Nintendo May Not Call Wii U a Home Console

.......For a minute there I actually thought they were gonna make the controller a handheld system. xD

Wii U: the future changer.

@1 yah me too

An Electronic Device.

I recall them saying at E3 they weren't calling it a home console, but I can't remember the name they banded around... all I see in the E3 press releases is "Wii U console". Meh.

Still a home console to me.

@Viewtiful_Joe - Agreed.

wut

This reminds me of when Prince changed his name into a symbol and then completely fell into obscure oblivion. I keep getting the feeling that Nintendo is one weird move away from being considered a complete joke instead of pioneers.

...Handhome console...eh, not bad. xD

This is just some marketing gimmick. Like how large screen smartphones are "tablets". Giving it a unique description to make it stand out more.

Well, the controller can't be to far from the actual console, so maybe it could have a battery in the system (A rechargeable one) so you could play it without a TV like in a car or something? (Though a lot of cars have TVs)

Wouldn't it be cool if you could download an app that could run on an iPhone or Android phone and allow some kind of interaction with the Wii U?

...what?

Portome console?

...

I appreciate Nintendo trying everything differently and thinking differently, even going so far as naming and calling things differently for the whole sake of being different and new.....but Nintendo cmon...it's still a home console. It's just gotten a bit silly now.

It's not a home console. That is just so boring. Instead Nintendo is going to go back to their video game roots by referring to as an Entertainment System!

@Ryno Now your talking!

I could care less to me its all about the games

@20: my thoughts exactly... Entertainment System!

This is what I think will happen, the Wii U controller will be portable. The Wii U controller will have limited functionality outside of the home(only music, small games and apps, video), but will need to be synced with the console in order to play more resource demanding games, upload/download data, and browse the web. The Wii U console will be the Wii U controller's only wireless gateway. I think the final design will be less clunky, therefore being easier to carry around.

Nintendo Entertainment System.

The Animal Crossing Machine

i remember one of my friends saying nintendo should market their next console as the Perfect Nintendo Entertainment System or PNES for short.

Referring to it as an Entertainment System would give me warm nostalgic fuzzies, but was that phrase ever associated with the Japanese versions of those two consoles?

I'll think I'll buy 2 Wii U's, One for home and one for the work (jk)

But really, this console has become an all-purpose console.

@JonWahlgren

Exactly.

I've been saying they should go back to the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) moniker for some time now.

That would be beyond cool.

The WiiUniversal Remote

@Phoenixborn: In Japan it was the Famicom Disk System so at least they can go back to calling a System. Would that be enough to give you those fuzzies you have been missing?

I'm still referring to it as a home console.

It would be really cool if the controllers had wifi capability, so if you're at a hotel or anywhere really you could turn the controller on, remotely power on your Wii U system that's synced to the controller and play full games from anywhere....

it's the first home + portable all in one

Nintendos new Portahome console. Buy one now, buy two!

In Control Entertainment System
ICES

Wii Entertainment System
But the "S" is written as a 2 so it can be marketed as "WE 2'

@4 lol for a minute i thought it was gonna b like arcade style because its not home...silly me

it's a gaming device. either way, i'd still call it a console because it is one.

Maybe they'll add wheels and it will double as a skateboard.

It's meant to be used as the perfect gaming TABLET! Every game will be playable on the controller screen, that's the main feature of the new console I reckon.

Well gaming devices always fall under either home or portable, so it has to be one or the other despite what they'd like to call it.

A Handy-Home console.

I like the sound of Entertainment System.

It's just a console. Whether it's home or portable is up to you. Why? It's both.

Whoop de doo

So, if I buy a Wii U (Or whatever it may be called). I May be able to get both a portable and a home device! Oh happy days are in front of me. Just give me a moment, I need to go lie down and think about how good life is getting for me. T.T

So it's an Enterainment System, may they should call it the Nintendo Enterainment System. It's got a nice ring to it.

Super-Mega-Awesome-Chocolate-Coated-Double-Bacon-Awesome-Burger-Supreme Console!!

Maybe the Wii U itself will have a screen attachment, and batteries and everything so you can play it on the go! xD

Imagine, Sonic Adventure Collection HD ( Sonic Adventure and SA2B) game on Wii U

I'll buy it without thinking twice

SERIOUSLY?

I mean who the #&!$ really cares what they call it. Really. Home console, not a home console? Who gives a d--n?

@49: I second that, "NES". That sounds great.

it's still a home console. the console is going to have to be plugged in and on in order to stream to the controller which i imagine can only be so far away. Therefore, the console must be in the home, and the player with the controller must also be in the home, albeit not necessarily in front of the tv, but still in the home.
It's a home console.
Nintendo, I love you, but sometimes you just try to hard & overcomplicate things.

A home tablet is a nice name for it.

whatever...

@55
I couldn't agree more.

Does this really deserve a news article...

Its not portable, its not home. Its both.
Tranny Console?

So now Nintendo has two current-gen portables?

Technically not a home console, as mom and dad can always plug the Wii-U into a 12V power inverter for their car, and use their wireless phone carrier to create a WiFi hotspot, and little Johnny can happily play Wii-U games to his heart's content on the tablet. I'd just hate to think what happens to little Jonny's Mario Kart 8 VR rating when they're on vacation driving through the Rocky Mountains and hit that wireless "dead zone."

"Hey Johnny, you're missing the Grand Canyon!"
but alas, Johnny is too busy launching Blue Spinies to care anymore...

@28

lol sorry but that name is asking to get made fun of

...Nintendo seems to have misinterpreted 'home' as meaning 'a televison.' As far as I'm aware the Wii U tablet isn't portable, insofar as you still need to be in range of the console to use it. So it can still only be used in the home. So thereby, still a home console.

I think the Entertainment System brands were good, and still make good names. Also @James Romeo and Juliet reference for the tagline?

Maybe they'll call it something other than the Wii U!

WiiU is a home-portable console. Done. Meant for home, but can been played "around" the home, not just in front of your TV. But not free enough like the 3DS to take out and away from the house.

If you notice, the controller uses slide pads, not analog sticks. They did that so you can shove it in a backpack or take it with you and the analog sticks won't stick out and get in the way. The controller will have some limited functionality away from the console.

This scared me for a sec, really nintendo its a home console!

"Nintendo May Not Call Wii U a Home Console"

I call it a home console anyway! I will play it in front of my television! And as far as I know it only works INSIDE your house, so yes it's a home console!

A mobile home console.

SANES: Super Awesome Nintendo Entertainment System

The wii U isn't that bad for a home console but i think that the wii made great progress as a home console...i hope more games come out for the wii u and i heard that battlefield or dynasty warriors is going to be put on it.

Tablet System.

As long as Wii games can stream to the Wii U screen I am happy.

@C-Olimar: Nintendo is actually considering that.

According to a CNet article, the next Xbox(supposedly due next fall) will be 6x more powerful than the 360, & roughly 20% more powerful than what the Wii U is supposed to have. Whatever this system's main feature is, Nintendo better make it unique enough, so that if Sony/MS copy, Nintendo will still have the advantage.

I'm w/ the group that says the main feature of this will be pseudo-wireless gaming via the controller, though obviously the extent of wireless range(read: in/dependence on proximity to the console) is up in the air now.

The label of "home console" indicates that you need a room for playing: to house the console itself, to have a media for video and audio output, provide the electricity and make it comfortable to play it.

Apparently the issue about Wii U not being a home console is the portable screen with it's own power source. I suppose this could be called hybrid or dual media console or something on the same lines...

Wii U: Nintendo's Tombstone

A handheld console?

If it quacks and walks like a duck then it's a duck!

Portable Home.

I'm with the people who say it'll have some mobile functions, I can't see why they wouldn't try that but whatever those things are that run mobile better be great or it'll be a laughing-stock. They need to partner with an e-book distributor and have some great basic apps if they want to play that game, or at least have a ton of great Virtual console games that it can run on it's own, that would also be a great selling point (all the wii download library that's out there now would do it)

If a console is meant to be played in a household and can only function in a household, I believe it should be called a home console.

They already told us you can't even play it while sitting on your toilet.
How can it be a portable?

@KingMike lol, your funny

But seriously if it does go mobile, you probably can take it far in the forest if the Wii U has controller 3G network, a possibility

Semi-handheld console

@MattEriks Couldn't agree more. Call of Duty MW3/Goldeneye in my room VS my bro in the living room. Now he can't see the top half of the TV to figure out where I'm sniping.

Y'know, I'm a Nintendo fan, for sure, and I don't want to rush to judgment. But as of late it does kinda seem like the wheels are coming off of their judgment (e.g., the second 3DS circle pad). I kinda wonder if some of the corporate leadership is past its prime and needs some shakeup. But I'm totally willing to be surprised once more details about Wii U appear.

Wii U Slim won't need a base unit at all... I'm calling it now!

The Guiness World Record for the Balance Board must have gotten to their heads. Now they’re just making up their own categories to be the best selling handhome (good one @NintyFan(7.)) / whatever console ever. _{So far.}

As long as it doesn’t have Wii in its name you can call it whatever you like, Nintendo. If it’s good enough the categorization doesn’t matter as much as you might think.
It’s interesting to hear about these thoughts though and a good term might help in shifting a few consoles. Just keep in mind that a term like portable home console might confuse people if you can only use the controller in a housewide range. And don't forget to make the system the best it can be instead of spending too much time on sideshows.

@Eureka(1.): Same here, I was totally prepared to be shocked.
@Ryno(20.): Good idea.
@Massimo(42.): I hope not. WiiMotion Plus is still a better control method for many games imo.
@JayArr(10.) & @SliM(41.):

Wii U: the Prota-Console

So they're making the 3DS less portable with the Circle Pad Pro, and declaring Wii U a non-home console. Interesting.

Nintendo is clearly looking for new and innovative ways of digging their own grave. Why not just call it .. uhm.. a Shreg. That's right, it's a Shreg!

Iwata should stand on the podium in boxer shorts, talking to the masses of greedy investors, declaring the new device is called -A SHREG-!

No, it's not an acronym and it might possibly mean something more than "Wii U" but that's for Iwata to know and us to find out. In the future when Nintendo releases new, innovative, Mario games to their SHREG there could be easter eggs with clues to the console's name, making people thirst and hunger for more.

I see a bunch of talk about the controller being standalone. Nope.

I'm 99.9% sure it won't do anything out of range of the console except the most simple of display info that could be stored on a cheap embedded chip.

There will be nothing in there accept a sub processor to decode a wireless video stream and the usual bluetooth controller stuff that all controllers already have for sending the control info back. It will probably encode the camera info for the return trip as well. It will be hardcoded to do just that and won't have a general purpose processor, much less a graphics card that can do any polygon processing. That's all in the Wii U console.

So, the misinformed conclusions about the controller in here have given a good indication that Nintendo needs to be careful how they brand the idea of not-just-another-home-console. It's also a tablet for around the home. That's the pitch, I'd think. Not sure how to present that, but I LOVE the idea of calling it an ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM again. Perfect way to stir up good feelings from the core crowd they want to get back that used to love the NES and SNES, imo.

How to integrate Entertainment System with the word Wii? Not so sure. Wii Entertainment System is fine, but doesn't sound like a NEW system so much. Have fun Nintendo marketing department!

It's an entertainment system. Nintendo Entertainment System. New NES!

Okay. Now I'm confused. Why not call it a game console if Nintendo's purpose is video games, huh!

If Nintendo's really thinking of something else, how about at most changing its name to Ultra NES or maybe H-Wii (since Wii U's gonna be an HD console like X360 and PS3).

I guess you can bring the console anywhere there is an electrical outlet to play on the controller's screen, although its not a portable, can you use that controller solely as a screen while you use the Wiimote to play say Metroid: Other M?

I read the title of the article and got excited briefly. I thought it was gonna read, "Nintendo May Not Call Wii U the Wii U". /dang

This is hardly surprising. Microsoft and Sony have been trying to push their consoles more and more as multimedia platforms, the next generation will be geared towards that even more.

Sorry Nintendo, it's played at home and only at home. It's a "home" console.

If it requires an electrical outlet, then it's not portable!

duh?

I still will all it a home console, it will just confuse everybody when I talk about it.

the one thing is that if these contollers are going to be so hardware packed and i wanted to play with two remotes that would be alot of money

@Phoenixborn I think it was nicknamed Famicom for family computer, just like how anime is animation.

Simple - you can play the games without a TV. Like someone can buy the system, plug it into the wall, and play on the controller. Hi res graphics, no HDTV needed. That seems like it would appeal to lower end customers

Can we just call it Nintendo's Newest Marketing Scam? Nintendo should have just accepted death peacefully years ago.

Wow, it's funny seeing people making a mountain out of a mole. Do companies actual use the term "home console" on their boxes? What the hell is with this $h!% storm?

@108: Why would they die when they are on top?

I'm getting flashbacks to when the NES was released. Nintendo refused to call it a "video game system" at the time because of the negative perception that video games had received after the Crash of 1983 ("it was just a fad").

The current situation isn't the same as back then, but I still found it amusing.

@Knuckles Yep, putting those four years of English at Uni to good use...

How 'bout they call it a "Tablet Consle"? So you would have your handhelds, your home consles, and your tablet consles. I know, I'm a genius.

This is pure silliness. More BS marketing by Nintendo. We live in an increasingly integrated world, but it's still a console. Smartphones are essentially portable computers with less power and a less versatile UI, but they are still phones first and foremost. Likewise, even the PS3, which is the most "integrated" of the three main consoles, is still a video game playing platform (read: console) before anything else.

I am probably more loyal to Nintendo than any other company, but I can smell their marketing BS thousands of miles away. Will the Wii U be cool? I'm sure. Will it be a lot of fun? Absolutely. Will it fulfill the needs of most hardcore Nintendo fans, myself included? I'd be surprised if it didn't. But will it CHANGE THE WAY WE PLAY GAMES AND EVEN THINK OF GAMING??!?!?! Absolutely not, sorry. Now, it might add a new feature or ten like Nintendo's consoles usually do ("usually" being directed at the Gamecube), but let's be realistic here: it's a console, and a damn good-looking one.

Wii U: Netbook

Since when were Nintendo's consoles "traditional" ?

Tablet console

Here's what might be the case:

The tablet thingy will act like a handheld, but will be interactive with the main system. The main system will display on the tablet, the TV, or both. This will make the Wii U able to be interactive even when you're not in the same room (a la cloud). It might even be connectible with the 3DS.

Stop technology, I want to get off.