Miyamoto says Wii U NFC is a priority

One of the GamePad's features has been neglected so far.

Nintendo Senior Managing Director Shigeru Miyamoto recently spoke with Polygon about the Big N's plans for their new console, and he says that implementing the use of the GamePad's NFC is a major priority. He didn't give any specific details about how it will be used, but it is interesting to know that the company is working on it.

With NFC, that's a feature that everyone that owns a Wii U can take advantage of. So that's what we're putting our priorities right now. We're hoping that in the near future we'll be able to show you something that will take advantage of the NFC on Wii U and people will be able to enjoy that.

Miyamoto also made a brief comment about the future of multiplayer gaming on the console, specifically the use of two GamePads simultaneously.

With regards to the two GamePads functionality, from a gaming system standpoint we are developing games that will have that capability. In the future, perhaps when we get closer to something that, an environment where everybody or a large majority of people would have two GamePads, that might be a time where we look at how we can leverage a system of that nature.

Source: Polygon


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No Wii U games support GamePad's NFC

Wii U GamePad may cost more than $140 to replace

A member of the NeoGAF forums says that he recently had to order a replacement Wii U GamePad after his original was lost while traveling, and he reports that he was charged over $150 for the new controller. The price includes the cost of the controller itself, sales tax, and shipping.

Nintendo has not yet begun distributing GamePads to retailers as standalone products due to the fact that no games currently support the use of two simultaneously.

Source: NeoGAF

Iwata says Nintendo thought of GamePad before iPad was revealed

Some have suggested that Nintendo copied the iPad when they created the Wii U GamePad, but Satoru Iwata says that is not true at all. In an interview with Japanese publication "The Nikkei," Iwata said the company came up with the idea of controller with a screen in 2008, before the iPad was revealed. He also pointed out that Nintendo created the DS before the arrival of tablets.

“We began talking about having another screen being a good idea around 2008. We thought thoroughly about our other options, but in the end, this was the idea which was the most logical for us. So, in 2009, just as we began to press forward with this idea, sure that we were on the right track, this thing called an ‘Ipad’ came into the world.”

“So, 2.5 years after the debut of the Ipad, when we were announcing the Wii U, it was the start of the tablet boom, the reaction was, ‘Nintendo’s just added a tablet to a game console, and there’ll be no revolution this time.’ Even though we’d been working on dual screens prior to the release of tablets, it looked like we were just following a trend.”

Source: The Nikkei via Nintendo Everything

Wii U GamePad latency lower than many HDTV sets

Over the past several months, there have been a number of gamers who have voiced concern that the Wii U GamePad would suffer from lag. The guys at Eurogamer have put the controller's video streaming content to the test and it appears there is nothing to worry about. In fact, the video on the GamePad actually has less lag than many HDTV sets. Here's an excerpt from their analysis.

Regardless of the technical ins and outs, our tests demonstrate that in an area where Nintendo couldn't afford to fail, the GamePad's video streaming offers excellent, low latency results with rock-solid performance. Bearing in mind that many HDTVs operate with far higher levels of lag, this is a significant achievement. Indeed, for many people, using the GamePad screen will provide a marginally more responsive experience than playing on their regular display.

You can check out the entire article along with a video demonstration via the source link below.

Source: Nintendo Wii U GamePad - more responsive than your TV? - Eurogamer

Wii U GamePad supports 3D

There had been rumors the Wii U GamePad supports 3D, and now it appears it has been confirmed. IMGMR has posted a photo of an options menu for the Wii U version of Assassin's Creed III which clearly says "Stereoscopy" followed by the words "3D Strength." Here's an excerpt from the article.

In Assassin's Creed III, the 3D factor can be activated at any time during gameplay by going into the options and changing the 3D settings at "Sterescopy" and, right under, "3D Strength". The stereoscopy can be changed from Off, to Inficolor, to Side By Side or Top Bottom. Also, the 3D strength can be measured from 0 to 10, depending on your visual comfort. The green and magenta 3D glasses needed to experience this visual sensation come from Inficolor.

You can read the full article via the source link below.

Source: IMGMR

Wii U GamePad turns off in Wii Mode

When the Wii U enters Wii Mode, the GamePad automatically turns off to save battery power, due to the fact that it cannot be used to play Wii Games. The Wii U Pro Controller cannot be used to play Wii games either, so you will need to have some Wii Remotes, Nunchuks, or Classic Controllers on hand depending on what title you want to play. Just a reminder, you will need to download an update before you can play Wii games.

One other thing worth mentioning is that some Wii Channels do not appear while in Wii Mode. As of this writing, the only Wii Channels available are The Legend of Skyward Fix and the System Transfer Tool which is used to transfer Wii system data to the Wii U.

Source: My Nintendo News

New details about the Wii U GamePad

The staff of Ars Technica have already received a Wii U, and they've written a short article about some of the system's features that surprised them, particularly the GamePad. For one thing, it has a mysterious connector on the bottom that Nintendo hasn't commented on yet. The instruction manual says it's for "controller accessories" but does not make any mention of what the potential accessories may be. There is also a second mystery connector on the back of the GamePad as well, though they can only speculate as to what it might be used for.

In addition to the two mystery ports, they have also discovered that all four of the GamePad's shoulder buttons are digital. The Pro Controller's shoulder buttons are also purely digital as well, unlike those of the Xbox 360 and PS3 which support analog input.

And finally, it turns out the speaker volume of the GamePad is controlled by a slider, much like the 3DS. If you would like to read the article in full, which features more close-up photos, head over to Ars Technica via the source link below.

Source: Ars Technica

Gearbox Studios president says GamePad is "the best controller Nintendo's ever made for making an FPS"

The staff of Joystiq recently caught up with Gearbox Studios president Randy Pitchford at this year's New York Comic Con and asked him a few questions about Aliens: Colonial Marines and his view of the Wii U. Pitchford is apparently a big fan of the GamePad, as he gave it some very high praise.

Pitchford: "This is the best controller Nintendo's ever made for making an FPS. This is the best controller Nintendo has ever given us for playing hardcore games."

John Koller, the Vice-President of marketing, handhelds, and home consoles for Sony Computer Entertainment America, recently said that "what the Wii U is offering is something that Vita and PS3 can do quite easily." Microsoft has also made similar statements about their new SmartGlass technology. Pitchford, however, doesn't believe they will be able to match what Nintendo's new console has to offer.

"With the Wii U they (Nintendo) committed themselves to this promise. So the link is direct, fast and immediate. Things like SmartGlass and Vita, they appreciate the value of the promise so they're making the promise. But they're not in with such commitment."

"Conceivably there's things you can do on all three without negative impact but because of Nintendo's commitment to it there are something's that could work there that just wouldn't work as well with SmartGlass or with the crossplay between PS3 and Vita."

Source: Joystiq

Wii U GamePad Virtual Tour video

Here's a video Nintendo put together to give viewers a detailed look at the Wii U GamePad. You can see the controller up close after the break.

Wii U GamePad latency only 1/60 of a second says Rayman creator

The creator of Rayman says the GamePad is more than responsive enough.

There have been rumors that the GamePad suffers from latency, but according to Rayman creator Michel Ancel, the latency is just 1/60 of a second. Here is what he told Nintendo Power regarding the matter:

“And I think this is where Nintendo is really out in front of things. The technology inside the controller is quite a bit more advanced than what people might think. It’s really responsive. The response time is crazy, in fact, and I think the competitors will need some time to [get their solutions] this responsive.

“It’s crazy because the game is running in full HD [on the television], we are streaming another picture on the GamePad screen, and it’s still 60 frames per second. And the latency on the controller is just 1/60 of a second, so it’s one frame late. It’s crazy, it’s so fast. It’s almost instant. That’s why it responds so well. So it can be used as a real game-design thing.”

Source: Nintendo Power via Nintendo Everything

Rayman Legends' single-player has gamers play as Murphy and Rayman

Rayman is on auto-pilot for a good portion of the game.

In an interview with Official Nintendo Magazine, Emile Morel, the lead game designer of Rayman Legends,  revealed that in the game's single-player mode, gamers will play as Murphy the frog for a good portion of the adventure. Players will control Murphy with the GamePad's touchscreen while the AI automatically controls Rayman.

Morel: "You have to open the paths for him, you have to kill enemies for him to make sure he can survive. You are the protector of Rayman."

"Not the whole game is like this - you have specific levels for Murphy and the GamePad and more classic levels when you are playing as Rayman from beginning to the end. Half of the game, maybe not half but a good portion of the game, you'll have to play as Murphy."

Morel eplained that the game was designed in this manner to ensure players use the GamePad even when playing alone, telling the publication "It's important that they have the new device and the new gameplay experience."

Some gamers might not like the sound of this, but just about everyone who's played it says it's awesome, and many are saying it's a must-buy. I'm pretty sure Ubisoft's gameplay decisions will be vindicated by the first wave of reviews, although some hardcore fans of the limbless hero will be disappointed by its somewhat unorthodox play-style. Gameplay trailer after the break.

Source: Official Nintendo Magazine

Wii U browser info revealed - supports HTML5 but not Flash

Internet browsing, videos, and more.

During Nintendo Japan's press event last Thursday, the big N revealed that the built-in webkit-based Internet browser of the Wii U includes HTML5 support, but not flash. HTML5 is a new web standard which is used by many websites for displaying advanced media. YouTube, for example, now has an experimental version of HTML5 for displaying videos. However, the Wii U's browser will not support Flash, which is also commonly used for advanced media as well. It should be noted, though, that the latest versions of Flash are not supported by the Wii, DS, DSi, or 3DS either.

Aside from that, Nintendo also revealed that players will be able to pause games and access the Internet browser while still having access to the images on the TV and the GamePad screen. In addition to that, the Wii U will also allow players to take screenshots and share them via Miiverse. It is unknown whether players will be able to save them or use them for other purposes, so we'll have to wait a bit longer to find out all the details.

Another thing worth mentioning is that when players pause a game and access the Net, the software will store the name of the game being played and automatically enter it into search queries to help players find information quicker. Not only that, but the browser supports tabbed browsing, allowing players to have several pages open simultaneously. The video Nintendo even showed a scenario where a player loaded a YouTube video on the TV and then continued browsing the Internet on the GamePad while the video continued playing. Reminds me of those computer users who set up dual monitors for doing serious multitasking.

And finally, the browser will make use of the GamePad's tilt-sensing ability to allow players to scroll up and down web pages by simply tilting the high tech controller forward and backward. Not bad, eh?

Nintendo is really selling us on the new controller. While some dismiss it as gimmicky, developers are sure to come up with some pretty clever uses of their own to enhance gameplay.

Source: NintendoWorld via NeoGAF

Wii U GamePads can be replaced for a fee

Handle with care.

Nintendo of America recently said that they would not be selling Wii U GamePads as standalone products in North America, leaving some gamers wondering what they could do in the event that their high-tech controller was either broken or defective. Now we have an answer. One of Nintendo's customer service representatives has confirmed that the company will offer replacement GamePads for a fee, although we have not yet heard how high the fee might be. Analysts seem to agree that the controller is very expensive to manufacture, so let me offer some advice: when you get your GamePad, handle with care.

Source: gimmegimmegames

Nintendo of America president says Wii U GamePad is not a tablet

Reggie used Metroid Blast to make his point.

In an interview with the New York Times, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime said the Wii U GamePad is not a tablet, explaining why he believes it falls into a category of its own.

_______________________________________________________________________________

NY Times:The Wii U is basically a tablet. Is that Nintendo’s answer to the competitive mobile market?

Reggie:“The Wii U is not a tablet. It’s a two-screen experience. And so you have this unique GamePad that gives you a different way to have a gaming experience. We’ve got a range of different examples that we can show you. It’s everything from the three of us can be playing the game, and I’m using the GamePad to maybe try and attack you with a space ship. We’ve got an attraction called Metroid where literally I’m playing against the two of you, using a space ship trying to shoot you, you’re shooting up on the ground, so we’re playing the same game but having a fundamentally different experience and that all happens with the GamePad. So it’s a controller with this screen built in that allows us to create content that shows different ways to play together but have fundamentally different experiences.”

NY Times: But if you’re saying everyone is your competitor in entertainment, then why not just turn that second screen into a general-purpose device like a tablet?

Reggie: “Through our GamePad you’ll be able to surf the Internet — it comes with an Internet browser. You’ll be able to watch video content on it. So it will do many things that a stand-alone tablet can do, but in addition, because it’s connected and it’s integrated, our second screen can do a lot of things that a tablet can’t do.”

Source: NY Times

Wii U GamePad needs to be within 8 meters of console

You need to be within 24 feet of the console for best performance.

In an interview with 1up, Nintendo product manager Bill Trinen revealed that the Wii U GamePad has an effective range of about 8 meters (24 feet). We knew there was going to be a limit of course. I think 24 feet is pretty generous, but if you live in a good-sized house and plan on playing games directly on the GamePad while someone else watches TV, it could be a problem if there isn't a comfortable room nearby.

1up: "Is there a limit on the distance that you can take the [Wii U] GamePad away from the system?"

Trinen: “There is. And it’s… Of course, when we’re generally giving limits on things like that, and I think the same thing can be said for the Nintendo 3DS battery life… We tend to be more conservative, because we’re looking at it from a performance perspective. What, really, is the range where you’re going to get the best performance out of that? And you’re going to get the best performance within a range of about… They had a very precise number at one point. In meters it’s like eight meters. In feet it’s about 24 feet. That’s for best performance.”

Source: 1up

No Wii U games support GamePad's NFC

One of the GamePad's most-hyped features has been neglected by third-parties and Nintendo themselves.

When the Wii U GamePad was first revealed, one of its features that drew a lot of attention was it's support for NFC (near-field communication.)  However, so far there isn't single Wii U game that makes use of the technology.

Skylanders: Giants is going to use NFC-like technology to save and deliver an action-figure's stats and upgrades, but it's not going to be a requirement. Nick Ruepp of Vicarious Visions, apparently thought it would detract from the experience. Speaking with The Verge, Ruepp said "We did entertain the idea, [but] We didn’t want to cripple the GamePad the entire time just so you could put your Skylander on the GamePad."

Rayman Legends was another title that many expected to make use of NFC technology, and one of Ubisoft's internal videos was leaked that showed how it might be used. Apparently they decided against it.

Bill Trinen, Nintendo's product manager, has confirmed that no announced titles are known to support the GamePad's NFC. "That is a new tech, particularly with it being available in the U.S.," he told The Verge. "A lot of the developers are wondering what are the options? How do we leverage it? As they start to come with their ideas, solutions and great content, we will talk more about it.

"I don't anticipate it will be too far out."

We'll see if Mr. Trinen is right. The GamePad is reportedly very expensive to manufacture, and it would be a shame if one of it's much-hyped functions goes unused. If you are unfamiliar with NFC, the leaked Ubisoft video is after the break. The feature is highlighted from 1:18 through the end of the video.

Source: The Verge