Take it away, Andrew:
The eighth generation of console gaming is nearly upon us and it starts first with Nintendo's Wii U. While some might argue that the Wii U is next-gen thanks to slightly more modest processing power than the 720 and PS4 are rumored to have, the truth is that it isn't just graphics that make something 'next-gen', it is instead the new ways it pushes gameplay and the way we interact with gaming experiences.
This is no denying that the Wii changed the way the users around the world interacted with their games. While not everyone fell in love with motion-sensing technology, it is very clear that the Wii had a major impact on the way games are played during the seventh generation of consoles. Unfortunately, Nintendo's Wii wasn't built with the same longevity in mind that the PS3 and 360 targeted and so the time has come for a next-gen HD replacement, the Wii U. So what exactly is the Wii U and in what unique ways could it change the way we interact with gaming in the near future?
Let's start by taking a look at what we do know about the hardware:
Wii U Hardware
The Wii U is capable of full HD, while most current-gen games only support 720p HD, all Wii U games should have basic support for 1080p. The Wii U is said to be at least 50% more powerful than the current-gen Xbox 360 and PS3.
The processor inside the Wii U is a custom 45nm multi-core IBM PowerPC processor with embedded DRAM, although we don't know the exact specifications or speed of the processor. We also know that some form of AMD Radeon HD graphics will be equipped in the new console.
While we do know that the Wii U will have high capacity discs (though it won't run Blu-ray movies), it is going to be fully compatible with Wii games, remotes, and even the Wii Balance Board.
Out of all the hardware features touted by the Wii U, the biggest is without a doubt the addition of its new Wii U Tablet controller. This tablet is a 6.2-inch device that has an accelerometer, gyroscope, dual analogue sticks, rumble feedback, a D-Pad, a front-facing camera, triggers and shoulder buttons, and even a built-in microphone.
In What New Ways Does The Wii U Change The Way We Game?
The touch-screen can certainly offer many new ways to play. For example, imagine playing a real-time strategy game like Starcraft 2 with this bad boy. All your commands could easily be issued with the swipe of your hand from the touch-screen while you could control the cursor through the more traditional 'gamepad' elements like dual analogue.
Outside of this, there is a huge potential for first person shooters thanks to the use of the devices motion-abilities. The control can be used as a 'scope' of sorts for your gun and if you move the control left or right it can change the way your character moves. The traditional buttons, like triggers, would make perfect sense for firing off your weapon in a Call Of Duty-type shooter experience.
It is also certainly worth mentioning that the Wii U's new control can also be used without having your TV on. That's right, many games can stream the experience directly to the control. While you can't move too far away from your TV, this still frees up the big-screen for others around you.
There is even strong evidence that apps will exist that let you use the control much like a tablet throughout your home. Imagine playing casual games like Angry Birds without being directly near your console, or even playing a two-player round of Air Hockey using the tablet.
The potential is huge. The only major downside though is that Nintendo will more than likely only support one controller per console. So for 4-player gaming? You'll need to either use classic controllers, Wii-remotes, or even possibly the 3DS (though this hasn't been completely confirmed).
The plus side to this though is that it can further expand the way you play local multiplayer gaming. In Ubisoft's Wii U exclusive, Killer Freaks From Outerspace, one player acts as sort of a 'game master', placing aliens as traps for up to 3 others players that are using Wii remotes and playing as humans trying to take on the monsters you've unleashed.
Essentially this means that multiple controls could have very different play-experiences, meaning you need to try them all to get the most out of this console.
What Other Goodies Can We Expect From The Wii U?
Expect a MUCH more robust online experience, conference calling (or so it is strongly rumored), and a strong possibility of an app store that offers more multimedia experiences both on your big-screen TV and on the controller itself.
You can also expect that the Wii U will have much better 3rd party support, at least at launch. Nintendo still is actively interested in the casual market but part of the Wii U's strategy is to gain back many 'core' users it lost during the Wii area. This means studios that largely ignored the Wii might actually be working on publishing Wii U titles.
How Do You Know If The Wii U Is The Right System For You?
We expect much more information on the Wii U at this summer's E3, but largely I'd say that there a few ways to tell if this is the right system for you:
1) You like motion controls and other new types of input that some might call gimmicky
2) You enjoy Nintendo 1st party games
3) You liked the Wii, other than you felt it didn't offer good enough 3rd party support or any killer-apps for core gamers.
4) You have a family or you like local-multiplayer gaming with friends, something Nintendo has always excelled at.
There could certainly be many other reasons to own the Wii U, these are just some big hitters. The Wii U is expected to hit stores in time for the 2012 Holiday Season. The current price point has yet to be announced, though we do know it will cost more than the Wii did, meaning likely around $300-$400.
About the Author:
Andrew Grush is a full-time freelance writer who has a strong passion for writing, gaming, and technology in general. He is also the owner and webmaster of the Generation Eight, a blog devoted to information about upcoming game systems and 'next-gen' game consoles like the PS4, Xbox 720, and Wii U.
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