Rumor: Revolution to be renamed this Thursday

by Dan Choi { Mar 21st 2006 at 10:42PM }

According to CVG, there's "a strong whisper that the Revolution's real name will finally be confirmed this week" at GDC.

Satoru Iwata's disruptive GDC keynote, scheduled for Thursday at 10:30 AM PT (1:30 PM ET) to 11:30 AM PT, would be the perfect opportunity to reveal the new name for Nintendo's next console.

The other rumor--regarding a highly unlikely June launch for the machine still code-named Revolution--was a lot less believable. Then again, this week's events could simply confirm that the Big N's going with its hardware code name for the Rev as it did for the DS. Questions, questions... hopefully we'll have some answers this Thursday.

[Via Gamecloud]

See also:

Joystiq @ GDC: In the beginning... [a few upcoming GDC highlights]
Revolution's real name and final form to be revealed in May
Revolution still just a "codename?"
Nintendo overhauls the DS [but keeps the code name]

Tags: code name, CodeName, CVG, disruptive, Gamecloud, rumor, Satoru Iwata, SatoruIwata

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

ElChibo @ Mar 21st 2006 10:58PM

wow i just posted on my website about 15 minutes ago my prediction that Nintendo would show off the Revolutions new name. and I thought it all myself lol, didn't read this post or hear it somewhere else first.
check out my website! lol

sam @ Mar 21st 2006 11:03PM

I got a revalation for ya!
The revolution will be a Gamecube add on. It will require a Gamecube for full functionality. Kinda blows yer mind don't it?
S

Cpt Shanks @ Mar 21st 2006 11:05PM

I hope the name is still Revolution, and not something stupid like "GameThingy"

bv @ Mar 21st 2006 11:11PM

Project Reality -> Ultra 64 -> Nintendo 64

Dolphin-> Gamecube

Revolution -> "Nintendo Legacy"

...Just a guess

bearattack79 @ Mar 21st 2006 11:16PM

"super action happy time fun 3000"

????????????????????????????????

Eric @ Mar 21st 2006 11:18PM

Just caught this story over on Infendo as well. One of the commenters there reminds us that the internal name for the DS was actually the Nitro, hence the NTR-### numbering system on early-run DSs.

Link if you're interested:

http://www.infendo.com/2006/03/iwata-to-reveal-big-news-on-thursday.html

justchris @ Mar 21st 2006 11:19PM

I predict the new name will be The Nintendo Experience.

MasterShake48 @ Mar 21st 2006 11:26PM

Lets see.....a few years ago, before nintendo even called it the revolution, there was a rumor that this would be called the N5 (since it's the fifth console). It could also maybe be called Nintendo Generation or anything else ending in "tion."

ck @ Mar 21st 2006 11:29PM

Would it really be a wise decision to change the name? Especially the concept for the console that they want to present, the name Revolution is pretty spot on. "Revolution's real name will finally be confirmed this week" doesn't mean a NEW name necessarily.

I'm sure Iwata's speech will be disruptive, but surely not because of the announcement of the name? Wasn't there still more to be revealed about the controller? Thursday can't seem to come faster. Well, and November can't either.

cyberfelon @ Mar 21st 2006 11:33PM

I don't know. I want to believe the rumour, but I've always assumed that the name will be revealed along with everything else at E3.

obo @ Mar 21st 2006 11:34PM

Any name other than Revolution will be a disappointment.

Anonymous Coward @ Mar 21st 2006 11:39PM

C'mon guys, you can think up names better than that. How about:

Nintendo Freedom (referring to the remote)
Nintendo 129600 (360x360 degrees ;)
Nintendo Auteur (re. the Broadway/Hollywood chips)
Nintendo Cameo (you're the star... sort of ;)
nBox
Mega Nintendo Entertainment System

Actually, now that I think about it, something ending or to do with "NES" might be quite likely if the name is changed from "Revolution", which I think is the final name.

Fischsticks @ Mar 21st 2006 11:40PM

I will be upset if nintendo changes the name
i was disapointed with the gamecube's name but its caught on and it gets the feeling of the gamecube across, so i'm sure if nintendo changes the name it will be a good one

Gabriel Ramos @ Mar 21st 2006 11:41PM

I predict the new name will be The Nintendo Experience.

I totaly said the exact same thing you said bro!
I said it a long while back that calling the nintendo revolution the Nintendo Experience or The Nintendo EXP would be sweeeet! I REALLY HOPE THEY GO WITH THAT NAME! ITS SO AWESOME!!!! lol

J B Cougar @ Mar 21st 2006 11:41PM

Isn't a "major" Sony press conference also scheduled for the GDC?

If we've learned anything, we know the Sony one will follow the Nintendo one and that Ken Kutaragi will march out with a press release reading something like "We can now officially announce that the PS3 will feature [whatever Nintendo said a half hour ago in their press conference, plus more power]."

BPMΩ @ Mar 21st 2006 11:41PM

I hope the name doesn't change... "Revolution" has such a nice ring to it.

And DS wasn't the code name for the dual screen system. Project Nitro was (and is still used internally).

Jago @ Mar 21st 2006 11:45PM

Dammit! Why did they have to schedule Iwata's keynote on Thursday?

When was Phil Harrison speaking again? I wanna see what he's going to say too.

DnL @ Mar 21st 2006 11:46PM

How about just calling it the "Nintendo" like the pictures of the Rev have it labelled as?

Dakara @ Mar 21st 2006 11:49PM

We guessed back in October that the name would be Nintendo Nexus, just a matter of time, my precious, yes.

gelu88 @ Mar 21st 2006 11:51PM

you know who else put "experience" in their name?
one clue: eXPerience.

not the best of connections considering the competition.

kilo @ Mar 21st 2006 11:52PM

Nintendo Entertainment System

Alkaiser @ Mar 21st 2006 11:55PM

Finally. An end to the fanboy postings of "such and such will be a REVOLUTION". Yes. We get it. I'm glad you could use your fantastic pun-crafting skills. You gain no XP.

Nintendo has never kept the name of the console the same from first look to release, not sure why people figured they would now. What was the DS called initially? Ninja?

Anyway, I cast my vote for GameParallelogram. Nobody says "parallelogram" outside of elementary math class, and it would be totally fun to hear the Japanese ads for it.

But, I eagerly await the new name. I want to see if Nintendo's just gone totally PR-centric (Which would be indicated by a name like "Nintendo Immersion", "Nintendo Synergy" or "The Nintendo Experience".) or if the guy are sticking to their guns and just coming up with something simple, yet effective. (ala "GameParallelogram".)

Tim Hendrix @ Mar 21st 2006 11:57PM

It would be funny if they named it the Nintendo XP. The Nintendo eXPerience, right? And then they gave it an ugly blue interface, and made it vulurable to crashing and security issues.... XD

Krys @ Mar 22nd 2006 12:05AM

#2 - Dolphin-> Gamecube

Wasn't the cube also known as the 'Starcube' for a little while? Maybe I'm remembering incorrectly...

Anyway, this new system...it's been dubbed the 'Revolution' for so long now. If you call it by any other name...well, it may smell as sweet - but I don't think it will have the same impact as it does now...

Here's hoping the 'Revolution' will continue on! :)

J.T. Mill @ Mar 22nd 2006 12:05AM

Why was there a jump on this article?

Anyways, I think they're going to go old school and somehow related it to the Nintendo Entertainment System or the Super NES. Revolutionary Nintendo Entertainment System? RNES?

Dan @ Mar 22nd 2006 12:06AM

"We guessed back in October that the name would be Nintendo Nexus"

I don't think Nintendo can call the system the 'Nexus". This trademark is already owned by XM Satellite Radio and Samsung. It's the name of one of their new Satellite Radio/mp3 player.

See here:

http://www.xmradio.com/nexus/index.jsp#

Anonymous Coward @ Mar 22nd 2006 12:10AM

Nintendo Poo Poo

My child would like it, his first words.

32_Footsteps @ Mar 22nd 2006 12:16AM

You know, if Nintendo can get as much press as they do just because they're going to change the name of a planned console, they've got to be doing something right in the industry.

Geoff @ Mar 22nd 2006 12:19AM

I've always liked the idea of the N5, being Nintendo's 5th console. But, I don't think Nintendo wants to do the whole numbering thing that Sony and Microsoft seem to be doing.

I've always assumed Nintendo would tie it into a retro theme. What with the NES themed SP, the NES Classics for GBA, the downloadable classic titles for the Revolution, I think Nintendo knows where the money's at.

NaviePoo @ Mar 22nd 2006 12:21AM

I think Revolution is just about perfect. Why would Nintendo want to throw away all that mindhsare?

hoob @ Mar 22nd 2006 12:23AM

I'm sorta impartial to the Ultra NES. Oooooh.

Bob @ Mar 22nd 2006 12:31AM

I think many are too quick to discredit a summer launch. There are no GameCube games on tap after May with the exception of Twilight Princess, Cars and Monkey Ball (Nintendo also lists a Kirby game that has only had some concept stuff shown).

Anyways, Nintendo is planning on NO new GameCube releases, not even from third-parties (Cars and Monkey Ball Adventure may be grandfathered with their releases in June). I don't know that I see the Revolution in June, but I don't see Nintendo leaving their fans high and dry from May till Nov.

My money is on a Q3 (Jul-Sept) release. Wouldn't it be ironic if a huge selling point of the Revolution was a new way to play Madden?

Launch: Zelda, Tony Hawk Downhill (aimed at "younger gamers" according to IGN, all downhill, c'mon guys, it's OBVIOUS it's a made for Revo title), Madden, and probably a surprise or two (Smash Bros? Crystal Chronicles?), plus a full complement of retro games.

Magera @ Mar 22nd 2006 12:35AM

Come On guys!!! it's so easy to guess the new name:

Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)

Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES)

Nintendo 64 (N64)

Super Nintendo 64 (NDS)

Gamecube (GCN)

hmm.... I wonder where I'm going??

Super Gamecube!!!! LOL Only joking!!

Logic Bus @ Mar 22nd 2006 12:40AM

Incorporating "Nintendo Entertainment System" somewhere into the name would be great. Even better would be to sell the thing in retro/NES style packaging, plaster the big old Nintendo logo all over it. Everybody would recognize that, and it would invoke all those great 80s gaming memories ...

MetaHuman @ Mar 22nd 2006 12:46AM

Nintendo Entertainment 5 or NE5
(for the 5 generations that one machine represents, plus NE5 looks like NES. :P )

My personal idea:
Nintendo Channel
Yeah I know Sega had something with the same name but not the same motivation is behind the name. Nintendo is supposed to be for gaining TV watchers' attention (well, one of their many angles anyways as seen in their teaser).

Jon Hart @ Mar 22nd 2006 12:52AM

Revolution means to turn around.
See "The wheel of change"
Everything old is new again

That is to say, it will called
Famicon II

Sean @ Mar 22nd 2006 1:02AM

I agree that chaging the name now would be a mistake. Nintendo already has built up a fairly substantial brand recognition with Revolution, and the system hasn't even launched yet. Sure, its just us internet fanboys, but that name awareness permiates out into the mainstream through people we talk to. Changing the name now would hurt that brand name power thats building up, and even could cause a tad bit of confusion among casual gamers.

epobirs @ Mar 22nd 2006 1:08AM

I lack any reason to be down on the whatever-it's-going-to-be-named, but the opportunities for vicious sarcasm are too great.

The Nintendo Nothing to see here, move along.

The Nintendo Yeah it's just a GameCube on steroids but look at the wavy thing!

The Nintendo We can't hack it at the high end so we're trying to be the high end of those $20 all in one controller classic game collections.

A bit wordy for the packaging and ad copy but that would be part of the charm.

Shiggy Love Child @ Mar 22nd 2006 1:15AM

Why all your names suck:

Legacy = old/obsolete/antiquated

Experience = sounds more like a concept that an actual product. (like Nintendo Enjoyment) Plus, isn't Microsoft a key funder of the Music EXPerience Project in Seattle? Too similar sounding.

Freedom = too politcally charged (negative connotations about USA)

Autuer = you expect the Wal-Mart crowd to pronounce that - The Ayootooyour?

Cameo = too feminine (The Nintendo Brooch?)

nBox = XBox, anyone? Why not name it N-PS2?

Immersion/Synergy = Nintendo isn't Dilbert-stupid

N5 = too short/meaningless

Dan Choi @ Mar 22nd 2006 1:16AM

"Why was there a jump on this article?"

Sorry about that, J.T.... it's been fixed!

Seroth @ Mar 22nd 2006 1:17AM

I've always been partial to "Nintendo 5" or "N5" for some reason. I guess it's because it would serve a reminder to all those out there that Nintendo has been in the business for a long time. 'course, the Nintendo 5 would be in comparison with the Playstation 3 this way. :

Bjorn Nitmo @ Mar 22nd 2006 1:26AM

How about NEScape?

jdubya @ Mar 22nd 2006 1:27AM

iNES

positron @ Mar 22nd 2006 1:30AM

Nintendo Entertainment System 5 Super Game Cube!!
The NES V SGC

B1gC72 @ Mar 22nd 2006 1:32AM

The NES (The Nintendo Experience System)

but i like the NE5 idea 2. its slick and catchy at the same time! lol

waffle @ Mar 22nd 2006 1:43AM

I can't wait for this...and I haven't owned a Nintendo since the SNES. err, DS. WOOT!!

Anonymous Coward @ Mar 22nd 2006 1:47AM

#3: I think you missed my point. It wasn't supposed to be serious.

Though, I was being serious re. the 'something ending or to do with "NES"' comment.

Chris @ Mar 22nd 2006 1:48AM

"We guessed back in October that the name would be Nintendo Nexus, just a matter of time, my precious, yes."

The Nexus name has been floating around since February of 2003. So, uh...helluvaguess?

Anonymous Coward @ Mar 22nd 2006 1:49AM

That should have been #33, not #3.

LiveFromPhilly @ Mar 22nd 2006 1:58AM

I hope it's N5.

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