Best and worst console names

[sixam]

Channel F was a poor name. It was supposed to mean Channel Fun, but it could make people think of it as Channel Failure.

[Retro STrife]

Best: Genesis. Magnavox Oddysey. Jaguar. Game Gear. Switch.

I think Playstation is a really solid name too, but easy to overlook since it’s never changed. I think the numbering system was a good idea though.

Worst: Wii & Wii U. Xbox One & Series X/S. I always thought Gamcube was a stupid name too.

[jon]

Nintendo could've come up with any better name than Nintendo 64. Naming the system after your company is good for ubiquity, but sticking that number in the name detracts from it. I can't see, "wanna play Nintendo?" ever referring to N64.

Ultra 64 was slightly better, but still cringe-y in retrospect.

N64, GameCube and Wii all had cooler codenames: Project Reality, Dolphin, Revolution

Ultra 64 would’ve been awesome. That’s what it was called while it was in development. They probably were worried it wouldn’t have Nintendo in the name.

[m0zart]

I know some didn't like the name, but "Wii" was a brilliant marketing name. For the longest time, it was just known by the code name "Revolution", and that's what I assumed it would be released as. When they came up with the term "Wii", it was based on the fact that the name in English sounds like the the inclusive pronoun "We" and also by using two "i" letters in its spelling, it emphasized the multiplayer aspect, family play aspect of it all. Also, they had some kind of language analysis and found that the name meant something positive in most other languages as well, and less often something silly or negative. But I think the thing that really made it a brilliant marketing move was the "WHAT THE HECK" factor from the gaming community. It was seen as this big funny joke, since it also means these other two weird and crass related things in English. Like it or not, the marketing strategy worked.

[Stalvern]

Also, what do people say when they're having fun? WHEEE!

[BlasteroidAli]

Channel F gets my vote, but it was called Grandstand Video Entertainment Computer in the UK. I think that was even worse.

Atari 800 VCS was also a dumb name for a console PC hybrid. I think if they had gone with the name the Atari Box, they might have got more traction.

[JohanOberg]

Wii U has to be the worst, because it's a stupid pun to start with (not just WE, but YOU!) and also because the name helped cause the confusion that affected sales of the system, with people thinking it was an accessory to the Wii. Even me, and I'm a veteran, was a little confused during the reveal if it was a new controller for the Wii or not. And if I'm confused, I can imagine how the general population felt.

Other honorable mentions go to FM Towns Marty, Casio Loopy, Zeebo and plenty of the earlier ones with numbers in the name like SG-1000 and the Ataris.

[Stalvern]

Other honorable mentions go to FM Towns Marty, Casio Loopy, Zeebo and plenty of the earlier ones with numbers in the name like SG-1000 and the Ataris.

What do you think of the Apple/Bandai Pippin?

[mbd36]

Nothing tops Wii U. People were confused about if it's even a new console or an addon for the Wii.

[VideoGameCritic]

Nothing tops Wii U. People were confused about if it's even a new console or an addon for the Wii.

Not only that, but it seemed like Nintendo didn't even make an effort to clarify things. Their advertising was non-existent.

In retrospect it's remarkable how they rebounded so well with the Switch.