| Nintendo Wii: Lame Name, No Game | Today's Top Stories | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
Page 1 of 3 (Column) - Nintendo recently announced its decision to change the official name of its next-generation gaming console from Revolution to Wii. I believe I speak for a lot of Nintendo admirers when I question the purpose of the name. What exactly is Nintendo trying to accomplish with something as absurdly lame as Wii? Nintendo representatives have made a lot of enlightening (read: questionable) comments in regards to the name change, and CNET Australia appears to have a good summary of the company’s ideas. Allow me to analyze those comments below: In a statement, Nintendo said "while the code-name "Revolution" expressed our direction, Wii represents the answer". What direction? To release a next-generation device? If so, how exactly does Wii represents that answer? Wii, a substandard name, is confusing and vague at best. All it does is confuses people with an off-the-wall name. Revolution, on the opposite end, was encouraging and sounded as though Nintendo had truly come up with a revolutionary product. Wii, as a name, is clearly a disappointment to the gaming community. "Wii will break down that wall that separates video game players from everybody else." That has absolutely nothing to do with Wii. Wasn’t that the concept of Wii from the beginning? Even Nintendo has to resort to haphazard claims to justify an unnecessary name change that would’ve otherwise benefited the company. Nintendo said the name was chosen to emphasise the message that its upcoming console was for everyone. So Revolution, as a name, challenged that theory? As long as the company continues to define it as a gaming console, it’s looking at considerably low customer count that’s actually going to purchase Wii as an entertainment median. "Wii can easily be remembered by people around the world, no matter what language they speak. No confusion. No need to abbreviate. Just Wii," the Nintendo statement said. "Wii has a distinctive 'ii' spelling that symbolises both the unique controllers and the image of people gathering to play. Is it me or does Nintendo need to express more valid and appropriate reasons to rationalize such a drastic move? A name is a name, regardless the language. People will remember it either way. The company depicts no sign of market research (which I’m sure it has done, since its representatives are so sure in making the aforementioned statements) to quantify those claims. Consumers anywhere won’t have a troubling time remembering any console names, whether it’s Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 or Revolution. Personally, I would have a difficult time comprehending someone if they mentioned Wii randomly. Wii, at least to me, is another name for confusion. As far as symbolism is concerned, it would be in Nintendo’s best interest to not play the literary game with console names. I seriously doubt anyone would spend the time to analyze and inspire from a console name. Revolution defined the unique controllers and whatever image Nintendo was attempting to portray perfectly fine. Additionally, there’s something called marketing, which Nintendo would need to invest in to create the image it want people to perceive. |
|
|
| Article Tools | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
||||
Email this article
