Do you like the name "NX" or do you think Nintendo should change it?

What was the wii code name? Cafe or dolphin or something?

NX is much more hardcore sounding. I could see them sticking with it like the DS to be honest.

But I feel the chances of getting the Umii or Super Amiibo Station or some such is quite high. So much invested in the Miiverse moniker, including mobile now. I'm not sure if they are willing to drop it, bad juju this last Gen or not.
 
Pandy said:
Without bothering to Google sourced info...

The codename for the DS was the DS.
In development it stood for "Developer System" (or something like that), but they liked the sound of it and changed the meaning to "Dual Screen" for the official naming.
Click to expand...

That's not correct. The codename for DS when it was in development and had a direction was Nitro. When it was just an abstract concept of "what's coming after the GBA," it was called Iris. From an Iwata Asks on WarioWare: D.I.Y.:

Iris was the code name of a next-generation device we were exploring to succeed Game Boy Advance-in other words, before development of the Nintendo DS system. Eventually, it became a two-screen device with the code name Nitro, which went out into the world as Nintendo DS.
Click to expand...

[source]
 
I think NX is a great name. It is both old-style (like a previous poster mentioned) and something refreshing, not tied to "Wii ___" scheme (or including "Wii" at all).
 
New Nintendo Wii U Two

Profit. You're welcome.

Edit: yeah, I'm pretty sure they're not sticking with the concept name. Should be Nintendo Home System (for the console) and Nintendo To Go (for the portable). Or something along those lines.
I'd be okay with that.
 
So long as they don't have wii in the name, I'll be okay with any name (most likely)

NX is rather nice.
Then again I liked NGP before it became the PSVita. Still a good name.

Revolution to wii worked well...

We'll see
 
Wouldn't be surprised if it was New Nintendo Wii U or some dumb ass shit like that
 
My prediction is "Nintendo 7" or something along those lines. Real to the point. This is our seventh home console, we have this nice new universal online connectivity, we have the specs necessary to run UE4 games and other current engines for third party support, oh and here's the first party games we've been working on. I expect the reveal whenever it is to be highly praised and generate a lot of hype.
 
I remember when people were saying Cafe was a good name and they shouldn't change it...

NX doesn't really look or sound good as a console name. It comes across as something from the 90s.
 
Disclaimer: I'm a professional naming consultant. I'm not joking.

First things first: whether or not I like the name is irrelevant since, as many here have pointed out already, it's 99% likely that it's just a code name. With that out of the way...

... Names don't exist in a vacuum. They exist within a context. They're the first, most visible expression of a company/product strategy. While we know some very vague things about the NX, the fact is we really have no idea what Nintendo's hardware and software strategies are for the NX at this point. We'll have to wait and see.

When Nintendo revealed the name "Wii", it was heavily criticized and mocked by many people in the industry and among fans because it seemed so alien, so contrary to what many professionals and enthusiasts considered to be the proper way to name a video game system. People were complaining that its codename, Revolution, was much better, much cooler. And in a sense, they were right: the name "Wii" (and the system), in the context of the traditional arms race for power and immersive games, didn't make any sense. But it did make sense in the context of what Nintendo was trying to accomplish with the system: bringing the whole family to the party and expanding the market to new audiences. It made so much sense. In that regard, it's one of the best, if not the best name anyone has ever come up with for a gaming system.

The NES was a pretty good name too. "Nintendo Entertainment System" doesn't exactly roll off the tongue, and acronyms like NES (or DS, or NX) usually sound cold and impersonal, but again, in the context of what was happening in the industry at the time, it made a lot of sense. The video game industry wasn't exactly thriving at the time, and retailers by and large didn't want anything to do with video games any more - in the US, that is. So the system was redesigned and renamed from the colorful, toy-looking "Famicom" to this big grey VCR-looking "NES", to look and sound more like a piece of equipment, because if Nintendo was to achieve any measure of success in the US, they first had to convince retailers to sell their product. They were the number one target to appeal to. Kids would be seduced by the accessories and the games anyway.

Let's not get into "Wii U" because that's just bad.

With all that said, NX would probably not be a good name. If the NX is to bring Nintendo back on the radar, it's gonna have to bring in more people to the market (and/or bring back those who left), and be profitable. Nintendo is gonna need a name that reflects that intent and the means through which they'll accomplish those goals. Names like NX are not loaded with any personality whatsoever. That's what acronyms lack most of the time. It's short, sure, and that's never a bad thing, but it doesn't excite the imagination or carry any specific evocation. It's empty. Plus it's kinda stupid to have a name with an "X" when the Xbox brand is so firmly established. It makes it sound like a copycat or a sister-product of the Xbox.
 
Kilrogg said:
Disclaimer: I'm a professional naming consultant. I'm not joking.

First things first: whether or not I like the name is irrelevant since, as many here have pointed out already, it's 99% likely that it's just a code name. With that out of the way...

... Names don't exist in a vacuum. They exist within a context. They're the first, most visible expression of a company/product strategy. While we know some very vague things about the NX, the fact is we really have no idea what Nintendo's hardware and software strategies are for the NX at this point. We'll have to wait and see.

When Nintendo revealed the name "Wii", it was heavily criticized and mocked by many people in the industry and among fans because it seemed so alien, so contrary to what many professionals and enthusiasts considered to be the proper way to name a video game system. People were complaining that its codename, Revolution, was much better, much cooler. And in a sense, they were right: the name "Wii" (and the system), in the context of the traditional arms race for power and immersive games, didn't make any sense. But it did make sense in the context of what Nintendo was trying to accomplish with the system: bringing the whole family to the party and expanding the market to new audiences. It made so much sense. In that regard, it's one of the best, if not the best name anyone has ever come up with for a gaming system.

The NES was a pretty good name too. "Nintendo Entertainment System" doesn't exactly roll off the tongue, and acronyms like NES (or DS, or NX) usually sound cold and impersonal, but again, in the context of what was happening in the industry at the time, it made a lot of sense. The video game industry wasn't exactly thriving at the time, and retailers by and large didn't want anything to do with video games any more - in the US, that is. So the system was redesigned and renamed from the colorful, toy-looking "Famicom" to this big grey VCR-looking "NES", to look and sound more like a piece of equipment, because if Nintendo was to achieve any measure of success in the US, they first had to convince retailers to sell their product. They were the number one target to appeal to. Kids would be seduced by the accessories and the games anyway.

Let's not get into "Wii U" because that's just bad.

With all that said, NX would probably not be a good name. If the NX is to bring Nintendo back on the radar, it's gonna have to bring in more people to the market (and/or bring back those who left), and be profitable. Nintendo is gonna need a name that reflects that intent and the means through which they'll accomplish those goals. Names like NX are not loaded with any personality whatsoever. That's what acronyms lack most of the time. It's short, sure, and that's never a bad thing, but it doesn't excite the imagination or carry any specific evocation. It's empty. Plus it's kinda stupid to have a name with an "X" when the Xbox brand is so firmly established. It makes it sound like a copycat or a sister-product of the Xbox.
Click to expand...

Interesting post

Also the PS1 to PS4, while being called Playstation 1, 2, 3 etc, are probably better known by their acronyms

So of the best 3 selling systems ever, PS2, Wii, DS, 66% were generally better known by their acronyms, I mean, the PS2 even has "PS2" displayed most prominently on the unit, as opposed to it's full name

I also don't really see many people getting confused by Xbox One and Nintendo NX, not to the extent that people were confused between the DS, the 3DS, the 2DS, and the New 3DS, and which games worked on which of them and why, and that is where Nintendo are in regards to naming systems right now

Simple seems better, and NX sounds nothing like Wii, which is only a good thing. Maybe they'll find a better name, but based on recent history I'd bet a lot of money on NX being a better name than what we end up with
 
nah i hope they keep it NX, so i can have it on a shelf next to my Project Reality, Revolution, Katana & PSX

thought i'd dig it if we went back to counting bits too
 
Well, as has been pointed out, keeping the "X" in NX might be a bad idea in terms of recognition. People might think it's a part of the Xbox brand.

I definitely expect them to include "Nintendo" in the name and overall marketing, unlike Wii which didn't even include Nintendo's name on the damn console. By continuing the Wii name with Wii U, they damaged their main brand, and they absolutely realize that at this point.

They could always go for another big, distancing, simple rebrand like Wii, but I definitely doubt it. Nintendo 7, or N7 for short, might be the best way to go from a marketing standpoint.
 
To be honest, I know it's always been a codename, but I've grown fond of just "NX." I don't want them to define what it stands for, just leave it as NX.
 
oni-link said:
Interesting post
Click to expand...

Thanks.

Also the PS1 to PS4, while being called Playstation 1, 2, 3 etc, are probably better known by their acronyms.
Click to expand...

From what I remember, one of the reasons why Nintendo chose the "Wii" name was so it couldn't be shortened into an acronym. Builds a stronger brand.

So of the best 3 selling systems ever, PS2, Wii, DS, 66% were generally better known by their acronyms, I mean, the PS2 even has "PS2" displayed most prominently on the unit, as opposed to it's full name.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure what point you're making (if any), or if you're just commenting. Can you rephrase or elaborate?

I also don't really see many people getting confused by Xbox One and Nintendo NX, not to the extent that people were confused between the DS, the 3DS, the 2DS, and the New 3DS, and which games worked on which of them and why, and that is where Nintendo are in regards to naming systems right now
Click to expand...

I don't mean that people will necessarily confuse the two, but that having two companies out of three both name their system with a prominent "X" is kinda unfortunate if they want to differentiate themselves from each other. And I doubt Nintendo is going the Xbox route with the NX, strategy-wise. Unless you think making their online system better = copying Microsoft's strategy to a T, which I don't.

Simple seems better, and NX sounds nothing like Wii, which is only a good thing. Maybe they'll find a better name, but based on recent history I'd bet a lot of money on NX being a better name than what we end up with
Click to expand...

Simple is better, but it's not the only criterion you want to look at when creating a name. Simplicity can mean more worldwide accessibility and can make the name a bit more impactful, but it doesn't give you a brand identity in and of itself. It's something you generally want, but it's not the be-all-end-all.

I do agree that Nintendo should distance themselves from the Wii brand (they've done such a good job of making it lame with the Wii U). I also agree that Nintendo's recent naming history has been a disaster (again, Wii U and 3DS). Doesn't automatically make "NX" a good name.
 
Kilrogg said:
When Nintendo revealed the name "Wii", it was heavily criticized and mocked by many people in the industry and among fans because it seemed so alien, so contrary to what many professionals and enthusiasts considered to be the proper way to name a video game system. People were complaining that its codename, Revolution, was much better, much cooler. And in a sense, they were right: the name "Wii" (and the system), in the context of the traditional arms race for power and immersive games, didn't make any sense. But it did make sense in the context of what Nintendo was trying to accomplish with the system: bringing the whole family to the party and expanding the market to new audiences. It made so much sense. In that regard, it's one of the best, if not the best name anyone has ever come up with for a gaming system.

The NES was a pretty good name too. "Nintendo Entertainment System" doesn't exactly roll off the tongue, and acronyms like NES (or DS, or NX) usually sound cold and impersonal, but again, in the context of what was happening in the industry at the time, it made a lot of sense. The video game industry wasn't exactly thriving at the time, and retailers by and large didn't want anything to do with video games any more - in the US, that is. So the system was redesigned and renamed from the colorful, toy-looking "Famicom" to this big grey VCR-looking "NES", to look and sound more like a piece of equipment, because if Nintendo was to achieve any measure of success in the US, they first had to convince retailers to sell their product. They were the number one target to appeal to. Kids would be seduced by the accessories and the games anyway.

Let's not get into "Wii U" because that's just bad.
Click to expand...

I wonder what a good name for Wii U would have been. Two that are often suggested are Wii 2 and Super Wii. The first would seem to just be aping Sony, and Super Wii sounds good to established fans like me, but probably means nothing to the casual audience Nintendo were also courting with the Wii brand.
 
Wildean said:
I wonder what a good name for Wii U would have been. Two that are often suggested are Wii 2 and Super Wii. The first would seem to just be aping Sony, and Super Wii sounds good to established fans like me, but probably means nothing to the casual audience Nintendo were also courting with the Wii brand.
Click to expand...

Honestly, Wii 2 would have been the easy choice. I'm sure they could have come up with something that's both original AND works, unlike Wii U, but barring that, Wii 2 would have been fine. At least it's clear that it's a continuation of the Wii brand.

But the problem with Wii U was also the fact that the Wii U was everything BUT a continuation of the Wii brand. Sure, it's white and you can use the wiimote and it had a couple throwaway titles in the "Wii ____" line, but nothing about it was about expanding the gaming audience. Also, no amount of good naming can salvage a commercial trainwreck :p.
 
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