Nintendo showed off its next-generation system during their conference at E3 2012, the Wii U. Very little is known about the console itself, they focused more on the controller (officialy called Wii U GamePad) and games.
The new console allows the player to run their system and view the menu on the controller screen without having to turn on the TV. To reduce the console costs, the controller screen doesn't have multi-touch capability. There will be support for two Wii U GamePads per console.
Price and exact release date still not revealed, but Nintendo plans to launch the console by end of 2012 with an estimated price of $300 or more.
SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE WII U:
Dimensions:
►4,57cm (height) x 17,7cm (width) x 26,67cm (depth)
Controller features:
►Resistive touchscreen with 6.2 inches (15.75 cm) and widescreen aspect ratio (16:9) ►Two directional analog and one digital ►Traditional buttons plus two analog and one called TV Control ►Accelerometer, gyroscope, geomagnetic sensor, vibration, camera, microphone, speaker and Stylus
Backwards compatibility:
►Accepts Wii games and accessories such as Wii Remote, including the Plus (up to 4)
Media:
►Wii U and Wii disks
Resolution:
►FullHD (1080p), as well as 1080i, 720p, 480p and 480i
Video Output:
►HDMI, S-video and Wii cables
Audio Output:
►Multi AV and HDMI port (6-channel linear PCM)
Storage System:
►Internal flash memory (amount not reported)
Processors:
►IBM Multi-Core microprocessor ►AMD based GPU
Other:
►Four USB 2.0 ports and an SD slot
GAMES ANNOUNCED FOR THE WII U:
Confirmed:
►Killer Freaks From Outer Space ►Pikmin 3 ►New Super Mario Bros. U ►Smash Bros. ►Project P-100 ►Darksiders II ►Ninja Gaiden: Razor's Edge ►Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition ►Ghost Recon Online ►Assassin's Creed ►Rabbids ►ZombieU ►Lego City Undercover ►Sports Connection ►Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth ►Tank! Tank! Tank! ►Trine 2 ►Mass Effect 3
Last edited by Foxtrot813 on Mon Jun 11, 2012 5:00 pm, edited 9 times in total.
Foxtrot813
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Joined: Mon May 02, 2011 2:21 pm Posts: 805 Location: Curitiba, Brazil Age: 18 Gender: ♂
Some small changes/questions to what you've got (other than this, it's a pretty good news roundup).
-I've heard, I think, Nintendo mention that the Wii U will have a release date 'after March 31st,' though I sadly can't recall from where. Guess that means anywhere from a spring to holiday release date for it.
-The SD cards and external HDDs, under your storage space section, are not connected to the console via USB cables. You stick them into one of the many ports that you noted the console has.
-Wasn't Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge actually confirmed for the Wii U? I thought the other consoles were just getting the vanilla game, but the Wii U would receive the version with more content.
-Iwata has stated that, while no price point is out right now, it looks to be greater than 20,000 yen (equivalent to about $250 U.S. dollars). Some have speculated that probably means a $300-350 price point.
-Darksiders II is currently the Wii U's only announced launch title; Madden and Battlefield 3 have also been hinted as going to be released on the system.
-Sharing content is going to feature heavily.
-No information yet on its online capabilities, but I believe Reggie Fils-Aime stated in an interview after being asked if Nintendo's new online system (which has apparently been drastically overhauled) could compete with Xbox Live and PlayStation Network, he stated that it can do "all of that [as in, this would suggest it can do all the features available to the others]."
Third parties seem ecstatic about this upgrade as much as the controller.
-Speaking of the controller...
Nintendo dropped a bomb today (via a representative and then later Miyamoto): fans of the Wii's controllers rejoice - there will be only one Wii U controller per console and, as of right now, it looks like they won't be sold at retail. Speculation suggests that an extensive warranty service/replacement system will be implemented if this stays true until launch.
I say 'stays' because this isn't necessarily set in stone just yet. It's over a year away for the console's release and Miyamoto, noting the acrimonious opinions this has generated, has stated that there's the possibiility between now and launch that this could very well change. They're looking into seeing, currently, if two friends' controllers can interact with the console at once; they're still exploring the tech themselves and seeing what its limits are. I think they fear issues about streaming.
Regardless, as disheartening as I find this news, there is the possibility it might change in the future. We should keep our eyes open from then and now.
Here's Kotaku physically examining the system itself:
Ubisoft announced a new Wii U title tonight: Killer Freaks From Outer Space.
-Gameplay is apparently a lot like Left 4 Dead's -Nintendo is helping in some capacity with development -There's an arcade-style scoring system -The aliens are apparently very Gremlin-like; I'm sure it isn't a coincidence they look like Rayman rabbids, either... -It will be a launch title -Strafing may use the gyroscope -Locally based multiplayer -The aesthetic the game is meant to provide will supposedly be like a '70s grindhouse film
Foxtrot813 wrote:Thanks for your help, tomorrow (actually today) I'll edit the news...now it's 0:27 in the morning, I need some sleep
No worries. Glad to help.
Update: In a recent showing of Ghost Recon Online by Ubisoft, they demonstrated that friend codes are totally gone from the Wii U's online system - accounts are in. A friends list was also briefly shown as well.
More on this: "Personalized account system, creation seamless as possibly. Flexible friend list, secured. Networking services, ranking and matchmaking present. Can make friends online. Parental controls and a ban list for friends...Can watch and track friends online as well as their own stats [I think this is Ghost Recon Online related? Not sure]. More to be revealed in the coming months. Online all about meeting and bringing friends together. Wants people to consider the online mode as a service."
Ubisoft is also currently in talks with Nintendo to make the Wii U version of Ghost Recon Online a free experience (to be downloaded through the Wii U's online system) just like the PC version.
The Assassin's Creed game was also touched on briefly. It's in very early development right now, so no word on if it's a unique and/or exclusive game for the Wii U or if it's a superior version to an already existing installment. All of their current engines run fine on the Wii U as well, Ubisoft says; we won't be seeing any 'dumbing down' of the title. AC on the Wii U will have exclusive content and the developers think it's going to be the best in the series yet.
Games also don't seem to have a locked down price yet and, surprisingly, the hardware is somewhat flexible as well before launch.
"Mine is Yesterday: I know Tomorrow." - Egyptian Book of the Dead, Book 3, Chapter 17
Nevermore
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Midnaholic
Joined: Fri Jan 21, 2011 5:54 am Posts: 307 Location: United States Age: 21 Gender: ♂
Wat? Does this in any way look like just a gadget?
The Wii U is a console. It's basically the Wii 2. And yeah, it's better. It has HD capabilities and they have already a HD Zelda on the way. It's supposed to have the same type of graphics as Twilight Princess aswell, but improved obviously. The controller screen, on the otherhand, has no HD capabilities.
I can understand if you thought this was a handheld or something as Nintendo only showed us the controller and its capabilities at E3. But that you posted in this thread and after that still thought it was a handheld is beyond me. Did you read or even look at the first post in this thread which has a picture of the console?
Xytox
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Well, it's actually a bit disorienting that Nintendo is releasing a system based on the last. Up till now, they've been the only ones to make a different console every time (xbox and ps anyone?). I still can't belive it's one controller per console, which completely kills the point of it being a console in itself. And I think the screen is too much. It seems like too much to handle, trying to look at the tv and your hands at the same time. It was cool how the Wii controller had a speaker in it, but it should've ended there.
Now looking back on the details that people have given and what we've seen, I say the wii u defeats the purpose of being a 'likable' item. Sure it has all those graphics and High def stuff. But seeing some of the release titles like 'rabbids' does not impress me. I'm mostly looking for the new Smash brothers, Mario, and Zelda games for it. Though I don't see a point of buying a system as if your only going to play one game. So, I might look into this more. Also looking a WYNR's post, it's kinda sad that you only get one controller with this console. You think Nintendo would've stepped it up a notch here. I believe the price range (from what I've seen) will be around $300 USD. This is just my minimal knowledge on this item. I have been looking into this for quite some time.
Thoughts?
I am friendship, I am the sky, I am Rainbow Dash
the manga in the Hyrule historia makes some sense, but all in all I was confused.
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Maybe there's a way for light and shadow to mix
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