What do the French Call the Nintendo Wii?

ByJames Dorn Last Update on

The French have no special name for Nintendo‘s beloved console – they simply refer to it by its English product name, the Wii.

Released in December 2006, the Nintendo Wii took France‘s gaming scene by storm. Selling over 3 million units in its lifetime according to Nintendo, the family-friendly console and its accessible motion controls captured the hearts of French gamers. "It was revolutionary. The Wii made gaming fun for everyone," remarked veteran French gaming journalist Jean Rousseau.

Below is a timeline of major Nintendo Wii highlights in France over the years:

December 8, 2006: Wii Launches in France to 400,000 Units Sold in First 7 Weeks

June 2007: Top Selling French Wii Games Include Wii Sports, Zelda: Twilight Princess, and Super Paper Mario

January 2008: Wii Userbase Reaches 1 Million Owners in France

July 2008: Official Wii peripherals like the Zapper light gun and Fit balance board see strong french sales

December 2009: Ubisoft‘s fitness game Your Shape sells over 600,000 copies in France after bundling with the Wii console

April 2012: Nintendo announces 2 million Wiis sold to date in France as of start of fiscal year

And the nostalgia lives on today. "Ah I miss those days – coming home from school and booting up custom Mario Kart Wii tracks with my friends," posted French reddit user /u/WiiFan53 recently on gaming forum r/NintendoFrance. The French modding community remains active, creating new content for outdated hardware out of their continued passion.

The Cultural Impact of Le Wii

Why does the Wii seem to resonate so strongly for French gamers? Industry analyst Michel Durand weighs in: "Nintendo has a special history in France. Generations of French children have grown up on Super Mario and Pokemon games. The Wii allowed families to play together in way previously impossible – grandparents down to young children. It brought Nintendo magic into household living rooms."

The numbers support Durand‘s view. According to 2007 estimates by Nintendo, France lead major European countries in attach rate at 6 games purchased per console on average. Casual and family friendly games like Cooking Mama and Mario Party saw great success in the French market. Durand contrasts the Wii‘s family appeal against Sony and Microsoft‘s head-to-head competition over hardcore gamers, often won by Sony‘s more mature image in France. "Yet here comes Nintendo getting grandparents off the couch with Wii Sports bowling and Pictionary. It let Nintendo penetrate the mainstream."

Wii Community & Emulation

While Nintendo may have abandoned the aging Wii hardware, French gaming enthusiasts continue to breathe new life into the vintage console online. The Wii serves as popular platform for emulators and ROM hacking. Sites like Wii-Fr.com offer tutorials for modding and circumventing region restrictions to play imports. Some favorites include English language fan translations of previously Japanese exclusive RPGs like Tales of Graces and Rune Factory Frontier.

Message board chatter also indicates interest in upgrading Wii hardware through methods like HDMI output mods. "Can‘t quite give up 480p resolution after experiencing HD gaming" one user quips. Software emulation of Wii titles on PC could also help improve graphics – with plugins and custom textures – at the cost of losing original controller input.

Of course most long term French Nintendo supporters like the authentic experience. As gaming store owner Pierre Lombard told me during my visit to Lyons several years ago, "the heart of gaming is community, not technical specs." Seeing the energy around the latest Nintendo console, the Switch, perhaps the same innovative magic will capture player passion in France for years to come. Just like the beloved Wii did over a decade ago.

James K. Dorn, a passionate gamer deeply immersed in the world of video gaming. My journey in gaming is not just about playing; it's about exploring every facet of the games I love. I am particularly fascinated by the intricate worlds of role-playing games like "The Witcher" series and "Elder Scrolls: Skyrim," where every decision shapes the story.

As a strategy game enthusiast, I spend hours devising tactics in games like "Civilization VI" and "StarCraft II," always eager to share my strategies with fellow gamers. I'm also an ardent follower of the ever-evolving landscape of indie games, finding gems like "Hollow Knight" and "Celeste" that offer unique, compelling experiences.

My content isn't just reviews; it's about deep dives into game mechanics, storytelling, and the art of game design. I love dissecting the narratives of games like "The Last of Us" and discussing the innovative gameplay of titles like "Death Stranding."

Being at the forefront of gaming news, I eagerly anticipate and share insights on upcoming releases like the next big open-world adventure or the latest in the "Final Fantasy" series. My goal is to build a community where we not only play games but also appreciate the artistry and effort behind them. Join me in this gaming journey, where every session is an adventure, and every game is a story waiting to be told.

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