Until Microsoft releases their next console, the Baby Penis.

What is with the "W" anyways? They could call it the Nii, and still get their point across with the ii. Anything other than WEEEEEE.

Nintendo Talks to IGN About Wii
Is there any chance that the system's name could change again? Don't count on it, haters.
by Matt Casamassina

April 27, 2006 - Nintendo today announced the official name of its formerly-codenamed Revolution console. It's called Wii. And if you're wondering, that's pronounced like "we." Read the full announcement and watch a teaser video here.

We recently caught up with NOA's VP of corporate affairs, Perrin Kaplan, to discuss the new name and what it means to Nintendo fans. Following, the full transcript of our interview:

IGN Wii: We're now called IGN Wii. How could you do this to us?

Perrin Kaplan: Say that again.

IGN Wii: It is pronounced like "we," right?

Perrin Kaplan: Yes, as in inclusive, you and me. So how could I do it to you?

IGN Wii: Yes. Don't you guys think about us when you do these things?

Perrin Kaplan: I think about you pretty much 24/7.

IGN: Well, of course you do.

Perrin Kaplan: Let me just tell you that if you're disrupted by it today, it's obviously caught your attention. And at the show, you're going to get to try out a lot of products that will make you happy.

IGN Wii: Revolution seemed to be a pretty cool code-name that a lot of our readers liked. Why abandon it?


Perrin Kaplan is VP of corporate affairs at NOA

Perrin Kaplan: You know, I thought it was a neat name, too, but it's not as fitting for what we're trying to do. You think about Google being an unusual name. You think about Virgin Airlines. Amazon. Napster. All those. I think it's as unique as those. They aren't just unique, but loved names for places that we all know. And I think this is more fitting and the two Is work on a bunch of different levels. It looks like two people with heads who can play, which is the inclusive nature of everybody. It looks like the controllers. So for us it looked like a couple of different levels.

IGN Wii: You have said that you're going for a name that's unique, like Google. But Wii is also used as "we" every day and therefore only unique in spelling. Do you think there is a risk of confusing potential buyers with a title like this?

Perrin Kaplan: I think it's really fun to look at, the logo. I think people are going to see that on the box and our package art. I think people will get it straight after a while - it's just something they're going to have to get used to.

IGN Wii: Was the name decided on out of Japan or was it a global decision by Nintendo?

Perrin Kaplan: It's a global name. As most things at Nintendo are done, it was not done by any individual. It was really a team effort.

IGN Wii: How long have you known about the new name?

Perrin Kaplan: Well, let me see. We've been working on a name for a good year and have had this one in mind for some time.

IGN Wii: Simplicity seems to be part of the reasoning behind the new name. Why not just spell it "We" then?

Perrin Kaplan: I think that there's a really strong visual to it by having it symbolize the controllers and symbolize people. And, as you pronounce it, the Wii does stand for that whole worldwide inclusion of players. So you get both out of it.

IGN Wii: The logo and the video teaser you put out seem to stress the plurality of the name. What message can we take away from that?

Perrin Kaplan: I think it's just a reminder that the system can be played individually or be played by a lot of people. It is for people of all sized and shapes. It's really a system for everybody. It's a system for the core gamers. It's a system for the people who are just going to be re-entering gaming. I think that's what people can get from it.

IGN Wii: Why announce the final name now and not at E3 2006?

Perrin Kaplan: Why are we doing it now? Well, let me just say that if you look at how much time people have spent online talking about it today and paying attention to it today, it really, I think, required that kind of attention and seeping in for people to let it settle a little bit. It would be really, really easy to lose that at the show. Also, I think it's important for us to go into the show with people knowing what we're talking about.

IGN Wii: Some overzealous readers have created some truly phallic Wii designs. We e-mailed you several of them, as you saw. Any plans to use any of these brilliant materials in your official marketing plans?

Perrin Kaplan: What a nice way of asking that question! We actually have had a day of a lot of smiles around here with a variety of things that fans have created, let me just say that. It shows you that people are big fans of Nintendo.

IGN Wii: Do you think it will come as a shock to some of the Nintendo leaders back in Japan to see some of these fan-created Wii graphics?

Perrin Kaplan: Well, they might have to find those themselves.

IGN Wii: Some fans have already started petitions in hopes of somehow convincing Nintendo to change the name. Any message for these people?

Perrin Kaplan: Live with it, sleep with it, eat with it, move along with it and hopefully they'll arrive at the same place.

IGN: So will Wii be your focus at E3, or will DS have its place, too?

Perrin Kaplan: We're going to be focusing on both, as you probably know. We know people are really interested in hearing about the new system so we will obviously be having a big portion of our focus on it.

I Like Playing With My Wii


When I've had a long day at work, there's nothing I enjoy more than coming home to play with my Wii. Sitting on the couch, relaxing, and working my Wii with both hands is just great. Sometimes I get so into it I just waste the whole night until my wrists get so tired I can barely jerk my Wii-mote.

It's even better when my girlfriend comes over and plays with my Wii too. She's pretty good at games, but she'll never be able to match my skill at playing with my Wii. Once she even brought a friend over and they both played with my Wii, it was great!

My Wii is pretty much my favorite thing in the world. If I ever lost my Wii, I think I would probably just kill myself. It's smart to be really careful with your Wii if you let a lot of strangers play with it. I'm pretty jealous of Bozon and Matt now, they're going to get paid to play with their Wiis all day long.

So, what does Wee mean in different languages, anyway? In America, "penis", or "piss".

In Scottland, "small".

England: "Piss".


The name MUST change. I don't think Nintendo realized it meant piss or penis.

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=we

1. Used by the speaker or writer to indicate the speaker or writer along with another or others as the subject.

2. Used to refer to people in general, including the speaker or writer.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=wee

1) British term used by parents to small children when talking about urinating.

2) Term used by Scottish people to describe something that is small.

3) Used to describe various animal noises.

1) "Mommy, i'm just going to go for a wee!"

2) "Aye, thats a wee penis ya' got there."

3) .. "Wee!"


http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=we
we

A racist term refering to french people. Much like Krout, W.O.P, ********** or beaner.

"He's a damn we!"
or
"Those fuckin wes are always tryin to step to us!"

You can make any word "mean" something else.

Take for example Tea Bag. I think Tazo Tea should change the name because it means a sexual act.

Banana Hammock - I have one to hold my bananas off the counter, but they should change the name because to some it means ball hugging underwear.

Give me a break, the marketeers did their job perfectly here. The world is in turmoil because of the name (which makes good buzz), and the name takes on the philosophy of the system which I think is fantastic. Who gives a shit about PS3 (real original) or Xbox 360 (WTF does the 360 have to do with it anyway) or Turbo Graphix 16. None of those names mean jack...Wii at least has something behind it.

I've never heard the word "We" used to describe a penis or piss. I've heard "Wee-Wee", but never by anyone over the age of 2.

but they're trying to expand the market to non-gamers. If you hear Nintendo WEE, you'll be embarassed and not buy the thing. Hell, i'd be embarassed talking about it. They could have incorporated the "ii" in some other way.

No I won't be embarrassed. Maybe if it was called the Nintendo "I have a raging case of hemoroids" then yes, but Wii?

Do people laugh when you talk about things like:
"So what did you do last night?"
"Well, we (snicker) went out for dinner then we (snicker snicker) went to the theater."

I didn't think so.

OMG, your penis went out to dinner and then you urinated on a theater!?

"wee wee wee" -- I believe that's the noise pigs make in fairy tales

I think you'll be surprised how much casual market appeal this thing has. Playstation and Xbox are really selling to gamers on the strength of their technology, and the Wii seems designed from the ground up to appeal to a broader market on the strength of its design. Nintendo has had a lot of success in selling the DS to people who don't normally play games on the strength of stuff like Nintendogs and Brain Age.

Wii makes a lot of sense as a name when you recognize that Nintendo is trying to brand this as a hip lifestyle device, and is trying to avoid a name that is geeky, gamerish, or for that matter, gendered. The associations we have with something like an iPod, or for that matter, an XBox or a Target store don't come intrinsically from anything affiliated with the name, but from the marketing and the promotion efforts that are attached to the brand. I think they're in a good position to sell this thing as high-tech cool, or indie/hipster edgy or both, and there's plenty to work with.

I don't see how this is that much worse than Game Boy, DS, Gamecube, Xbox or Playstation. I thought the "Touching is Good" campaign for the DS was excellent, and I'm sure Nintendo's marketing team was consulted on this name.

I can just imagine the theme song:

If you change your mind, I'm the first in line
Honey I'm still free
Take a chance on Wii
If you need me, let me know, gonna be around
If you've got no place to go, if you're feeling down
If you're all alone when the pretty birds have flown
Honey I'm still free
Take a chance on Wii

This thread has now achieved legendary status!
I vote to make it a sticky!! When else has ABBA been used in a videogame thread. Classic.

I think I've finally come around to liking the name. Nintendo knows what they're doing. I mean they made the Gamecube look like a purple purse and look what that buzz did for it. They have their finger on the pulse.

ps. It may still play well and have really innovative games but seriously guys: Wii... Wii? WTF??!?!?? Sounds like you're saying Nintendoughy when you say Nintendo Wii. Spongy Nintendo? Honestly. I can't figure this out. It's beyond me. I am getting my MBA in marketing so maybe I'll understand one day. Buzz is one thing but polarizing buzz is quite another.

N-Wii - sounds African.

You guys have got it all wrong. Nintendo is going to dominate the U.S. market with Wii. They're going to use the sex angle.

http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/9593/wii35cx.gif

Saw it on another gaming forum.

They could've at least added another "i" so "Wiii" would show up in the search on this forum

Wow, I don't really know what to say. I hate it. It is unique. Maybe it will be a good buzz word. But, I hate it.

I think it was a dumb decision on Nintendo's part. If hardcore gamers don't like it and don't know what the hell it stands for, casual gamers and consumers aren't going to have a clue. It will just confuse them.

I think Nintendos problem is much like Sega's. They need to pick one basic name for all of their systems, instead of giving each new console a new name. Microsoft and Sony are establishing a brand name with Xbox and PLaystation. Nintendo isn't because they can't build up a name if they keep changing console names.

And they are the only ones making any real money, how stupid can they continue to be! I totally agree with you, until Nintendo learns to throw nearly 5 billion dollars in the whole with their consoles they will never succeed.

"This is a really nice carrying case."


"Yeah, you put your Wii in it."

Oh well, it's a dumb name, yes.

But anybody who was planning on purchasing one beforehand and now won't because of the name is an idiot.