U and improved
Japanese games giant Nintendo unveiled the much-anticipated successor to its aging Wii console at the E3 video games show yesterday. The Wii U isn't just a refresh of the original; its big new feature is a controller that incorporates a 6.2 inch touch-screen.
"Wii U redefines the structure of home entertainment by fundamentally changing how the TV, the game console and the Internet function and interact together," said Nintendo president Satoru Iwata. "The experience enabled by Wii U and the new controller takes players deeper into their games, while reaching out wider than ever before to be inviting to all kinds of gamers."
The controller still has a gyroscope and accelerometer, and the new console is still compatible with the motion-sensitive Wiimotes from the original console, but the screen promises to open up a whole new level of functionality in games. It also seems to be an acknowledgement of the growing popularity of gaming on tablets.
In this respect Nintendo seems to have drawn on the DS dual-screen handheld gamer, in which the touch-screen usually offers a new level of functionality and interactivity, rather than just an extension of the main gaming screen. Furthermore it opens up new possibilities for multi-player games, in which one player has access to game information hidden from the others.
Here's Nintendo's fact list for the Wii U, and you can see some images at the bottom of this piece.
- Launches: 2012
- Size: Approximately 1.8 inches tall, 6.8 inches wide and 10.5 inches long.
- New Controller: The new controller incorporates a 6.2-inch, 16:9 touch screen and traditional button controls, including two analog Circle Pads. This combination removes the traditional barriers between games, players and the TV by creating a second window into the video game world. The rechargeable controller includes a Power button, Home button, +Control Pad, A/B/X/Y buttons, L/R buttons and ZL/ZR buttons. It includes a built-in accelerometer and gyroscope, rumble feature, camera, a microphone, stereo speakers, a sensor strip and a stylus.
- Other Controls: Up to four Wii Remote (or Wii Remote Plus) controllers can be connected at once. The new console supports all Wii controllers and input devices, including the Nunchuk controller, Classic ControllerTM, Classic Controller ProTM and Wii Balance Board.
- Media: A single self-loading media bay will play 12-centimeter proprietary high-density optical discs for the new console, as well as 12-centimeter Wii optical discs.
- Video Output: Supports 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 480p and 480i. Compatible cables include HDMI, component, S-video and composite.
- Audio Output: Uses AV Multi Out connector. Six-channel PCM linear output through HDMI.
- Storage: The console will have internal flash memory, as well as the option to expand its memory using either an SD memory card or an external USB hard disk drive.
- CPU: IBM Power-based multi-core microprocessor.
- Other: Four USB 2.0 connector slots are included. The new console is backward compatible with Wii games and Wii accessories.
As well as the Wii U Nintendo also announced a system update for the 3DS, which includes some free content. It also launched the following games:
- Nintendo 3DS: Super Mario, Luigi's Mansion 2, Mario Kart, Kid Icarus: Uprising, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, Star Fox 64 3D, Animal Crossing, Paper Mario, Picture Lives!, The Rolling Western.
- Wii: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Kirby Wii, Wii Play: Motion, Mystery Case Files: The Malgrave Incident, Mario Party 9, Rhythm Heaven and Fortune Street.
- Nintendo DS: Kirby Mass Attack, Professor Layton and the Last Specter, Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2 and Super Fossil Fighters.
