Being a Nintendo enthusiast rather than a Nintendo fanboy means noticing Nintendo's shortcomings. And it's hard to ignore Nintendo's mistakes in marketing, so far.
When I ask people what would have made a difference to know that this was a different console they all answer the name. It should have been a different name or at the minimum the wii 2. Because as of right now people don't know it exist or they think it's a add on
I remember the awkward confusion in the air after their conference at E3 2011. I think people left with more questions than they had going in. And it doesn't help that Nintendo is notorious for keeping things a secret. I thought that was changing with this system, but we didn't even know the exact release date and *some* specs until about a couple months before launch. I just don't understand their approach with certain community and communication regards.
I hope you're wrong. In fact, i'm pretty sure you are. The UI for most applications is downright gorgeous, and miiverse is simply awesome.
Don't get me wrong, the os has it's flaws. Load times first and foremost. Also, the apps need to be more intuitive and have more options. Miiverse, for example, needs some type of preferential listing of communities that's more accessible and a forum-type area for specific-topic discussions. The eshop layout needs to be re-considered as well.
Iwata has already promised to address load time issues. Now the question is to what extent they can improved. Here's hoping they improve at least 25%.
I agree with you. At least someone is honest about issue with the Wii U and its launch. On a side note, Wii U sounds like Fxxx U in Nintendo style. I always found it funny like telling somebody to fxxx off. "Wii U man!" LOL.
People also have to realize that when someone says 'U', the first thing that hit's their mind isn't....it signifies something to do with the console name. They think 'YOU'.
In other words, the whole 'pronoun' thing messes it up.
Imagine if they called the Wii IT. Or the Wii Me. Wii I. Wii They. Wii He. Wii She. Wii You....oh whoops they did!
Kind of makes a structural mess when people are trying to figure something out.
The commercials aren't specific enough and have too many distractions in them for the lay person or older person to understand correctly.
They definitely could have had a better name and marketed better. But overall it isn't an issue yet since it's selling out. People don't exactly need to know now, they need to know within a few months as they ramp up the supply they can bring to stores.
Personally I think the kids that get them for xmas will have a lot of kids talking about them come January and February.
I have to say that's a flimsy argument you have there. I'm sure there are many issues that could be a deciding factor in the confusion, such as the fact it's called Wii (U), but the addition of something that sounds like a pronoun is stretching it, and as the poster above just pointed out, the 'i' in iphone hasn't lead to confusion (I can't even believe I'm countering your premise ... It's BALMY lol)
When I ask people what would have made a difference to know that this was a different console they all answer the name. It should have been a different name or at the minimum the wii 2. Because as of right now people don't know it exist or they think it's a add on
Great article. I agree with pretty much everything the author has pointed out.
Let's hope that once Nintendo have worked out all of the bugs in this new system, they start marketing it properly.
People also have to realize that when someone says 'U', the first thing that hit's their mind isn't....it signifies something to do with the console name. They think 'YOU'.
In other words, the whole 'pronoun' thing messes it up.
Imagine if they called the Wii IT. Or the Wii Me. Wii I. Wii They. Wii He. Wii She. Wii You....oh whoops they did!
Kind of makes a structural mess when people are trying to figure something out.
The commercials aren't specific enough and have too many distractions in them for the lay person or older person to understand correctly.
They definitely could have had a better name and marketed better. But overall it isn't an issue yet since it's selling out. People don't exactly need to know now, they need to know within a few months as they ramp up the supply they can bring to stores.
Personally I think the kids that get them for xmas will have a lot of kids talking about them come January and February.
The name is fine. It has the secret message of #### you to the haters, I like the name.