Wii U Round-Up -- Specs, Online, Games + more!

Wii U ROUND-UP

Wii U rumors/confirmations all in one place

Since E3 2011, we haven't really recieved much word from the horse's mouth about the Wii U, infact all we've got was a few obscure comments about pricing, online, and -- that's about it. So what we're going to have to rely on is words from developers, E3, and ofcourse, those pesky rumors.

Let's jump first into what most people see as the end all of the system.

SPECS

Let's see what the developers have to say about it first shall we?

CRYTEK

CRYTEK, the developers behind Crysis and the infamous CryEngine have stated that the Wii U's specs are "Very good" in an interview with gameindustry.biz.

FULL QUOTE:"The specs are very good. It's a challenge for designers, but once thought through it can add value, and that's what's ultimately important. Our guys in Nottingham they are very happy with their tests on the dev kits and they're excited about it."

VALVE

Managing director at Valve, Gabe Newell, speaking to Joystiq, personally stated that the Wii U was "alot more powerfull than the previous generation." ie PS3/360/Wii.

FULL QUOTE:"Wii U seems to be a lot more powerful than the previous generation," he claimed. "It sort of fits better into the scalability in terms of graphics performance and CPU performance, so I think it'll be a lot easier for us to fit it into our scalability model."

THQ

THQ employee sat down with FEDWARS in an interview discussing future videogames and the Wii U compared to the PS3/360.

Here are a few quotes regarding the Wii U:

"Well I would expect the PC versions to be graphically superior over the console versions. And I'm sure the Wii U versions of Darksiders 2 and Metro Last Light will be superior to the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 versions."

"The Wii U is full of potential as far as specs go. I know that Metro: Last Light is running at a good 50-60 fps on the PC, so I'm not sure how the Wii U version will compare to that. But the Wii U version of games from ALL developers and publishers, have potential for much smoother framerates, improved textures, and additional bonus content that the 360/PS3 version's won't have. In a way, buying the Wii U version over the 360/PS3 versions, will be like buying the Blu-ray version of a movie instead of the standard dvd version. You get better visuals, and more additional content with the Wii U version of any game compared to the other console version."

"The Wii U is much more powerful than the other HD consoles, so Wii U doesn't have a huge problem doing 1080p for the majority of its games. Will Darksiders 2 and Metro: Last Light be in 1080p on Wii U? I can't speak for the teams behind those games. I don't work on those specific teams so I can't say what they plan to do with the Wii U versions of their games as far as graphics or content go. I do know based on the specs I've seen, the console is more than capable of graphics that surpass current consoles."

"Expect majority of third party Wii U games from most publishers to have true 1080p, additional content, and smoother framrates than what the PS3/360 versions offer. If you want the DEFINITIVE version of any game in your library, I would suggest either the PC version or the Wii U version...at least for now."

"Listening to people within the company, people are pretty happy with the specs of the Wii U. I don't think anyone has anything to worry about. There is one thing I want to mention though. Better graphics is not all rosey for gamers in the long run. "

EA

EA COO Peter Moore has stated that the Wii U will not be a transitional platform.

FULL QUOTE: "He told IndustryGamers: "People will start talking about the Wii U being a transitional platform. And I don't think that's going to be the case.

"And here's why: the tablet controller is huge. This is not about specs any more... This is about, as it was with the Wii, is the controller a unique way of enjoying a game experience, regardless of what the graphic fidelity is?"

PRICING

A major factor with the Wii U's success lies within the pricing. Nintendo themselves have been a bit ambiguous on the topic, keeping fairly closed lipped, but they did have some word to say:

"For consumers who want to have the latest gadgets and have a higher disposable income, that's for the Wii U."

"We've been very clear, the market is going to decide how long these products will coexist side by side [Wii and Wii U]. Our goal is to launch the Wii U and drive it into the marketplace, but it will speak to a different consumer than the one that is buying the Wii today during the holidays."

Australian subsidiary of popular videogame retailer Gamestop, which goes by the name EBgames, has published a placeholder price tag for the Wii U. EBgames gave an estimated value of $599 AUD.

As of 18th January 2012 599.0 AUD = 622.214189184 USD. But don't be fazed by this, Australian prices are always significantly higher compared to the US and Europe. For a quick cross reference:

360 launch price in AUS: $649 AUD

360 launch price in US:$399 USD

PS3 launch price in AUS: $999 AUD

PS3 launch price in US: $599 USD

Wii launch price in AUD: $399 AUD

Wii Launch price is US: $249 USD

ONLINE

Nintendo have not gone into too much detail about the Wii U's online Infrastructure, but third party developers such as Ubisoft have confirmed that the Wii U's online infrastructure will abolish Friend-codes and use an account system similar to gamertags.

At Nintendo's E3 2011 conference, EA CEO John Riccitiello spilled some vague comments regarding the Wii U's online infrastructure:

"EA boss revealed the new network will be an "open" platform with all the features you'd come to expect from other consoles, like leaderboards and matchmaking. Nothing more substantial was said."

Rumors are stating that EA is trying to push their online infastructure "Origin" onto the Wii U. ApparentlyEA are "aggressively persuading Nintendo to go Origin-exclusive with Wii U's online so they can gain a competitive advantage over Steam."

Funnily enough, rumors also popped up about Valve trying to push Steam onto Wii U

CONRTOLLER

Nintendo's main atraction towards their new console (As seen by their E3 presentation) seems to be their controller. At E3, Nintendo was keen on showing us the features of their new controller, here's what is included in the new controller:

• 3-axis accelerometer and 3-axis gyroscope
• Speakers
• Front-facing camera
• IR sensor strip
• Microphone
• 6.2 inch (15.7 cm) 854×480 16:9 resistive touchscreen
• Two Circle Pads and one D-pad
• Stylus
• Select, Start, Home, and Power buttons
• Headphone jack
• A/B/X/Y face buttons, L/R bumper buttons, and ZL/ZR trigger buttons
• Rumble
• Controller sync button
• Bluetooth
• Built-in rechargeable battery pack

Some time after E3, some confusion about the consoles ability to support Multiple controllers arose, and it seemed as though the console would only support one controller. Soon later, NOA President Reggie Fils-Aime confirmed that the Wii U will be able to support mutiple Wii U controllers.

GAMES

And now for the crème de la crème. The Games. As of now (Pre - E3 2012) the Wii U's launch lineup looks exclusive launch lineup looks lackluster at best. Filled with ports of 7th Gen games, the Wii U only has two confirmed launch games from the 8th gen and only one with seen gameplay footage.

LIST OF ANNOUNCED WII U TITLES FROM THE 7TH GENERATION:

• Aliens: Colonial Marines
• Batman Arkham City (Confirmed Launch Title)
• Darksiders 2 (Confirmed Launch Title)
• Dragon Quest X
• Metro Last Light
• Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge (Confirmed Launch Title)
• Untitled THQ game
• Project cars
• Project Nova

LIST OF ANNOUNCED WII U TITLES FROM THE 8TH GENERATION (SOME PRESUMED):

• Untitled Assassin's creed game.
• Untitled Battlefield Game
• Dragon Quest X Online (JP) (Confirmed 8th gen)
• Killer Freaks from Outer Space (Confirmed 8th gen)
• Lego city stories (Confirmed 8th gen) (Confirmed Launch Title)
• No More Heroes 3
• Pikmin 3 (Confirmed 8th gen)
• Untitled Monolith Soft game (Confirmed 8th gen)
• Untitled Retro Studios game (Confirmed 8th gen)
• Untitled Tekken
• Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Online (Confirmed 8th gen) (Confirmed Launch Title)
• Untitled Rabbids game (Confirmed 8th gen)
• Untitled THQ game (Confirmed 8th gen)
• Untitled Ubisoft MMORPG game (Confirmed 8th gen)

RUMORED TITLES

TAKE TWO CEO Strauss Zelnick spoke about the posibility of the GTA series on the Wii U, among other Rockstar Titles. There has been no confirmation as of yet to this game.

NOTE: Confirmed 8th Gen means that they are confirmed to only be coming to 8th gen consoles or PC

As you can see with the lists above, only two 8th gen games (one of which is a download only title) is confirmed as a launch title, while 3 other confirmed launch titles are ports from the 7th generation. While the list itself may lookrelatively great, it is unconfirmed that a large number of these games will be available at launch, or even available during the launch window.

For the games that we do know are coming, we have seen gameplay footage of 2 of them using the Wii U controller. Killer Freaks from Outer Space and Ghost Recon Online.

This leads us to another big question:

HOW WILL THE Wii U CONTROLLER INTERACT WITH GAMEPLAY?

From developers words, we haven't really heard much, other than a short E3 video interview. Not much credibility can be taken from this video, but here are some key quotes:

EA sports President, Peter Moore said his "mind immediately started racing" when he saw the controller.

Executive Vice president of CORE GAMES, THQ Danny Bilson refered to it as the "Swiss army knife of controllers."

Martin Tremblay, President of WB interactive highlighted "Conectivity, advanced graphics, and engaging interface" when speaking about the Wii U.

EA games president, Frank Gibeau stated that the Wii U will "Revolutionize home consoles."

CEO of UBISOFT entertainment, Yves Guillemont, said "you can just imagine what the multiplayer will be like with 2 screens" when speaking about Assassins creed.

He also stated that "Ghost Recon online will leverage the fantastic connectivity of the new controller."

We've already seen the Wii U's Gameplay of Ghost Recon Online. As you can see with the video, the player is given a large and interactive map at his finger tips. The player is able to tilt the controller to view different angles within the map and is able to set waypoints with the touch of a finger. This idea can also be used to send in reaper drones, air strikes etc all while guiding with finger point accuracy.

The creativity is really boundless. In an IGN article Richard George posted what he thought would be engaging ideas for Batman on the Wii U. It's really worth the read!

Let me know if I missed out anything relevant that should be added!

[reserved for updates]

I read this on the Wii U forum. Very good information, thanks!

Still going to pass it up.

Well, looks like you can add Grand Theft Auto V to the multiplat list. Also 2 new THQ titles: one multiplat and one exclusive. I wonder what they gonna be :question:

Well, looks like you can add Grand Theft Auto V to the multiplat list. Also 2 new THQ titles: one multiplat and one exclusive. I wonder what they gonna be :question:

babycakin

I already have the THQ titles, but I'll put GTA V as a rumor.

So, if it does support steam does that mean that I might be able to play games that I've already purchased for the PC on my Wii U?Meinhard1

Thanks for the post. There's some good information here. Does anyone know if you will be able use "remote play" with all of the Wii U games using the controller? Something like that would definitely peek my interest a little more.

Good some up post, glad you used real quotes and the links to them to give it credibility (something lots of people do not do)

I am super hyped for the Wii-U. Can't wait for E3 :D

Sounds........ amazing :shock:

WANT

I really hope Nintendo's E3 lives up to the hype cause right now the system sounds incredible

Thanks for the post. There's some good information here. Does anyone know if you will be able use "remote play" with all of the Wii U games using the controller? Something like that would definitely peek my interest a little more.

madskills6117

You can play all Wii U games (and I presume Wii games) with the controller alone, but the controller has to be within a radius of the console. So don't expect to use it as a portable.

Ill wait for price cut and smash bros release.

Outstanding thread TC.

This alll makes me want the Wii-U even more. Valve is interested in Wii-U? I remember the rumor about Valve trying to get Steam on Wii-U.. ohoohoho that would be gaming bliss.

Outstanding thread TC.

This alll makes me want the Wii-U even more. Valve is interested in Wii-U? I remember the rumor about Valve trying to get Steam on Wii-U.. ohoohoho that would be gaming bliss.

MLBknights58

Steam wouldn't

Steamworks maybe, but even then that doesn't mean a whole lot.

As long as we can get a damn good online infrastructure going for the Wii U then I will be pleased lol

[QUOTE="MLBknights58"]

Outstanding thread TC.

This alll makes me want the Wii-U even more. Valve is interested in Wii-U? I remember the rumor about Valve trying to get Steam on Wii-U.. ohoohoho that would be gaming bliss.

SW__Troll

Steam wouldn't

Steamworks maybe, but even then that doesn't mean a whole lot.

To be honest, it doesn't need any of that to be my console of choice. I'm pretty much already sold on it.

What are your feelings on the Wii-U by chance?

[QUOTE="SW__Troll"]

[QUOTE="MLBknights58"]

Outstanding thread TC.

This alll makes me want the Wii-U even more. Valve is interested in Wii-U? I remember the rumor about Valve trying to get Steam on Wii-U.. ohoohoho that would be gaming bliss.

MLBknights58

Steam wouldn't

Steamworks maybe, but even then that doesn't mean a whole lot.

To be honest, it doesn't need any of that to be my console of choice. I'm pretty much already sold on it.

What are your feelings on the Wii-U by chance?

The Wii U is really the only next gen console I care about so far as the Wii I thought was the best of the current-gen.

I'm just afraid the jump to HD, and thus the ability to share multiplats, and compete with the 360/PS3, might mean it'll lose what made the Wii special in the first place. I mean there's probably three total exclusives on either the PS3 or 360 that I actually want to play, but there's 10x that many on the Wii because when it comes to the Wii it's not just a gimped version of my PC.

I just hope the Wii U can keep that in addition to what else it will get.

The Wii U is really the only next gen console I care about so far as the Wii I thought was the best of the current-gen.

I'm just afraid the jump to HD, and thus the ability to share multiplats, and compete with the 360/PS3, might mean it'll lose what made the Wii special in the first place. I mean there's probably three total exclusives on either the PS3 or 360 that I actually want to play, but there's 10x that many on the Wii because when it comes to the Wii it's not just a gimped version of my PC.

I just hope the Wii U can keep that in addition to what else it will get.

SW__Troll

[QUOTE="madskills6117"]

Thanks for the post. There's some good information here. Does anyone know if you will be able use "remote play" with all of the Wii U games using the controller? Something like that would definitely peek my interest a little more.

D4W1L4H

You can play all Wii U games (and I presume Wii games) with the controller alone, but the controller has to be within a radius of the console. So don't expect to use it as a portable.

Well maybe not for some games, especially if Zelda will be played mainly with wm+, how on earth are you supposed to play on the u-pad alone, you'd have to be at a distance from the screen to be able to swing the remote around and then you wouldn't see anything on that little screen at a distance.

WiiU is most definitely my console of choice for the next gen. I will combine it with a gaming PC and have the best of all worlds!!ShoTTyMcNaDeS

Same here. Gonna buy a PS4 as well.

[QUOTE="D4W1L4H"]

[QUOTE="madskills6117"]

Thanks for the post. There's some good information here. Does anyone know if you will be able use "remote play" with all of the Wii U games using the controller? Something like that would definitely peek my interest a little more.

SuperFlakeman

You can play all Wii U games (and I presume Wii games) with the controller alone, but the controller has to be within a radius of the console. So don't expect to use it as a portable.

Well maybe not for some games, especially if Zelda will be played mainly with wm+, how on earth are you supposed to play on the u-pad alone, you'd have to be at a distance from the screen to be able to swing the remote around and then you wouldn't see anything on that little screen at a distance.

[QUOTE="SuperFlakeman"]

[QUOTE="D4W1L4H"]

You can play all Wii U games (and I presume Wii games) with the controller alone, but the controller has to be within a radius of the console. So don't expect to use it as a portable.

D4W1L4H

Well maybe not for some games, especially if Zelda will be played mainly with wm+, how on earth are you supposed to play on the u-pad alone, you'd have to be at a distance from the screen to be able to swing the remote around and then you wouldn't see anything on that little screen at a distance.

That's not what I meant, to use the motion/IR of the Wiimote, you need to be at a distance from the screen in order to be able to wave around/point, and at such a distance, you can barely see anything on that small screen.

Its looking like this is going to be my 8th gen console of choice.

1080p and Higher framerates? That sounds like a considerable hardware improvement of 720p and 30 F/s to me.

I really want to have a hand on try of one of these things.

[QUOTE="D4W1L4H"][QUOTE="SuperFlakeman"]

Well maybe not for some games, especially if Zelda will be played mainly with wm+, how on earth are you supposed to play on the u-pad alone, you'd have to be at a distance from the screen to be able to swing the remote around and then you wouldn't see anything on that little screen at a distance.

SuperFlakeman

That's not what I meant, to use the motion/IR of the Wiimote, you need to be at a distance from the screen in order to be able to wave around/point, and at such a distance, you can barely see anything on that small screen.

Its going to be odd making the switch to Wii U for mulitplats

Now we are talking, this is getting serious and WiiU is looking better and better and i have no doubt the final product will be even better since Nintendo will (re) reveal WiiU at this E3, if they get full 3rd party support i might only need 1 console next gen.

best fact-focused discussion on the wii U... good topic, i applaud

[QUOTE="madskills6117"]

Thanks for the post. There's some good information here. Does anyone know if you will be able use "remote play" with all of the Wii U games using the controller? Something like that would definitely peek my interest a little more.

D4W1L4H

You can play all Wii U games (and I presume Wii games) with the controller alone, but the controller has to be within a radius of the console. So don't expect to use it as a portable.

As long as that radius is a few feet then i'm good. I dont want to walk around my house with it but merely sit on the couch while my wife watches the livingroom TV.

Thanks for all the info, I'm really pumped for this. I am just hoping that this years showing at E3 doesn't dissapoint. As of right now I am thinking I should only get one of the next gen consoles (seeing as I have less time to play than I did while still in school) so I am definitly planning on Wii-U being that console, all depends on what continues to be revealed this year.

The console looks great cant wait for E3.;)

I like the design of the controller but thus far I don't like the design of the console itself, I think it looks ugly. Hopefully that part has been redesigned to look as sleek as the Wii or Gamecube.

Nice thread TC.

Glad I won't have to deal with friend codes on the Wii-U.

Is GDC over? If so, did we get any more WiiU related news?

I doubt that either the ps4 or 720 will run at a higher resolution than 1080p, because then wed need all new tvs to even experience it which isn't going to happen any time soon.

So even if specs wise, this isn't as good as either of the other two systems, it won't really matter, or at least it wont be nearly as big of an issue as it was with the wii, the resolution was the biggest thing holding it back. So WiiU will most likely be able to handle multiplats of next gen pretty well

Lovely thread based 100% on rumors and speculation. Just lovely.-CheeseEater-

Is GDC over? If so, did we get any more WiiU related news?

kunggustaf

That's like in March, and it's not confirmed Nintendo will have a keynote.

[QUOTE="-CheeseEater-"]Lovely thread based 100% on rumors and speculation. Just lovely.D4W1L4H

Oh I was thinkin he meant that Nintendo is gonna re-reveal the Wii U again, so everything said could be a "rumor" lol.

edit: 2 to many :X

Nintendo is dead to me. I learned my lesson with the awful original Wii.