Tag Archives: Nintendo Wii U

Nintendo takes on Disney veteran as senior VP for digital in US, gets serious about this whole internet thing

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Netflix on Wii U

Nintendo hinted it was improving its notoriously rudimentary online access with word of the Nintendo Network early this year, and was even more adamant at E3 about making a big push into digital video. Some have accused the company of nothing but flag-waving -- if that's true, the waving is about to turn into a full parade through a new hire. As of July 1st, Nintendo is bringing on Disney's former Interactive Media Group senior VP Duncan Orrell-Jones to take on the just-minted role of senior VP for the company's Network Business group in the US. He'll be handling the overall American digital strategy, which covers both gaming as well as content. We'll need to wait awhile before we see the results, but if it helps make sure friend codes never rise from the dead to haunt our Wii U, we're all for it.

Continue reading Nintendo takes on Disney veteran as senior VP for digital in US, gets serious about this whole internet thing

Nintendo takes on Disney veteran as senior VP for digital in US, gets serious about this whole internet thing originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Jun 2012 16:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo’s Iwata says Wii U’s second screen was nearly scrapped due to price

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The idea of a second screen experience is fairly central to the Wii U as it is today, but it looks like it could have nearly been shoved aside as just another concept. In an interview published today by The Telegraph, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata said that the company "almost gave up on the idea of the additional screen" during its final discussions about the console, adding that "this was due to our concern over the expected high cost, it may not have been feasible to create this and sell it at a reasonable price point for the consumers." As Joystiq notes, that does suggest it was ultimately able to land on a "reasonable" price for the console, although we're still only hearing unofficial numbers tossed around at this point. You can find the full interview at the source link below.

Nintendo's Iwata says Wii U's second screen was nearly scrapped due to price originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jun 2012 16:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dual GamePad support won’t be coming to Nintendo Wii U until ‘well after launch’

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Dual GamePad support won't be coming to Nintendo Wii U until 'well after launch'

Contrary to what we'd heard, it seems as if you and your friends won't be able to enjoy some of that dual GamePad play on Nintendo's upcoming Wii U -- at least not until some time after the novel gaming console launches later "this holiday." During an interview with Gamasutra, Reggie Fils-Aime (Nintendo of America President) said, "Games need to be built that can take advantage of the two GamePad controllers" and that "it's going to be well after launch for those game experiences to come to life." According to Fils-Aine, developers will have to first place all their focus on "asymetric gameplay," before eventually adding support for two GamePads on their titles. Notably, the revelation comes shortly after he himself confirmed the Wii U GamePad won't be featuring any multi-touch capabilities. Not all is lost, however, you'll just have to wait it out a little longer than expected, or make due with one of those Wii remotes you have laying around in the meantime.

Dual GamePad support won't be coming to Nintendo Wii U until 'well after launch' originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Jun 2012 17:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Netflix app for the Nintendo Wii U, pictured

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Netflix app for Nintendo's Wii U, pictured

Nintendo vowed at E3 to provide Netflix on the Wii U, but tracking down the mythical streaming video beast has proven elusive. Thankfully, Engadget has obtained the first shots illustrating how it will work. While it's a prototype that could easily change between now and the Wii U's holiday release (or whenever the app is available), what we've seen so far makes it clear Netflix will milk that second screen for all it's worth. The GamePad is normally used to browse the movie queue and playback controls without distracting from the video on the TV. Should Junior want to catch up on his favorite flick while you're on a Breaking Bad marathon, the reverse will also work: the video can play on the controller while the TV is at most used to show what's playing, and more likely switched over to your DVR. Questions still remain on deck, like whether or not the video can seamlessly hand off from one screen to the other, but for now it's nice to see that Netflix on the Wii U is more than just a quick-and-dirty port.

Gallery: Netflix on Wii U early images

Netflix app for the Nintendo Wii U, pictured originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 14:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mad Catz unleashes the Wii U accessories at E3, we go hands-on

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Mad Catz unleashes the Wii U accessories at E3, we go handson

Eagerly awaiting the launch of the Wii U? You're not alone. Mad Catz is ready, as the outfit has recently announced a set of accessories for the aforementioned console. Here at E3 2012, we were able to get a closer look at the entire family from the charging docks right on down to the TRITTON Kunai headset. While only the set(s) of cans is a finalized design, the outfit says the stands that will recharge your controllers that we saw are nearly complete. However, the FlipCover that we viewed was still a working prototype -- the same goes for the FPS controller that we were able to sneak a peek at. So, what about pricing and availability? The company is only offering that the Kunai for Wii U will set you back $50 when it ships. If you're looking for a quick rundown, hit the gallery below or venture beyond the break for a few impressions.

Gallery: Mad Catz Wii U accessories hands-on

Continue reading Mad Catz unleashes the Wii U accessories at E3, we go hands-on

Mad Catz unleashes the Wii U accessories at E3, we go hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jun 2012 08:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo Wii U and games hands-on (video)

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Nintendo Wii U and games handson video

Nintendo's pre-E3 media briefing has wrapped up and the doors have opened, doors containing the latest and final revision of the Wii U hardware. Reggie & Co. failed to give us any concrete launch details beyond "holiday" this year, so we can't quite be sure of a date or a price or, really, much of anything. But, we do know about more of the launch titles. NintendoLand is, apparently, the premiere title, a sort of touchscreen-friendly version of Wii Sports that digs up many of the company's storied brands and squeezes them into mini-game format.

How does it play? And, how is the new, refined Wii U controller? Join us after the break to find out!

Gallery: Nintendo Wii U and NintendoLand hands-on

Continue reading Nintendo Wii U and games hands-on (video)

Nintendo Wii U and games hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 14:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo confirms Wii U shipping ‘this holiday’

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Nintendo confirms Wii U shipping

Nintendo has just confirmed what we've expected all along. Its next generation console, the Wii U, will be launching this holiday. As Nintendo mentioned earlier, there's no definitive word on pricing, quite yet. The company did confirm, however, that the touchscreen-friendly console will launch with the new multi-player NintendoLand title.

Gallery: Nintendo Wii U Press Photos

Nintendo confirms Wii U shipping 'this holiday' originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 13:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nintendo: two Wii U Gamepads will work on one system (update 2: but at a cost – and now with video)

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Nintendo two Wii U Gamepads will work on one system

Nintendo broke a few hearts when it initially said the Wii U would only support one of its unique Gamepads. Much to our delight, the company just said in its live keynote that the final console will support two. As such, it'll be possible to have truly equal two-player games instead of relegating a friend to the old-fashioned Wii remote and Nunchuk. Of course, how much that extra Gamepad will cost we have yet to know -- along with whether or not it'll be possible to have strictly Gamepad-to-Gamepad titles that skip the TV entirely. We expect to find out soon.

Update: In a follow-up, Nintendo Japan has posted on Twitter that there's a price to pay if two Gamepads are active. Frame rates drop to about 30 fps if two are active; any games that really want that extra controller won't be quite as glass-smooth. On the upside, it's possible to switch one off with a smooth transition; there won't be a need for theatrics just to switch to a solo game.

Update 2: Nintendo has put out a video tour of the Gamepad that you can check out after the break.

Continue reading Nintendo: two Wii U Gamepads will work on one system (update 2: but at a cost - and now with video)

Nintendo: two Wii U Gamepads will work on one system (update 2: but at a cost - and now with video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 12:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Xbox SmartGlass: did Microsoft just render the Wii U controller obsolete?

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Xbox SmartGlass

One surefire way to make sure your company gets out in front of the E3 buzz? Launch a pre-pre-E3 press conference, of course. Nintendo was already set up to kick off the show on Tuesday, getting the party started according to tradition with an early morning press conference ahead of show floor opening. As it has in the past, the gaming giant was scheduled to be the third of the big three, unveiling its wares a day after Sony and Microsoft had their moments to shine. For 2012, the company made an unorthodox play, opting for a small broadcast event the Sunday afternoon ahead of the show, with Nintendo president Satoru Iwata standing alone in an unassuming wood-paneled room, giving yet another sneak peak into the world of the Wii U.

Popular opinion has positioned E3 2012 as a make-or-break proposition for the company. Nintendo's had an unprecedentedly rough year, with a continually eroding sense of excitement around its aging Wii console and a lukewarm reception greeting the 3DS. And with mobile competition nabbing pretty sizable chunks from the company's casual offerings, Nintendo needs to remind people what the console can bring that handsets can't. In earnest, Iwata offered up a smattering of additional details on the Wii U, with a finalized layout for the system's tablet-esque controller, the introduction of Miiverse social functionality and the promise of a bit of mobile device compatibility.

Continue reading Xbox SmartGlass: did Microsoft just render the Wii U controller obsolete?

Xbox SmartGlass: did Microsoft just render the Wii U controller obsolete? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 19:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nikkei: Nintendo Wii U to sell for around 30,000 yen, or just under $400

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We'll still have to wait a bit longer for some official word from Nintendo, but Japan's Nikkei news agency is reporting today that Nintendo's Wii U console is expected to sell for "around" 30,000 yen when it makes its debut later this year. That translates to roughly $380 US dollars, although chances are the official US price will be something other than a direct yen-to-dollar conversion. What's more, Nikkei is also reporting that Nintendo will show off a number of new non-gaming features for the console at E3 this week, including e-books and karaoke (complete with a 10,000 song library), and even the ability to use the Wii U as a car navigation device (just the controller, presumably). Needless to say, we'll be covering tomorrow's keynote live to bring you any of those details as they're announced.

Nikkei: Nintendo Wii U to sell for around 30,000 yen, or just under $400 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 18:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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