Nintendo is considering changing the name of its next-generation console, Wii U, sources close to the platform holder have suggested.
Public confusion over the Nintendo 3DS has forced the platform holder to roll out bold red box stickers to differentiate the similarly-named system from the original DS, and it even enforced the TV tagline 'This is not DS. This is Nintendo 3DS.'
It's been indicated that Nintendo is keen not to repeat the same mistakes with its next-generation home console, and we're told a change of name is a real possibility - especially after president Satoru Iwata told investors Wii U needs to learn "a bitter lesson" from 3DS and public confusion over its features.
Nintendo showed off the Wii U for the first time at E3 2011, which resulted in its share price dropping to a five year low.
A strong focus on Wii U's new controller with a screen - first revealed by CVG - and barely a glimpse of the console itself left some consumers bemused as to what the Wii U was, and Iwata confessed the company should have better explained how it works.
He said following E3: "Because we put so much emphasis on the controller, there appeared to be some misunderstandings. We should have made more effort to explain how it works.
"We haven't made any kind of blunder, but I should have shown a single picture of the new console, then started talking about the controller. The console is not drastically different, and Wii U is about the controller. The console itself will be almost invisible."
Comments
75 comments so far...
bigste26 on 26 Jan '12 said:
if it is going to stream then call it nintendo stream
rbt2 on 26 Jan '12 said:
I've said it before and I'll say it again. They must call it Nintendo Turbo Nutter Bastard.
Sentinator on 26 Jan '12 said:
Its actually not a bad idea. Re-branding 3DS at this point is a bad idea considering its finally caught on. But Wii U has yet to launch and launching it with the name U in the title may confuse casuals. They may drop the Wii name altogether for all wii know.
Felly117 on 26 Jan '12 said:
Call it a "coolio Z cube 12.0 killabot" that'll bring back the hardcore gamers
Mmmmgrolsch on 26 Jan '12 said:
'Wii U' is the worst name ever, surely they must have been embarresed to call it that? Anyway they really should give it a whole new name, doubt anyone wants a new 'wii' anything.
lordirongut on 26 Jan '12 said:
Good! It was a bloody terrible name!
toaplan on 26 Jan '12 said:
Yes, they should rebrand it. "Wii U" would be the worst name for a console since the Apple "Pippin". Nintendo "Stream" would be somewhat better... Nintendo Tab? Well, it's not so easy to come up with a name for an unusual new console.
But a clear break with the "Wii" brand would be my recommendation. If Capcom's Ono could decide, it would be called the "Nintendo 6 Alpha Turbo Arcade 3D edition Plus"
razors edge on 26 Jan '12 said:
Call it Wii Wii Revolution.
Legendeer on 26 Jan '12 said:
How about a 'Wii've run out of inspiration'?
ste hicky on 26 Jan '12 said:
I imagine it'll be Wii 2.
PS, PS2 and PS3 didn't harm the Playstation brand. (well 2 outta 3 aint bad
)
Mmmmgrolsch on 26 Jan '12 said:
I know what you're saying. But the Wii and Wii-U is more aimed at the casuals and a much bigger range. I just think they will get the casuals attention by calling it something else, so that it seems like something new (which it is)
a3HeadedMonkey on 26 Jan '12 said:
I'm down with "coolio Z cube 12.0 killabot". In fact I already want one!
Dalaeck on 26 Jan '12 said:
Ultra nintendo entertainment system. U-NES. Done.
TechnoWolf on 26 Jan '12 said:
I really hope this is true, Wii U is a terrible name and Nintendo should feel ashamed for coming up with that name in the first place.
roland82 on 26 Jan '12 said:
very nice, 2 for the price of 1.
Tao on 26 Jan '12 said:
Even better, to tie it in with the previous console, how about "Nintendo Wii Stream"?
ste hicky on 26 Jan '12 said:
You're probably right man but I just can't see them letting the Wii brand go so lightly when they've just won this gen and are approaching 100 million consoles sold.
Ipod, Xbox, Playstation...all established brands and i wouldn't be surprised if a possible rename comes down to adding a number.
Sentinator on 26 Jan '12 said:
The thing is putting U in the name could cause confusion. Some people were already confused as it is. I remember someone saying he thought it was a controller for Wii. Adding the number 2 behind it makes it easier to tell. The idea is its supposed to be a wii for you but putting the definition behind the name isn't always a good idea as 3DS has proven.
Perhaps Wii Tu would suffice
TheCrimsonFenix on 26 Jan '12 said:
Stream? Doesn't come off too well after Wii.
DoomGuy84 on 26 Jan '12 said:
Nintendo 6 - its their sixth console.
lordirongut on 26 Jan '12 said:
The thing is that with those people are looking out for the PlayStation and Xbox brand, rather than the Sony or Microsoft brand. With Nintendo it's a bit different - people look for the Nintendo brand rather than the specific console name. People look forward to a new Nintendo console, but they look forward to PlayStation and Xbox consoles from Sony and Microsoft. At least that's how it always seems to me, when I look through forums.
Izo on 26 Jan '12 said:
It's a re-branding so the Wii name could be dropped altogether, Nintendo have highlighted they want the company name to be the brand much like how Apple is for gadgets at the moment I don't think they want to go the Playstation route and stick to a name throughout. Making the company name the brand also makes sense in that each console can be named closer to their concept and approach without relying too much on the predecessors name.
Metatasian on 26 Jan '12 said:
They should call it the "Wee-Yoo"
lordirongut on 26 Jan '12 said:
Maybe the should call it the 'Poo' since it's number 2 while the Wii was number one!
RustySpoon80 on 26 Jan '12 said:
Ahh, the good old Ultra 64. Those were the days.
Nintendo's problem is that there main market are the casuals who seem to get confused easily with techy stuff. I'd imagine everyone on here will realise that the Wii-U is a new console. While little Johnny's parents wont. They should at least change the look of the console from that of the Wii, even just the colour.
I do expect the PS4 to be called something different as the Vita is. Not sure what MS will do with the xbox720.
Padua on 26 Jan '12 said:
I think if Miyamoto dressed up as puppet and called it : Thunder bird 2 it would have gone down better than "Wii U"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brains_(Thunderbirds)
rbt2 on 26 Jan '12 said:
How about Extreme Universal Nintendo Ultimate Conlsole Home System?
Or Eunuchs for short.
So to speak.
Balladeer on 26 Jan '12 said:
After MK7, it's possible! But probably not.
Like most others, I'm not that keen on the WiiU, although it doesn't make a lot of difference for me. As the console seems to be moving away from families and back towards the so-called "hardcore" (throws up slightly in mouth), they might be better of abandoning the Wii name. Put 'game' in it, that'll work. The Nintendo Gamebox? Nintendo Game-o-tron? Nintendo Gamen?
Wait no. Not the last one.
Izo on 26 Jan '12 said:
Actually I think that's a misconception it's moving to the cores tbh with a concept of Wii U (Wii specific personal experience for you) I think the idea was more to nurture the new market into more mature gamers, the approach just happened to suit the so called core group as well, the latter are a shrinking minority so Nintendo would never shift focus solely to them, they're probably considered once everything else is sorted.
sniper789 on 26 Jan '12 said:
They should call it the PNES
(Powerful Nintendo Entertainment System)
MD1500 on 26 Jan '12 said:
But calling it Wii 2 would mean the console is called the "Wii ii"
TheLastDodo on 26 Jan '12 said:
Tomato or Brown.
rip_it_up on 26 Jan '12 said:
Wii-ds
As in not as strong as the other next gen systems lol
rbt2 on 26 Jan '12 said:
Nintendo Ultra Tablet System.
Nuts for short.
SavageEvil on 26 Jan '12 said:
Oh man some funny stuff in here, "PNES" made me chuckle. Nintendo will probably call it something close to Wii as it has clearly made itself a household name already with ridiculous sales numbers and soft visual styling. Wii 2 would make it instantly recognizable as an upgrade just like iPhone 3, 3G, 3GS, 4, 4S... Now Wii2 could be styled as W ii with the ii in a circle or something to show that it's more than just the Wii but the W_ii. They can play around with it but they can't drop the Wii from the name as it is too far adopted and casuals will be looking for that identity when the new one comes out. Trust me I hear people talk about the Wii, and I mean older adults and people who have no idea the difference between the PS3 and Xbox 360, or what they are. Wii has a presence with casuals that PS3 or 360 have, and Nintendo would be crazy to mess with that right now. Play off the strength of the former, and Wii must be in the title name. Make sure it's backwards compatible from the start and that doesn't fade away into obscurity, keep the aesthetics. I do believe that the Wii U is compatible with the Wii controllers as well is it not?
Barry316 on 26 Jan '12 said:
The Shabba. Because it feels good to shout for absolutely no reason.
Shabba.
See.
coldburner on 26 Jan '12 said:
Nintendo Sii U Later
charliecheswick on 26 Jan '12 said:
Yep,agree with all of that. Gotta be Wii 2,Super Wii or summat. RBT has sorted out my gamer-tag for the new console anyway,cheers!
ShadowAviation on 26 Jan '12 said:
Probably for the best: Wii U just didn't feel too Nintendoey (it's a word now, isn't it?). Still wouldn't way no to the Regginator as a name...
Sentinator on 26 Jan '12 said:
The fact that most of us are taking the mic here proves that although we have gotten used to the Wii name (and it may have just sunk in to some of our heads) its still a bad name. Even given the chance that the Wii name will go away (don't ecpect it to) we take a p*** all over it again. It is possible they will drop the Wii name but like some have said its sold 94 million (or something like that). So it is a big brand.
Great names btw guys Wii ii, PNES, U-NES, Wii've run out of inspiration, killabot
Do note though, this is only under consideration. Nothing may happen at all. But it is ideal. Its nice to see Nintendo thinking things from all angles here. E3 cannot come soon enough.
ste hicky on 26 Jan '12 said:
Someone on GAF nailed it : Nintendo U.
Done.
wiihead on 26 Jan '12 said:
maybe wiid, iam such a wiihead for posting this
Cinaclov on 26 Jan '12 said:
Wii Stream... *giggles*
Cazy008 on 26 Jan '12 said:
I KNEW IT!!! I'V BEEN SAYING IT ALL ALONG!!! THEY WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY CHANGE THE NAME AFTER 3DS CONFUSION! ALSO, I RATE A COLOUR CHANGE WILL BE ANNOUNCED..Silver anyone?
..Just call me Pach
.
lordirongut on 26 Jan '12 said:
They need to make a red WiiU. Red things are three times as powerful.
V4.SKUNK on 26 Jan '12 said:
It should be called Nintendo entertainment system.
Fr33Kye on 26 Jan '12 said:
While that is a well known fact, i think a light blue or teal would work for the wiiu or whatever they call it.
MD1500 on 26 Jan '12 said:
I think it will be white, simply because all the old Wii peripherals are white, and of course the Wiiquel will work with them.
StonecoldMC on 27 Jan '12 said:
Well, that's Comments of the Week sorted.
Cheers guys.
vitorfernandes83 on 27 Jan '12 said:
I am very sure it will have Wii on the name, I'm betting on it, seeing as it was such a popular console, having Wii 2 ou Wii U or anything with Wii guarantees sells, just like the ps3, if it wasnt for the sucess of the ps2, the ps3 would have been a flop. People don't understand the power of a name. Many casual players wont even care for the specs or games, as long as its a new Wii they'll buy it.
Cogglesz on 27 Jan '12 said:
Suppose its pretty likely, now that i think of it, the N64 was the Ultra 64 originally, then i'm pretty confident the gamecube had another name before (dolphin or something?) and the wii was the Revolution.
Barca Azul on 27 Jan '12 said:
The average joe probably doesn't know the difference between the DS and the 3DS. They tried to be too clever with the accromins.
The Wii U on the other hand just sounds crap and they probably realised this.
flash501 on 27 Jan '12 said:
People today love soppy s**te so I think they should call it the "Wii-wuv-U"!
And it should be in the shape of a loveheart.
And Pink.
SpandexArmstrong on 27 Jan '12 said:
The only sources I trust are tomato & sweet chilli;)
cmr333 on 27 Jan '12 said:
If they re-brand the wii U, they might as well change the design otherwise casual gamers who don't watch E3 will go to the store and say "oh look here's a company making fake rip-off against wii"
Either let it stay with Wii U or changed both name and design otherwise changing the name it self is going to make it worse.
TOKEN on 27 Jan '12 said:
Wii 2 is better to understand for cazzys than wii u
starsail on 27 Jan '12 said:
The name of a next gen Nintendo system set to rival Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3? I was thinking along the lines of a Wii Bit2late
racxie on 27 Jan '12 said:
This just shows how stupid the general public is. I didn't know anyone who had a problem differentiating all of the different types of GameBoys: GameBoy, GameBoy Pocket, GameBoy Colour, GameBoy Advance, GameBoy Advance SP, GameBoy Advance Micro... but then the idiots jump on-board and are like "DS and 3DS, what's the difference?
". Sometimes I wish gaming was kept as being unsociably acceptable, at least then people left us gamers alone.
toaplan on 27 Jan '12 said:
A few more suggestions (borrowed from another forum): Super Wii, Nintendo Fusion, the Wiivolution, Wii don't-know-what-to-call-this, Wii get-ready-for-Ds-ports...
Nitramuse on 27 Jan '12 said:
Ultra Nintendo Entertainment Systems -or the UNES- was the codename of the N64.
spunwicked on 27 Jan '12 said:
How about the...
Nintendo Mega Shizzle Wii-zle Bizzle Ultrathrasher 6000 Premium Deluxe GT-S
MPH on 27 Jan '12 said:
U Wii... don't you?
Hey Pablo on 27 Jan '12 said:
How about 'Wii Stream'
wuntuwuntu on 27 Jan '12 said:
Gets my vote!
Laughlyn on 27 Jan '12 said:
Call it Wii Tab, then when it gets to its 9th version it'll sound lik a breakfast cereal (thiiink about it!)
I know nintendo wanted teh Wii U to mean that the wii meant We can play together and Wii U was supposed to represtent We and U can play but Wii2 would work as well as in We too can play together.
MD1500 on 27 Jan '12 said:
Turn the logo upside down and call it the
n!!M
nintendo !! Machine
xxx128 on 27 Jan '12 said:
Quite seriously all this playstation 1,2,3,4 and xbox & xbox360 sounds like bs to me. The only thing "these" companies do by that is to broadcast "we lack creativity" in bold neon letters.
MattCarterWA on 27 Jan '12 said:
I'd like them to just call it the Wii 2. There's a tad bit of audible difference between U and 2, but they communicate different levels of clarity. Plus, I feel like someone got paid too much money to think of adding a U to the end of Wii.
Nitramuse on 28 Jan '12 said:
This gets my vote.
mrlister on 29 Jan '12 said:
I'd like them to call the screen controller the Wii U, and the console the Nintendo. And make it pale grey. But they won't. They'll probably call it the Wii 2 or the Wii HD, or if worst comes to the worst they'll fanny about a lot and then call it Wii U after all. The fact that it seems to use Wii remotes and looks exactly like a Wii suggests they'll keep the Wii branding in there anyway. I actually don't care what they call it. No console will ever have a worse name than Wii, and I got used to that years ago.
Dapz on 29 Jan '12 said:
I hope they do, it's a stupid name on so many levels. It feels weird to say, 'We, you' just doesn't mean anything, and it opens the door for more of those stupid toilet jokes everyone was making around 2006 like 'Wii poo
' or 'Gonna Wii on U.'
razors edge on 29 Jan '12 said:
Release it in Germany and call it: Wee?OOOOOOhyahdasistgutBABY!
sepewrath on 29 Jan '12 said:
I couldn't care less what its call, why that matters anyone, I do not know. I mean its not like game consoles are exactly known for having good names anyway. Their either lame in an attempt to be cool like Jaguar or XBOX. Or they sound like a Fisher Price toy like Gamecube or Playstation. Hasn't stopped people from playing great games on those consoles(well maybe not the Jaguar
) But ultimately a name is irrelevant, it either has the games or it doesn't, the name wont change that.
Hey 100th post.
paulhudd on 30 Jan '12 said:
Nintendo don't consider their products as a brand, they consider themselves as a brand. which is good and allows them to rename and still have the followers. Just having Nintendo in the title is more than enough. The only branding they have followed really is the Gameboy line, and that's because they were really just upgrades of a handheld they already had. the DS was a completely different handheld due to the touch screen and dual screens, so as the 3ds is just a follow on, they used the same brand, which is never a good thing for the casuals. they haven't used a console name as a brand, other than the nes and snes but they debatable. All consoles have the word Nintendo in its official title so Nintendo is the brand, so they can call it the "Nintendo ___________" and it will still sell. The Wii could have been called Gamecube 2, and still would have sold bucket loads because it had the marketing campaign and the innovation to appeal to the casual. Personally, I'd go for "Nintendo Revolution" as I really liked that name and was miffed when they announced it as Wii. Still love the Wii though
SBKING on 25 Feb '12 said:
Seriously Wii U sounds "SOUNDS" bad.... Cafe sounds cool.. cose its a social gaming place.. even Wii 2 sounds OK.
Call it whatever... But the name Wii U is horrible imo. anything like CAFE sounds good to me!!