Today Nintendo stepped out at E3 2011 and revealed their “next-gen” console, which is really a controller-peripheral called the Wii-U. From its initial looks, the Wii-U appears to be an oversized controller-cum-tablet (with a massive 6.2-inch diameter touchscreen), which will bring a screen literally into the hands of the player. The overall bulk of it means that it’s going to be a bit of an unwieldy thing and it might take some getting used to; and it appears to also incorporate the motion-sensing elements of the Wiimote.
Many people have noted that the Wii-U looks a lot like the PADD system from Star Trek: Next Generation, and the touch-screen interface will be used to offload information from the main screen. We’ve already seen Nintendo do this when they tried to connect the Nintendo Gameboy and DS as a controller for the GameCube. The iPad-like nature of the Wii-U controller device may work against it for hardcore gamers; but it’s obvious that the Nintendo Wii is not the hardcore venue.
The most intriguing element of the Wii-U is that it takes the touchscreen tablet angle to its logical extreme: the device is a wireless window into the game console such that if the TV is otherwise occupied, the game can be translated into the Wii-U instead. This means that if someone else wants to use the main screen, you can keep playing your game on the console and access it via the Wii-U. This takes a lot of the onus off being tied to the television set in the middle of the living room (and could open up a lot of different opportunities for social gaming in the same room, or around the house.)
It will depend heavily on the wireless range that the Wii-U is capable of maintaining a signal.
Nintedo has sold over 86 million Wii units across the world, so they’re confident that they have a giant consumer base to work from. The primary concern that they showed about the previous incarnation of the Wii is that what kept some titles from entering their console has been the overall horsepower of the console—but that problem is being absolved with the Wii-U, which has the processor power to produce 1080p HD video content.
Point-in-fact, as we’ve seen that Microsoft is trying their best to enter into the console as entertainment center venue, this might give Nintendo a distinct edge if they decide to go the same direction. Where Microsoft is currently going the route of getting rid of the controller (e.g. “You are the controller.”), Nintendo’s strategy seems to be all about divorcing the user from the main screen and letting them carry it away with them.
The next step might be an actual tablet computer that acts as a gaming/entertainment/mobile console and the Wii-U is an obvious stepping stone for that.
Currently, Nintendo is playing it close to the vest as to the launch date and price point for this console. So we’ve got a lot to look forward to.
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