gameinformer interview with Nintendo of America's Public Relations Manager

[8th lutz]

It is about the wii. The link is http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200....1154.38678.htm

[Shaggy the Atarian]

This is the problem with the name. So that everyone gets it it needs a detailed explanation. For your average Joe gamer I don't see how it's going to win them over when it's not winning hardcore gamers over.

 

It’s not about you or me – it’s about Wii.

That sounds really weird...wouldn't it be about 'us'? The bad grammar marketing idea is probably not the way to win everyone over.

 

Again if you look at things like Yahoo! Or Virgin, or Caterpillar or Naked Juice, or Prius – the car, or Napster – these names either have funny connotations or don’t make sense initially. But if you look at how we support this, and what the name represents, I think it makes sense.

 

But again, those other names didn't need explanations as to how they are pronounced or what message the company was trying to get across.

 

Once you touch the Revolution, this will make more sense. Once you play more games, and once the system is out, and more and more people play it, and you’re realizing these different experiences, it’ll make more sense. Again, it may sound a little bit of a line, but I think it fits well. This is not about you or me, it’s about Wii.

 

I find it funny that he calls it the Revolution here and not the Wii. It obviously isn't sticking in someone's mind.

Edited April 28, 2006 by Shaggy the Atarian

[maibock]

GI: (laughs) The name Wii makes me think of peeing! You said you have to hold the DS like a book for Brain Age, I hate to know how I’m supposed to hold the Wii controller.

 

They now have 10 year olds conducting interviews over at Game Informer?

[sega saturn x]

GI: (laughs) The name Wii makes me think of peeing! You said you have to hold the DS like a book for Brain Age, I hate to know how I’m supposed to hold the Wii controller.

 

They now have 10 year olds conducting interviews over at Game Informer?

That's how I always explained the scores they gave out.

[8th lutz]

GI: (laughs) The name Wii makes me think of peeing! You said you have to hold the DS like a book for Brain Age, I hate to know how I’m supposed to hold the Wii controller.

 

They now have 10 year olds conducting interviews over at Game Informer?

The person who did the interview has been with gameinformer the website for 2 or 3 years. Gameinformer has people who are in their 20's. If not, he is in his late teens. He is not with the magazine, but the website part.

Edited April 28, 2006 by 8th lutz

[+Cobra Kai]

It’s not about you or me – it’s about Wii.

 

This is the creepiest campaign slogan I've ever seen. I get confused and disturbed reading it, like I'm being swooned by some perv at the park. Is this what George Micheal does to people?

[8th lutz]

GI: (laughs) The name Wii makes me think of peeing! You said you have to hold the DS like a book for Brain Age, I hate to know how I’m supposed to hold the Wii controller.

 

They now have 10 year olds conducting interviews over at Game Informer?

That's how I always explained the scores they gave out.

The sad thing is the reviewers are on their 20's except for the senior editor, who has been reviewing since 1991 and reiner has been there since 1995 as a reviewer.

Edited April 28, 2006 by 8th lutz

[Starscream]

My take? They are trying to say everything MS already has.

 

360 degrees = a revolution

wii = "Play together" (Live slogan) - a community (which Live is)

 

Of course, they are trying to hype up the best they can and make it all sound original.

[sega saturn x]

My take? They are trying to say everything MS already has.

 

360 degrees = a revolution

wii = "Play together" (Live slogan) - a community (which Live is)

 

Of course, they are trying to hype up the best they can and make it all sound original.

Those are some herculean leaps you're making there.

[Draikar]

Atwood: It was actually several people internally. But beyond that, we aren’t disclosing specifics on how the name came about.

 

I think they came up with the name after a late night smoking pot and eating pizza and drinking beer.

 

There add should be "Remember its all about Wii and only about Wii, because the Wii knows all and Wii is all powerful !, Let yourself feel the mighty Wii".

[darklord1977]

i think nintendo is ripping off microsoft on their promos... everytime i hear this systems name i cringe

[darklord1977]

It’s not about you or me – it’s about Wii.

 

This is the creepiest campaign slogan I've ever seen. I get confused and disturbed reading it, like I'm being swooned by some perv at the park. Is this what George Micheal does to people?

oui oui mon ami

[JB]

My take? They are trying to say everything MS already has.

 

360 degrees = a revolution

wii = "Play together" (Live slogan) - a community (which Live is)

 

Of course, they are trying to hype up the best they can and make it all sound original.

Except the Revolution name was announced before the XBox 360 name.

Actually saw a lot of discussion along this exact same line when the name XBox 360 was announced. I thought it was a bit of a stretch, personally.

...

I also would've preferred YBox to XBox 360. But that's just me.

 

So MS steals Revolution, Nintendo steals Live.

Sony doesn't care, because they sell the most.

Nintendo doesn't care because they turn a massive profit even though their system is 1 step away from being named Piss.

MS doesn't care because they sell more 360s than XBox1s, and they're in it for market growth.

[CPUWIZ]

Sony doesn't care, because they sell the most.

Nintendo doesn't care because they turn a massive profit even though their system is 1 step away from being named Piss.

MS doesn't care because they sell more 360s than XBox1s, and they're in it for market growth.

 

[NovaXpress]

We won't be able to judge the XBox's growth for a while yet, will we? I'm predicting that they fall to #3 if the PS3 and the Nintendo are half as good as the hype. I also see that the shareholders are getting annoyed with the losses in the Xbox line. The 360 has to turn the corner or we will not see a 720.

[Starscream]

Except the Revolution name was announced before the XBox 360 name.

Actually saw a lot of discussion along this exact same line when the name XBox 360 was announced. I thought it was a bit of a stretch, personally.

...

 

The name (Revolution) may have been announced before, but the 360 is out now. Hence, why I said "trying to say what MS already has"

 

And, while a revolution can be defined as an uprising or something along those lines, it is also more commonly used to define a circular traveling distance that eventually ends at it's own starting point, or an orbit or cycle. Think or RPM's - revolutions per minute, which occur in a circular motion. Which is, 360 degrees. Nintendo clearly stated upon the "revolution" name, was it encompassed the theory of bringing gaming back to it's origin of simple easy gameplay, back to their roots (cycle). They also said it was very descriptive of changing games completely. So both definitions fit well. It's not a stretch at all.

 

What they are saying wii is all about is clearly a gaming world for everyone to play together in. All the players make the games great. Which is what MS has said so many times about the community of Live.

 

And now that I think about it, wii may just be a nice abstract viral marketing ploy to create buzz. They have said they had intentions of doing that. Much like "Our Colony" for the 360 or more recently "Origami".

 

Not that I give a crap though, I was just observing. Sony, well they don't have to do anything. Just make the PS3, and it will sell. The other 2 have their work cut out for them no doubt. I am also not saying Nintendo is copying MS. MS clearly did not originate this type of marketing. I am saying they are very much alike though.

[NovaXpress]

Nintendo and Microsoft marketing have absolutely nothing in common.

 

Microsoft is following standard procedure. The 360 campaign is being run just like the X-Box campaign was. It's a proven formula and a smart, if safe, strategy. Nintendo is breaking the mold. This is always fun because it will either crash and burn or succeed beyond Nintendo's dreams. It's risky, but if they're right then Microsoft is going to be hammered.

 

Sony will use conventional strategy for the PS3. Why shouldn't they? They're the king and if it ain't broke, you don't try to fix it. Unless the PS3 is unreasonably fucked up, Sony is safe.

 

So with Sony and Microsoft fighting over the same gamers with the same strategies, Nintendo would be doomed if they joined in as well. They have to try something different. Their Blue Ocean strategy is fascinating, but we won't be able to judge it until we see it. You can't predict a "revolution."

 

It's going to be a fun Xmas season. Make no mistake, if Nintendo is correct then say goodbye to the idea of any future Xbox consoles. If Nintendo is wrong then the "Wii" will die faster than any major console ever has.

[darklord1977]

My take? They are trying to say everything MS already has.

 

360 degrees = a revolution

wii = "Play together" (Live slogan) - a community (which Live is)

 

Of course, they are trying to hype up the best they can and make it all sound original.

Except the Revolution name was announced before the XBox 360 name.

Actually saw a lot of discussion along this exact same line when the name XBox 360 was announced. I thought it was a bit of a stretch, personally.

...

I also would've preferred YBox to XBox 360. But that's just me.

 

So MS steals Revolution, Nintendo steals Live.

Sony doesn't care, because they sell the most.

Nintendo doesn't care because they turn a massive profit even though their system is 1 step away from being named Piss.

MS doesn't care because they sell more 360s than XBox1s, and they're in it for market growth.

no the system is not called piss..its called Nintendo WTF