because nobody understood that the PS2 wasn't just a PS upgrade, that the Xbox 360 wasn't just a new model of the Xbox, that the 3DS wasn't simply another model of the DS or that the Gameboy Color..... well the Gameboy Color was just a Gameboy with colour but still. My point remains.

I'm pretty sure people will see a Wii U and understand instantly that it's not a Wii. If a parent goes into the shops looking at Wii U games to buy for the Wii they'll almost certainty ask what the U is about and be told that the Wii U is not a Wii. It probably gets complicated with the fact that there's the U Draw on the Wii but in general I'm pretty sure people will understand that the Wii doesn't have a U in it and that makes the Wii U something different.

@Sony
They should have just left it as the Direct X Box. I think that would have been so much cooler.

Anything besides Wii - you know? The laughing stock to those who call themselves "hardcore"? I actually had this discussion with some friends the other day, they were all turned off of the Wii U the moment they heard "Wii" in its name. It's a name that holds with it a reputation, and one that they should've discarded. It's like trying to make amends with you lover by offering her a flower she's allergic to. It's not going to end well.

Everyone I know thought that. It's an easy mistake to make, too, for those who don't regularly pay attention to Nintendo.

What I think Nintendo is doing is that they are just using the name as a temporary placeholder until their segment starts during E3 when they will announce a name change and they will change the Facebook name accordingly. I'm not saying this is fact, just speculating.

Either way, it's not a big deal if Nintendo doesn't change the name. People will complain no matter what.

#thisisnttwitter

Yeah, those guys are just too badass to play a GAME SYSTEM called Wii. Tell them I'll buy them all a Juice Box for their trouble.

Meh.

This is true but I don't think it matters anywhere near as much as you think. Most people quickly get over their first reactions when shown something they didn't expect. We're Nintendo fans here so I'm sure we all saw it with the Wii. I remember Christmas in '06 I setup the Wii with much a joking about the name combined with old buggers talking about gaming stereotypes. Put in Wii Sports..... Christmas instantly transformed into WiiMas and everyone who was in that room now owns a Wii. I'm sure many others experienced the same thing.

Same thing will happen with the Wii U in reverse I would say. The "hardcore" will say how the Wii is for kids.... and then they'll see something like this and instantly forget that it has Wii in the name.

Does it actually matter?

A storm in a teacup.

It's cool. It's nice seeing Sony and Microsoft's system get outsold by silly-named systems

a name's a name.

Lies.

Eh its okay J think the U sounds stupid but it will do.

ಠ_ಠ

In a way, if industry tastes go the way I expect them to, Nintendo wouldn't have to try to win back the hardcore. With companies forcing consumers to pay $10 to un-block content already on the disc (see; Capcom, everybody who hates used games industry), forcing consumers to always have a constant internet connection to play a game (see; Blizzard with Diablo III, everyone associated with Games For Windows Live), and patenting technology to be allowed to interrupt a video game with ads (see; Sony), gamers will get sick of the practices used by the other companies and Nintendo will be in a position where they are not being like everybody else. AKA, Nintendo won't appear to be a money-gouging company rather than video game developer.

The "hardcore" (ugh, I hate saying that) know Wii as a brand. The casuals do too. Keeping Wii in the name makes sense. Even as more people may be aware of Nintendo they are fully aware of Wii as a brand. Wii U is backwards compatible too so branding it anything other than Wii may confuse the casuals into thinking they don't need to buy it or may not even see the point. This is the problem. Casuals who bought into Wii, have Wii. The "hardcore" have had 360 and PS3 for years. They won't be too impressed and awestruck. Some forums I've been in don't even acknowledge Nintendo! The "hardcore" won't be convinced en masse. I'm not even fussed over graphics anyway personally. If Wii U offered nothing more than better online services, I'd be happy.

I'm not bothered what it's called. I'm not going to be staring at the logo constantly.

I'm over the SD visuals of the Wii and want Nintendo games to fill my 46" TV at high quality. So graphics are important. What isn't important is the name or the style of the colour of the system. All of that should disappear when I play a game and if it doesn't they are doing it wrong.

Like you said, we aren't going to be starting at the logo constantly. It's like when I got the gold Wii Remote with Skyward Sword which I thought was the most awesome things ever..... but then I spent hours on end half forgetting that I even had the thing.

Not to me. I'm not saying that seeing Zelda and Co go all HD won't be nice but for me at least, it's not an important factor.

I have the Triforce tattooed on my left arm and I stare at that all day. That's a rule breaker!

So the name of their console officially determines the overall outcome of it?

Seriously, all you people know you're going to buy it in the end anyway so why complain anymore? You might as well get a head start getting used to it and all.