During the Nintendo E3 2011 Media Briefing, Nintendo announced a swarm of new games and they finally revealed the new console. Previously Codenamed “Project Cafe”, the new console was announced by Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Amie with the new name, “Wii U”. The console features a new controller with a touch screen with full HD resolution.
During the Media Briefing, The Controller was the main focus. Nintendo has provided a look at the console itself as well as providing full specifications of the console.
Launches: 2012
Size: Approximately 1.8 inches tall, 6.8 inches wide and 10.5 inches long.
New Controller: The new controller incorporates a 6.2-inch, 16:9 touch screen and traditional button controls, including two analog Circle Pads. This combination removes the traditional barriers between games, players and the TV by creating a second window into the video game world. The rechargeable controller includes a Power button, Home button, +Control Pad, A/B/X/Y buttons, L/R buttons and ZL/ZR buttons. It includes a
built-in accelerometer and gyroscope, rumble feature, camera, a microphone, stereo speakers, a sensor strip and a stylus.
Other Controls: Up to four Wii Remote™ (or Wii Remote Plus) controllers can be connected at once.
The new console supports all Wii™ controllers and input devices, including the Nunchuk™ controller, Classic Controller™, Classic Controller Pro™ and Wii Balance Board™.
Media: A single self-loading media bay will play 12-centimeter proprietary high-density optical discs for the new console, as well as 12-centimeter Wii optical discs.
Video Output: Supports 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 480p and 480i. Compatible cables include HDMI, component, S-video and composite.
Audio Output: Uses AV Multi Out connector. Six-channel PCM linear output through HDMI.
Storage: The console will have internal flash memory, as well as the option to expand its memory using either an SD memory card or an external USB hard disk drive.
CPU: IBM Power®-based multi-core microprocessor.
GPU: AMD Radeon™-based High Definition GPU.
Other: Four USB 2.0 connector slots are included. The new console is backward compatible with Wii games and Wii accessories.
Nintendo says that each Wii U console will come with only one of the new controllers and for multiplayer games you will use Wii Remotes and the Nunchuck Controller.
There are new third party companies that have announced games such as Darksiders II, Batman Arkham City, Ninja Gaiden 3 , Assassins Creed among many others.
Here are more images of the Wii U and the new controller
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First things first,the controller looks awesome! It also looks like Nintendo is listening to the pleas of the core gamer on this one too. Very exciting! I’ve heard about several promising titles coming up. Just to touch on the fact that it still won’t play DVDs, I can’t see this bothering me too much. All my consoles are connected to one tv and everything else does play DVDs. I don’t see a big loss there. I’m perfectly happy to have Nintendo focus on the games.