15 votes

How do you pronounce "NES"? Nintendo throws a wrench in the debate

15 comments

  1. [2]
    Whom
    Link
    I'm not sure that I can abide by this site's civility rules with a topic this sensitive.

    I'm not sure that I can abide by this site's civility rules with a topic this sensitive.

    21 votes
    1. MADAtron
      Link Parent
      I was just thinking to myself that this was a fluffy enough piece to relax a bit after today's comment storms.

      I was just thinking to myself that this was a fluffy enough piece to relax a bit after today's comment storms.

      7 votes
  2. [2]
    39hp
    Link
    Lol. Am I the only one who called them “Nintendo” and “Super Nintendo”?

    Lol. Am I the only one who called them “Nintendo” and “Super Nintendo”?

    6 votes
    1. MADAtron
      Link Parent
      That sounds like a lot of work. Have you tried joining the cult of Ness and Sness? Monosyllabic!

      That sounds like a lot of work. Have you tried joining the cult of Ness and Sness? Monosyllabic!

      5 votes
  3. [11]
    MADAtron
    Link
    I had no idea there was even a pronunciation debate going on between those who said 'Ness' vs 'N-E-S'. Glad to see Nintendo weigh in on the divide, even though the N-E-S folks were so clearly,...

    I had no idea there was even a pronunciation debate going on between those who said 'Ness' vs 'N-E-S'. Glad to see Nintendo weigh in on the divide, even though the N-E-S folks were so clearly, horrendously incorrect.

    4 votes
    1. Catt
      Link Parent
      No way! N-E-S all the way.

      No way! N-E-S all the way.

      10 votes
    2. [4]
      JayJay
      Link Parent
      Sound's like something a 'Ness' heretic would say! 'N-E-S' is the one true god! Yea, I had no idea this was a thing either, but I am totally ready to take a side.

      Sound's like something a 'Ness' heretic would say! 'N-E-S' is the one true god!

      Yea, I had no idea this was a thing either, but I am totally ready to take a side.

      5 votes
      1. [3]
        MADAtron
        Link Parent
        I don't think it's a coincidence that in the NES game 'Mother' that was released in 1989, that the main character's name was 'Ninten', followed by Mother 2 / Earthbound in 1994 where the...

        I don't think it's a coincidence that in the NES game 'Mother' that was released in 1989, that the main character's name was 'Ninten', followed by Mother 2 / Earthbound in 1994 where the protagonist is named 'Ness'.

        And also Sness is way more fun to say than Super N-E-S.

        3 votes
        1. [2]
          Whom
          Link Parent
          But those were only published by Nintendo, right? I don't know why those games would have any more weight in the conversation than any of us.

          But those were only published by Nintendo, right? I don't know why those games would have any more weight in the conversation than any of us.

          1 vote
          1. [2]
            Comment deleted by author
            Link Parent
            1. Whom
              Link Parent
              IIRC, isn't it more complex than that and the levels of independence vary greatly between each? Like I know the whole split for Pokemon is super weird.

              IIRC, isn't it more complex than that and the levels of independence vary greatly between each? Like I know the whole split for Pokemon is super weird.

    3. [2]
      Deimos
      Link Parent
      What about "SNES"? Is that "sness"? (I always just say "super nintendo" and avoid it entirely)

      What about "SNES"? Is that "sness"?

      (I always just say "super nintendo" and avoid it entirely)

      4 votes
      1. Whom
        Link Parent
        I've always said "N-E-S," but as a kid I said "sness" until my brother made fun of me and I switched to just saying "Super Nintendo". I guess I'm not consistent.

        I've always said "N-E-S," but as a kid I said "sness" until my brother made fun of me and I switched to just saying "Super Nintendo". I guess I'm not consistent.

        2 votes
    4. [2]
      Comment deleted by author
      Link Parent
      1. Eva
        Link Parent
        N E S is the only truth!

        N E S is the only truth!

        2 votes
    5. Valis
      Link Parent
      I'm sorry. I grew up calling it a N-E-S and S-N-E-S. Sness just never sounded natural. Sometimes I'll say Ness but never Sness. That one I just can't get behind.

      I'm sorry. I grew up calling it a N-E-S and S-N-E-S. Sness just never sounded natural. Sometimes I'll say Ness but never Sness. That one I just can't get behind.

      2 votes
    6. Deimos
      Link Parent
      Just to throw another wrench into things, apparently a bunch of the Eurogamer staff consider "nez" a valid option too.

      Just to throw another wrench into things, apparently a bunch of the Eurogamer staff consider "nez" a valid option too.

      A quick poll of the Eurogamer office turned into a half hour argument between 'Nez' and 'Ness' camps, with someone else who won't be named insisting on enunciating each letter 'Enn Eee Ess'. Awful.

      1 vote