So, it seems all the speculation about the name of the new Nintendo console was for naught. They ended up announcing the name prior to the big E3 gaming convention where the majority of games and systems are announced. It seems that the new Nintendo console will be dropping the code name "Revolution" and will be known simply as the "Nintendo Wii". "Wii" is pronounced like "We", as in "Wii are ready to play".

My Thoughts: Initially it was, "WTF?!", but then I started to ponder things other than juvenille jokes.

Theories abound as to why they chose the name.

  • Short. No need to abbreviate.
  •  No need to translate it to different languages. Sounds just as strange in all of them.
  • Rumor: ii in Japanese means "Good". I heard this from a gaming message board. Who knows if it’s true.
  • A clever use of language (Wii=WE) to point out the social aspect of gaming.
  • Trendy. Uses lower case "i", which served another inspiration for the console well.
  • Obscure numerological explanation: (W-i-i = E) or (23-9-9 =5). This is the fifth Nintendo Console! "Wii" cracked the Da Vinci code!
  • The "i" sort of looks like the controller

Give it some time. It’s starting to grow on me.