and the PS3 names when they were revealed? No. No we didn't. Not in the same way as this "wEE!" name.

The biggest problem with the name is that it's just "Wii". If you compare it with the iPod, it's "i" and "Pod". It would have been strange if the named the iPod just "Pod". That would have sound very strange. So "iWii" would have been a much cooler name in my opinion . It does not have to be that "i" in the begining of the name just one "Letter" more in the begining or in the end of the "Wii" name. Well, that's my opinion.

But there sure is a market for this console anyway. It's realy cute :)

[cycomachead @ Apr 30th 2006 2:01PM]

Weeeeeeeeeee let's pee on Wii
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Tom W @ Apr 30th 2006 2:04PM]

Hey gorgeous, let's go to my place and play with my wiiwii. I hope you don't mind getting licked.

[lugnuts @ Apr 30th 2006 2:07PM]

N-gage is a pretty cool name, I'll agree but Gizmondo is a ridiculous name. It's almost as bad as Wii.

[Free The Flash @ Apr 30th 2006 2:31PM]

Nintendo Wii. It's an odd name, but it'll still sell like crazy. Anticipation.

Yup.

But I'm still buying the Playstation 3. It'll be the best.

[Paul @ Apr 30th 2006 2:46PM]

Wii Love It!

http://www.wiiwhy.com/nintendo_wii_loveit.gif

[x @ Apr 30th 2006 3:38PM]

I was surprised that no one mentioned that it could of been called the opposite of Wii...like, Wagina....??

[phooky @ Apr 30th 2006 3:51PM]

20: check the new pennyarcade.com comic. been done.

[AJ @ Apr 30th 2006 3:59PM]

N-Gage and Gizmondo are both dumb names.

[M@ @ Apr 30th 2006 4:02PM]

The pundits still confuse me here... it's not like anyone has ever argued that "we" might be the worst pronoun ever concieved or anything like that. So, yeah basically, the pundits have no problems at all using "we" in normal pronoun form...

but, oh no... wait a second, as soon as it's used as an actual name they are all of a sudden like 0Mg l0L wiiiiiiiii!!!11one1one r0fl

[bowlhed @ Apr 30th 2006 4:19PM]

did you all see that a company called Koch is managing promotion in europe for nintendo (thats not a joke, no really i am deadly serious)

so thats people from koch telling us to buy wii.

i think someone at nintendo is having a really big laugh to themselves in a quiet office somewhere.

[wii are not amused @ Apr 30th 2006 5:15PM]

Poetic justice. Before the name came out, the Nintendo fanbois were going off that Nintendo was going to be 'bigger than Jesus'... it is nice that Nintendo fans have finally been fed a little humble pie. Nothing like a little humility to keep you grounded.

Nintendo lost most of their 'buzz' and will now have to re-prove themselves with good, fun games.

There have been some great 'wee' jokes, I am looking forward to the next 6 months of wii-humor.

[simon @ Apr 30th 2006 7:26PM]

but why? (wii?)

[Tom W @ Apr 30th 2006 8:46PM]

Tristan,
You're not dealing with chimps here.

We know that clicking on your name on your first post will take us to your wonderful site...cough..cough

[Devo @ Apr 30th 2006 9:11PM]

What's in a name, would a rose be any less if it were called a wii?

[Peter McCaffrey @ May 1st 2006 3:27AM]

A rose by another name would not be any less if it was always called something else.

But if you changed the name of roses to wii's then it would be less, because it sounds stupid.
-----
Peter
http://peteremcc.wordpress.com

[Deluxe @ May 1st 2006 6:35AM]

Not if you called 'em "Stench Blossoms".

[Abi @ May 1st 2006 6:41AM]

"A rose by any other name would still smell as sweet." - William Shakesphere

"they wouldn't if you called them crap weeds" - Homer Simpson AKA God

[Slayermayer @ May 1st 2006 8:35AM]

*Okay people, before I explain what I think about Nintendo's new console name, let it be known that I am not a Nintendo fanboy. On the contrary, I prefer Microsoft and the 360 hands down.*

I know that the name sounds pretty ridiculous but give em a break...the whole idea behind the name is pretty ingenius. Nintendo is going the same route that Microsoft went with their Xbox name brand. What did you first think when you heard M$ reveal that their new box was going to be known as the Xbox 360? Weren't we all expecting the "Xbox 2" or the "Xenon"? Everyone made fun of the name and talked about it so much that we actually began to get used to it, and over time we all accepted Xbox 360 as a legitimate console name. Since then, Microsoft has been able to center their advertising and marketing slogans around the whole idea of a 360 degree multimedia experience. What makes anyone think that Nintendo will be doing any different with the Wii? Honestly, once you let the name set in, you can see a ton of potential in terms of advertising. The i's in the name will no doubt be switched with two or more wii controllers. They will be able to run a campaign where every ad seems to unify gamers (i.e. wii (we) will break the standard).

i am by no means a nintendo fanboy, and you would know so if you read any of my posts on other subjects (MICROSOFT!!!!! XBOX 360!!!) But I do plan on picking up a Wii due to the innovation and the experience I've had with the DS thus far. I've seen screen shots of Red Steel by Ubisoft for the Wii, and let me just say that I wouldn't count Nintendo out just yet, even if the name does sound ridiculous at first.

[JX @ May 1st 2006 9:02AM]

At first I didn't like it... but "Wii" is kinda catchy. When i win over the wifi system it will have, i can shout "wii!!!!!!!" into the microphone (i'm fantasizing a little bit here) and go "wii just kicked the crap out of you." also, wii can say that "wii nintendo owners are sooooo much better than you microsoft junkies." also, when you have to leave multiplayer online, you can say, "excuse me, i have to take a wii." (immaturity can be humorous sometimes)

[Gill Bates @ May 1st 2006 11:25AM]

Michael Pachter of Wedbush Morgan Securities

Who? and when did they become a reliable source?

[dj-ronald-mc-donald @ May 1st 2006 11:29AM]

i have to say, Americans, think that Microsoft invented gaming

No we don't. George Bush did.

[Normal Person @ May 1st 2006 11:41AM]

NOrmal PeOple like the NaME Wii. The ONly PeOple that have a problem wiTH it ARe haRDcORe GaMErs wHo thINk it is uncool.
Hello!!! You're playing Video games!!! You are By Definition unCOol!!!
PS3 and Xbos 360 use all this extra processing power to create more realistic fantasies to satisfy peoples whose realities sO LaME that they need 1080P on a 52inch LCD screen to compensate.
Wii is a Fun name for Normal people who buy consoles for Fun!!! (Not to compensate for a lack of an exciting reality.)

[The Quadrius (NINTENDO FOREVER.) @ May 1st 2006 1:36PM]

Ok, here's a shocker: Nintendo's not the first company to try and be deep with a console name. The 360 was a reference to how the experience of gaming revolved around the gamer itself.

Still... Wii. For F**KS sake, that has GOT to be the worst console name ever. If I hear one more Wii joke, someone is going to lose a head.

[Handle IT @ May 1st 2006 4:29PM]

In year from now I could be saying this as I show my entertainment center off to people.

"This is my 60" SXRD that has a VIIV media center PC, my PS3, my 360, and my Wii"

The Wii is out.. I can't say that sentence without thinking it is totally childish.

[MasterWii @ May 1st 2006 10:26PM]

Actually, Wii is a brilliant name...think about it...everyone and their dog has been talking about it for more than a week already.

It's INSTANT brand recognition.

Not a dime spent and we all know Wii == Revolution == Nintendo.

Reggie could make a pizza look sexy. No wonder he is doing well at Nintendo.

[Mic2000 @ May 2nd 2006 4:43AM]

www.michielkrol.nl/wii/

trash it ;)

[JR @ May 2nd 2006 9:26AM]

I gotta go take a wicked "Revolution." --paraphrased, Peter Griffin.

[Wayne D. @ Sep 22nd 2006 12:19AM]

Everybody is going to call it just "Nintendo" as always. Or maybe Niiiintendo...