Nintendo Trademarks Zii, Cii, Oii, and More

**Valigarmander** · 12-15-2009, 04:12 PM

Quote:

We deal with trademark stories once in a while, but this one is more bizarre than most. Engadget reports that Nintendo has filed for several new trademarks. The first to pop up was Zii, which sparked speculation that it might be the successor to the Wii. A little more digging revealed that the trademark may be a renewal of one from 2006. Even more strangely, there were trademarks for Bii, Cii, Oii, and Yii. Either Nintendo is planning to launch five new strangely-named consoles, or something else is at work here.

Trademarks are filed all the time, for all sorts of reasons. Companies sometimes trademark similar names to prevent knock-offs, or to obfuscate big announcements and throw journalists off the scent. Since the Zii trademark may be from 2006, all of these could simply be a smoke screen for the Wii before the official name was announced. After all, until April of that year we had only heard it called "Revolution." For now we'll chalk this up to a company oddity and maybe a bit of Nintendo trivia, but we'll keep our ears to the ground in case it's something more.

Weird.

Robotazy · 12-15-2009, 04:15 PM

"Oii"?

How do you say that?

Luigiman7 · 12-15-2009, 04:15 PM

It's a secret message. We must decode it.

^ For me, the same as "Wii". It's french.

Dizzy · 12-15-2009, 04:29 PM

I pronounce it 'Oy'.

Random User · 12-15-2009, 05:15 PM

This reminds me of several Drake & Josh knockoff names....

Mintendo GS, GameGuy, Game Sphere....

**Loot** · 12-15-2009, 06:37 PM

Sounds more like they're trying to prevent knockoffs that are shaped similarly to the Wii.

I am nobody · 12-15-2009, 06:44 PM

Considering that they chose "Wii" because it sounds like "we" I can't really see them naming the next console "Bii" or "Yii". (ye olde console!) Oii and Cii sound too awkward to be a console name, and Zii just doesn't make any sense.

I'm agreeing with Loot and saying that this is just to prevent knockoffs.

Antisocial · 12-15-2009, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loot the Candy Stealer

Sounds more like they're trying to prevent knockoffs that are shaped similarly to the Wii.

The Spark · 12-15-2009, 08:01 PM

^Wow, those are all really stupid looking.

I am nobody · 12-15-2009, 08:03 PM

I like how two of them knocked off the NES and N64 in the process of knocking off the Wii. >_>

**Loot** · 12-16-2009, 12:47 PM

Is that an N64 controller cross bred with a six-button Genesis controller?

Dizzy · 12-17-2009, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loot the Candy Stealer

Is that an N64 controller cross bred with a six-button Genesis controller?

Want.

12-15-2009, 04:15 PM	#3
Luigiman7 ヽ(◔ ◡ ◔)ノ.･ﾟ*｡･+☆ Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: ~)´◡｀(~ Gender: Posts: 17,605 Thanks: 1,134 Thanked 1,012 Times in 713 Posts Blog Entries: 8	It's a secret message. We must decode it. ^ For me, the same as "Wii". It's french. __________________ ／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼ＷＯＮ’Ｔ　ＹＯＵ　ＢＥＣＯＭＥ　Ａ　ＭＡＧＩＣＡＬ　ＧＩＲＬ？

12-15-2009, 04:15 PM	#2
Robotazy PRESS ANY KEY TO PANIC! Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: A Tiny Shed Gender: Posts: 16,483 Thanks: 529 Thanked 1,254 Times in 897 Posts Blog Entries: 46	"Oii"? How do you say that?

12-15-2009, 04:29 PM	#4
Dizzy Podiaphobe Join Date: Oct 2007 Gender: Posts: 19,359 Thanks: 1,764 Thanked 1,161 Times in 804 Posts Blog Entries: 116	I pronounce it 'Oy'.

12-15-2009, 05:15 PM	#5
Random User Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Equestrian Republic of Spanglidesh Gender: Posts: 3,562 Thanks: 320 Thanked 195 Times in 143 Posts Blog Entries: 4	This reminds me of several Drake & Josh knockoff names.... Mintendo GS, GameGuy, Game Sphere....

12-15-2009, 06:37 PM	#6
Loot Apparently I'm a mod? Join Date: May 2001 Location: LEGITIMATE BUSINESS Gender: Posts: 13,208 Thanks: 236 Thanked 1,237 Times in 659 Posts	Sounds more like they're trying to prevent knockoffs that are shaped similarly to the Wii.

12-15-2009, 06:44 PM	#7
I am nobody Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Over there. Gender: Posts: 5,515 Thanks: 309 Thanked 365 Times in 242 Posts Blog Entries: 7	Considering that they chose "Wii" because it sounds like "we" I can't really see them naming the next console "Bii" or "Yii". (ye olde console!) Oii and Cii sound too awkward to be a console name, and Zii just doesn't make any sense. I'm agreeing with Loot and saying that this is just to prevent knockoffs.

12-15-2009, 08:01 PM	#9
The Spark Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: At the bottom of the shipping address list Gender: Posts: 1,743 Thanks: 156 Thanked 74 Times in 54 Posts	^Wow, those are all really stupid looking.

12-15-2009, 08:03 PM	#10
I am nobody Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Over there. Gender: Posts: 5,515 Thanks: 309 Thanked 365 Times in 242 Posts Blog Entries: 7	I like how two of them knocked off the NES and N64 in the process of knocking off the Wii. >_>

12-16-2009, 12:47 PM	#11
Loot Apparently I'm a mod? Join Date: May 2001 Location: LEGITIMATE BUSINESS Gender: Posts: 13,208 Thanks: 236 Thanked 1,237 Times in 659 Posts	Is that an N64 controller cross bred with a six-button Genesis controller?