Posted Thu 31st Jul 2014 06:00 by Thomas Whitehead

Short names rule for Nintendo

While the focus of many Nintendo fans is often on upcoming releases and new game announcements, it's easy to forget that the big N is planning to unveil a brand new platform in 2014 — its QOL (Quality of Life) product. It's still a mystery, yet the company is planning to release its health-driven product in the next financial year (1st April 2015 to 31st March 2016) following a 2014 reveal; it may not be too long before we learn what this platform is all about.

It'll apparently be separate from the Wii U and 3DS as a standalone platform, though there may be some interaction between the various devices. In any case, Nintendo seems keen to use that QOL moniker as the brand, with trademarks on the name now filed in North America, Europe and Japan. That certainly makes sense as an over-arching name, which can conveniently be expanded to clarify its aim of improving lifestyle and wellbeing; it also continues Nintendo's recent history of short names — DS, Wii, 3DS and Wii U.

We still don't know what QOL will be, beyond the company's statements that it'll expand its business and revenues and potentially achieve "blue ocean" success around the world. It'll incorporate a health-driven approach, non-wearable technology and will utilise Nintendo's experience in gaming, and the trademark filings for the U.S. cite games media, parts, accessories and systems as potential parts of the product; bear in mind that these filings generally cover as many bases as possible.

We broke down the announcement and researched the concept of non-wearable health equipment to put together our thoughts on what the QOL platform could be earlier this year. Details shouldn't be too far away, however, and it looks like QOL will become a familiar brand.

[via neogaf.com]

If someone already posted please lock this thread. I didn't see anyone post it yet :P.

My prediction is:

Nintendo aims for our social life. Meeting with friends and people.

Imagine an augmented reality device which lets you capture pokemon on the street and meet with other "trainers" to battle them ... dynamic events appear - in the real world!

Kids being lured to meeting with other "people" in public. Yeah that doesn't scream lawsuit waiting to happen, lol. 

Haha .... now Im sure you can imagine ways of kids protection, like meeting only at certified locations.

But anyway, it doensnt seem that QoL is aimed at kids.

I like it, all who follow gaming news basically know it as QOL anyway.


Can't wait for that 2014 reveal though......they better advertise those few new products actually, since they are expanding into new markets.

(this will either be awesome or .........a joke-very bad.)

Lmao is this your backhanded way of telling us that Nintendo is just for kids?

It's obviously a much bigger concern for Nintendo as they're upfront about being a family first company. I think they've had some problems with pedos before trying to use the Nintendo online network to contact kids. There's some sickos out there. 

True. Your referencing the Swapnote indicent from last year where a man used it to lure and abuse several children forcing Nintendo to shut it down.