Nintendo trademarks the name Zii

By Robert Purchese Published 15 December, 2009

Zii one that comes after Wii?

Nintendo's trademarked the name Zii in Japan, which begs the obvious question: is this what the Wii 2 will be called?

A Z looks an awful lot like a 2.

Plus, three years after European release, it's a bit of a stretch to believe this is merely routine Wii name protection.

The trademark, spotted by Siliconera, offers no explanation just protection when used for a videogame or other electronic device.

Nintendo Europe had no comment to make on the matter.

Analysts and the industry expect Nintendo to unveil a Wii HD-style machine next year, possibly at the summer's E3 event. So far, however, such a reveal is pure rumour and speculation.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (48) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • linea #1 2 years ago

    so not an HDii then?

  • fiery_jackass #2 2 years ago

    I'm choosing to pronounce this as "Zed".

  • wizlon #3 2 years ago

    It still seems a bit soon, but then again the potential audience for the Wii has got to dry up sooner rather than later. I'll most likely buy a Zii, especially if it's more powerful and comes with a more accurate controller.

  • Buenos_Estente #4 2 years ago

    The Wii was such a terrible name when it first was announced... im amazed I, and most people, got over it so quickly!

    Playing with my Wii *childish titter*

  • back2funk #5 2 years ago

    It seems my routine will start over again.... Nintendo release a new console, I buy it just to play Zelda then it sits on my shelf gathering dust until the next console/Zelda.

  • lavalant #6 2 years ago

    They could call it WiiZ.

  • JahB #7 2 years ago

    i think this is some camera peripheral. given that sony and microsoft have camera based games, it would come as no surprise for nintendo to follow suit.

    Zii = See ?

  • Saki #8 2 years ago

    Zii? Don't like the name nor the idea of having a new Nintendo console anytime soon. As for the name, I was one of those people who hated the Wii's name and then, kind of got used to it, so i shall not be making silly jokes with the name this time. But, honestly, if Wii doesn't last at least the usual 5 years like all other Nintendo's, I'll be utterly disappointed. There is so much I want to play on Wii still. We haven't even seen all the major Nintendo franchises and the third-party support is getting better and better.

  • Cannibal #9 2 years ago

    In the continued theme of urine it should be called Pii.

  • Der_tolle_Emil #10 2 years ago

    I am surprised - Creative has a product called Zii (http://www. zii.com/Developer/Landing.aspx, actually it's a subsidiary of Creative) and it's strange that Nintendo now trademarks the name. The products are no games consoles but they are/can be based on Android and will be able to play games (eventually). Makes me wonder why Nintendo still chose this name.

    Edited for clarity.
    Edited by 3 at 15/12/09 @ 13:51

  • Ranger101 #11 2 years ago

    lavalant
    15/12/09 @ 13:39
    They could call it WiiZ.


    --
    hahaha very good

  • theguyfromspark #12 2 years ago

    Zii is too similar sounding to Wii to be marketed as a successor. It's more likely to be an add-on peripheral or game.

  • paulf #13 2 years ago

    pronounced two-ee ?

  • ukdm #14 2 years ago

    I think it's a new console. All the TVs you can buy now are HD so Nintendo needs to support that. It also needs an excuse to re-release Wii Sports and Sports Resort in updated forms. As for the name they had to jump 2 letters. Xii is confusing for pronunciation and Yii sounds too much like Wii when said allowed.

    prediction:

    2010, Zii with updated hardware roughly the same as a 360, motion plus controllers as standard, and updated release titles carrying the Zii name. Price point slightly higher than the Wii but backwards compatible with upscaling.

    Not so much a successor but a replacement for the Wii to take Nintendo through the next 3 years.

    Edited by 1 at 15/12/09 @ 13:53

  • jonsaan #15 2 years ago

    zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzii

  • TonyHarrison #16 2 years ago

    The Wii is 3 years old already. If it's going to last just the usual five years then they need to have the announcement of the new console at E3 2010 or E3 2011, or somewhere in between.

    If this Zii name is for a new console then it could be talked about briefly at the next E3 before the big unveil further down the line, kind of like they did with the initial talk of the 'Revolution' which of course, became the Wii.

  • Zaltan #17 2 years ago

    Not Poo (that would be the logical number 2) then...

  • canIdoyabombsforya #18 2 years ago

    "I think it's a new console. All the TVs you can buy now are HD so Nintendo needs to support that."

    All the new TVs also have inbuilt upscalers to support old stuff, and the Wii looks fine on them for their type of games. Nintendo don't really need to be forced to make a move by the quality of current TVs.
    If they go for HD it will be to make even more money, perhaps take advantage of the brainwashing that goes on in the entertainment industry that makes us buy everything 2 or 3 times over.
    Indeed with Nintendo's style of games some people may even consider a Wii HD to be a slight rip off.

    Having said all that, most of us here would welcome games like Piltot wings HD, but is native HD 720P-1080P all we really want from a new Wii? No it's not, a Wii 2 HD would also have to shift more polygons have bigger and more convenient storage, I'm sure you lot will add to that list.


  • Tomo #19 2 years ago

    How will German folk cope?!

    "Let's play on zii Zii..."
    "Was ist das mate? Spit it out"
    "Zii Zii."
    0_o...?
    "ZII ZII!! ZII ZII!! ... ZUTALOR."

  • spookyzombie #20 2 years ago

    Wait until 3.30 and school has finished. You'll all (including me) be in negative comment land.

  • bigbadbeasty #21 2 years ago

    I find it odd that people still make toilet jokes about the Wii, I mean the Playstation sounds like a sex toy :D

  • Distributor #22 2 years ago

    What are people on about? Creative has the platform ZII trademarked like posted before. i cant imagine it could anyway be possible to have Nintendo trademark the same name? Is it? Anyone? it would make a legal nightmare for Nintendo to sell a Zii console in US/Europe. I think this flying duck is about to be shot down.

  • kangarootoo #23 2 years ago

    "ZUTALOR"

    I'm pretty sure that is french... but hey, well done travelling back in time to the 70s.

  • Madafunkola #24 2 years ago

    THIS JUST IN...
    According to Engadget:
    "Update: We've done a bit more digging, and it looks as if this here filing may simply be a renewal of a 2006 trademark request. Moreover, we've found Nintendo trademarks in Japan for Cii, Bii, Oii and Yii, so it seems the company may just be on some sort of rampage in order to cover its tracks in one form or another. "

  • Skurmedel #25 2 years ago

    It's also "zut alors",... and french yes.

  • penhalion #26 2 years ago

    This follows nintendo's pattern exactly. They wait for sales to start to tail off and then release a slightly updated model of their existing consoles. Not sure it will actually be called the Zii but, I'm pretty sure the bullet points will be

    * backward compatible with Wii and Wii games.
    * New WiiMote control with built in motion plus.
    * Hi-Def display processor (most likely with upscaling) and HDMI output.
    * Better storage. Possibly small ipod classic style harddrive built in.
    * Wi-fi and network connections.
    * Ziii Sports bundled as standard.

    If you look into the nintendo history I recon you can predict their moves almost 100% without even trying.
    Edited by 1 at 15/12/09 @ 15:02

  • siro #27 2 years ago

    @penhalion:

    Yeah, very easy to predict. Just like analog sticks on game pads, a portable console with two screens or a console without a game controller were very predictable before the news got out. ;)

  • Der_tolle_Emil #28 2 years ago

    Don't forget the Rumble Pak!

  • bigbadbeasty #29 2 years ago

    and shoulder buttons

  • davisorle #30 2 years ago

    @siro
    You shouldnt even go that far. Wiimote was too easy to predict too :p

    The thing is complicated when we start making those kind of predictions and asume shitloads of theories. Yeah, ill admit it, the first thing that went through my mind while readin gthis titlwas "damn im hungry" but the next one was that now that sales are dropping and HD gaming is being pushed even more at the same time, one could only think alike on this one : Right time for them to come out with an HD capable Wii.

    Then though you have to consider upscaling, compatibility with Wii and also almost everything "Zii" ( i guess.. ) capable in order to wanna offer that type of upgrade to the consumer. The most complicated part is that by now within such short period they have the hugest installbase worldwide since last week. Shitloads of households to no limit have a Wii in there. How can you ask all those millions to upgrade all of a sudden within 3 years (or 4 not even sure no more )? You want titles for the Zii? Means that they wont be playable on the Wii in order to be worth the upgrade, right? So Wii support drops dramatically while they and the developers are working on Zii instead of Wii. One way or the other ppl will have to upgrade if they like their Wii so far.

    Ofc thats my opinion through the way I see it based on speculation of it coming out any time soon. Yet again Nintendo is selling strongly even if not as good as before in order to think that they have to release something. Vitality sensor was really silly lol. They need to figure out something I guess till the time is right for that Zii.

  • sanctusmortis #31 2 years ago

    IIRC there's a Chinese ripoff called the Zii, and likely it's to combat that in Japanland. They're really going for piracy etc, and as such it makes sense they want to protect the IP too.

  • Skurmedel #32 2 years ago

    Imagine Langdell being able to file trademarks like that. He would be a kid in a candy store.

  • Incarta #33 2 years ago

    If this is the name of their next console i'll eat my hat.

  • Tomo #34 2 years ago

    Jesus H Pedants. Do you really think I didn't know that was French...

  • Sharzam #35 2 years ago

    THe Wii has a very low attach rate so i dont think the normal rules of consoles life apply, look at all the addon and perhiral crap they come out with to keep the public buying plastic.

    I wouldnt be surprised at all if tommorow they had a new console thenonce again millions sell and we get a on going cycle as the wii is bought by people that think of it as the latest toy/gadget then once novelty fades they dont use it hense the low attach rate.

    Edit: all very good points about protecting names and copyright.
    Edited by 1 at 15/12/09 @ 17:59

  • Stompy #36 2 years ago

    Wii should be followed by Wyy.

  • YourMessageHere #37 2 years ago

    The Wii was such a terrible name when it first was announced... im amazed I, and most people, got over it so quickly!

    Speak for yourself, I remain almost as amazed by the stupidity of the name now as I was when it was announced, I'm just used to the ubiquity of it. Just goes to show that really, image is nothing if your product is attractive enough in its own right.

  • harzo #38 2 years ago

    What is Zii world coming to?!

  • Slipstream #39 2 years ago

    Noooo...now I'm gonna have customers coming into the store asking..."Have you got any news on the new Nintendo Console?"

    I'll be like..."There is no new Nintendo console, nothing has been confirmed, besides Nintendo wouldn't be that stu---"

    Customer: "Ahh but there is, it's called Zii! What happened to Xii and Yii? hahaha!"

    Me: "ahh hahaha...*looks over at Nintendo games display, spots all of the imagine titles and pouts* Hey! Did you know you'll be able to download the Phoenix Wright games from the Wii store soon!?

    Customer half way out of the shop: "......later mate!"

  • smelly #40 2 years ago

    In my opinion - They should've chosen "Pii"

    EDIT : Damn.. beaten to it.
    Edited by 1 at 15/12/09 @ 22:49

  • Skurmedel #41 2 years ago

    They should've called it Revolution. Oh wait...

  • Quixz #42 2 years ago

    More crap names..

  • electrolite #43 2 years ago

    @penhalion

    If you'd like to tell us exactly which of Nintendo's moves you predicted we'd all be very grateful

    Edited by 1 at 16/12/09 @ 03:57

  • Ryze #44 2 years ago

    I like Xii, but the 12th one can be called that.
    Edited by 1 at 16/12/09 @ 07:48

  • robson_wii #45 2 years ago

    Has Eii also been trademaked for the 3rd revision?

  • malexous #46 2 years ago

    "THe Wii has a very low attach rate"

    Evidence? I think not.

    On the matter of the name Wii:

    NOA and NOE were opposed to the name because of the obvious similarity to the slang word "wee". NOJ came up with the name.

  • penhalion #47 2 years ago

    @electrolite

    Pretty much all of the gameboy and DS ones. The Gamecube and Wii hardware being only a minor upgrade while others were saying it would be all singing and all dancing etc. etc. Don't get me wrong. I'm not talking about predicting the motion controller but, I pat myself on the back for predicting that they'd do dual screens (no I didn't predict one would be a touch screen).

    So yea I'm cocky about it and yea I think I'm right about what they are going to do next. It does amaze me that people seem reluctant to actually think for themselves. If they did, they'd not really be suprised by much that is happening in the games inductry as they'd have seen it coming a mile off.

  • Phishfood #48 2 years ago

    I remember some news a while back about Nintendo's R&D budget quadrupling leading the conclusion that they were working on another console.