Fronzel:
Why has Nintendo become so fond of baby babble when naming their consoles?

because it absolves them of having to come up with a name that sounds interesting in both English and Japanese?

I am rather neutral toward this. The name is stupid, but the console looks cool. The touch-screen controller is kind of interesting, but I feel like it'd be an unnecessary gimmick in most games. My first impression of the controller is that it looks clunky and awkward. Frankly, the Wii remote looked more comfortable. The specs look better than the Wii's at a glance, though.

JinxyKatte:
I don't know about the rest of you but I like my controllers to be well... controlers.

The xbox and PS3 pads are comfortable to hold, even for extended amount of times. But honestly that looks uncomfortable.

And this sums up my chief concerns with the controller. But then, we have however many thousands of people reading from Kindles, playing with iPads and iPhones, as well as every other tablet or smartphone that "dares" to coexist with the "almighty" Apple empire. I can't really imagine this being all THAT uncomfortable, and if it is I'm sure someone will create some ergonomic side-grip attachments for them.

But honestly, I'm rather intrigued by all this. Having the graphics get bumped up to Sony/Microsoft's levels, PLUS this innovative little device? I dunno, I think PS3/360 is going to have some serious competition when the WiiU comes out.

dragongit:
They have comperable graphics to current gen games, no doubt. Maybe even slightly better. But once Sony and Microsoft roll out their new consoles 20whenever, they will eclipse the WiiU, and it will sadly become another saddle for gimmics and movie tie ins.

Perhaps I'm being too hard. But its just a wii, with new graphics and an Ipad to play with.Its like Nintendo really isn't trying anymore, if their naming convention is to be an example.

OK, by that logic, what was the 360 or the PS3?? IIRC, neither of them really changed their controllers nearly as dynamically. Did they do better because they withheld "true" backwards compatibility?

ALL next-gen consoles for the last couple generations have just been "the old console with new graphics," except ONLY Nintendo actually gave TRUE, COMPLETE backwards compatibility at the beginning of this generation. Now the WiiU is actually changing things up by not only giving us the graphics upgrade, but by changing the way we play, too. And, IIRC, it's going to be rather difficult for Sony or Microsoft to "roll out" some new consoles with "better" graphics, since we're already banging against the ceiling of graphics as it is.

Also, to everyone who keeps saying the name is stupid, can you PLEASE tell me what console name from the last decade or so DOESN'T sound stupid? GameCube and PlayStation were both about as obvious as you could get, and Xbox just sounds like some ridiculous marketing ploy to sound "Cool" because it has an X at the beginning. And is 360 supposed to have some deeper meaning, or is it just another marketing ploy?

"Wii" was given a direct, specific meaning to it, and Nintendo has explained this countless times, but here goes.

Wii sounds like 'we', which emphasizes that the console is for everyone. Wii can easily be remembered by people around the world, no matter what language they speak. No confusion. No need to abbreviate. Just Wii

Get it? And now, Wii "U", as the dude in the E3 conference explained, was to signify the company's desire to win back the hardcore by making games that could satisfy both sides. So "We" and "You". WiiU. At least give them points for creating a unique name that actually has real meaning behind it.

It looks good, but I'm afraid my thumbs will intentionally dislocate themselves rather than learn to use a controller with the buttons below the analog sticks.

Megacherv:

Jabberwock King:
So instead of coming out with an actual "new console" they come out with what is more appropriately described as a peripheral meant to compete with Microsoft and Sony's system upgrades. It makes a lot more sense than what I was thinking would happen. Nintendo gets to release new hardware without exposing themselves to being severely outclassed by their rivals next console. It's good to know that I don't have get this thing to play Skyward Sword, as I would have skipped out on it otherwise. Guess I'll have to wait a little longer for the death of Nintendo by their own incompetence, oh well.

Edit: Wait, I know that this new controller has HD graphics, but does this mean that the Wii itself still puts shitty graphics on my TV?

No, there's a new base unit as well

Figured that out already and stated it in a later comment, but thanks. I should probably edit that to prevent other people from quoting me.

Yes, there will be a console to go with that controller.

Also, prices similar to current PS3 and 360 prices, says Reggie.

so its a GBA that only works with a console....or a DS where the top screen is your TV (and only works with a console). or its an ipad that only works with a console....

im sorry, but this is an addon to the wii, not a new system. yet again this will be held back by a stupid, unintuitive (the original xbox had smaller controllers!) gimmick that only serves to add a shitty minigame to 3rd part releases...at least they might have decent graphics this time though.....but thats just it; if the -stupid console name i cannot take seriously- has better 3rd party support, the wii2 version will still pale in comparison to whatever hardware monstrosities sony and microsoft announce as their new consoles.

they want to make some games playable just on the controller...this is the next generation of CONSOLES ffs, not the next generation of iphone games. the only reason i got the wii was really just for smash bros and zelda; the wii has been sitting there collecting dust ever since. the new zelda doesnt interest me, and ive heard nothing of a new smash bros, so screw this glorified ipad...

Frotality:
so its a GBA that only works with a console....or a DS where the top screen is your TV (and only works with a console). or its an ipad that only works with a console....

im sorry, but this is an addon to the wii, not a new system. yet again this will be held back by a stupid, unintuitive (the original xbox had smaller controllers!) gimmick that only serves to add a shitty minigame to 3rd part releases...at least they might have decent graphics this time though.....but thats just it; if the -stupid console name i cannot take seriously- has better 3rd party support, the wii2 version will still pale in comparison to whatever hardware monstrosities sony and microsoft announce as their new consoles.

they want to make some games playable just on the controller...this is the next generation of CONSOLES ffs, not the next generation of iphone games. the only reason i got the wii was really just for smash bros and zelda; the wii has been sitting there collecting dust ever since. the new zelda doesnt interest me, and ive heard nothing of a new smash bros, so screw this glorified ipad...

a new Smash Bros was specifically mentioned in the presentation and this piece of kit will be far more powerful and viable for gaming than an iPad while in theory being able to do everything else an iPad can do because it's streamed from the console to the controller rather than being a self contained device.

this isn't an 8th generation console. think of it more as a 7.5. sony and Microsoft have no plans to release new consoles for roughly the next 5 years (which is as far forward as the 360 is old) and in all probability Nintendo will sit and let them then release their own when the time comes.

Nintendo just sold two consoles in a single console generation while their competitors are scrambling to catch up with their innovation and "casual" market penetration and they will sell these by the bucket load to exactly the market that aspire to a Wii and iPad.

why should "gamers" buy it ? well it's likely to be more powerful than the 360 and PS2, Nintendo usually has excellent build quality, they seem to have sorted out their third party support problems and it'll have exclusive Nintendo games. even if you buy a £10 Nintendo game pad and forego the gaming iPad imo that's still a draw.

Delusibeta:
Yes, there will be a console to go with that controller.

Also, prices similar to current PS3 and 360 prices, says Reggie.

That did it for me! If this console is gonna be 200-300 dollars at launch, with Super Smash Bros WiiU as a launch title, then you can bet your sweet bippy that I will buy this ASAP!

I can understand the lingering tendency to pile on Nintendo every time they don't make an XBox clone, but I'm aghast at the amount of dismissive comments made on the basis of bad information or even no information.

This is not just a new controller on the old console, it is a completely new console. Amazingly, like every other new console to hit the market, there is a new controller distinct from the controllers packed in with the previous system. The only one that even came close to having the same controller was the Dual Shock 2, and I will remind people that the Dual Shock was not Sony's original controller for the PS1.

The console will display in 1080p, which is no different than what anyone else is doing right now. The resolution of the controller display has not been disclosed, but complaints of the controller's weight seem odd given that weight is not an issue with the numerous pads being sold on market today. No, it's not particularly impressive that hardware coming next year is more powerful than hardware from four years ago, but I don't understand the complaint that it won't be as powerful as hardware coming out four years FROM NOW.

I can also understand the lack of enthusiasm that there are no new IPs on the horizon. What I don't understand is why it's a bad thing that on one or both platforms will feature Mario, Zelda, Kirby, Kid Icarus, Metroid, Smash, Mario Kart, Animal Crossing and Starfox, not even counting Nintendogs or Pokemon and lamenting the absence of Pikmin. Most IPs these days are the product of other companies, things like Batman and Ninja Gaiden and Darksiders (all coming to WiiU) and Sly and Ratchet and Mega Man and Resident Evil and Street Fighter and Tekken and so on. What is Sony's big IP, God of War? Or Microsoft's (wait for it)? The only one that springs to mind is Dungeon Siege; Oddworld was brought in from GT Interactive, Fable was brought in by The Moly, and Halo was brought in by Bungee.

Which is where I come to it: Microsoft's big OMG moment of their press conference was an oblique reference to the existence of a Halo 4 (at least the sixth game in that series, depending on how you count them). And it's the first of a new trilogy. So why hate on Nintendo for a new Zelda, when here comes Master Chief yet again?

This looks interesting. Also, whoever comes up with the names for the consoles needs to be fired (out of a cannon, into the sun).

Eighth 1:

dragongit:
... But its just a wii, with new graphics and an Ipad to play with.Its like Nintendo really isn't trying anymore...

When has Nintendo tried hard?

They stopped trying hard the same time I stopped being impressed by everything. Works the same with pop music.

The.Bard:

Jerome9157:

The.Bard:

What are you smoking, boy? The SNES top loaded, and it was purple and gray. This thing looks like a 360 and GladOS got their groove on.

if glados and a 360 were siblings.

it looks like something from the 90's.

while the xbox and ps3 have a chrome layer that look fantastic. this..... looks like my old phone and an old dvd player went at it. if they were siblings.

Ooooh, good point. Yea, this thing is pretty hideous. The more I look at it, the uglier it gets.

I wonder if that trap door opens and spews vomit at random times while you're playing a game.

But hey, at least we'll have that killer touch screen remote that will probably cost $300 by itself!

Wooooooo! Nintendoooooooooo!

*slaps self in the face*

Ok, I'm better now.

It looks like the first generation 360 and the Wii combined,

Wait a second, you guys are just bitching about Wii U because it has a fucking touch screen aren't you? (and because of its stupid name) Jesus Christ, the controller is going to be big, but it has all the buttons and sticks of a 360 and PS3 with a touch screen on top of that. In other words, it can do EVERYTHING a 360 or PS3 can do and MORE. Touch screens aren't even useless gimmicks like motion controls because they actually have viable functionality and require as much effort as a button press or two. The only worries I have about the Wii U are the cost and online capabilities. The Wii lags like a MOFO. The controllers won't be close to the price of an Ipad either because it's just a touch screen with buttons on it. The Ipad has a bunch of other softwear and hardwear that makes it a device in itself, the Wii U controller requires its console in order to do anything.

Can't wait couple weeks playing WiiU my arms are going to be jacked.

Xbox 720 here I come, and let the console war start once again. Hopefully this'll be a flop so that Nintendo can get back to making the SNES II and make everything else defunct. But it seems that not even the Virtua-Boy stopped Nintendo from making gimmicks.

The next controller Nintendo comes up with will have a 10 inch screen on it and will be so big you have to play it with your feet a like a Wii Fit... The Wii Foot.

im all for this but the controller needs a redesign its too flat and wide that will not be comfortable.

Serving UpSmiles:

PhunkyPhazon:

Selvec:
Finish this sentence. "An Ambulance goes..."

My thoughts exactly. The system itself (And game line-up) looks spiffy, but I really hope they change the name. The Wii may have sounded silly, but WiiU is just awkward to say.

Cheer up, the Wii was originally called the "Nintendo Revolution" but Nintendo changed it, Hopefully it'll be the case for this.

And before Wii U, it was the "Project Cafe". I have no doubt that this is intended to be the official name.

Aerograt:

The.Bard:

Jerome9157:

if glados and a 360 were siblings.

it looks like something from the 90's.

while the xbox and ps3 have a chrome layer that look fantastic. this..... looks like my old phone and an old dvd player went at it. if they were siblings.

Ooooh, good point. Yea, this thing is pretty hideous. The more I look at it, the uglier it gets.

I wonder if that trap door opens and spews vomit at random times while you're playing a game.

But hey, at least we'll have that killer touch screen remote that will probably cost $300 by itself!

Wooooooo! Nintendoooooooooo!

*slaps self in the face*

Ok, I'm better now.

It looks like the first generation 360 and the Wii combined,

Wait a second, you guys are just bitching about Wii U because it has a fucking touch screen aren't you? (and because of its stupid name) Jesus Christ, the controller is going to be big, but it has all the buttons and sticks of a 360 and PS3 with a touch screen on top of that. In other words, it can do EVERYTHING a 360 or PS3 can do and MORE. Touch screens aren't even useless gimmicks like motion controls because they actually have viable functionality and require as much effort as a button press or two. The only worries I have about the Wii U are the cost and online capabilities. The Wii lags like a MOFO. The controllers won't be close to the price of an Ipad either because it's just a touch screen with buttons on it. The Ipad has a bunch of other softwear and hardwear that makes it a device in itself, the Wii U controller requires its console in order to do anything.

Are you accusing me of making fun of Nintendo???? NEVER, good sir. I mean, yea, they're releasing a system "as powerful as a 360" six years late to the party, but that touch screen is truly amazing! I won't have to look at my 85" oled gigawatt tv anymore! I'll have a tiny grease-covered touch screen to look at! Yay!!!! And think of the amazing new game experiences they'll have - Mario, Zelda, Metroid, and oooh, Smash Brothers sounds especially fresh & exciting!

Ok, ok, you got me. I hate Nintendo. I hate their arrogance. I hate how they crap all over 3rd party developers when they're on top of the world and then crawl to them like a beggar when they're down and out. I hate that they do nothing outside of drilling their franchises into the ground. Mostly, I hate that they think we need touch screens on our controllers for presumably a bajillion dollars a pop. No, thank you.

I would hope the cost of a controller doesn't come anywhere close to an ipad, seeing how it won't be anywhere near as functional as one. But I'm a jaded jerk, so what do I know? ;)

So basically, the Wii U is a Wii, with better graphics, and a Playstation Vita for a controller....really? Thats kinda cool but that controller just looks uncomfortable.

KeyMaster45:
What shred of hope I had left for this console not being an unholy amalgamation of everything I have grown to hate about the Nintendo brand is now gone. Like the Wii I will not buy this....ever, I don't care what game comes out for it.

My god Nintendo, wtf happened to you? Just make a normal freaking console for once.

Nintendo's one of the few console companies actually trying to innovate and all people can do is complain?? hahahah

How origi-

mad825:
Oh, how original!

seriously, this marketing campaign is get far more pretentious than Apple's and that's saying something.

MOTHER F-

This might just be me, but no matter how much you hype it Nintendo I think you feel you need to play catch-up to this generation. As well as the Wii seemed to sell there is something in the market data that tells you that Microsoft and Sony are doing something probably long term. So I think if you're looking for the next console generation you're not going to get it. This is Nintendo trying to get third-party support... the old fan-bases probably aren't holding up to well. I know by the time my Wii was stolen I had played every gem it had, and what came after that didn't make me miss not having it.

I see you Nintendo, I see what your designs are, time will tell if I have the disposable income to fritter away on you.

internetzealot1:
That controller. How am I supposed to hold it...

With your hands! They have pictures if you like.

All the articles I've read by industry types who've gotten to use the controller today had nothing but praise for it, and they also said that it was lightweight and very comfortable. The only variable is that the demo controllers didn't have battery packs, but as one reviewer pointed out, since Nintendo's going proprietary instead of using AA's, they can distribute the added weight evenly.

Jerome9157:

Arisato-kun:

Jerome9157:

so... nintendo won with an ipad rip-off and another mario game.

Nah Nintendo won with an interesting concept and the return of great third party support.

Oh and Kid Icarus: Uprising.

a sequel to a twenty year old game?

And all nintendo has done is introduce concepts which the xbox 360 and ps3 have had for half a decade, they haven't "outdone", they've caught-up. very late.
people should stop treating nintendo as the paralympics of gaming, nintendo has the potential to seriously rival consoles in its generation, not just former generations, its a near-certainty that when the ps4 or xbox 2 (3?)come out, they would overshadow nintendo's product.

Yeah, a twenty year old game I enjoyed. Luckily it's all opinion though. I'll just enjoy Nintendo's new console and you won't. :D

Mr.Mattress:

Delusibeta:
Yes, there will be a console to go with that controller.

Also, prices similar to current PS3 and 360 prices, says Reggie.

That did it for me! If this console is gonna be 200-300 dollars at launch, with Super Smash Bros WiiU as a launch title, then you can bet your sweet bippy that I will buy this ASAP!

That would be sick. Now if those controllers are only 40$ I'm totally sold on this. Sony and Microsoft really have to do something to change my mind on the WiiU (and copying it isn't going to cut it).

The.Bard:
I'll have a tiny grease-covered touch screen to look at!

...I'm sure...

I'm really surprised by the negative reaction to the WiiU. While the name is... well, it's WiiU, I can see how that can be silly, the rest seems pretty impressive to me.

Here's are the things that I see as positives after watching the E3 release:

~the controller is a whole new experience in console gaming. I give props for thinking outside of the box (AGAIN)

~what validates that the controller is not just new, but that it must also add a new and exciting element to gaming is that Nintendo FINALLY got some 3rd party support. If game designers are excited about this, shouldn't we be?

~this may not be of value to some of you on the forum, but this controller keeps family members IN THE SAME ROOM, rather than isolating everyone off to their own screen with their entertainment of choice connected to it. I think that is a positive outside of the gaming realm, but still a positive to be celebrated for this console. (For some of you who enjoy your solitary game play, this might be a negative, I understand that.)

~This is an interesting look at something that is coming, not something that already IS. I am curious to see how this develops in the space between now and next April.

I am worried about price point. That may sway me when it finally comes down to it.I am grateful as hell that I am not teaching right now because my Video Game Club would be clamoring ALL OVER ME to get it just because they mentioned SMASH BROS in the press conference, and then the school might kill me!

funguy2121:

internetzealot1:
That controller. How am I supposed to hold it...

With your hands! They have pictures if you like.

All the articles I've read by industry types who've gotten to use the controller today had nothing but praise for it, and they also said that it was lightweight and very comfortable. The only variable is that the demo controllers didn't have battery packs, but as one reviewer pointed out, since Nintendo's going proprietary instead of using AA's, they can distribute the added weight evenly.

Yeah, I've seen pictures by now, and I'm casually optimistic about everything except paying for it.