Nintendo talks Zelda Wii U ideas

Despite this year's long-awaited Wii Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword still several months from launch, Nintendo is already planning the series' next incarnation for the Wii U.

Zelda head honcho Eiji Aonuma told Nintendo Power he already had several gameplay ideas for the Wii U's touch-screen controller, including ditching Skyward Sword's much-touted MotionPlus gameplay in favour of extensive touch screen controls.

"With The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, we had the Nunchuck and Wii Remote sort of stand in for the sword and shield that Link carries."

"But in a game for the Wii U, I can definitely see something like the controller itself becoming the different items that Link is using, allowing you to interact with the game world and with the game items in a very different way."

Aonuma is also considering a more obvious application of the screen - an always-accessible item inventory.

"Imagine having the contents of Link's satchel available to you on the screen of your controller," he said. Gamers could then "use elements of the pouch to interact with gameplay on the television".

Nintendo wowed fans at E3 with a Zelda HD concept video that ran on the Wii U in real-time.

But Nintendo was cautious to label that gameplay snippet as just an "experience" that may change completely before release.