Game Developers aren’t crazy about “Wii” either

Turns out it’s not just the consumers who aren’t very happy with Nintendo’s Wii branding – Gamasutra has asked a bunch of developers about the name – and their responses range from “satisfied” to “appalled”. Well, mostly, it’s “appalled”.

David Sirlin from Backbone Entertainment (Death Jr.) said:

“It is smart to pick a short name”, but “it fails at the criteria “don’t pick a silly, awful-sounding name.”” Still, Sirlin is “very interested in supporting them as a game developer”.

Wideload Games’ (Stubbs The Zombie) Alex Seropian noted:
“My first reaction to “Wii” was, “huh?” – but seeing as Nintendo is the only console maker to consistently make money every cycle I think I’ll hedge my bets and declare it “genius!”.”

“It’s telling when a product name needs a 150-word explanation. It clearly doesn’t stand on its own, and I have to think Nintendo was anticipating a somewhat puzzled reaction in the way they packaged it”, Meelad Sadat from Darkwatch makers High Moon Studios commented.

Still, all of the guys agree on one thing: “Wii” will certainly not hinder Nintendo’s profit in the coming months and years. In fact, setting their console and themselves apart with these “disruptive” strategies might bring Wii up to par with the DS’ success – also a device which everyone laughed about at first…and the emphasis lies on at first.

Turns out it’s not just the consumers who aren’t very happy with Nintendo’s Wii branding – Gamasutra has asked a bunch of developers about the name – and their responses range from “satisfied” to “appalled”. Well, mostly, it’s “appalled”.

David Sirlin from Backbone Entertainment (Death Jr.) said:

“It is smart to pick a short name”, but “it fails at the criteria “don’t pick a silly, awful-sounding name.”” Still, Sirlin is “very interested in supporting them as a game developer”.

Wideload Games’ (Stubbs The Zombie) Alex Seropian noted:
“My first reaction to “Wii” was, “huh?” – but seeing as Nintendo is the only console maker to consistently make money every cycle I think I’ll hedge my bets and declare it “genius!”.”

“It’s telling when a product name needs a 150-word explanation. It clearly doesn’t stand on its own, and I have to think Nintendo was anticipating a somewhat puzzled reaction in the way they packaged it”, Meelad Sadat from Darkwatch makers High Moon Studios commented.

Still, all of the guys agree on one thing: “Wii” will certainly not hinder Nintendo’s profit in the coming months and years. In fact, setting their console and themselves apart with these “disruptive” strategies might bring Wii up to par with the DS’ success – also a device which everyone laughed about at first…and the emphasis lies on at first.