Wiii? (Nintendo unveils new Wii console)

[Abaddon]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-13689609

Nintendo unveils new Wii console

Gaming giant Nintendo has been showing off its next-generation Wii game console, at the E3 games show in Los Angeles.

The much-anticipated console, dubbed Wii U, comes with a controller that features a touchscreen and camera.

The original Wii console was hugely popular but Nintendo has faced pressure from rivals with similar devices.

Nintendo hopes the new console will create a new genre of gaming.

Wii U will feature a set-top box similar to the first generation console.

But the 6.2-inch touchscreen controller comes with a front-facing camera as well as the more traditional buttons of a Wii remote and a motion detector.

It will broadcast high-definition video and can be used to make video calls and browse the web.

Privacy

In demos, the Japanese gaming giant showed off some of the things the controller will allow - including offering users a private screen to view gameplay information that is not shared on the big screen.

It will also allow users of games such as Wii Fit to weigh themselves and get a read-out via the controller rather than the TV.

Users can also swap game play between the big screen and the controller, for instance if someone else wants to watch TV.

Wii U is "an interesting new concept" thinks Dan Pearson, a staff writer at Gamesindustry.biz.

"It is a hybrid between a handheld with elements of tablet design but also has all the traditional controller elements," he said.

"Initially people may be confused by the controller but so were they when the first Wii was unveiled," he said.

Nintendo was also keen to show off the processing power of the new console.

"Nintendo has been under fire for chasing casual gamers and it is good to see them trying to win back core gamers," said Mr Pearson.

Wii U will work with older games and controllers and will be available from spring 2012.

There was no indication of the price of the new console.

 

[Maniacal]

Meh, I don't care what nintendo does. However here is some info:

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 Controller™, Classic Controller Pro™ 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.

(Taken from the Nintendo E3 2011 Press Release)

Games announced: Smash Brothers, Battlefield 3, Batman: Arkham City, Assassin's Creed, Ghost Recon Online, Darksiders II, Dirt, Aliens: Colonial Marines, Metro: Last Light, Tekken, Ninja Gaiden 3, FIFA 12, Madden 12, Driver, Lego City Stories

Other facts: (GTTV interview with Reggie, thanks to hiero and others)
The price point of the system will be competitive to the current prices of the PS3, 360 in terms of value
The games shown for Wii U at the show were actually PS3 and 360 versions but the Wii U will look the same or better
No BluRay Support
Controller's screen is single-touch
Backwards compatible with the Wii's Games, but no upscaling is done
Nintendo Online system to be announced by the end of the week

Spoiler :

Only thing that might be neat is if they ported Minecraft to it.

 

[Abaddon]

Tekken is coming to Wii?

 

[Skwink]

That's uhhhhh, strange...

 

[mechaerik]

Tekken is coming to Wii?

The WiiU (terrible name). Along with a bunch of other games.

That's uhhhhh, strange...

How so?

 

[Save_Ferris]

I agree with you on the name. But I loved the Wii, so this looks good as well.

 

[Omega124]

Here is my comments from another site:

"I don't want an iPad as a controller! Remember thr orgional "You need to have big meaty hands to hold this properly" Xbox controller? This is reminding me of it."

 

[bigdog5994]

i think i like this.

once again nintendo makes an original idea and runs with it

 

[Maniacal]

i think i like this.

once again nintendo makes an original idea and runs with it

Its not original at all.

 

[mechaerik]

Here is my comments from another site:

"I don't want an iPad as a controller! Remember thr orgional "You need to have big meaty hands to hold this properly" Xbox controller? This is reminding me of it."

I've been reading some reports, and apparently the controller is rather comfortable.

Imo, the buttons and such are too high up, but I suppose they have to be there because of the huge screen (I thought that the rumors of six inches was unlikely; i expected maybe four).

 

[FriendlyFire]

Why ?
Didnt Nintendo just launch the 3DS ?

 

[croxis]

A Wii HD has been rumored for a while now. My current interest is if it upscales classic wii games as well as supporting multiple of the new controllers. So far I have only seen one in use at the same time.

 

[Chukchi Husky]

once again nintendo makes an original idea and runs with it

Nintendo tried something similar before on the GameCube.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda:_Four_Swords_Adventures

 

[Luckymoose]

Nintendo said they want to give games for all gamers, but in reality they have abandoned gamers for the casual market and will continue to lose serious support from real gamers. No one gives a damn about weighing themselves, we want to shoot things and kill our friends.

 

[Disgustipated]

I think the private screen could offer some interesting options on games. But didn't the wii come out not too long ago? Why such a short time between consoles? It didn't used to be this short of a cycle did it?

 

[Chukchi Husky]

The Wii came out in 2006. New Nintendo consoles come out about every five to six years. The SNES came out in 1990 1992 in Europe), the N64 1996 (1997 in Europe) and the GameCube 2001 (2002 in Europe).

 

[mechaerik]

Nintendo said they want to give games for all gamers, but in reality they have abandoned gamers for the casual market and will continue to lose serious support from real gamers. No one gives a damn about weighing themselves, we want to shoot things and kill our friends.

I'm hopeful they de-abandoned serious gamers, it would seem that they've got real third party support again (at least on the WiiU, the 3DS not so much).

 

[Save_Ferris]

Nintendo said they want to give games for all gamers, but in reality they have abandoned gamers for the casual market and will continue to lose serious support from real gamers. No one gives a damn about weighing themselves, we want to shoot things and kill our friends.

How aren't casual gamers "real" gamers? It's not your job to define who are gamers and who aren't.

 

[CivCube]

Wii U reminds me of...

Spoiler :

Nintendo has got to be kidding non-Japanese players with that set-up. It's an even worse idea than the Virtual Boy.

 

[Rub'Rum]

Wii U reminds me of...

hehe I've seen this comic a long time ago, saved it, and it's still one of my favorites!

As for WiiU...

Yay new ways to play the same old washed out and milked-out games.