A source close to both NowGamer and Microsoft, told the gaming site that Natal will get its official name at E3. This much is probably true. The source also told NowGamer that the name will be “Wave.”
This is a rumor that Microsoft has not yet confirmed, and will likely leave alone until E3 comes and goes. Unveiling the name of a product should be a full sail announcement, not a deflated, second effort. Think back to Nintendo’s Revolution and the day it became the Wii. The Move and Natal (or the “Wave” if this rumor is to be believed) certainly don’t carry the same hot-topicness that Nintendo’s lean, mean machine did when its official name dropped.
“What’s in a name?” really does matter when it comes to new products and ideas. Sticking with the example of the Revolution, it was Nintendo’s plan to hoist a unique and instantly debated name for their flagship product. The Wii was, at first, a joke that most sources couldn’t step away from. And, as Nintendo said it would, the name turned from being a joke into a household word that folks actually recognized. It was the first step in becoming an openly and widely appealing product. This joke, of course, typically only fell in English speaking parts of the world.
But the transition from Natal to Wave? Kombo’s not convinced. Sure, the name incites motion and a revolution, of sorts. Get up off the couch while Microsoft’s product makes waves in the industry. The joke, it doesn’t go over the heads. But it’s far too simple for a company with Zune and Xbox beneath its belt. This, of course, is all unfounded conjecture…the best kind. It’s entirely possible that this name change is legitimate and that Microsoft is trying to appeal to a different consumer base. The same consumer base that’s turned off when it sees the Xbox or Zune brands.
We’re not saying, but we’re just sayin’.
With all the Natal rumors floating around, this name change is likely the smallest concern on the minds of gamers. The possible $150 price point has made larger waves than any new name can.
This is a rumor and we’re not convinced.
UPDATE: Seems some sleuthery over at Made2Game has mostly debunked this rumor. See, we knew something was fishy!
Turns out Microsoft already has a “Wave” project. It’s a site dedicated to showing new Microsoft tech. The stuff rinding the crest of the wave.
Could a new name still be dropped at E3? Absolutely.
