Nintendo Gets Weird
Nintendo goes 'Wii' ... (not a typo)
As company strives to appeal to mass audience, the Revolution gets renamed: Gamers scream: Why!
The article I chose to blog on this week is about Nintendo’s new game console having a name-change. For quite some time now, Nintendo had codenamed their new, yet to be release, console, the Revolution. The name symbolized what Nintendo is planning on doing in the video game industry – starting a revolution in the way people play and enjoy video games. The new system loses the traditional controllers that need two hands to operate. Instead, the new console will incorporate remote controls for players to use. At first glance, it seems nearly impossible to play a video game with a controller right? I mean, how are you going to make T.O. run a hot route for a long bomb in a game of Madden without two hands? Apparently the new controllers will actually translate wrist and hand movements into the games…sounds pretty crazy to me. On the bright side, drinking and playing video games will be much easier with one free hand. Ok, enough background info about Nintendo’s overall plan for their new game console.
I guess changing the way play people play a video game wasn’t enough for the people at Nintendo. They went a step further when they renamed the Revolution to the Wii. The name is pronounced like “we”. There is good reasoning behind the change in the name that I definitely agree with. The purpose for the strange name was to make it appealing to people around the world, not just Americans. Wii can be interpreted in one way, Wii. That’s the point though… as information and technology bring people around the globe together, there will be times when we need to standardize things across different countries. The Toyota website we saw in class is a perfect example of this. A user can view the website in a number of different languages so everyone has a chance to read it. Nintendo made one name that could appeal to anyone, anywhere.So far, gaming forums such as IGN.com and Gamespot.com have made a negative uproar. One person dubbed the Wii the “Worst console name ever.” Nintendo is not worried though, they say other companies started out with weird names before they became popular. You might have heard of some of them… Google, Yahoo, and Napster to name a few. People just need to give the name change some time to set in.
Pictures from CNN.com
posted by Jeff at 2:42 PM
2 Comments:
Jeff,
To be honest with you, this new gaming system looks like it is very difficult to use. Maybe it is because I don’t play video games, but it really looks hard!! I guess once you learn how to use it, it is easier. I think it is definitely a plus not having wires because then you don’t have to sit within “wire-distance” from the TV. I also think that Nintendo’s name change was a really good idea like you said. They chose a global name that can appeal to more consumers than just us Americans. I think it will take time for consumers to catch on to it, but like you said, Google was one of those “weird” words, that is now almost a word in the dictionary, it is used so often!
April 28, 2006
Wii. more like Why?! Although they thought to make the name easy to use throughout international markets, it creates doubt and question in an English speaking consumer's mind when they pronounce it as "why." I don’t think the name is appropriate for a new product that is trying to create a revolutionary reputation throughout the world. Also, in a time of rapidly changing technologies, and the release of new video gaming systems on a yearly basis. Don't you think people would like something to stay the same, and not have EVERYTHING change with technology? I can understand the actual system styles changing, and the graphics and things offered by the product changing; however, no one has really ever made the transition to changing the WHOLE image of the product; including the controller. I am not sure this product will catch on because it might just be TOO much change for consumers to handle.
May 03, 2006
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