Nintendo considering Wii U rebrand, sources claim

heartgold

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Nintendo is considering changing the name of its next-generation console, Wii U, sources close to the platform holder have suggested.

CVG understands that following a disappointing E3 reveal - and public confusion over 3DS - serious discussions are ongoing at the highest level in the US and Japan as to whether the firm should cut its losses and give the console a different name.
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."



http://www.computera...-sources-claim/
 
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BoxmanWTF

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Finally!
I like you nintendo, I really do but Wii U is an awful name
Also yes, they should have been more clearer, I honestly thought at first glance it was just a controller add on to the wii
 
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Erdnaxela

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Maybe that's why 3rd party can't say "it's coming to Wii U too" right now.
RE6 will obviously be released to the next nintendo home console.
 

Veho

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Good. Thanks to the stellar clarity* of their recent marketing, people think the 3DS is just a revision of the DS, and the WiiU is a new controller for the Wii.



*The quality was not, in fact, stellar.
 
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RupeeClock

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Thinking back, the Nintendo Entertainment System was followed by the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, or simply NES succeeded by SNES.
I don't think there was any public confusion about the SNES back then, was there? I can imagine the odd grandparent who bought their grandchild a NES game for their SNES or vice versa.

ANYHOW I totally support the Wii U rebrand, the name is bad, worse than just Wii. They need to invent something good though, but with competitors like Playstation 3 or Xbox 360, or even PS Vita, they should be able to come up with something better.
 

kimekaro

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I would be happy to purchase a Nintendo U.

This would allow them to incorporate their idea of it being a system for individual experiences and also move beyond the Wii which, while it had a great run, it *must* do in order to continue to thrive.
 

Hielkenator

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Coming to think of it...all console names are bad and corny...

stating names like "intellivision" "mastersystem and mastersystem II" "2600, 5200, 7800" "gamecube" ..."wonderswan"..."gameboy"..."Jaguar."..
Nintendo entertainment system is probably the best name ever.....and NeoGeo is a good name I think...LOL!
 

Hadrian

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Thinking back, the Nintendo Entertainment System was followed by the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, or simply NES succeeded by SNES.
I don't think there was any public confusion about the SNES back then, was there? I can imagine the odd grandparent who bought their grandchild a NES game for their SNES or vice versa.
Those consoles didn't focus on a controller as a selling point, so I reckon there will be some confusion with those who don't follow gaming that this would be an add on for the Wii. Also dropping the Wii name will get those other kind of casual gamers (the ones who play 360 but maybe just buy 1 or 2 titles a year) to take it more seriously.
 

Foxi4

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Sure. After launching a gibinormous campaign on expo's and having everyone recognize the console as "Wii U", specifically designing the case to resemble the Wii and adding Wii accessory compatibility, surely they're going to rebrand it.

Then again, "Revolution" changed aswell.
 

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"gamecube"
Was a sweet name. Wii U is not.


hmmm, but still...the name said it all.. a "cube" that plays "games"....it's corny as hell. lol!
 

Gabbynaruto

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Hm...

Nintendo Entertainment System -> Super Nintendo Entertainment System
GameBoy -> GameBoy Color -> GameBoy Advance -> Gamecube (and a VirtualBoy somewhere in there)
Nintendo DS -> Nintendo 3DS
Nintendo Wii -> Nintendo Wii U

So, other than Nintendo64, Nintendo always used the original names at least partially for a follow-up console. Guess it's a tradition for them. Wondering why there was no confusion back then though? I don't mind the Wii U name at all, so, I kind of have a hard time thinking at a alternative. Maybe Nintendo128 (if they are to rip off another "original" name), or back to Project Cafe? That would be... uh... weird.
 

Foxi4

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Hm...

Nintendo Entertainment System -> Super Nintendo Entertainment System
GameBoy -> GameBoy Color -> GameBoy Advance -> Gamecube (and a VirtualBoy somewhere in there)
Nintendo DS -> Nintendo 3DS
Nintendo Wii -> Nintendo Wii U

So, other than Nintendo64, Nintendo always used the original names at least partially for a follow-up console. Guess it's a tradition for them. Wondering why there was no confusion back then though? I don't mind the Wii U name at all, so, I kind of have a hard time thinking at a alternative. Maybe Nintendo128 (if they are to rip off another "original" name), or back to Project Cafe? That would be... uh... weird.
Nintendo 64 sits right after Super Nintendo - it's a Nintendo with 64 bits of goodness.
 

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