What Is The Nintendo Zii? [Update]

By Spencer . December 14, 2009 . 10:20pm

What Is The Nintendo Zii? [Update] No, that’s not a typo. Nintendo filed a trademark for “Zii” in Japan for use with video games and other electronic devices.

 

Paperwork for the trademark went through on October 30, 2009 and just released in the Japanese trademark database today. Seems kind of late to protect Wii typos since the console is three years old…

 

Perhaps, a new Wii on the works?

 

Update: Wait, maybe it is a protective trademark. Nintendo registered the rights to “Zii”, Cii, Bii, and Yii back in 2007. Creative Labs is also working on a Zii of their own, a handheld stem computer running Android. Interestingly, Creative also trademarked the term Zii, but since it’s ZII and not Zii, it’s different even though the katakana is the same.

 

What Is The Nintendo Zii? [Update]

 

What Is The Nintendo Zii? [Update]


Read more stories about & & & on Siliconera.


  • Mazen

    A zelda console!! my god that would be my dream console.

  • Mazen

    Spencer Do you mean October 30, 2009?

  • kylehyde

    So michael pachter was right in something?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_XfUxXDldY

    My goodness this could be the end of the world

  • http://hughisaacs2.googlepages.com Hugh Isaacs II

    Doesn't Creative already own the rights to the name Zii?

    http://www.zii.com

  • Kuza21

    OmFg GuyS! COULD IT BE!? …An ACTUAL NEXT GEN CONSOLE FROM TEH NIN-TEN-DOH!? : )

  • http://twitter.com/CarFreiTag Gerhard Rohrer

    Maybe its “Zii” like “See” – what do you think?

  • windyoshi

    http://www.maxconsole.net/?newsid=37744&mode=news

    Maxconsole posted the Wii 2 rumor on October 28th, 2009 – two days before the paperwork for the patent of “Zii” went through according to Siliconcera.
    Coincidence?

  • malek86

    Maybe not in Japan?

  • mriutscsheellll

    I hope this doesn't take over the Wii too soon. With Metroid Other M, Zelda Wii, and Super Mario Galaxy 2 coming out soon, it would suck if they were all moved to the “Zii”. Although, this “Zii” probably isn't coming out soon. Maybe they will show it a E3.

  • Somato

    Like Gerhard said, I think this may be related to like a Wii “see” peripheral (possibly a camera?).

    However, I hope it's something Zelda related like Mazen mentioned. =3

  • wildarms

    if this IS the name of the next console, they already screwed it up

  • scottx3e245

    They are just trying to preserve their product against this: http://www.zii.com

  • Avojavo

    Hey, people thought the “Wii” was a pretty terrible name. Although I do think that “Zii” is just pushing that front a little too far.

    While I'm at it, DSi XL makes me unhappy. XL is for t-shirts; LL is for kirby.

  • http://denpanosekai.blogspot.com denpanosekai

    Was 2009 bad for the Wii? I sure played/bought a ton of great games for it. Sure I waited for Madworld and HOTD to hit 20$ but you get the idea… don't forget diamonds in the rough like Cursed Mountain and Excite Bots.

  • http://denpanosekai.blogspot.com denpanosekai

    LOL @ Maxconsole

    Zii just sounds zilly, like a bad Chinese clone.

    But if Nintendo are gonna have a BD ROM drive and 1080p output, they might as well just start publishing for the PS3. What's the point anymore???

  • http://www.siliconera.com Jenni

    I like this idea.

    I doubt it'd be a new console, or new edition of the Wii. Going with a different name for a slightly different version would be confusing. And if it were a new console, it'd have a whole new name.

  • kylehyde

    I didn't meant to say that was bad for the Wii, What I was trying to say is that the 2009 was not so good compared with the 2008 wich was really GOOD, is true there was some great games released this year for the Wii.

  • http://twitter.com/samielo Sami Elo

    Actually, Nintendo could one-up the PS3, which has a first-generation BD drive. Nintendo could utilize the existing technology to offer a faster, more efficient drive with the added benefit of extra capacity. There's no reason to make games for PS3 when Nintendo can just adopt the existing technology and make their own console, if they so wish.

    Personally, I don't care for BD or 1080p, but the technology has some good aspects, such as a lower spin speed than DVD drives, more durable discs and more capacity without a layer change (compared to DVD which has 4.5 GB per layer). A BD drive in 2010 could easily be 4 times faster than the PS3 drive without a marked increase in noise or sensitivity.

  • jvdamdshdt

    If they made a new console it would be the right time but I have no hope that it would be even close to what PS3 and XBOX 360 currently provides for gamers, Nintendo would most likely try keep the price down if they actually made it.

  • n64dude

    Could be a name of the Human Form of the Master Sword, or the name of the next Zelda. “The Legend of Zelda: Ziis Awakining”? Haha

  • http://www.siliconera.com Ishaan

    I think 2009 was a step-up in terms of third-party support, sort of. Plus, we did get Punch-out.

  • http://hughisaacs2.googlepages.com Hugh Isaacs II

    Wasn't the whole point of the Wii name to be universal and easy to say in every language?

    It'd be silly for them to drop that and have a new console with a different name everywhere.

  • Saturnus

    If they registered a bunch of other rights to (letter)-ii names, it's probably so no companies can create a game console which has a similar name. It'd be like a company coming out with the YBOX.

  • cubeboywiied101uk

    its nintendo just patenting stuff to stop others doing those ripp off consoles like vii

    protecting her self nintendo is

    also it could be for future projects and wii channels etc

    the next console will be the Wii PP OR wii piipii as in wii portable plus A DS Wii HYBRID WITH HD using tegra based tech

    the portable and dock at home evolution of everything DS and wii

    the wii PP there you go guys

    and yes a newer speced bluray drive would be so much better and faster also nintendo and panasonic could work on a priority version thats even better for games

    but i dout a new wii is coming yet

  • cubeboywiied101uk

    the zii are you kidding or round witney hustons house smoking crack

    the zii come on man take a breath

  • cubeboywiied101uk

    yes drop the worlds fastest selling system after only 3 years HUH

  • cubeboywiied101uk

    correct

  • cubeboywiied101uk

    the industry is at war with nintendo this is true and EA meltdown ign matt meltdown and ign meltdown and hardlycorezz meltdown at wiis novermber sales and new mario sales

    proves the industry is in fear and is shrinking fast apart from cod mw 2 the games are not profiting

  • cubeboywiied101uk

    black wii for usa north america next year when sony release gimp gay wands

    new bundles and colours etc globally and the DSi xl hits europe and usa 2010 also

    then theres a load of core games and vitality sencer

    2010 will be nintendo owned no new console yet PLEASE GO HYBRID NINTENDO ITS SO DISRUPTIVE

  • cubeboywiied101uk

    ERM WOULDN'T THAT BE Sii

  • cubeboywiied101uk

    industry trying to slow wii sales by pretending theres a wii hd coming soon

    viral marketing to try slow wii domination down PRETEND Wii HD is coming so consumers stop buying wii

    its the industry making up more anti wii propaganda theres no wii 2 hd 2010 and theres no trade in deal and bluray ah-hhhmmmmm dont think so all tho a panasonic nintendoized version would make a great games disc

    i think nintendo needs a holograph card or a custom version of bluray

  • cubeboywiied101uk

    yaaaaaaahoooooooo he got it

  • http://www.pastatech.wordpress.com pastatech

    My thoughts exactly.

    Creative Zii.

  • http://www.rpglamer.com TheRootBeerKing

    I think this was one of the best years for wii, personally. I mean, my game of the year is a wii game: “A Boy and His Blob”.

  • http://www.younganimal.com/berserk Mr_Qoo

    And I was getting made fun of for buying those games. Very nice games indeed!

  • http://www.younganimal.com/berserk Mr_Qoo

    And I was getting made fun of for buying those games. Very nice games indeed!

Video game stories from other sites on the web. These links leave Siliconera.

Popular