Tag Archives: WiiUGamepad

Nintendo’s Wii U GamePad prototype revealed: Two Wii remotes, a display and some tape

Posted on by

Nintendo's Wii U GamePad prototype Two Wiimotes and a display

You have to start somewhere. In a group interview between its CEO and several software developers, Nintendo recently touched on how the Wii U's primary controller, the GamePad came into being. Initially, development focused on a "Wii Zapper" with a small screen and a gyroscope connected to a Wii remote and nunchuk, feeding movement data to the display. This was soon subsumed into the 3DS, which was nearing the end of its design process. In fact, Nintendo titan Shigeru Miyamoto recalled the original 3DS handheld plans to add the gyroscope, even though hardware features had been "set" internally. This early model, however, catalyzed the idea of a second screen for the players' hands and lead to the barebones hardware you can see above. Crafted from double-sided tape and two Wii remotes, the prototype brought forth ideas for Nintendo Land -- and if we're honest, is a fairly decent outline of what the final product resembled, with buttons and controls (including triggers) distributed across both sides of the screen. Interested in the full development story of both the GamePad and Nintendo Land? Then you'd best visit the source link.

Filed under: ,

Comments

Via: Eurogamer

Source: Nintendo

Editorial: Why America’s most popular gaming genre likely won’t work on Nintendo’s new console

Posted on by

Editorial Why America's most popular gaming genre won't work on Nintendo's new console

When first-person shooters made the transition to consoles from PCs over a decade ago, they weren't very good. Or even just good. Despite being today's go-to genre for blockbuster console game franchises (Call of Duty or Halo ring any bells?), the first-person shooter got a rough start on consoles. Game developers -- used to the precision allowed by a mouse/keyboard setup -- had no idea how to design shooters with console gamers in mind. Early approximations like Nintendo 64's GoldenEye and Perfect Dark from Rare were held up as the gold standard for years, while PC gamers snickered and stuck with their superior control mechanics.

Bungie's sci-fi shooter Halo: Combat Evolved heralded the launch of Microsoft's Xbox in 2001, and it marked the end of Nintendo's short-lived console FPS dominance. The first Halo game and its developer Bungie Studios are to thank for the modern console FPS -- a streamlined, slower version of its PC progenitor that stands on its own. In the decade since Halo: Combat Evolved launched, Bungie and many, many other game development studios have honed and perfected FPS gameplay on consoles, to the point where it's the leading sales genre in the US (for the past five years, with the exception of 2008, according to NPD). Nintendo, however, has taken a back seat in this genre -- starting with the GameCube and even more so with the Wii, Nintendo eschewed first-person shooters for the better part of the last decade. Beyond the company itself not publishing or developing within the genre (the lone exception being its Metroid series), third-parties mostly offered watered down ports for the last two Nintendo consoles.

Gallery: Nintendo Wii U GamePad / Pro Controller vs. Xbox 360 / PlayStation 3 controllers

Continue reading Editorial: Why America's most popular gaming genre likely won't work on Nintendo's new console

Filed under: , , , , ,

Editorial: Why America's most popular gaming genre likely won't work on Nintendo's new console originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Nov 2012 10:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Satoru Iwata talks Wii U design, guts a console for context

Posted on by

Satoru Iwata talks Wii U design, guts a console for context

Nintendo's top dog Satoru Iwata recently sat down with some of his R&D crew to talk about designing the Wii U, and unfortunately, a console was sacrificed in the process. The discussion focuses on what changes they've made this time 'round, including the new multi-core CPU and GPU module, and how they fitted more cooling gear in a body smaller than the Wii as a result. In addition to some nice teardown pics for illustrative purposes, they muse on moving to HD, part testing, case design and how the GamePad is more of a companion than a controller. We don't want to spoil the whole bit, so head to the source link for the full transcript, or check out the gallery below if you just want the visuals.

Gallery: Wii U teardown and design comparisons

Filed under: ,

Satoru Iwata talks Wii U design, guts a console for context originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Oct 2012 12:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceIwata Asks (Nintendo)  | Email this | Comments

Nintendo Wii U gamepad not for sale separately in US until games support multiple controllers

Posted on by

Nintendo's Wii U gamepad may be the star of the Wii U show, but it won't be available as a standalone at launch. It will, however, be available when games that function with more than one WiiPad become available, according to Nintendo America CEO and prez Reggie Fils-Aime. "Through the launch window, there are no games that leverage a second controller. And so, during the launch window here in NOA [Nintendo of America] territories, we will not be selling at retail a second gamepad," he told investors during a Q&A this afternoon. "But certainly, when the games come out, we'll be making that accessory available," he added. As for when games will take advantage of a second WiiPad is another question altogether, and one that Nintendo isn't willing to answer just yet.

Initially, the Wii U only supported one WiiPad per game, with additional control handled via the Pro controller or Wii remotes. Nintendo changed its tune, though, following public outcry for multiple WiiPad support.

Filed under:

Nintendo Wii U gamepad not for sale separately in US until games support multiple controllers originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 Sep 2012 21:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

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

Posted on by

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.

Permalink Pocket-lint  |  sourceGamasutra  | Email this | Comments

Netflix app for the Nintendo Wii U, pictured

Posted on by

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.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

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

Posted on by

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.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

Nintendo shows final Wii U Gamepad, TV remote app (update: video)

Posted on by

Nintendo shows final Wii U Gamepad, TV remote app

Looks like Nintendo didn't want to wait for its proper E3 press conference to spill some Wii U details early -- it just used its preview event to show the finished version of the Wii U controller, called the Gamepad, as well as a TV remote app. The Gamepad is decidedly wider than what we saw a year ago, with comfort clearly the top priority in other areas: the analog sticks have been moved further outwards and made clickable, while the back grip has been tweaked in the process. There's also no doubt as to where to interact with NFC gadgets, either, as a dedicated spot below the directional pad will take all your device-to-device taps. As for the remote, it looks to be a straightforward number pad navigator with a programming guide, all steering your TV through infrared. Between this and the Wii U Pro Controller, though, it's clear Nintendo hasn't been sitting still in the past year, and has some home theater ambitions in the process. We're curious as to what Nintendo is saving up for its bigger gala on Tuesday.

Update: Join us past the break to view the webstream for yourself!

Continue reading Nintendo shows final Wii U Gamepad, TV remote app (update: video)

Nintendo shows final Wii U Gamepad, TV remote app (update: video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 03 Jun 2012 18:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Joystiq  |   | Email this | Comments