7 Things You Didn't Know About Wii U

By Johnny Minkley Published 8 June, 2011

Miyamoto and Iwata share their secrets.

You've likely seen the big headlines by now and decided whether or not you're impressed by Nintendo's latest vision for the future of gaming. But how much do you really know about Wii U?

In an enormous 7000-word interview, published as part of Nintendo's essential Iwata Asks series, the Nintendo president has had a good old natter with his star employee Shigeru Miyamoto about all things Wii U.

It's a treasure trove of insight and trivia, and we've pulled out the seven most fascinating facts that you probably weren't aware of.

1. The original idea for Wii U was simply to have "a small monitor" to check the console's status.

Miyamoto: We started from the notion of, "It would be nice if there was a small monitor of sorts other than the TV, where we could always see the status of the Wii console".

The Wii console did have the blue illumination lamp to notify new messages, but the amount of information a lamp could get across was limited...

Iwata: It was only able to say whether there was new information or not, so it had limits on what it could do.

2. Nintendo decided on a tablet controller before anyone cared about tablets. (AKA: "We're not just copying Apple.")

Iwata: It's been just about three years since we started having meetings about [Wii U]. There was a lot of back and forth before reaching where we are now.

Miyamoto: Right, we did. We started from scratch many times.

Iwata: When we were first talking about this, tablet devices weren't very common. It's a classic controller with a screen.

But because people outside the company do not have an insight into our development process, when people see this for the first time in 2011 when this is revealed, they might think, "Oh, Nintendo is going to add a tablet to their console". I think that's how people may see it.

3. The way Wii U works was actually inspired by... Karaoke.

Miyamoto: In Japan, karaoke is very popular. It comes with a remote control, and on the larger screen (TV) it displays the information of the song that's currently playing, and the person who's up next is selecting the song on the screen of the remote. I think the same function exists with the new controller.

Iwata: It's very similar with how in karaoke, the information of the song that's playing now is being displayed on the bigger screen, while someone's choosing what to sing next in the palm of his or her hands.

Searching and selecting the next picture or video, reading text and then looking for detailed information is easier to do on a handheld device, and sharing that with a group of people is better suited on a big screen. So including that structure, it's critical that this environment is available to everyone from the very beginning.

4. The potential for Mario in HD makes Miyamoto's heart pound.

Miyamoto: Um... I can't really talk about [Mario and Zelda Wii U] a whole lot yet, but Nintendo is finally entering a level of HD graphics, where we're now using shaders and such. In that way, it's more... How should I put it, I think people can expect to play more immersive game experiences than before.

And with Mario... Let's see. It's actually a little heart pounding for me when I test the landings after Mario makes a jump, because the graphics are finer than ever before.

I haven't really figured out the direction for this yet, in terms of whether it should be combined with the new controller, or using it as a sub-screen like in Ocarina of Time 3D, or whether it should be playable just with the new controller. With a Mario game, there are both possibilities.

5. If your eyesight's rubbish, Wii U makes watching TV easier.

Miyamoto: What I noticed as we were making it was that when I was watching something like the website on a larger screen, I couldn't see it very well with my eyesight!

Iwata: You end up getting closer to the screen anyways because you can't see! TVs in recent years usually have a programming guide display on the screen, but with my eyesight even that's pretty hard to see.

Miyamoto: I call it the magnifying glass feature: you're able to see it in any size you like on the screen of the new controller in your hands so you can easily read what it says, while everyone's enjoying the bigger picture on the big screen.

6. Wii U marks the end of clumsy text entry on Nintendo consoles.

Iwata: There were things [with the original Wii] that weren't suited to do [on a console]. Like when trying to enter text on Wii, even though we placed a lot of effort into it, I do not think we ever reached a point where we could proudly say that it was a stress-free experience. But this time, I feel that will change greatly.

Miyamoto: Yeah. It's more convenient to have things like a software keyboard at your fingertips.

7. Wii U could feature Kinect-like facial recognition.

Iwata: It certainly seems possible from an engineering standpoint that the camera will recognise you if you position the new controller to look at you. It would be much more accessible if all you have to do is to hold it, press a button and stand on the Wii Balance Board.

Miyamoto: I think so. I hope it turns out that way.

Picture of Johnny.

About Johnny Minkley

Johnny Minkley is a veteran games writer and broadcaster, former editor of Eurogamer TV, VP of gaming charity SpecialEffect, and hopeless social media addict.

Read more articles from Johnny by visiting the Johnny Minkley archive page.

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Comments (69) Latest comment 12 months ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • munki83 #1 12 months ago

    HD Zelda, Mario, DK and Metroid is more exciting than Skyrim.....by only a wee bit.

  • Razz #2 12 months ago

    I believe them on points 2 & 3, they came up with the idea for touch screen gaming long before Apple did, the Wii-U seems like a natural evolution of that concept.

  • bumyoghurt #3 12 months ago

    It's a shame that so much love, effort and money will be put into this only for it to end up like the Gamecube. The 'proper' console market is no place for Nintendo.

  • StooMonster #4 12 months ago

    I thought it would run Wii games at a higher resolution, like the Wii emulators on the PC, but I am very disappointed to hear this is not the case.

    If it did, the Wii U would've been an insta-buy but now it's not.

  • ubergine #5 12 months ago

    I'm really uncertain about the Wu.

    When the Wii Remote was first revealed, it was pretty revelatory. It was one of those inventions which had the quality of being somehow obvious, yet no one had ever thought of it before, and the control possibilities of it alone was enough to spark off a fervour to own this thing and fiddle with it. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, the Wii did not attract the software required to make it work as a console, despite the few worthwhile titles it DID get being able to prove the theory of the control scheme.

    The Wu looks like it might be a complete opposite. On its reveal, it ain't setting my heart a flutter at all. So maybe, like Gamecube, the Wu will get all the good software but no one will want it!

    It has potential I guess but I've no strong desire to get my hands on this ungainly thing they've created, this is not anywhere near as elegant and innovative as the Wii Remote.

  • PixelPirate #6 12 months ago

    The potential for Mario in HD makes Miyamoto's heart pound.

    HANG ON!

    Is this the same Miyamoto who told us that "nobody needs better graphics than the Wii, they are good enough".

    talk about a U turn...

  • fletch273 #7 12 months ago

    Are they really going to call it that?

  • oerhoert #8 12 months ago

    I want Skyrim on the Wii U. Wiimote controls, WiiPad inventory, magic, crafting.

  • monsieur_qwerty #9 12 months ago

    I swear to god that EG is only publishing all these WiiU articles to force me to change my underwear every 10 minutes. And yeah, in your face Apple, Nintendo got there first you gits.

  • neonxaos #10 12 months ago

    @Ubergine - you can still play with the Wiimote. I think you get the best of both worlds.

  • Zozzilla #11 12 months ago

    Should have stuck with Point 1 for me.

  • Cjail #12 12 months ago

    Point 1: Checking the status of the console: that is really a tough job! I myself can't tell when my console is ON or OFF; the only way for me to know the status of my console is to ask her!

    Point 2: Touch screen was invented in 1965 and Tablets are just the application of that technology so don't think you are innovators.

    Point 3: That is not encouraging!

    Point 5: Rubbish English is entirely a Japanese developers problem.

    Eurogamer: Duke Nukem Forever will be out in 2 days so could you give us the review for that instead that talking about a console that will only see the light in 2012.
    Edited by Cjail at 08/06/11 @ 16:09

  • Stoatboy #13 12 months ago

    Pfft. PDAs had touch screen gaming long before Nintendo got there.

  • Vanmunt #14 12 months ago

    I like point 8:

    8 : Don't you think its a bit late to release a console that is only as good as whats already out there, and to be honest looks a bit shit.
    Miyamoto: Yeah, to be honest you are right, but we made a shed load of dough selling the really shit wii, and who would have belived that the wii fit thing would sell.. to be honest I pissed myself when it did.
    Iwata: Yeah, Miyamoto is right.. I said lets all shit in the box and sell that.. but my shit is a bit runny from to much sushi.

  • sheldipez #15 12 months ago

    @PixelPirate did Miyamoto actually say that? The only comment I remember is about how Nintendo always look at evolving technologies.. any links that comment/interview?

  • rob76 #16 12 months ago

    Guess Miyamoto and Iwata forgot to consider the ergonomical aspect for their controller cum tablet cum TV set. Can't help think how uncomfortable holding that thing in your hands for a couple hours will be. I think they were trying to hard to be innovative and this is what they came up with. Oh well, guess that saves mee £300 odd.
    Edited by rob76 at 08/06/11 @ 15:58

  • mrblonde #17 12 months ago

    The Wiiu has loads of potential, which nobody except maybe nintys 1st party's will use to any degree. the 3rd party's ,like was revealed at msofts e3 will stick to novelty add ons like Ghost Recons Kinect gun constructions etc...

    The Wii follow up was always gonna be difficult but whats interesting is ninty hasn't gone with the struggling Blu-ray format but stuck with their own proprietary HD format.

    This i think is almost certainly the way Microsoft will go with the next box, now they have a robust movie download service. Who needs BR? no-one by the looks of it Sony's HD victory was a Pyrrhic one indeed
    Edited by mrblonde at 08/06/11 @ 16:07

  • monsieur_qwerty #18 12 months ago

    So Nintendo release a trailer of a bird in a garden in real time and people call it shit? Are these the same idiots who get horny at the intro videos for every Fable game (those videos are poo compared to the WiiU now)? We wont see the console for about 24 months in europe and people are hating on graphics they havent experienced on a HD screen? Wow they should give you guys medals for your ignorance.
    Edited by monsieur_qwerty at 08/06/11 @ 16:08

  • apoc_reg #19 12 months ago

    I think its Ugly and the controllers a silly idea. So not gonna bother.... other than to play Zelda in HD... damn you Zelda!

  • monsieur_qwerty #20 12 months ago

    Didnt Amazon say they would love to give downloads onto consoles? Come on Ninty, jump into bed with one of these downloading service whores. They want it. And so do we!!

  • DarthMartious #21 12 months ago

    "Oh, Nintendo is going to add a tablet to their console". I think that's how people may see it.

    Yep, because that's exactly what you did.

  • apoc_reg #22 12 months ago

    Oh and anyone who thinks this damages iPad is having a laugh!

  • shave_my_donkey #23 12 months ago

    7 things i did not care about casual gaming
    Edited by shave_my_donkey at 08/06/11 @ 16:07

  • alcides #24 12 months ago

    In Japan, karaoke ... comes with a remote control ... and the person who's up next is selecting the song on the screen of the remote. I think the same function exists with the new controller.

    I think the same function exists with Singstar and a PSP. Or Gamecube games with a GBA. Or a HTTV and a laptop and an HDMI cable. Is is a very good idea!

    But I don't know, the hoops they have us jump through just to play games. Sometimes it's just not worth bothering.

  • Mister-Wario #25 12 months ago

    A very interesting article. I didn't know karaoke was popular in Japan. I mean, I'd seen people singing in The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (great film) but not much else.

    The magnifying feature sounds good, and regarding text entry: yeah, it was cumbersome, but you could attach a keyboard as a last-ditch effort. It should be pretty snazzy on Wii U, though.

    I wonder how big the stylus will be. I owned a DSiXL briefly and the big stylus was wonderful: it was basically styled like a pen. Hope the U equivalent is a decent size too.

  • RawNinjaKid #26 12 months ago

    I can't help thinking how CLUMSY it looks with people holding that big ass controller up to the main TV screen! (And I've haven't seen any demos of two player yet!! LOL!)

    However in practice it probably does give U a deeper and wider experience!

    This odd couple article is hilarious.
    Edited by RawNinjaKid at 08/06/11 @ 17:13

  • layleeloo #27 12 months ago

    @vanmut - go and toss over your HD "every game is the shitting same" consoles then with the rest of the obvious Elitists here. Call yourselves gamers when all you can do is YET AGAIN slate new gaming tech, which you know nothing about haha. I don't know what you are but gamers, you certainly are not.

  • Dave52 #28 12 months ago

    Enough already, at best its a tech demo and a proof of concept...
    Edited by Dave52 at 08/06/11 @ 16:43

  • coolbritannia #29 12 months ago

    7 things I don't know about Wii U.

    1) The price. Though I gather it is "absolutely" fantastic value.

    2) The specs. Though I do know how big it is, the the millimetre.

    3) How much the games will cost.

    4) When it will be released.

    5) How much the controller will cost to replace.

    6) If a 2nd Wii U controller is supported.

    7) What the killer launch apps will be.

    All details I'd expect in a console reveal to be honest.

  • beastmaster #30 12 months ago

    8. It's also a new console!

  • jonbwfc #31 12 months ago

    "If your eyesight's rubbish, Wii U makes watching TV easier."
    So buying a new console is a better solution to this problem than just moving a bit closer to the television? WTF?

  • Dave52 #32 12 months ago

    See Nintendo - see what you did? You made me agree with Coolbritannia.

    I don't understand why the gaming press are falling over themselves about this. It clearly has no substance. It's almost as if they knocked it up because they had fuck all else to talk about. No games, no real footage, hell, they didn't even know what to do with it in the presentation. The big reveal promo was full of ideas that they probably won't end up using and as for the big hoo-ha about HD graphics... Well the other consoles have been doing that for about 5 years now.

  • mattrix33 #33 12 months ago

    Ahhhhh who cares...it won't get any games worth playing.
    It's going to cost a fortune
    It's using the wii balance board..or plastic casual gamers look at me I'm getting fit by wobbling around idiot device.

    nintendo screwed me over with the gamecube then anal raped me with the Wii...I won't get fooled again

  • RawNinjaKid #34 12 months ago

    My favorite is that you can draw on the Wii U!

    But seriously does going from motion controls to a big ass controller make any sense? So suddendly motion control is out? (or limited to this big thing now?)

    It 's so obvious Nintendo are confused if this is an add-on for the wii brand or a brand new console. But they want it both ways and they need all luck in succeeding.



    Edited by RawNinjaKid at 08/06/11 @ 17:07

  • el_pollo_diablo #35 12 months ago

    I'll stick with an iPad thanks

    /trolls :)

  • TechnicPuppet #36 12 months ago

    8. The Wii U has caused Nintendo shares to dip to their lowest level in 5 years. Investors are not pleased by what they see.

  • iago71 #37 12 months ago

    @Mister-Wario

    " I didn't know karaoke was popular in Japan. I mean, I'd seen people singing in The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (great film) but not much else."

    Sorry, are you being ironic? I think you must be. Karaoke was created in Japan. It actually means 'Empty Orchestra' And yes - The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is a great film - totally with you on that. :)

    EDIT - Also - I think if this all goes according to plan this console could well be very interesting. Ive had all the Nintendo consoles but I dont think they ever have really got the angle right since the SNES (regardless of the great games they make) Lets hope they can do it this time. And oh, I'm not just a Nintendo fanboy. I have 360 and PS 3 which I play all the time. I think it would be great if they manage to pull off a return to the golden age of the SNES. Ive been a bit disappointed this gen aside from the obvious titles that are fantastic. Heres hoping. :)


    Edited by iago71 at 08/06/11 @ 17:29

  • coolbritannia #38 12 months ago

    @Dave52, my apologies, I can call you a cunty shitfag if it helps you neg me again?

  • IamTheElderScrolls #39 12 months ago

    @Vanmunt, although your comment was a load of bollocks, it did make me laugh :)

  • metamorphic #40 12 months ago

    Oh, the cuddly Nintendo... always a mile (and 5 years) behind with everything.

  • Dave52 #41 12 months ago

    @Coolbritannia - nah, you don't need to do that... I'm sure I'll be negging you to shit in some other thread soon enough ;)

  • coolbritannia #42 12 months ago

    ha ha, +1 to dave

  • coolbritannia #43 12 months ago

    @metamorphic, 5 years behind in some areas, 5 years in front in others. you can't deny move is basically a wiimote, and kinect wouldn't exist without wii.

  • didac098 #44 12 months ago

    That's great!! A brand new console that does exactly the same that we have from 6 years ago but with a new controller!!! THAT'S SOMETHING THAT NO ONE HAVE NEVER EVER DONE BEFORE... oh! Wait... ¬_¬"

  • rob_of_the_robots #45 12 months ago

    OMG! It has HD visuals. Revolutionary.

  • bluetoothion #46 12 months ago

    I don't see why no much negativity .....while many hoped they would change a bit their heading, it didn't happen,
    its the expected evolution of Wii in the making... its what every NINfan possibly wanted some years ago and that got short sticked with Wii but now they can have it. i consider it a fantastic upgrade if you ever liked wii ofcourse.

    and if it is indeed better than 360 and ps3 in terms of power, zelda looked extremelly nice... multiplatform games could finally be equal or superior to the other two rivals. while i m not sure if i would buy it , there are signs of mature gaming being supported even in the background as well and with a reasonable price tag its seems like a must have step until the actual next generation.






  • Mister-Wario #47 12 months ago

    "Sorry, are you being ironic? I think you must be. Karaoke was created in Japan".

    Alarmingly, I wasn't being ironic. Unfortunately I do not know about every facet of Japanese culture. Sorry.

  • HyperTails #48 12 months ago

    Nintendo still need to address things that need addressing.

    And we all know how it'll turn out... they'll get a couple of core ports, then Sony and Microsoft will release their next consoles and 3rd parties will abandon it except for their party games.

    Looks like an Etch-a-Sketch as well.

  • Caimbeul #49 12 months ago

    See! Even Miyamoto himself admits that more computing power = a more emersive experience.

  • coolbritannia #50 12 months ago

    "Alarmingly, I wasn't being ironic. Unfortunately I do not know about every facet of Japanese culture. Sorry."

    You have brought shame upon yourself, no doubt you are unaware of Seppuku too...

  • gjgjg #51 12 months ago

    Sorry to be a grammar Nazi but when did the US phrase '...you've likely seen...' become accepted on this side of the pond? No harm done but I always cringe when I see these mini victories for US assimilation.

    ANYWAY the wiiuuu is a fun name the more u hear it, and I get the same feeling from the console previews. A bit gimmicy looking, but lots of potential depending on how dev's utilise it.

  • paulf #52 12 months ago

    [link url=http://blog.games.yahoo.com/photos/226-the-evolution-of-touchscreen-gaming?nc#OmgPhoid=2
    ]http://blog.games.yahoo.com/photos/226-t...[/link]

  • mirjamlover #53 12 months ago

    I know this has already been said somewhere but Sony must finally think there luck's turned for the better yeah?!

    they release their next handheld way before the Nintendo's next console. it can do all the Nintendo stuff, only with more power and multi touch screen when used with a PS3 etc.

    Can't see any tech shown by Nintendo that a PS3 + PS vita can't do, is it just me?!

  • penhalion #54 12 months ago

    I saw the controller and thought...oh very dear.....

  • HyperTails #55 12 months ago

    @penhalion

    Get your flame proof vest on. Unless you're praising this thing or talking about its 'possiblities' (the Wii had 'possibilities' too, but ended up being possibly the worst console Nintendo could create) people neg you and call you a fanboy that's part of the 'Anti-Nintendo brigade'.

  • makeamazing #56 12 months ago

    I just think after many of us were burned with the wii, i think this will be a hardsell to anyone but current Nintendo fans. Dont see a large proportion upgrading from wii to Wii u, essentially the same issue that the 3DS currently has. The examples people have given so far of how to use this device better than what we have dont currently sell it for me.

    Yes it will get ports of other games, i think that is a step in the right direction for Nintendo, because it doesnt feel like a nintendo only console when 3rd party exclusives dont sell. But with the first batch of games being over a year late, it might take a few years for it to catch up to the consoles that will be 7 or 8 years old... i dont know, and probably will get negged for this, but i think Pachter was right, they should have done this a couple of years ago, that would have been much more disruptive.

  • spazmo #57 12 months ago

    @mirjamlover: Unless the PS3 and RyVita are sold together, developers will do didly squat with it.

  • SpaceMonkey77 #58 12 months ago

    One thing is certain, if the casuals don't bite, Nintendo are in the shit. Too many of us are invested in other systems with more features.

    A console based on abandoning the only tv in your house? When the average western household has more than one tv, and huge tv displays at that, Nintendo's idea here seems moot before launch.

    Sorry, call me an anti Nintendo storm trooper all you want, but I think this thing is going to bomb hard. The competition is too great out there now. This thing has to compete with iPhone/Pad, which has real cheap games and does much more. When iPhone and PSP Vita can be hooked up to tvs too, with achievements.

    To get the casuals to buy WiiU is fine yet tricky, but they seriously won't buy enough games, Wii proved this much, and hence the name casual. Which leaves the hardcore crowd for Nintendo to bank on. After being screwed by Wii, many won't be going back there again for a second bumming. And other seasoned hardcore gamers have 360, PS3 and PC.

    The price of this thing will be high, along with the games, and frankly I'm insulted this is all the fools at Nintendo could muster after all this time. Guess what, Nintendo. Try leaving Japan, see the world and get some proper inspiration. This WiiU is a slow rollercoaster of death for anyone but Nintendo.

  • spazmo #59 12 months ago

    Calm down mate. It's offering something different to the other 2. You have plenty of options.

  • Komino #60 12 months ago

    So according to SpaceMonkey77, Nintendo should just scuttle off and not look back, as there's no point in them existing. I think a lot of people said this sort of thing before the Wii release.

  • HyperTails #61 12 months ago

    @SpaceMonkey77

    The thing with this is that the Nintendo conference was confusing for loads of people, with some people not knowing what the hell it was at first. But now we do know. And that was hardcore gamers watching on the internet... charlie casual wouldn't know what the hell E3 is, let alone watch it. So I can bet there will be a lot of confusion going on with them, with regards to 'is it a tablet', 'do I play the games on a TV or the controller', 'Wii U... you mean Wii?'.

    I owned a GameCube. I didn't own a Wii. I used to love Nintendo. But since then, i've grown away from them. So yeah, i'd love for a return to Nintendo's good old days... they'll never have a console as good as the N64 I don't think, and I can see some of Nintendo's genious wrapped up in the Wii U, but... they changed, and my tastes changed along with them. I've always been a PlayStation gamer, right from the beginning, and Sony's produced my two most favourite consoles, but as gaming changed I ended up gaming exclusively on Sony's console. I'm not a fanboy, I love gaming, and if a game is good then I could care less what console its on. But I stick to one console because I don't have the luxury of affording them all, and Nintendo aren't looking likely to prise me away from my PlayStation.
    Edited by HyperTails at 09/06/11 @ 00:22

  • BonzoBanana #62 12 months ago

    Why couldn't Nintendo have forgotten about stupid gimmicks and just put their money into a powerful console 2-3x more powerful than ps3/360 and then develop some awesome games that exploit the new hardware. I don't want that stupid controller.

  • madgerald Verified Studio Head of PR & Marketing, Colossal Games LTD #63 12 months ago

    @Eurogamer - any truth in the stories that Nintendo has confirmed that some footage in their Wii U showreel was taken from Xbox 360 and PS3 footage?

    Google "nintendo confirms wii u footage is xbox"

    Surprised you've not said anything about it if it is true (or false for that matter).

  • Zomeguy #64 12 months ago

    @BonzoBanana:

    Building such a powerful console would mean having to take a loss for at least 3 years selling the hardware (and Nintendo does/can not do that). By the way, neither can Sony and MS at the moment, they still want to recoup their losses for some time. I don't think you will see a new xbox/ps until 2015.

    This is also perfect for the devs, as they will be able to keep their current development life-cycle and not have to heavily invest into new tech. Multi platform games are going to be released also on the Wii U(porting apparently is very easy) and next year's (and for a couple of years after that) DF face-offs should be very funny.

  • BonzoBanana #65 12 months ago

    @zomeguy

    I actually wrote 2-3x as powerful not 10x as powerful. If you go with a normal lower cost controller without screen and put the savings towards a bit more memory, a more midrange gpu you'll soon achieve a 2-3x boost over ps3/360. The PS4 and next xbox will make a bigger jump technically I'm sure but I would of been happy with 2-3x performance increase for wii u.

  • rprince #66 12 months ago

    "I hope it turns out that way"? WTF? How do Nintendo work? Are these two not the ultimate bosses in the company? Make it bloody work if you want it to!

  • Iceman_GB #67 12 months ago

    This seems to have bags of potential, but if the past is anything to go on potential rarely equates to a good thing. The Wii had tons of potential before it was released, but ended up with very few games that actually used it to its fullest. Kinect again is filled with potential, but has anyone actually delivered anything to get excited about?

    The controller itself reminds me a great deal of the Dreamcast VMU. Before it came out Sega were showing of loads of great ideas with how it could be used, but i cant recall a single time where i thought to myself that it actually made for a better playing experience.

    I just hope Nintendo aren't swapping waggle for squiggle and actually encourage 3rd party developers to use the thing to its fullest.

  • plastickitty #68 12 months ago

    My concern is the name (I miss the days when you'd get an console announcement and you were anticipating what the name would be. Now they're lazy, just numbers or letter added to the name). I work for a videogames retailer and as with the DS and 3DS we've had various incidents where people didn't realises they're 2 different formats and assumed 3DS games would work on a normal DS. I picture the same with people buying Wii U games thinking they'll wok on the wii. Not much of a concern for us well educated gamer types but seeing as nintendo's target audience is casual gamers at the moment this no doubt will affect them.

  • mojitality #69 12 months ago

    i always wanted to play resident evils on gamecube,but didnt own one. one of the reasons i didnt buy wii is that it isnt HD compatible and gives my PHILIPS lcd black bars. i will buy Wii U which is HD,but not until it supports game cube games as well.no game cube compatible,no wii U .i always knew HD version of the console would come out,and this new console`d better to be backward compatible with everything and be a god in the series to compel me to buy it.otherwise i will stick to psp vita,720,ps4.as friends said sony consoles are more powerful and can play everything via emulators...
    why should we spend that much money on a console to be able to play mario series and few other worth experiencing wii games?nintendo is not for hard cores to boot,lacking big games.hd nintendo seems promising,yet only if wii U does it right and is worth buying,iwill buy it.
    Edited by mojitality at 11/06/11 @ 14:55