This isn't a glorified QR code scanner, Mum

Nintendo seems to be getting serious with its latest Wii U advertising campaign. The company's latest television spot continues its series of humorous "Pitch" commercials that playfully feature children using diagrams and formal presentations to communicate to their parents that purchasing a Wii U just makes good sense. This particular spot showcases Super Mario 3D World and The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD as premier games that kids will want to play this Christmas.

Standing out among the advert's main points, however, is the moment when one of the children mockingly imitates his mother, saying "We already have a Wii, sweety-kins," to which the main child delivering "The Pitch" responds, "Wii U's a total upgrade, mother!"

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These statements attempt to address the confusion among parents and other video game consumers about Wii U's name. Much has been made in the media of the Wii U moniker, with critics pointing out that it fails to deviate far enough from Nintendo's previous console, the Wii, and that some apparently assume Wii U is just a peripheral add-on to a console they already own.

Nintendo itself has had various reactions to these criticisms during the life of the console. Before Wii U even launched, rumours began swirling that a name change was in the pipeline. Then, at the end of August 2013, Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime made the bold claim that Wii U's name was not at all the source of poor sales for the system.

Gradually, Nintendo appears to be reversing course in its refusal that there might be confusion surrounding the Wii U brand. Time will tell if the latest ad campaign can lift the Wii U by educating the public. After all, as of right now, even your local video game sales clerk might not know what it is.

[source youtube.com]