New Details About Wii U from Nintendo Just Before E3

Photo: pcmag.com

In a pre-E3 announcement, Nintendo (TYO:7974) has unveiled some new details about its upcoming Wii U game system. The company has been struggling of late, with mobile and social gaming companies eating their lunch as it has failed to really implement those particular elements into its console gaming.

The first thing that Nintendo announced was its new Gamepad controller, the name being a throwback to the old Famicom/NES. The controller can be used as an independent screen, on which gamers can continue to play even when the main TV is being used. The Gamepad can also be used as a fully independent infrared TV remote, which should come in handy as well.

And unlike the prototype that the company showed off at last years E3 conference, the Gamepad will have directional sticks instead of circular pads, which can also be clicked as buttons. There are also NFC capabilities as well as a gyroscope and accelerometer. Interestingly, Nintendo also is going to have a Wii U Pro controller, which is intended for longer and more intense gaming.

But perhaps even more interesting for Nintendo fans is the fact that the company is also implementing new social features into its Wii U system, with something called Miiverse (Mii + Universe). When you turn on your console, the first screen that you see will be tiles of the most played games as well as people’s Mii avatars crowded around them. You can see friends, as well as others in the same country or those who speak the same language as you. Gamers can update their status on a timeline and even share handwritten notes or screenshots from their games.

It’s going to be interesting to see exactly how Nintendo’s strategy plays out. Will its two screen system be a new and innovative gaming experience as the Wii was when it first appeared? Will users take to Nintendo’s new ‘social window’? Given the increased competition from companies in the mobile and social gaming space, Nintendo really can’t afford a miss with the Wii U console.

Check out the 30 minute video announcement from Nintendo’s Satoru Iwata below. I’ve skipped ahead to its overview of social features, which I thought was perhaps the most interesting, albeit a little bit cheesy.