Nintendo Renames Next-Generation Revolution Console "Wii"

Authored by dmw on April 27, 2006 - 7:40am.

Redmond, Wash. - Japanese video game maker Nintendo on Thursday announced the official name for its next-generation video game console -- "Wii" (pronounced "we") -- that will compete with Microsoft's already-launched Xbox 360 and Sony's forthcoming PlayStation 3. For over a year, the company had been referring to the next-generation console by its codename, "Revolution". Nintendo said the console's official name "sounds like 'we,' which emphasizes this console is for everyone," and "has a distinctive 'ii' spelling that symbolizes both the unique controllers and the image of people gathering to play." The Wii console will feature an original one-handed controller design from Nintendo, instead of the industry standard two-handed configurations found on past Nintendo controllers and the Xbox and PlayStation. Nintendo plans to release the Wii console in the fourth quarter of 2006.
http://tinyurl.com/mv7vn (CNET)
http://www.nintendo.com