Post by Steve Farrelly @ 03:28am 08/06/11 | 103 Comments
The new system is essentially a tablet interface controller with a touch-screen, full gyroscopic support, a face camera, dual analogue thumbsticks, a D-Pad and the usual face buttons. You'll be able to interact with your TV in unique ways, as well as go online, or keep playing your game while someone uses the TV to watch a movie or the like.
We're still waiting on detailed specs from Nintendo right now, so stay tuned once we know more. Until then, here's a few items of note:
- The console does all the graphics and streams video to the controller screen.
- Although they neglected to mention it in the press-con, there appears to only be an option for one touchscreen controller per console (presumably a limitation of the wireless video tech).
- The console can output 1080p over HDMI to a HDTV, but the controller's screen is only standard definition.
- Although HD, most previews for third party games shown during the press-con didn't look quite as good -- in terms of graphical fidelity -- as trailers we've seen for those same games on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Indicating that the either they're not representative of the final product, the it's potentential has yet to be properly realised or that the system possibly less powerful than it's much older competitor consoles.
- The position of the sticks and buttons on the touchscreen controller look like they'd be quite awkward to use for serious gaming (so we'll be sure to offer impressions on that once we go hands on).
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Posted 04:02am 08/6/11
Games:
EA CEO John Riccitiello also pledged support for the Wii U: a brief montage hinted at Battlefield and Army of Two for the new console. - There seems to be a semi-official partnership with Nintendo and EA
Sources Kotaku Guardian Engadget
Gameplay stills:
Edit: Just as an aside. Ignoring the tablet, it looks like today's gaming, next year. Can't wait for some real specs.
Posted 05:24am 08/6/11
Posted 05:49am 08/6/11
Posted 06:39am 08/6/11
Posted 07:59am 08/6/11
Think games where some people are playing one type of game split screen on the television, like driving vehicles or an fps or whatever, while another person is playing an entirely different role on their controller, maybe as a commander co-ordinating everyone else in the game as an RTS style of thing.
Or a game like LA Noire where the controller is like your crime scene analysis type tool, and you hold it up to the screen and scan the crime scene with it, magnifying different areas, etc.
Or even just simple things like when you're playing multiplayer games and players can be given secret objectives on their separate controllers that the other players don't know about.
You could have a game like BF3 or Modern Warfare, where you launch unmanned spy drones, and the camera feed from your spy drone is on your controller, while you're still able to play the game and run around as your character, while viewing the feed from your spy plane.
Hell, even a game like Mass Effect could benefit from it cos they could take the UI completely off the screen. You could have your powers and abilitiy wheel and all that up permanently on the controller and just tap abilities to use them, keep the conversation options and such on the controller and off the screen, etc.
Posted 07:57am 08/6/11
Posted 08:21am 08/6/11
Posted 08:28am 08/6/11
Posted 08:32am 08/6/11
I for one (at this point in time) cannot see one benefit for this new controller, seems like another Nintendo gimmick that suckers will purchase however I will definitely get the new console as I can then get new games!
Posted 08:32am 08/6/11
Posted 08:40am 08/6/11
Except you need a special TV and active shutter glasses, so unless Sony are going to bundle a new TV with their console at no extra cost (and assuming you want to replace your kick arse 50" TV with a gimpy little 24" monitor), that's not a better solution at all.
I'm definitely keen to see more on this. I agree with Khel, this doesn't look like a gimmick at all. There are so many applications for a personal touchscreen.
Posted 08:48am 08/6/11
oh sick i can control my console with an ipad
Posted 08:51am 08/6/11
you stick with your shiny gt5 matey, its all you need~!
Posted 09:25am 08/6/11
It also allows you to play different roles without being confused by different angles.
It also allows you to have gimmicks, and FFS before you say "gimmicky" lets looks at gimmicks:
Time travel. Gimmick, worked pretty good for braid
Portals. Gimmick, worked pretty neatly for the 2 games named after them.
Wii. Only a gimmick, managed to outsell every other console and raise revenues higher than any other console.
The thing is, they can not use the tablet at all and the actual games are going to be good enough to play as if they're exactly the PS3 xbox equivilents. Then if a game comes along where you can use this, and is also gimmicky (read, innovative) then great.
That's something that's NEW in the generation, and separates a console from a computer. These are good things.
I think someone in the actual stream summed it up "I can play it in my bed while my missus falls asleep". First good use of a tablet ever. And it's not a s***** ipad with onscreen annoying controls, it's like a giant PSP except with the graphics of a PS3, which makes it better than the PSP2.
But whatever, haters will hate, but they don't let facts prove them wrong. bet he hates the wii, but the market says he's wrong. Statistically he's wrong. Also this isn't a debate of "what's better". This is a debate of "what's new". guess what i can already do with my PC that you saw sony demo. Hurrr.
Posted 09:36am 08/6/11
Posted 09:42am 08/6/11
Posted 10:12am 08/6/11
Posted 10:27am 08/6/11
Controller looks very uncomfortable, hopefully they take advantage of it like Khel says.
Posted 10:30am 08/6/11
Posted 10:32am 08/6/11
Apparently its quite light, I'd imagine it being a fair bit lighter than an Ipad since it doesn't really have any processors or storage or anything like that inside it, its just a touchscreen and buttons. I'd love to actually get my hands on it and see how it feels myself though, cos I'm not sure how awkward it would be to use, but then I guess its not going to be anymore awkward than using a PSP or a 3ds. From some of the stuff I've read from people who've used it, its actually quite comfortable and easy to use due to the analogue controls being up near the top. I dunno why that makes it more comfortable and easy to use, but it does, somehow.
Posted 10:36am 08/6/11
Posted 10:37am 08/6/11
Posted 10:41am 08/6/11
lol they're catching up finally, xbox and ps3 has been for gamers the whole time
it's ok dave all you need is mario kart lols
Posted 10:42am 08/6/11
its driving model s**** all over gt's
Posted 10:52am 08/6/11
Posted 10:52am 08/6/11
Posted 10:59am 08/6/11
Posted 11:04am 08/6/11
I've even started using apple products. what the fuccccccckkkkkk.
Posted 11:11am 08/6/11
Posted 11:17am 08/6/11
Posted 11:17am 08/6/11
Posted 11:19am 08/6/11
Imagine a dungeon crawler where the players had wiimotes and the gamepad guy had a top-down view, and was reacting to your progress, basically playing as the monster's side?
I'm assuming the other controllers are Wiimotes?
Posted 12:06pm 08/6/11
Also, a 8 minute hands on with kotaku. S*** looks epic http://kotaku.com/5809693/8-minutes-of-our-hands+on-video-shows-what-its-like-to-play-wii-u and the streaming from controller to console and reverse is phenomenal.
From http://www.computerandvideogames.com/306087/news/wii-u-console-and-controller-wont-be-sold-separately/
And also http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/07/ibm-puts-watsons-brains-in-nintendo-wii-u/
Posted 12:29pm 08/6/11
Posted 12:52pm 08/6/11
Posted 01:02pm 08/6/11
Can't get excited for Nintendo stuff :/
Posted 01:06pm 08/6/11
from an email i sent to spook at 11am this morning
Posted 01:07pm 08/6/11
Posted 01:09pm 08/6/11
Posted 01:21pm 08/6/11
Posted 01:26pm 08/6/11
so everyone else gets to use old school split screen anyway...
you probably get a bigger second screen with sony's and you don't have to completely look away from the tv at your controller
that is, if you can't only use one of those ipad controllers with the new machine..
Posted 01:29pm 08/6/11
Posted 01:37pm 08/6/11
Posted 01:39pm 08/6/11
how 2006 of them!
Posted 01:50pm 08/6/11
Posted 01:54pm 08/6/11
Posted 03:14pm 08/6/11
Also related,
Edited by Saint to fix broken html
last edited by Saint at 15:14:20 08/Jun/11
Posted 02:18pm 08/6/11
Not sure about the idea of a resistive screen, having to get out a stylus would suck and it sounds like it will be more like a handheld Wii in terms of display. The other problem I have with this is that developers won't take advantage of the screen because of cross platform support and that it'd cost too much to develop interesting controls specifically for the one console. The only games that will really take advantage are going to be Ninty exclusives which means that there isn't a good reason to pick it over any of the existing consoles unless you really need to play the latest rehash of Zelda or Wii Sports. I mean if Gearbox won't take the time to develop a control scheme for Duke to carry more than 2 weapons for 30% of it's market than I doubt anyone making a cross platform game will go to even more trouble to take advantage of the Wii U screen.
The other thing is, I don't think it'd take much from Sony to make the new Vita thing incorporated with the PS3 either and if they did that then they would have a clear superiority in terms of handheld controller.
Posted 02:28pm 08/6/11
Posted 03:13pm 08/6/11
But yeah, this is Nintendo catching up to where everyone else is (and probably stepping a bit beyond, though we wont know that till full specs are revealed). If the WiiU can deliver games that look as good, or better, than 360 and Ps3, with the online features of those platforms, plus cool little gameplay extras through the unique controller, why wouldn't you get the WiiU version?
Posted 03:17pm 08/6/11
Posted 03:18pm 08/6/11
Posted 03:18pm 08/6/11
This is very smart of Nintendo. They are guaranteed sales because they are the first to offer the newest and greatest technology. They have the wickedest tablet I've ever seen, and if they can pull through with it all, then by gosh they make just be kings. Sony and Microsoft will have to top it with their own versions, or something completely new. But for now, it's in the hands of Nintendo.
Posted 03:20pm 08/6/11
I'll get moist and drooling all over the place when they start announcing games, support from third party companies, good online play and proper online experience.
Posted 03:21pm 08/6/11
They do now!
Posted 03:26pm 08/6/11
lol
Posted 03:28pm 08/6/11
<3 nintendo.
Posted 03:29pm 08/6/11
Posted 03:31pm 08/6/11
Posted 03:35pm 08/6/11
Posted 03:37pm 08/6/11
Well they already made a pretty good headstart on that, during the press conference when they announced it they had pretty much every big third party developer there is pledging support for it, and a decent list of huge titles already announced to be coming to it. Not a lot of first party titles announced, but from the demos its probably pretty safe to say theres a zelda game in the works for it, and they said theres a Smash Brothers coming for it.
But I agree with you about the online stuff, Nintendo so far has sucked the dong when it comes to a good online experience. They need to take a good look at the best parts of what Microsoft has done, and what Sony has done, and come up with their own spin on that. For me, XBox Live has set the bar for online experiences, the way the friends list works, voice chatting, forming parties, inviting people into games, all that is just so seamless and easy to do on 360. Nintendo will need to be meeting or exceeding that imo.
Posted 03:42pm 08/6/11
n**** please
i was purely voicing what i think like everyone else and mr pro mario kart comes out swinging
last edited by paveway at 15:42:57 08/Jun/11
Posted 03:55pm 08/6/11
Quote from http://kotaku.com/5809598/whats-under-the-wii-us-hood-ibm-spills-the-chips?tag=wii-u
Posted 03:50pm 08/6/11
Posted 03:52pm 08/6/11
heh
Posted 03:54pm 08/6/11
Posted 03:55pm 08/6/11
Posted 03:57pm 08/6/11
Man...that would help with over population if everyone went on a mass killing spree I guess :S
Posted 03:59pm 08/6/11
Developers get the s**** with the Wii though because so much work has to go into cutting down all of the assets to make the games work on it, so hardly anyone bothers. That's obviously not a likely problem any more. If anything, the Wii U will get the prettiest versions of most game releases (unless there's some other factor we're not yet aware of to prevent this).
Posted 04:06pm 08/6/11
Factor in how f*****g annoying motion controller programming is. I had to use it for a project at Tafe, and holy s*** was it buggy as f***.
Posted 04:50pm 08/6/11
edit: I'm excited for the next zelda:
too bad I'm going to have to buy a whole new console just to play it.
Posted 05:04pm 08/6/11
Yeh, gotta pay that!
Posted 05:15pm 08/6/11
High definition display, up to 1080p resolution via HDMI output
6.2" touchscreen on New Controller, running in non-HD resolution
Internal flash-based media storage, upgradeable via USB and SD cards
Games ship on proprietary iDensity discs of unspecified, but "large capacity"
Games will also be available as downloadable content
Console compatible with Wii games and devices
Release date between April 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012; or after the end of Nintendo's fiscal year
Posted 05:18pm 08/6/11
would this be to increase the difficulty/cost of piracy?
Posted 05:19pm 08/6/11
You hear that EBGames? That's the harbinger calling.
I wonder what the blu-ray licensing fee is?
Posted 05:20pm 08/6/11
Yeap, and a rumoured 25GB capacity. Sure it's not BlueRay, but I think this choice is more efficient for them. I'm positive everyone behind Nintendo working on it have done their homework.
I think that's the reason they didn't go Blu Ray Hog, the pricing is probably not sufficient enough. I'm thinking they'd want to aim for a $500-$700 unit price.
Posted 06:14pm 08/6/11
Posted 06:16pm 08/6/11
Posted 06:32pm 08/6/11
Fitzy"does it have better graphics?" techspert "it has awesome graphics"
Posted 07:22pm 08/6/11
Posted 07:32pm 08/6/11
But you know, don't let the truth get in the way of some good old fashioned news.com style journalism.
Posted 07:34pm 08/6/11
Posted 07:59pm 08/6/11
yea she is pretty sweet radio persona I still tune into Michelle, Tim and Marty in the mornings as Marty is a crack up.
Posted 08:09pm 08/6/11
What's wrong with c-net?
Posted 12:04pm 09/6/11
Yeah go nintendo.
Posted 12:30pm 09/6/11
Posted 12:35pm 09/6/11
Posted 01:24pm 09/6/11
Posted 02:51pm 09/6/11
I'm constantly raging against "screenshots" when 99% of the time they're god damned rendered-not-in-game-shots. Everything is a lie unless you see it with your own eyes.
Posted 03:58pm 09/6/11
As I said before, half the world is retarded when it comes to technology.
Posted 04:15pm 09/6/11
Posted 04:29pm 09/6/11
Posted 06:26pm 09/6/11
That sounds so bad ass. As if hearing that tracker noise wasn't anus loosening enough, now you'll be holding it and can swivel around with it while it goes off.
last edited by DM at 18:26:23 09/Jun/11
Posted 07:18pm 09/6/11
Posted 07:21pm 09/6/11
Posted 09:27pm 09/6/11
More information released about WiiU spec.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2011-06-08-wii-u-includes-amd-graphics-new-25gb-disc-format
Posted 08:19am 10/6/11
lol so they're going to be behind the 8-ball again when the next gen M$ and Sony concoles come out
Posted 08:31am 10/6/11
SHINIEST EVAR!!!!
Posted 08:41am 10/6/11
Posted 08:42am 10/6/11
Posted 08:51am 10/6/11
Which will be a good 4 or 5 years from now. By then they'll probably only be a year or two away from releasing their next system anyway. I think Nintendo generally has a 5 year cycle on their systems. Microsoft and Sony have both stated they want to get a decade out of their current systems.
Posted 02:24pm 10/6/11
Microsoft have stated the Kinect is what they are focusing on now for a good 3-4 years, and Sony has stated the Move is the same. Also Sony stated the PS3 would be around for 10 years. The PS3 was announced in the PS2's 6th year, and then released 2006. So it still has quite a few years in it, especially when both platforms are only now getting a crap load of current gen titles.
Posted 02:28pm 10/6/11
last edited by paveway at 14:28:56 10/Jun/11