Mon, Jun 04, 2012 | 09:31 BST

Wii U Game Pad detailed at Nintendo’s pre-E3 conference

Nintendo gave us a first look at its final Wii U vision tonight, christening its tablet controller the Wii U Game Pad and announcing a traditionally-styled Wii U Pro Controller.

AT A GLANCE

Nintendo chose to focus on the high-level concepts of the Wii U, putting games coverage off until its core E3 conference.

The Wii U’s tablet controller’s final form was shown, complete with analog sticks and under-stick buttons. It’s called the Wii U Game Pad. A black one was shown.

The Wii U will have its own classic-style control, the Pro Controller.

MiiVerse, the Wii U’s main network, was shown. Players will be able to swap status messages, share game content, and connect to each other.

President Satoru Iwata explained that the Wii U is intended to connect people through devices, not just connect them to their devices.

Wii U Game Pad
The tablet controller has been named the Wii U Game Pad and has, as rumoured, two analog sticks rather than the circle pads shown at previous events. The two analog controls feature under-stick buttons, like the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, upping the total number of inputs.

The back of the controller and the button layer have been redesigned for comfort, and the Game Pad now includes an NFC reader-writer – like those used for PayWave credit cards and smartphones – which Iwata suggests will be used with “cards or figures”.

The controller works even when the Wii U console is not available; Nintendo president Satorua Iwata stressed that while existing WiiMotes can only turn the console on, the game pad can be used independently of the TV in some instances. The Game Pad also functions as a full-featured TV remote control.

The controller was shown being used as the main monitor for Wii Fit and a Mario game, something Nintendo engineers call “asymmetric diversity”. A black version of the Game Pad was seen in the following video.

Iwata confirmed the Wii U will support existing Wii controls, including the Wiimote, the Nunchuk and the balance board. The Classic controller was not mentioned, but a new controller, the Wii U Pro Controller, was debuted; there’s a screengrab of the new peripheral below.

MiiVerse and Nintendo Network

MiiVerse allows for messaging, content sharing, and other socila features.

MiiVerse is native to Wii U and works with all games. Opening MiiVerse does not disrupt gameplay.

Although it won’t be available when the Wii U launches, MiiVerse and the Nintendo Network will eventually be available from web-enabled devices – the 3DS, PCs and mobiles.

MiiVerse and the human connection
A concept video was rolled, showing a player seeking help from others online directly through the Game Pad. The controller asked the player’s mood and prompted him to post a status update after a failed boss fight.

“Guess I’m not alone after all,” the actor commented when he received a number of sympathetic responses.

During the video, we got a glimpse of something Iwata called MiiVerse. This space is the first and last thing the player sees when the console is activated or deactivated, and is “a place where Miis from around the world can meet and connect”. Iwata mentioned that players can meet Miis from their home territory or preferred language.

The Mii-based social network is “as native to Wii U as the Wii U Game Pad”, can be opened at any time without disrupting gameplay, and will be compatible with all Wii U games.

Iwata admitted that MiiVerse – and the whole concept of a console network – is not new, but said Nintendo’s take is distinctive in a couple of ways. The Game Pad allows players to easily read text material from the network thanks to its handheld display, for example, and the touch pad makes it easy to type or even send handwritten messages and doodles.

The messaging and status update area looked similar to Sony’s LiveArea for Vita, and Iwata also confirmed players will be able to transfer game content through MiiVerse, as with near.

MiiVerse will be available via the Nintendo Network on “any web-enabled mobile device”, including 3DS and even PC, but not at the time of Wii U’s launch. The Wii U’s web browser was shown for the first time, working on both the Game Pad and TV screen.

“I believe when you hear from Nintendo this week, there may be several times when you say to yourself, well, that’s certainly something unique, and hopefully you’ll be thinking about unique in a good way.”

The concept
Speaking from a seventh floor conference room in Nintendo’s Kyoto HQ, Iwata said the room’s single decoration, a piece of Japanese calligraphy, displayed the company’s motto since its earliest days: “creating something unique”.

“I believe when you hear from Nintendo this week, there may be several times when you say to yourself, well, that’s certainly something unique, and hopefully you’ll be thinking about unique in a good way,” Iwata said.

Saving all game details for the full E3 press conference, Iwata chose to focus on the high-level sconcepts behind the Wii U. The president said there is some confusion as to whether the Wii U is a “simple evolution of Wii or something entirely different”, and that the answer is “both”.

“Wii U does what we did, only better, and at the same time, it’s entirely new,” he said.

The Wii U is designed to continue Nintendo’s Wii goal of turning the living room into a playground which connects those sharing the space, but also, “connects people living room to living room” much more effectively. Nintendo’s aim with the Wii U is to introduce a piece of technology which unites, rather than divides, Iwata explained, showing an image of users ignoring each other to focus on devices – “together alone”.

“New technologies in general have made life easier and more efficient but we have to wonder what this will mean for the nature of human relationships moving forward,” Iwata said.

“Even with no-one else in the room, you won’t feel alone,” he added, describing Nintendo’s solution to the “together alone” problem as “together better”.

The presentation
The presentation was broadcast on Nintendo Japan’s website and Facebook. As noted on Nintendo’s Facebook page today, the event gave the public an opportunity to “learn more about the Wii U console”. You can watch the presentation in full below.

Nintendo’s full E3 press conference takes place Tuesday, June 5 at 9.00am PDT/12.00pm EST/5.00pm UK.

For a full run-down of our E3 content next week, take a look at this.

80 comment-trail-alt Posted in: E3 2012, Nintendo, Wii U
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80 comments

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#51

Dark
03/06/12, 11:35 pm

I WANT MY 30 MINUTES BACK!!!

#52

kony 2012
03/06/12, 11:38 pm

@Dark watch the Microsoft conference worth everyone’s time ;)

#53

KrazyKraut
03/06/12, 11:40 pm

will this nintendo social app avaiable on ps3 or x360 too?

#54

Erthazus
03/06/12, 11:41 pm

“and the fact that you can use the controller as a webcam, with no other costs is great.”

LOL? Web Cam costs 10$. Wii U controller is not even a web cam, it’s going to have a shitty cam with mobile device quality.

People expect too much from this controller, but in reality, that controller DOES NOT HAVE EVEN MULTITOUCH SCREEN which is Stupid.

#55

Moonwalker1982
03/06/12, 11:44 pm

It’s all gonna be about the game for me on tuesday. But if this thing won’t have cross-chat, that would be bullshit.

#56

Erthazus
03/06/12, 11:45 pm

Cross-chat?

That “Kitchen sink” does not have Multitouch screen. Someone expect a Jesus tomorrow?

#57

strikkebil
03/06/12, 11:45 pm

controller looks gud. i hope sony puts the joystiqs like that.

#58

Sadismek
03/06/12, 11:45 pm

@49 Uh, multitouch for what? Pinch-and-zoom? And, yeah, the fact that you can use the controller as a webcam, as a graphical tablet, as a separate screen to play games, for no other cost is great.

No Nintendo fanboy here, as I avoided Wii with all my will, but I like what I’ve seen here. Yeah, the screen is a bit smaller than I expected, the controller is a tad bulkier than I thought, but I think it’ll do just fine.

#59

Phoenixblight
03/06/12, 11:48 pm

@50

Will there be games thought they said that Nintendo will be focusing on the 3ds. THey may just do it like last year and using a compilement of videos streamed from a Xbox.

#60

nofear360
03/06/12, 11:50 pm

Let’s hope they show off the new features with some actual games on Tuesday, preferably real-time. Really liked the Miiverse, I’m glad they are doing something different from the other two.

#61

mathare92
03/06/12, 11:50 pm

They really are adamant on not showing the actual console huh? Just makes it more confusing for the punters who’ll assume they’re only buying a new controller/tablet for their existing Wii.

P.S. Someone should really get on making a dubstep remix of Iwata saying “Wii Wara Wara”

#62

Erthazus
03/06/12, 11:52 pm

#53,
Multitouch? For gaming experiences of course. Multitouch you can use for

Two Finger Scroll
Pinch
spread
Rotate
Two finger Tap
flick
Pan
Double Tap feature
Long Press
Rotate with your fingers

With singletouch you can’t do anything from this. You can only Tap and that’s it.
If someone thinks that multitouch is for pinch-and-zoom he have serious problems. Singletouch is CRAP compared to what you can do with multitouch.

It’s 2012. Good morning!

“And, yeah, the fact that you can use the controller as a webcam”

and you are going to use a controller as a web cam? Is this a new level of idiocy?

#63

Ireland Michael
03/06/12, 11:54 pm

They’ve already said Tuesday will be when they show off the games.

#64

daytripper
03/06/12, 11:55 pm

i could barely understand Iwata

#65

nofear360
03/06/12, 11:58 pm

@58: If you’re referring to my comment, I meant these online/social features shown with some real games. I know real games will be shown on Tuesday, but will they also be shown with these new features? That’s what I’d like to see. Today we only saw it as a concept, with some poor zombie video. I want to see it applied to a real, playable game (oh, and I don’t doubt they can do it. I know they can, just out of curiosity want it to be seen within a real game, that is all :) )

#66

Moonwalker1982
04/06/12, 12:09 am

Iwata said ‘Tuesday when we will show you game experiences you’ve never had’ …..riiiight, i wonder what thats gonna be then. I’m not gonna get my hopes up. Let’s just say i hope one thing, that they will finally make it interesting for the ‘hardcore’ gamer to buy it. The Wii is the one system i’ve been very dissappointed with. Only a few nice games and that was it.

Wii U could have all the firepower to show amaizng looking games, if it doesn’t have some really good and especially….exclusive games from thid parties, that would really suck. I’m curious though, that’s for damn sure.

#67

Phoenixblight
04/06/12, 12:12 am

@61

ANd not just Nintendo’s game but third party games. I don’t care for another Mario Galaxy or Zelda. I want to see what the third party does with this tech.

#68

Ireland Michael
04/06/12, 12:14 am

@61 Third party exclusives are a relic. You pretty much expect those games to appear on all formats now, which is where the Wii let itself down.

#69

daytripper
04/06/12, 12:47 am

Can only imagine what the chat interface allowing drawings etc to be linked with text will be like…

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-viyOdKOZRj4/TfGHG54YAaI/AAAAAAAAONk/lNoKNwKrWGM/s1600/WiiUGif.gif

#70

Fnoros
04/06/12, 2:28 am

so why are the thumbsticks above the buttons? It seems likely that it will lead to many an accidental button press.

#71

TheBlackHole
04/06/12, 2:40 am

That pro controller is balls. It’s a 360 controller with terribly placed thumbsticks. It’s like they wanted to avoid copyright infringement so just put the sticks up top.

Also, what the fuck is a wii u? Ninty, if you insist on not showing the console people are going to be just as bloody confused as last year?!

No specs, no games, no clarity. Not impressed.

#72

Ireland Michael
04/06/12, 3:07 am

@66 That’s what Tuesday is for.

As has been pointed out a dozen times already.

#73

poketrainer
04/06/12, 6:30 am

The backgrounds on Mario Bros Wii U looked amazing and it’s good to see a squirrel suit power up and Yoshi confirmed for it already. it even looked like it had achievements

#74

Sadismek
04/06/12, 9:02 am

@57 You seem to forget this is, above all, a home console, not a portable gaming device, so all those features are useless, because you’d hardly prefer to play on such a small screen than on your 40” HD TV that thrones in your living room, only when the TV is used by someone else.

“Multitouch? For gaming experiences of course”
“Two Finger Scroll”

Ok, I’m sure you’re using that everyday for gaming.

You really should stop instulting people on the internet, it’s making you look weak. You’d thank me later for this advice. And the fact that after several years spent on an English website you’re still using a sentence like this “If someone thinks that multitouch is for pinch-and-zoom he have serious problems” then that means “he have serious problems”.

“and you are going to use a controller as a web cam? Is this a new level of idiocy?” Good, if this is a new level of idiocy, then so be it. I don’t know about you, but when I communicate with someone dear, which I’ve probably haven’t seen in a long time, I’m mostly using a webcam. I know I’m not afraid to show my face to my friends. Don’t feel attacked, ok? And it’s really funny how you took only one of the three things I enumerated and tried to shit on it. Again, that means you haven’t found contra arguments for the other ones and stick to the one easier for you. Probably you don’t know, but a graphical tablet is nowhere near $10, and that packed a webcam, a touchscreen, thumb sticks and buttons in a single controller, which probably comes for free with the console, is a good thing.

#75

Froseidon
04/06/12, 9:12 am

I’m no Nintendo fan, preferred Xbox all my life. Admittedly, I had a Wii, thought is was okay but sold it due to feeling the Xbox (and probably PS3 – I wouldn’t know, never played one) was a better console for me. That being said, I liked what I saw when I watched the pre-conference yesterday night.

#76

polygem
04/06/12, 9:41 am

hmmm…it´s all about the games for me. i also think controllers are extremeley important. the 360 pad is the best imo. i don´t like the ds3 much (for some games it´s great too though), the wii had some awesome games but the controller(s) was a let down. the wiiu classic controller looks like a 360 pad which is kind of cool. actually, i love it already. the stick placement is obviously to avoid a chat in court with ms. if you pick up a 360 pad and imagine the second stick on the top…it´s not as good as the 360 placement but not that bad either. some of the features announced are interesting. in the end, well, it´s all about the games anyway. aaannnd good pricing of course.

#77

DrDamn
04/06/12, 9:41 am

@66
Very, very 360 controller like. Surprised that hasn’t been mentioned much here, even down to the bumpers. The 360 design is one of the best so it’s largely a good thing, though wonder if they will switch round the ABXY config for a Western release.

#78

Da Man
04/06/12, 10:19 am

Oh well, at least the left analog stick is properly placed.

#79

Telepathic.Geometry
04/06/12, 10:20 am

FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!

#80

ManuOtaku
04/06/12, 2:08 pm

Why they ditch the preassure trigers from the gamecube era?, that controller was amazing because of this, why then ditch it?, dont get me wrong i like the desing but those trigers are nothing compare with the gamecube ones.

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