The Internet has beeen abuzz about Nintendo’s next console. While Microsoft and Sony have plans for their consoles for the next few years, little bits and pieces have been leaking from all around the world about Nintendo’s next console, from leaked slides that called the system the Stream to hardware manufacturers announcing specs.
So how off were the rumors? Let’s find out!
The console is officially called the WiiU. Not a lot has been announced about the hardware on the console itself, but the focus of the announcement has been on the controller.
The controller has a 6.2-inch touchscreen, four shoulder-buttons, two thumbsticks, a directional pad, a front-facing camera, a microphone, stereo speakers, and both an accelerometer and gyroscope. It’s also backwards-compatible with the Wii and compatible with other Wii devices like the Balance Board.
The WiiU has the ability to pull the game from the TV to its own screen so the television can be otherwise used. The system will also support sharing videos from the controller to the television and will have a video chat system.
Games will be able to use both the television and WiiU controller to display imagery, in much the same way the DS does. The system will also support Wii remotes.
What good is a new system without games?
The first game announced for the WiiU was anew Super Smash Bros. The WiiU version is being developed in concert with a 3DS version, and there is some sort of planned interoperability.
There were also glimpses of New Super Mario Bros. Mii, where you can play the familiar side-scrolling game with your Mii, and Chase Me, a four player-split screen game that supports Wiimotes. If you use a WiiU controller, the game will show you an overhead map view
Other titles announced:
- Darksiders II
- Dirt
- Aliens Colonial Marines
- Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon
- Metro Last Night
- Tekken
- Assasins Creed
- Batman: Arkham City
- Madden
- Battlefield
No word has been given about pricing, hardware specs, friend code/lists, bundles, or even media support, but I’m sure we’ll hear more in the future.
