Wii U: all the latest details (updated)

Here is a video of T3's first impressions:



Wii U UK release date

The Nintendo Wii U UK release date is pencilled in for April 2012.

Wii U UK price

Pricing is yet to be announced. But the fear is that, with the new controller, it may be a little too high.

Wii U is a Full HD, 1080p console

The new console will be fully HD compatible unlike its predecessor.

EA boss John Riccitiello says that Wii U is "stunning breakthrough" which "speaks directly to EA sports games" and boasts "brilliant HD graphics."

"Imagine a shooter like Battlefield with jaw-dropping graphics and smooth animations from the Frostbite engine, brought to you on a Nintendo system with that brilliant controller… We can't wait to see EA games on this new system."

Wii U has a touchscreen controller

The controller for the Wii U is, as was rumoured a 6.2-inch touchscreen tablet that also features an accelerometer and gyroscope for motion control, dual analogue sticks, rumble feedback, a D-pad, a front-facing camera, triggers and shoulder buttons, start/select/home buttons and a microphone.

Each Wii U console will come with a new controller and can also use up to four additional Wii Remote or Wii Remote Plus controllers. The system is also backward compatible and can play all Wii games and use all Wii accessories.

Can Nintendo disrupt the market – just as they did with the original Wii controller - yet again?

Wii U processor
According to IBM, Nintendo's Wii U is powered by a custom 45nm multi-core Power processor with embedded DRAM.

Says the company: "IBM's embedded dynamic random access memory will help deliver a thrilling new game experience to Nintendo fans. The new memory technology, a key element of the new Power microprocessor that IBM is building for the Nintendo Wii U console, can triple the amount of memory contained on a single chip, making for extreme game play."


Wii U graphics
Wii U's graphics carry on the ATI heritage of the Wii, with a custom AMD Radeon HD GPU reports Kotaku.

Wii U specifications and connectivity
It appears the original Wii's Gamecube controller compatibility will be binned. while there will be four USB 2.0 ports under that hatch/at the rear and there will still be an SD card slot. There will also be some internal storage, though you'll be able to boost that by plugging in an external drive. And, as befits an HD console, there will be HDMI on board in addition to S-Video and component. Also expect 802.11n Wi-Fi.

Wii U disc format
We know Wii U will be backwards compatible with all past Wii games, but we don't know if there will be any upscaling - or indeed whether the unit will boast a Blu-ray or DVD drive.
You can play games solely on the Wii U touchscreen controller
Nintendo president Satoru Iwata agrees that the first Wii U demo video "may have answered some questions, but it probably raised several others, too.

But the key concept is clear – Nintendo hopes that you will be able to transfer the game you are playing on a TV screen in your home to the local screen, should you wish to play alone in your bedroom or study - perhaps if someone else needs the TV.

"Up until now, home console games had to occupy the TV screen in order to be played. But, the new controller for Wii U with 6.2-inch screen means you won't need to give up your gameplay when someone else comes in the room and wants to watch a TV program."
Demos show that you can move your game from the TV to the screen in your hand almost immediately.

Games can also make use of both screens - there's an ace video of this in action where a girl is using the controller as the tee in a golf game while using a standard Wiimote to actually swing - it's at 3m30s.

So in single-player games the new controller can display information on its screen that does not appear on the TV, while the information and viewpoint can also change in the new controller based on the orientation of its gyroscope.

In multiplayer games the player using the new controller can have a different experience than those looking at the TV.

Wii U does video calling and more

It also looks like you will be able to make video-calls on the Wii U control pad, using its front-facing camera. Plus, you will be able to share your content such as your holiday pictures and home videos from your local controller to the main television with ease.

Wii U is fully backwards compatible with kit and games

Wii U is fully backwards compatible, which means that you can play all of your current Wii games on the system and use your Wii Fit or any other accessories you currently use with it.

But Wii U's controller is not a standalone handheld console

The controller needs to be tethered to the Wii U console to function - it isn't a PlayStation Vita competitor.

Wii U games will be plentiful
"Wii U was created so that the widest variety of games can be supported," says Nintendo. "That means those aimed at experienced controllers that can use circle controllers using both their hands, plus those games that can be intuitively played without the need for any buttons."

Games design guru Shigeru Miyamoto says of Nintendo's new home console: "More than anything I'm really looking forward to new styles of play... There are so many we're just trying to decide where to begin."

Nintendo announced new content based on its own franchises such as Mario and Zelda, but more interestingly,says Adam Hartley, "is that EA, Ubisoft, Sega and lots of other third party games developers were showing off new adult-themed, hardcore games that they are making for Nintendo's Wii U."

Graphically, many of the games look on par with new AAA-titles on PS3 or Xbox 360.
Hardcore favourites such as Tekken, Assassin's Creed, Batman Arkham City and Ghost Recon Online were also demonstrated.

Clearly, Nintendo aims to push Wii U to the hardcore crowd as well as to the casual market it has so successfully won over with Wii.

                                                                           Beautiful.

"EA boss John Riccitiello took to the Nintendo stage to tell the crowd that: 'Over the years I've made E3 appearances with several console partners, but never before with Nintendo.'"

Developers talk about just how great it is. (Cheers ste) http://hicky-hsgameview.blogspot.com/

Developers talk even more about just how great it is.
(Again thanks to ste over at h's gameview for the link)

So, Start saving those pennies now.