

Nintendo unveiled its WiiU next generation gaming console this week, and the reviews are pouring in.
The good
The platform, which already sold out in the US, is considerably better than its processor. The gamepad has been touted as “more luxurious” than the Wii’s, and the console itself features USB and SD card compatibility as well as 2GB of DDR3 RAM, according to one blog.
Nintendo’s new machine comes with several pre-installed apps including Hulu and Netflix, and offers a myriad of triple A titles of launch including Mass Effect 3 and Ninja Gaiden. Getting enough support on launch will be a big consideration for Microsoft and Sony when they launch their own next generation platforms, the Xbox 720 and Playstation 4.
The bad
There are several major complaints about the WiiU, as well as a few minor ones. Establishing a connection takes a bit of fiddling, for one, and users need to download a firmware update that takes up as much as 7GBs (on the 32GB model) to access key online features such as the eStore. Some reports have noted that the controller’s battery life is as little as three hours, and consumers have voiced concerns over frame rate drops in some of the ports.
The gimmicky
It could be said that the WiiU’s big selling point is the fact it’s both a console and a controller, an attempt to integrate TV gaming with mobile. But it has yet to be determined if Nintendo successfully crossbreed these two key trends, or merely created an unconfused platform that is a jack of all trades, master of none.
Support our mission to keep content open and free by engaging with theCUBE community. Join theCUBE’s Alumni Trust Network, where technology leaders connect, share intelligence and create opportunities.
Founded by tech visionaries John Furrier and Dave Vellante, SiliconANGLE Media has built a dynamic ecosystem of industry-leading digital media brands that reach 15+ million elite tech professionals. Our new proprietary theCUBE AI Video Cloud is breaking ground in audience interaction, leveraging theCUBEai.com neural network to help technology companies make data-driven decisions and stay at the forefront of industry conversations.