The Facts About Wii U

Nintendo will be launching the Wii U this holiday season and it has come to my attention that an alarming number of people don't know much about it, if anything at all! Unfortunately I don't think Nintendo has done a great job on spreading the word this time around, so I've taken it upon myself. My hope is I can use this article to educate people before the system comes out and maybe you'll learn something new. Now ladies and gentleman of the internet, I present the Wii U.

Nintendo has recently published this handy infographic to give you all the details at-a-glance, and I will go more in-depth on a lot of these features below as I answer some of the most common questions people have asked me.  For a bigger view of the infographic, click here.

1. What is the Wii U?
The Wii U is Nintendo's newest console system. Let me say that again: IT IS A NEW CONSOLE. Many people mistakenly think that it is just a new controller/accessory for the Wii, but it's actually a whole new system. The biggest feature of the new system is the badass new controller called the Wii U Gamepad, which I'll elaborate more on soon. The Wii U will be fully backwards compatible with all previous Wii games and Nintendo will be providing a method to transfer Virtual Console and WiiWare games from the Wii to the Wii U. the Wii U will also feature HD capabilities, and will support previous Wii controllers such as the Wii Remotes, Nunchucks and the Classic Controller along with the new Wii U Gamepad.

Wii U Gamepad (left) and Wii U system (right)

 2. What is the Wii U Gamepad?
 The Wii U Gamepad is the innovative new controller that's going to set Nintendo apart from the competition. It's the size of a small tablet, with a touch screen in the center, that also doubles as a gameplay screen. Playing Legend of Zelda and need to go into your inventory for an item? Just look in your hands. Touch controls put all your items, tunics, potions and more at your fingertips. Maybe you're more of a first person shooter type of gamer, the Gamepad's screen can be used as a map/radar to find opponents, as well as sending support to your teammates.

Look at all the shiny toys!

The Wii U also has the functionality to take gameplay on your TV screen and transfer it to the Gamepad for some games. This solves a couple age old gamer problems. Say you're in the living room, playing a really intense game of  Mario and suddenly Dad walks in and has to catch the last 2 minutes of the big game that's in overtime.  He pilfers the remote, and changes the tv screen off your game forcing you to pause your gameplay and wait for his game to be over before you can switch back.  But with the Wii U, you can press a button and transfer the gameplay directly on to the gamepad, essentially making it a portable display system.  You can also use the above example but instead of Dad coming home for a sports game, change the dilemma to Nature calling collect and the solution is still the same.

The Gamepad will have two analog sticks, as well as four face buttons (A, B, X, Y), two trigger buttons (ZL and ZR),  and two shoulder buttons (L and R.)  Wii players will also be familiar with the Home, plus (+), and minus (-) buttons. The Gamepad features a front facing camera and a built in microphone as well as gyro and motion controls. All this technology in one package really gives developers a plethora of new ways to make gaming fun and interesting for players.



3.Will there be a more traditional option for players who don't want to use the Gamepad?
The majority of the games that come out will take advantage of the WiiU Gamepad, but for gamers who prefer a more traditional controller, Nintendo has developed the WiiU Pro Controller.

As you can see the design is very similar to the XBOX 360 controller, with the buttons and right analog stick switched. This design has proven to be very ergonomic and most gamers will admit to this style being the best controller design. The Pro Controller won't be available on EVERY game, but will be an option for a lot of the more hardcore genre's like first-person shooters.


4. When does the Wii U come out and how much will it be? What games will be available for it at launch?
The Wii U will be available in North America first on November 18th. Then European territories and Australia will get theirs on November 30th. And lastly if you live in Japan, the Wii U will hit shelves on December 8th.

The price of the Wii U (in $USD) is dependent on which package you buy; the Basic or the Deluxe. The Deluxe is a little more expensive but definitely a better value.  For $349.99  you get a Wii U system and Gamepad, both in sleek black, 32GB of internal flash memory, an HDMI cable, an A/C adapter, stands on which to rest or display your Gamepad and system, and can't forget to mention a copy of the game Nintendo Land! And if this wasn't enough for you, the Deluxe edition will also come with a subscription to the Premium Nintendo Network which is a new service Nintendo will be offering to encourage people to buy digital titles by offering them 10% off those purchases, as well as providing them with special rewards.

Maybe you don't want more stuff for your system, or just don't have that kind of money. Maybe it's a gift for a child or a friend. Maybe you just don't like the color black. Well Nintendo has you covered too. The Basic edition still comes with a Wii U Gamepad and system, but this time in the shiny white color the original Wii has made famous. Also included will be 8GB of internal flash memory, an HDMI cable, and an A/C adapter and this can all be yours for $299.99.

In my personal opinion, the Deluxe is a no-brainer. Nintendo Land alone is a $60 value, and you get it by paying $50 more than the Basic.  Both versions will also allow users to increase the amount of memory via USB external hard drives as well, so the memory isn't a big issue. 

The Wii U will have a better launch lineup than the 3DS did, and looks to be better than the Wii's lauch as well. Below is a brief summary of some of the games available from day 1.

Zombi U - (Ubisoft) A deadly virus has broken out in Britain and has turned the living into hungry zombies. Use the Gamepad as your all-in-one zombie apocalypse survival kit! A first-person shooter in the Survival/Horror genre that's sure to keep you on your toes.

New Super Mario Bros. U - (Nintendo) Mario and friends are back in crazy classic platforming action with up to FIVE player co-op! If you loved New Super Mario Bros. Wii, this game is an absolute must have.

Nintendo Land - (Nintendo) 12 fun mini games based off various franchises in the Nintendo universe. This game is designed to introduce new players to the Wii U Gamepad and its functionality.  This looks to be one of the most popular titles.

Scribblenauts Unlimited - (5th Cell) Maxwell is back, and better than ever! Use the Wii U Gamepad to not only write out the words you want to create, but even use the touch screen to bring to life all new creations to help solve puzzles.  With a huge databank of new words, Scribblenauts unlimited will give you hours of puzzle solving fun. Your imagination is the limit.

There are also other major title games that will be brought over to the Wii U such as Call of Duty: Black Ops II, Assassin's Creed 3, Darksiders 2, and Batman Arkham City will receive an upgrade in the Wii U-exclusive Batman Arkham City: Armored Edition, with new content and new ways to use the Wii U Gamepad.  The Nintendo eShop will also go live for the Wii U on day one with plenty of digital titles to check out as well. More details on those in a future article.

Along with these blockbuster hits, there will be even more great games coming out in the launch window, which normally consists of the first six months.


5. Will it play DVDs or Blu-Ray movies?
Unfortunately, the answer is still no.  While the game discs themselves ARE Blu-Ray discs (much like the PS3) the Wii U will not provide movie playback. Nintendo's reason for this has been cited as "most consumers already own at least one device with which to play movies, and to include such in our system will just make it more costly for our customers."  However if it's any consolation, Nintendo will be offering various video services such as Amazon Video, Netflix, and Hulu Plus from day 1, allowing you to watch your favorite movies and shows.


Well folks, I think that covers most of the common questions I get asked. I'm really looking forward to this system and I hope you are too.  If you have any additional comments, suggestions or questions, I'd love to hear from you.