Nintendo E3 2011 Discussion Thread (Press - 6/7)

[CaptainZombie]

Re: Nintendo E3 2011 Discussion Thread (Press - 6/7)

I'm going to guess March to May 2012 (similar path of the 3DS): introduced in playable, tech-demo form at E3, another, closer to launch showing in the winter (in Japan?) with launch and pricing info, and then a release before E3.

My price guess? $300 (system, one touchscreen controller, HDMI cable, and tech-demo type game...maybe some AR card thinger as well)

I think $300 will also be the price point considering this tech is what we have had for 5+ years now w/ 360 and PS3. Nintendo will have it on the cheap. That controller will most likely be the expensive piece of the whole thing.

[Pete1210]

Re: Nintendo E3 2011 Discussion Thread (Press - 6/7)

I think $300 will also be the price point considering this tech is what we have had for 5+ years now w/ 360 and PS3. Nintendo will have it on the cheap. That controller will most likely be the expensive piece of the whole thing.

I think the processor/graphics, while not cutting edge, will be a nice step up from the 5-6 year old hardware in the other 2 consoles.

IBM puts Watson's brains in Nintendo Wii U

IBM tells us that within the Wii U there's a 45nm custom chip with "a lot" of embedded DRAM (shown above). It's a silicon on insulator design and packs the same processor technology found in Watson, the supercomputer... on Jeopardy awhile back.

[Burns11]

Re: Nintendo E3 2011 Discussion Thread (Press - 6/7)

http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/07/wii-u-controller-has-a-ds-style-touch-screen/

While earlier dalliances with the Wii U's "WiiPad" controller didn't include touchscreen interaction, a hands-on session with the "Measure Up" tech demo told me all I needed to know about the touchscreen technology behind the device.

It has a stylus. A recess in the upper left of the unit hides a small, white, roughly DS Lite-size stylus. Interacting with it brings up the familiar feeling of poking at a DS screen. Much like the handheld's bottom screen, the Wii U touchscreen doesn't respond perfectly to tracing with a finger. And multitouch is right out. Touching two spots caused the line I was drawing to jump to a point between them, much like the DS.

That suggests that Nintendo opted for a cheaper resistive touchscreen, instead of a capacitive touchscreen like the iPhone uses.

No capacitive, no multitouch, really missed the opportunity to make the controller a decent tablet.

[Flawless]

Re: Nintendo E3 2011 Discussion Thread (Press - 6/7)

A completely new Assassin's Creed game for Wii U will be unveiled Wednesday.

...

Arstechnica: Hands-on

The new controller is comfortable in the hands, with smooth white styling and well-designed ergonomics. The buttons are all where you expect them to be, along with the dual analog sticks. It may look awkward in pictures, but in practice the controller is a joy to hold.

In fact, while we didn't find out what type of display is in the controller, we were immediately impressed by it. The image is bright, detailed, and perfect. The 6.2 inch size is perfect for the games we played, while still keeping the size you want from a controller. Very impressive.

Eurogamer: Hands-on

The Wii U controller is Nintendo hardware design at its absolute best. It displays innovation, lateral thinking, supreme ergonomics and a finish that, while not luxurious, makes you happy the instant you pick it up.

It actually has more in common with the DS than the Wii remote, and not just because it presents you with a second gameplay screen. It's rich with unexpected features and offers a subtly different way of relating to games, rather than a single high-concept gimmick.

And with its full suite of physical controls, its touch screen and its impressively sensitive gyroscope, it offers precision and control feedback the Wii remote simply does not. Also, crucially, it ensures Wii U is fully compatible with standard gaming control layouts and interfaces.

It's big, but very light and extremely comfortable to hold. A pronounced ridge across the back makes it easy to grip and it has that classic Nintendo rugged-plastic feel, with a matte surface. It's friendly rather than slick, and feels reassuringly familiar - the similarity now being with tablet devices, phones and portable consoles rather than a TV remote. The size is perfect for a device that will never leave the home; although we don't know what's inside it, or what its range is, we do know that the controller is useless without the base unit.

Large triggers on the back, bumpers and the twin analogue sliders are all perfectly positioned and pleasingly tactile. The d-pad and face buttons are a little more out of the way. The decision to go for 3DS-style 'circle pad' sliders with a flat profile rather than proper analogue sticks seems odd initially; but it's probably to make them more discreet, and to be fair they don't seem to give away anything in precision.

The controller is dominated, of course, by that 6.2-inch touch screen. It's a very high-quality display with a beautiful picture. The HD Zelda demo looked identical on this screen and on the TVs in the demo suite. It's clear that playing HD Wii U games on this controller, away from the TV, will be a fully satisfying experience. It has small speakers, but you'll probably prefer to use the headphone jack for audio. A camera points towards you on the unit's face and can be used for voice chat. Start, select and home buttons, a recessed sync button on the back and a power supply port complete its simple layout.

Pikmin 3 confirmed for Wii U

Pikmin 3 will be a Wii U title, Shigeru Miyamoto has announced.

The Nintendo talisman revealed that he decided to delay development on the planned Wii threequel and move it over to the system's just-announced successor. He said that he thought the franchise will be especially suited to HD visuals.

No release window was mooted but Miyamoto said that as the framework for the game is already in place it might not be too long into the Wii U's life before the title arrives.

[ExtremeGamer]

Re: Nintendo E3 2011 Discussion Thread (Press - 6/7)

Does this change anyone's feelings on the system?

http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/08/wii-u-third-party-sizzle-reel-composed-of-360-ps3-pc-footage/

[Sandman42]

Re: Nintendo E3 2011 Discussion Thread (Press - 6/7)

Not really. I doubt any of the 3rd party developers have had enough time to work with Nintendo's hardware to have gameplay ready to show in a trailer.

[aukevin]

Re: Nintendo E3 2011 Discussion Thread (Press - 6/7)

<iframe width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/arHNcSMXaBk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

That looks really good. I'm sure N will stick to the traditional style, but I wish Zelda would get some voice acting. But an option in to turn it off for the traditionalist, but I know I'm tired of having to read all the dialog in Zelda games lol.

[CaptainZombie]

Re: Nintendo E3 2011 Discussion Thread (Press - 6/7)

I think the processor/graphics, while not cutting edge, will be a nice step up from the 5-6 year old hardware in the other 2 consoles.

IBM puts Watson's brains in Nintendo Wii U

I agree and Nintendo the last few years hasn't been about having cutting edge hardware so that will most likely allow them to come in at $299 or $349 at the most.

That looks really good. I'm sure N will stick to the traditional style, but I wish Zelda would get some voice acting. But an option in to turn it off for the traditionalist, but I know I'm tired of having to read all the dialog in Zelda games lol.

Zelda looks very nice in 1080p, and it is about time. Like you Kevin, it's 2011 and there should be dialog for all Nintendo games. I know it hasn't been their thing but Zelda would be even better with the voice acting.

[Altimus]

Re: Nintendo E3 2011 Discussion Thread (Press - 6/7)

Does this change anyone's feelings on the system?

http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/08/wi...s3-pc-footage/

No because I already had a strong feeling all the footage was a mix between the three.

[tripwire]

Re: Nintendo E3 2011 Discussion Thread (Press - 6/7)

If the rumors are true, being able to use only 1 new controller at a time will be a bit of an issue. Moms will be pulling their hair out as their kids fight over who can use the controller. My girls have learned how to share with each other, (as best as kids can), but there's no way i would buy this for the family under that rumored scenario. The kids enjoy the Wii, and that's good enough for me.

As a solo gaming experience, I'm slightly intrigued. As for the price, no way it goes for less than $300 at launch with that controller included. They need to be vary careful of where they price this for not everything Nintendo launches sell at a record pace, as they're currently finding out with the 3DS.

[slickdtc]

Re: Nintendo E3 2011 Discussion Thread (Press - 6/7)

Wow, looks pretty amazing. Crazy technology has come this far.

If the rumors are true, being able to use only 1 new controller at a time will be a bit of an issue. Moms will be pulling their hair out as their kids fight over who can use the controller. My girls have learned how to share with each other, (as best as kids can), but there's no way i would buy this for the family under that rumored scenario. The kids enjoy the Wii, and that's good enough for me.

What!?! The first thing I thought of when I saw this was, this is going to be great for co-op games. You don't have to be on the same screen, you can use your controller as your screen. If it's only one screen per console... sounds like they dropped the ball if that's the case.

We'll see. It's only just begun.

[Pared]

Re: Nintendo E3 2011 Discussion Thread (Press - 6/7)

That's because you weren't married when the Wii hit.

LMAO This is true... But I'm interested, not her.

[CaptainZombie]

Re: Nintendo E3 2011 Discussion Thread (Press - 6/7)

Wow, looks pretty amazing. Crazy technology has come this far.



What!?! The first thing I thought of when I saw this was, this is going to be great for co-op games. You don't have to be on the same screen, you can use your controller as your screen. If it's only one screen per console... sounds like they dropped the ball if that's the case.

We'll see. It's only just begun.

There is no way that this is true, they might as well not release this thing.

[slickdtc]

Re: Nintendo E3 2011 Discussion Thread (Press - 6/7)

That's what conventional wisdom says. I'd imagine that was a huge point of making the screen, so you can have that co-op freedom.

Perhaps an issue of detecting which controller is the "main" controller? It wouldn't be cool to be playing the game and someone else decides to jump off screen and it takes a moment to sync up or something.

The whole concept is so freakin' cool, though. It's what you've dreamt about one day being able to do; the day is here!

P.S. for anyone who has ever played a first person shooter in split screen... no more screen watching!

[bkfount]

Re: Nintendo E3 2011 Discussion Thread (Press - 6/7)

http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/07/wi...-touch-screen/

No capacitive, no multitouch, really missed the opportunity to make the controller a decent tablet.

they don't need multiouch, since that's only really important when your only input method is with the touch screen. It's got buttons and two joysticks. Resistive screens can also be more accurate with a stylus, which this will use.

Tablets are expensive, and they also have to include the console itself in the price they choose to set.