Nintendo "Revolution" now called "Wii" [update 6]
by Vladimir Cole 
{ Apr 27th 2006 at 12:30PM }
Nintendo today announced the new name of their next-generation console, previously codenamed "Revolution." The new name is "Wii," pronounced like the word "wee."
We've copied Nintendo's hype-filled prose explaining the name-change below, in
italics:
"Introducing ... Wii. As in "we." While the code-name "Revolution" expressed our direction, Wii represents the answer. Wii will break down that wall that separates video game players from everybody else. Wii will put people more in touch with their games ... and each other. But you're probably asking: What does the name mean?"
"Wii sounds like 'we,' which emphasizes this console is for everyone. Wii can easily be remembered by people around the world, no matter what language they speak. No confusion. No need to abbreviate. Just Wii."
"Wii has a distinctive "ii" spelling that symbolizes both the unique controllers and the image of people gathering to play. And Wii, as a name and a console, brings something revolutionary to the world of video games that sets it apart from the crowd."
"So that's Wii. But now Nintendo needs you. Because, it's really not about you or me. It's about Wii. And together, Wii will change everything."
- I need a Wii now! I can't wait until this fall!
- "Mum, I finished my homework. Can I play with my Wii some more?"
- "Hey Mom, Roger's bringing his Wii over. We're going to connect his Wii to my Wii and
then we'll play all night."
- "We are the Knights who say Wii!"
- Wii Willy Winky runs through town, upstairs and downstairs in his nightgown. Knocking on the window, crying through the lock "Are the children all in bed? It’s past eight o’clock."
- "Pass me that wemote contwol pwease?" -- Elmer Fudd redux
- "Do you have any Wii in stock?" asked the customer. "Or course we do," exclaimed the clerk, "Urine GameStop!"
- When you're a kid and you wanna go "whee" but you ain't got drugs yet. [NSFW, but funny as all heck.]
Just remember, folks, nobody liked the controller when it was first unveiled either. This new name will seem as nifty, familiar and as comfortable as that silly controller once it's all said and done.
Remember, too, that you're not the audience for this console. The hardcore market is only a subsegment of the entire population of people who Nintendo hopes will become gamers, if approached in the right way with the right product.
[Update 1: added link to official announcement.]
[Update 2: added official explanation of the name]
[Update 3: added commentary]
[Update 4: Just had to get that Elmer Fudd comment in there. Nice one, Adrian.]
[Update 5: Fixed mis-attributed quote. Added another immature funny.]
[Update 6: Added the classic Gonads and Strife flash movie.]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 12)
kelekod @ Apr 27th 2006 12:35PM
Wii want Wii!
So with the name outta the way, does that mean that the release date comes at E3? or the price? or both?
Wii want to know all at E3!
gonzo @ Apr 27th 2006 12:35PM
you are joking!!!
Joe Smith @ Apr 27th 2006 12:35PM
You HAVE to be kidding.
Trev7389 @ Apr 27th 2006 12:35PM
0_0 0_o o_0 XD @_@
Eh?
Dario @ Apr 27th 2006 12:36PM
Why? I don't get it.
apoc06 @ Apr 27th 2006 12:36PM
source?
Nate @ Apr 27th 2006 12:36PM
Jesus Christ. Who thought this name was a good idea?
Szig Swooby @ Apr 27th 2006 12:36PM
Wii are not impressed...
bajanbadboy @ Apr 27th 2006 12:37PM
WE??? WTF
AJ @ Apr 27th 2006 12:37PM
Seriously?
As in "Hey, lets go play with my Wii?"? That's a name that's gotta take some balls to pull off.
Ryan Williams @ Apr 27th 2006 12:37PM
Bloody hell. It's not even a joke.
http://revolution.nintendo.com/
JodyAnthony @ Apr 27th 2006 12:37PM
insane.
Keith @ Apr 27th 2006 12:38PM
Really? Are you sure? Can I still call it the Revolution? No matter what you say, I will never call it the Wii. I will just refer to it as the console formally known as the Revolution then.
Art Guy @ Apr 27th 2006 12:38PM
This HAS to be a joke. Either that or Nintendo is actively trying to ruin it's home console business.
nupz @ Apr 27th 2006 12:38PM
I can't hold it til E3, i need a Wii RIGHT NOW!!!!
J B Cougar @ Apr 27th 2006 12:39PM
So now Ninny can go Wii Wii all over Sony?
mike @ Apr 27th 2006 12:39PM
It is as bad as the Power Nintendo Entertainment System
Or as we all know it the PNES
>_> @ Apr 27th 2006 12:39PM
"Mommy~, can I go play with my Wii-wii now?"
"Boy, get your mind outta the gutter!"
- b*tchsmack -
...Revolution am cry.
Gareth @ Apr 27th 2006 12:40PM
In the UK at least, 'wee' is what young kids call piss, so I'd guess that Nintendo didn't do much research on that name.
'Revolution' was much better.
Disappointing.
iMark @ Apr 27th 2006 12:41PM
I'm fascinated by the Revolution, and think Nintendo are going in a very interesting direction.
But c'mon, are they serious? I looked at the name and my first thought about the pronunciation was "why" as in "Dear god, Nintendo, why? Why?"
I wonder if this name is planned for all markets or whether it's Japan only. That might make a little more sense. Otherwise I think Revolution is a vastly superior name...
Jake @ Apr 27th 2006 12:41PM
It will take years for me to get to the point where I can feel comfortable calling it the Nintendo Wii in public...
joshlake @ Apr 27th 2006 12:41PM
Was "Douche" already registered by some other game company?
J B Cougar @ Apr 27th 2006 12:41PM
I take my Wii Wii comment back. It's a cool logo, so long as I dont have to say it in public.
Jose @ Apr 27th 2006 12:41PM
I thin Nexus would have been better and still have covered the whole "Nintendo community" base they're going for as well.
Rootbeer @ Apr 27th 2006 12:41PM
Oh. Em. Gee.
Dubya. Tee. Eff.
Let's hope this is the Japan-only name or something. If they go to market with this worldwide, it's going to be a worse decision than making the N64 cart-based and Virtual Boy COMBINED.
KoS_Makenshi @ Apr 27th 2006 12:42PM
*speechless
I have a headache now.
daniel @ Apr 27th 2006 12:42PM
we can only hope nintendo are gonna go back top different names for japan and the rest of the world
Hoffy @ Apr 27th 2006 12:42PM
Wii?
Did they just hire Intel's marketing department, what with all this Viiv going around?
I hope that this is just some PR stunt, that is the most awful name I've ever heard. I mean seriously, do they realize that wee can also mean pee?
jaemz @ Apr 27th 2006 12:42PM
Unusual, but it is only a name... I hope the call it 'seven' (roman numerals) and not 'we'.
I can see some of the fanboys getting called 'this little pig' as they 'cry wee, wee, wee all the way home'.
Moosey @ Apr 27th 2006 12:42PM
Well, physically, compared to the other next-gen consoles, it is wee...
Benny @ Apr 27th 2006 12:43PM
Good god. Nintendo mess up once more.
Jonathan @ Apr 27th 2006 12:43PM
"Wanna play with my Wii?"
"It is VERY motion sensitive"
"My Wii's controller is about 6 inches long, and quite responsive to touch"
And the list goes on and on...
RP @ Apr 27th 2006 12:44PM
Aestheticly, it's fantastic. It could be /very/ hard to communicate to the public though. If you have to explain how something is pronounced, you've made things very hard for yourself.
Amir @ Apr 27th 2006 12:44PM
This isn't even funny. Nintendo always has cool (or even decent) project codenames, then messes up. Ultra 64 became plain old N64. Futuristic-sounding Dolphin became StarCube (awful) then Gamecube (barely better). The amazing-sounding Revolution became... Wii. Which to everyone, including my 8-year-old sister (who I guess is now Nintendo's "non-gamer" demographic) thinks sounds like wee, or pee-pee. Wow. While Sega went from Katana to Dreamcast, you can at least see where the name came from.
It makes it embarassing just to buy it, or admit to your friends you have one. This amy sound childish, but I've been put off buying one... publicy anyway.
Paul @ Apr 27th 2006 12:45PM
Good logo, weird name. Though I expect Wii will probably get used to it in a week or two. They have to announce something like this before E3, or else the crowd would spontaneously say "What the hell?" and their heads would explode. But now by the time E3 comes they will have gotten mostly used to the name.
Wii are Nintendo. Your gameological distinctiveness will be added to our own. Resistance if futile.
Alex @ Apr 27th 2006 12:45PM
Glad to hear that in an effort to win back American fans, Nintendo went with the most feminine, Japanese-sounding name possible. Smart, guys. Really smart.
Anyway, that sound you hear is 20 million American Nintendo fans moaning out in pain at the realization that they'll have to spend (yet) another console generation being made of by every other person in America.
Odds Bodkins @ Apr 27th 2006 12:45PM
Trying for an "iPod" like branding. Revolution just sounded cooler. This stinks of trying to be hip.
I'm surprised they didn't call it "wiii" so they could have a "3" (yeah, I know it's a stretch with roman numerals) in the name along side the PS3 and 360.
kelekod @ Apr 27th 2006 12:47PM
What's so bad about the name? Like PS3 is very original in the first place. X-box 360 is a very original name too.
Wii = we = yes (in french)
brb I wanna go get a wicked yes...
nabil @ Apr 27th 2006 12:47PM
not japan-only. from their press release:
"Wii sounds like "we," which emphasizes the console is for everyone. Wii can easily be remembered by people around the world, no matter what language they speak. No confusion. No need to abbreviate. Just Wii."
Gareth @ Apr 27th 2006 12:47PM
It's not going to be a Japan-only name either. Check out the text on the site:
"Wii can easily be remembered by people around the world, no matter what language they speak. No confusion. No need to abbreviate. Just Wii."
Truly, after seeing how well they've done with the innovating controllers, the gorgeous design of the console, to then fuck it up by calling it piss will rank as one of the most stupid decisions ever.
Donald @ Apr 27th 2006 12:47PM
April Fools Day is supposed to be 4/1, not 4/27.
J B Cougar @ Apr 27th 2006 12:48PM
"It makes it embarassing just to buy it, or admit to your friends you have one. This amy sound childish, but I've been put off buying one... publicy anyway. --"
True Amir, I agree.
I'm now going to be that strange guy in the trenchcoat who gets arrested for hanging around an EB or Gamestop...
"Officer, I was just trying to buy a Wii, not abduct a child, I swear!"
Next stop: "WA -- Wii anonymous"
Vik @ Apr 27th 2006 12:48PM
When the iPod was announced did you all think apple released a giant whale egg? The name is simple, the name stands out, and the name doesn't matter the games do.
"Wii" seems to summarize Nintendo's next-gen strategy quite well, and the name is iconic like the "iPod" is today. It's universal because it's not entirely a word - it's a picture/word. Never thought there could be a combination of that before - I mean in the English language.
Paul @ Apr 27th 2006 12:49PM
They cna have a couple of different theme songs.
Wii are the champions, by Queen.
Wii will Wii will rock you.
bv @ Apr 27th 2006 12:49PM
LOLZORS@nintendo wii !
How can this be a universal, non confusing name? The entire time i thought it sounded like "why", which is exactly what i was asking myself when i read this.
MosquitoControl @ Apr 27th 2006 12:49PM
There goes any respectability amongst the "Nintendo is too kiddy" people.
Angelo @ Apr 27th 2006 12:49PM
Jesus, you people never fail to suprise me!
I think the name is fine. I'm not exactly freaking out about it, but it is different and new. I think it is kinda funny, in a good way. Nintendo Wii... interesting.
I am going to sit down with my friends before a game of Super Smash Brothers Wii and start screaming, "Wiiiiii!!!"
wildcardd @ Apr 27th 2006 12:49PM
"We are the Knights who say Wii!"
"We demand a shrubbery!"
Derbeste @ Apr 27th 2006 12:49PM
well.....all those PS and Xbox fanboys can now stop complaining that Joystiq never posts bad news about Nintendo.
I'm a Nintendo fan boy...
I've never been so embarrased.
Nintendo just Wii-ed themselves.
Princess Zelda @ Apr 27th 2006 12:50PM
I get it. It took me a few minutes but I think Nintendo wants to reinvent their console by not even associating it gaming consoles or typical names.
It's something completely different then what were use to as gamers but Wii doesn't sound any weirder for a console then iPod for an MP3 player.
The hardest Hard Core gamers are going to hate it.