1st May 2006, 8:24 AM
Well not only did they say they would reveal more info about the logo and what it means at E3, but also the marketing campaign as well.
There's a number of people who 'get it' and many do not. At E3 Nintendo should give the did nots a better understanding.
I'll try to explain it:
1.) Revolution is very hard to pronounce for the japanese (some japanese have said it's actually impossible, and it ends up being 're-ra buh shon') the E sound in Japanese actually means 'happy'. The Japanese pronounce Wii as 'ooeee' which translates to a sound you would make when happy. (just as english say "weeeee!")
2.) Nintendo's logo's have always been deep and meaningful - Wii is no different. We know the i's represent controlers, and the word means a united We as in the global wi-fi network, and in that it's for everyone. But more is to be revealed, like what the W means and what the campaign is going to be.
3.) It's not only taking a page from Apple, but also it's looking at all types of products that have invaded our language, Mp3, TiVo, wi-fi, dolby and services like all the misspelled symbolic names such as DirecTV, U-Watch, i-control, etc. No one raises an eyebrow when you're watching Fox news or E!, VH1, etc. it's everywhere, weird names I mean. When crusader and I were in college we worried about our loan from Fannie Mae. TiVo's a great example - most people will not understand what a digital recorder is, but tell them it's a TiVo and they understand, even if its a different product. The salesman will say it's 'like TiVo' because consumers have latched on to that phrase whether they like it or not. And i guarantee you that if you would have asked people ears ago if they would buy a digital recorder called 'TiVo' they would have said no.
4.) speaking of television channels there is actually a channel called WE (stands for women's entertainment) and is made by Lifetime networks. When you're watching WE you hear 'Tonight on WE, exclusive to WE, dont miss We's next episode of whatever" and it sounds completely natural, and even, dare i say it, good. Imagine the context of things - 'First videos of Mario 128! Wiiiiiiii! - third party CEO talks Wii support, describes himself as Wiiner *zing!* - Turok: Snowball in Hell exclusive to Wii! - Wii want Pikmin 3! - Walmart press release suggest Wii has sold out; Houston Wii have a problem." and it's going to work beautifully, puns and all.
5.) Most of the upset around the name comes from fans who dont want to be labled as idiots and they want a name that sounds like death incarnate that sounds as overbearing and ecllectic as competitors, names that make people think of power such as 'XBox 360' which in reality, means absolutely nothing and doesn't even make sense. Revolution brought a sense of power, of overtaking, destroying oppresive regimes or thinking, etc and it only made sense to Nintendo fans who follow the politics of the industry. The same people who wanted to name the GC the Pheonix or the Babylon or other goofey things that give the console a name of uprising and power. But to anyone who hasn't been privy to Nintendo's fall from the number 1 spot or its politics will not attach any meaning to such names and then they become rediculously overpowering and eventually useless. Wii is central, symbolic and it's cute, fun to say. it's inviting "Say Hello to iMac" - 'TiVo will make your life easier!" etc etc. inviting instead of threatening; perfect for going after the 50% of the population of earth that do not play video games, especially since all other the other names have been proven to fail in that area. ever heard a non gameplayer ask for something in the store? 'I Need that Mario Racing for the Play Station 64 thing" - not working. If my dad knows what a TiVo is, he'll remember Wii.
6.) the french and french canadians are making puns about the word Yes. 'Yes i want a yes", while the dutch, germans and nordic territories have no word like Wii so it only means what nintendo is saying to them. london and the UK are having the biggest problem because 'wee' instantly makes UK'rs think of peeing. for americans, it's a word we would use to children or babies about peeing, but in the UK its used in common language. So a definite problem there... you'd think. The UK is well known for having goofey names with goofier syntaxt or context for just about everything and its almost always bathroom humor, so it fits right in. :D i can already see UKers making the 'lets go wii' announcements, but they also use wee in common language to explain small, wich the Wii is. 'It's so Wii! - it's not the size of your Wii that counts!' etc.
Wii is essentially, a side from gaming, becoming a household name and will be a conversation piece. Something that verbally brings people together to have fun with, which is litteraly happening now in what has become arguably the most talked of console in history. If it can achieve the same level of TiVo; Wii already won.
On a side note,
There's a number of people who 'get it' and many do not. At E3 Nintendo should give the did nots a better understanding.
I'll try to explain it:
1.) Revolution is very hard to pronounce for the japanese (some japanese have said it's actually impossible, and it ends up being 're-ra buh shon') the E sound in Japanese actually means 'happy'. The Japanese pronounce Wii as 'ooeee' which translates to a sound you would make when happy. (just as english say "weeeee!")
2.) Nintendo's logo's have always been deep and meaningful - Wii is no different. We know the i's represent controlers, and the word means a united We as in the global wi-fi network, and in that it's for everyone. But more is to be revealed, like what the W means and what the campaign is going to be.
3.) It's not only taking a page from Apple, but also it's looking at all types of products that have invaded our language, Mp3, TiVo, wi-fi, dolby and services like all the misspelled symbolic names such as DirecTV, U-Watch, i-control, etc. No one raises an eyebrow when you're watching Fox news or E!, VH1, etc. it's everywhere, weird names I mean. When crusader and I were in college we worried about our loan from Fannie Mae. TiVo's a great example - most people will not understand what a digital recorder is, but tell them it's a TiVo and they understand, even if its a different product. The salesman will say it's 'like TiVo' because consumers have latched on to that phrase whether they like it or not. And i guarantee you that if you would have asked people ears ago if they would buy a digital recorder called 'TiVo' they would have said no.
4.) speaking of television channels there is actually a channel called WE (stands for women's entertainment) and is made by Lifetime networks. When you're watching WE you hear 'Tonight on WE, exclusive to WE, dont miss We's next episode of whatever" and it sounds completely natural, and even, dare i say it, good. Imagine the context of things - 'First videos of Mario 128! Wiiiiiiii! - third party CEO talks Wii support, describes himself as Wiiner *zing!* - Turok: Snowball in Hell exclusive to Wii! - Wii want Pikmin 3! - Walmart press release suggest Wii has sold out; Houston Wii have a problem." and it's going to work beautifully, puns and all.
5.) Most of the upset around the name comes from fans who dont want to be labled as idiots and they want a name that sounds like death incarnate that sounds as overbearing and ecllectic as competitors, names that make people think of power such as 'XBox 360' which in reality, means absolutely nothing and doesn't even make sense. Revolution brought a sense of power, of overtaking, destroying oppresive regimes or thinking, etc and it only made sense to Nintendo fans who follow the politics of the industry. The same people who wanted to name the GC the Pheonix or the Babylon or other goofey things that give the console a name of uprising and power. But to anyone who hasn't been privy to Nintendo's fall from the number 1 spot or its politics will not attach any meaning to such names and then they become rediculously overpowering and eventually useless. Wii is central, symbolic and it's cute, fun to say. it's inviting "Say Hello to iMac" - 'TiVo will make your life easier!" etc etc. inviting instead of threatening; perfect for going after the 50% of the population of earth that do not play video games, especially since all other the other names have been proven to fail in that area. ever heard a non gameplayer ask for something in the store? 'I Need that Mario Racing for the Play Station 64 thing" - not working. If my dad knows what a TiVo is, he'll remember Wii.
6.) the french and french canadians are making puns about the word Yes. 'Yes i want a yes", while the dutch, germans and nordic territories have no word like Wii so it only means what nintendo is saying to them. london and the UK are having the biggest problem because 'wee' instantly makes UK'rs think of peeing. for americans, it's a word we would use to children or babies about peeing, but in the UK its used in common language. So a definite problem there... you'd think. The UK is well known for having goofey names with goofier syntaxt or context for just about everything and its almost always bathroom humor, so it fits right in. :D i can already see UKers making the 'lets go wii' announcements, but they also use wee in common language to explain small, wich the Wii is. 'It's so Wii! - it's not the size of your Wii that counts!' etc.
Wii is essentially, a side from gaming, becoming a household name and will be a conversation piece. Something that verbally brings people together to have fun with, which is litteraly happening now in what has become arguably the most talked of console in history. If it can achieve the same level of TiVo; Wii already won.
On a side note,