[Official] Wii U thread

[avelanch]

RumorTT: Nintendo Wii U supports DirectX 11, runs Unreal Engine 4, and runs Assassin's Creed at 1080p at 60fps

By: Anthony Garreffa

Posted: 14 hours, 9 mins ago

If a post on an Italian message board is to be believed, a developer from Ubisoft Milan has posted a bunch of Wii U-related information that almost sounds too good to be true. The poster says that theprice will be between $350-$450, and that it will launch on November 23. But that's not even the best bit.

The Wii U, according to the post, supports DirectX 11, and is already running Unreal Engine 4, sports 2GB of RAM, and has an AMD Radeon HD 6770 GPU. It can run Assassin's Creed at 1080p at 60fps, compared to just 720p on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

The report also states that Crytek, EA, and Valve are all working on the Wii U, and that Valve are working on a digital distribution platform and Portal ports for the Wii U. The full list of details:

• Wii U supports DirectX 11 and is already running Unreal Engine 4
  
• Wii U will support to touch-screen controllers
  
• The console has 2GB or RAM, 560MB dedicated to the OS
  
• The launch date will be 23 November
  
• Launch price hasn't been decided but will be between $350 - $450
  
• Rayman Legends, The Avengers, Assassin's Creed 3, Just Dance 4 are all on Ubisoft's Wii U schedule, with Killer Freaks from Outer Space set to arrive weeks after launch.
  
• There are currently multiple versions of the console with developers
  
• Graphics are powered by the Radeon HD 6770 chipset
  
• Assassin's Creed 3 will run at 60fps at 1080p, compared to 720p on PS3 and Xbox 360
  
• Wii U will come with pre-installed software
  
• Crytek, EA and Valve are all working on Wii U
  
• Valve are working on a digital distribution platform and Portal ports
  
• Wii U will support achievements
  
• Wii U's UI will be customisable
  
• The new button has some link to the Wii Vitality Sensor
  
• The trigger buttons won't be analogue
  

Excited yet? If this turns out to be true, it could be a huge kick in the ass for the current consoles. Go Nintendo, you can do it!

http://www.tweaktown.com/news/24272/rumortt_nintendo_wii_u_supports_directx_11_runs_unreal_engine_4_and_runs_assassin_s_creed_at_1080p_at_60fps/index.html

[Bob Singh]

NEW UPDATE ON Wii U CONTROLLER

^ LOL the guy who leaked the new controller picture got fired by Travelers Tales.

Developers banned from talking about Wii U specific features until E3

[Bob Singh]

Wii U operating system rumors suggest massive OS

[Bob Singh]

BREAKING NEWS: Wii U 20x FASTER THAN Wii

[avelanch]

Wii U not ruled out for Unreal Engine 4

Tech vendor Epic Games has responded to earlier speculation that the Wii U would not host games built on the new Unreal Engine 4. Speaking to CVG, the company said they have "not confirmed platforms for Unreal Engine 4 beyond PC".

Sounds to me that this is going to be one of nintendo's "bombshells" at E3. with the Wii supposedly handling 8 threads, it'd be hard to believe that it won't be able to handle it. in fact I'd go so far as to say that I'd be surprised if it isn't able to handle it.

[Bob Singh]

Sounds to me that this is going to be one of nintendo's "bombshells" at E3. with the Wii U supposedly handling 8 threads, it'd be hard to believe that it won't be able to handle it. in fact I'd go so far as to say that I'd be surprised if it isn't able to handle it.

That's better.

[Bob Singh]

New Wii U dev kit has video chat, multitasking, and more

[Bob Singh]

What to expect from the Wii U at E3 2012

NBA 2K13 slams into the Wii U in 'holiday season'

Wii U might support two controllers after all

[avelanch]

DC Comics Fighting Game Coming to Wii U from Mortal Kombat Developers

by Neal Ronaghan - May 31, 2012 - 8:04 A.M.

Total Comments: 23 Source: http://www.injustice.com

Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman will duke it out with villains on Wii U in 2013.

Injustice: Gods Among Us, a fighting game based on the DC Universe and developed by NetherRealm Studios, is coming to Wii U in 2013.

The game pits DC heroes against villains, and features a roster including Batman, Superman, The Flash, Wonder Woman, Lex Luthor, Harley Quinn, and Solomon Grundy.

NetherRealm is no stranger to the DC Universe, having made Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe in 2008. The company's most recent game was Mortal Kombat, which just came out on Vita.

PRESS RELEASE

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Announces Injustice: Gods Among Us

New fighting game franchise from the makers of award-winning Mortal Kombat franchise revealed.

BURBANK, Calif. – May 31, 2012 – What if our greatest heroes became our greatest threat? Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment today announced Injustice: Gods Among Us, an all-new game in development by award-winning NetherRealm Studios, creators of the definitive fighting game franchise Mortal Kombat. The game is scheduled for release in 2013 for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and the Wii U™ system from Nintendo.

Injustice: Gods Among Us debuts as a bold new fighting game franchise that introduces a deep, original story featuring a large cast of favorite DC Comics icons such as Batman, Harley Quinn, Solomon Grundy, Superman, The Flash, Wonder Woman and many others. Set in a world where the lines between good and evil are blurred, players will experience heroes and villains engaging in epic battles on a massive scale.

"With Injustice: Gods Among Us, we are creating an all-new franchise with incredible battles set in the DC Comics Universe," said Martin Tremblay, President, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. "NetherRealm Studios is the extremely talented team behind the latest Mortal Kombat hit and it is developing a game unlike any other in the fighting genre."

"We can't wait to reveal Injustice: Gods Among Us because it will give our fans and gamers an epic experience as they battle like gods as their favorite DC Comics villains and heroes," said Ed Boon, Creative Director, NetherRealm Studios. "Our team is excited to make a fighting game that is filled with fast-paced action, incredible story-telling and iconic DC Comics characters."

For more information, visit www.injustice.com.

[avelanch]

aaaaaand trailer:

[avelanch]

there's also a rumor that FF Versus XIII has been renamed FFXV and it is coming to the PS3 and Wii U, and there's a video showing it off, but it's been widely denounced as fake (though it would make sense to move on to XV already with a stinker in XIV leaving a bad taste in FF fans mouths, and FF Versus XIII is a standalone game unrelated to FFXIII but set in the same universe, so it need not share the FFXIII namesake)

FF Versus XIII has been in development since 2006 and has been labeled as vaporware for a long time now (just like Duke Nukem: Forever, which finally came out, a decade too late), but in September of last year it was reported that it had finally entered full production, and it would be a HUGE feather in the cap of Nintendo if they were to get it on the Wii U (even if its name hasn't been changed to FFXV). It certainly would set the precedent that big name titles will be coming to Nintendo once again.

[avelanch]

[avelanch]

Wii U's "GamePad" Revealed

Iwata delivers the details via Nintendo Direct.

by Lucas M. Thomas

JUNE 3, 2012

Looks like that leak was legit.

Speaking to fans via a pre-E3 Sunday afternoon Nintendo Direct video, company president Satoru Iwata has just shown off the final version of the tablet-like Wii U controller. And, as expected, it looks just like the one we first saw a few weeks agocourtesy of a leaked image delivered to the Internet through a (now former) TT Games employee's Twitter account.

Here's that leaked image one more time, for comparison purposes:

And here's the controller again, from this afternoon's Nintendo Direct video presentation:

Yeah, that's definitely a match. Mr. Iwata thankfully didn't just hold the controller up for the camera, though, but went into detail regarding its final specifications.

First up, the controller has been given an official name. It's being referred to as the "Wii U GamePad."

Next, support for near-field communication is confirmed. As hinted at in Ubisoft's Rayman Legends trailer – which leaked to the Internet earlier this year – the controller will be able to interact with objects placed on its surface to activate a variety of in-game effects. (The square marking on the left side of the controller's surface indicates the placement spot, as many had guessed. Nintendo was quiet on specific examples of NFC, but that's probably just because the company doesn't want to reveal its software line-up until the Tuesday morning press event.

The other mysterious square, placed under the lower-right corner of the screen and sandwiched between the Power button and Battery light? That's the TV Control button – which, again, is exactly what many people guessed it would be based on the leaked image. Pressing it will control the action of having your TV screen's image jump to the handheld screen for portable play, and vice versa. You can also use the GamePad as a remote control for your normal television viewing.

The analog control sticks are longer, now confirmed to be replacing the shorter, 3DS-style slider pads that the controller originally had in place when revealed at last year's E3. A new detail, though, is that the sticks are now clickable -- an extra button's hidden underneath each one.

The GamePad will also include gyro and motion sensors to pick up player movements.

http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/06/03/wii-us-gamepad-revealed

[avelanch]

BY LUKE PLUNKETT

JUN 3, 2012 6:13 PM

Nintendo’s Wii U Has a Proper Online Community

Here's a pleasant surprise: the Wii U looks like it's going to have a proper online community built into the console. In a video shown during a pre-E3 conference, a user on the console jumps onto the controller and consults a GameFAQs-like service, while at the same his friend is monitoring Tweet-like messages on his phone.

That latter part is especially nice, given Nintendo's previous reluctance to branching its services out onto other platforms.

Also displayed was a video calling service similar to Skype.

Nintendo also showed off the ability for users to share screenshots, share user-created content and chat as Miis.

We'll have video of the event in this post, and others, once the event concludes.

http://kotaku.com/59...nline-community

E3 2012: Nintendo Introduces the Miiverse

Nintendo has gone social. Read on for the full scoop!

by Audrey Drake

JUNE 3, 2012

Nintendo President Satoru Iwata announced new Wii U details today during the company's pre-E3 2012 Nintendo Direct briefing. When the system is first powered on, players will see a home screen full of all their friends' Mii characters - a "Mii Universe," as Iwata described it. It will act as a communication hub of sorts, where players can see their friends' Miis gathered around whatever game they're playing.

The Miiverse will also allow players to share in game assets, like screenshots, with each other, and to send each other messages during a game. Players can also send each other hand-written notes, much like in the 3DS's Swapnote application. Your Miiverse will be accessible from Wii U, 3DS, mobile devices and online, and you'll be able to suspend play of any Wii U games to check on your Miiverse whenever you want.

http://www.ign.com/a...es-the-miiverse

BY BRIAN ASHCRAFT

JUN 3, 2012 6:22 PM

Enter the Miiverse. It’s a World Nintendo’s Invented.

The Miiverse is a "Mii universe" that is the system's redesigned networking and designed Mii Plaza.

Miiverse the new network service where Miis from around the world can meet. The redesigned Wii Plaza shows Mii clustered around various Wii U titles. This shows what games players are enjoying and what's popular.

Mii WaraWara, taken from the Japanese's "warawara" (the sound of things happening, in Japanese).

Even when the game isn't designed for online or even if the game's are not online, the Miiverse can still connect consoles and players. Think of it as a social networking system for the Wii U, the 3DS, and even your mobile device or PC.

The Miiverse will not be available at the Wii U's launch.

http://kotaku.com/59...tendos-invented

[avelanch]

E3 2012: Nintendo Shows Off Wii U Pro Controller

Nintendo's tablet-like GamePad isn't the only new controller Wii U supports...

by Audrey Drake

JUNE 3, 2012

Nintendo revealed during today's Nintendo Direct conference that Wii U will support a new controller separate from the Wii U GamePad. You can see this new controller below:

http://www.ign.com/a...-pro-controller

BY LUKE PLUNKETT

JUN 3, 2012 6:05 PM

Nintendo Unveils Hardcore Wii U Controller

The point of the Wii U is that it has a fancy, touch-screen controller. That may not be suitable for all titles, though. Especially ones being ported from other consoles. For that, much like the Wii, the Wii U will have a Pro Controller, one resembling those of Nintendo's competitors.

http://kotaku.com/5915318/nintendo-unveils-hardcore-wii-u-controller

[avelanch]

E3 2012: Nintendo Direct Teases New Super Mario Bros.

Iwata uses footage from a side-scrolling Mario title to demonstrate the Miiverse.

by Lucas M. Thomas

JUNE 3, 2012

You could've blinked and missed it, but eagle-eyed viewers of this afternoon's Nintendo Direct video presentation might just have seen first footage of an upcoming New Super Mario Bros. game for the Wii U.

Take a look at these screen captures and see for yourself:

President Iwata was discussing the new social networking features of the "Miiverse," which allows you to connect with your friends to pass along messages while gaming. He demonstrated this in-game integration of Mii messaging via a Mario side-scroller that looks a lot like the New Super Mario Bros. Mii tech demo we saw at last year's E3. Only this time the Miis weren't running and jumping alongside Mario – he was alone in the action, and they popped up to pass along messages of encouragement when a rogue Koopa collided with and killed him.

The video then shifted to a map screen, displayed via the screen on the Wii U GamePad, where more messages were waiting to be read from scattered Mii characters.

And take a look at the messages these Miis are giving. Could they be even more of a teaser?

One of them is saying "OK, being a flying squirrel is WAY more fun than it should be!" Could Mario be gaining a Flying Squirrel Suit in this sequel?

Another says "A baby Yoshi that balloons up to carry you? Too cute!" Again, that seems like another tease for a new and perfectly plausible gameplay element for a Mario game to include.

And perhaps most interesting is the message in-between those two, which reads "Nice! I finally cleared it, and I did it in under 100 seconds! I RULE!" This would normally be simple self-congratulation, except that an extra banner appears above the speech bubble that says "Cleared in under 100 seconds!" in gold. That seems like it was a listed goal to shoot for in a menu somewhere, and that could be a hint toward an integrated Achievements system for Wii U -- or at least for this particular Mario game.

So could this be our first look at New Super Mario Bros. for Wii U? Last year's New Super Mario Bros. Mii was supposedly just a demo, but Nintendo has said that it serves as the inspiration for the final game that Wii U will be getting. This could very well be it, ladies and gentlemen.

Stay tuned for more details as we get them, and be sure to glue your eyes to your screen to take in Nintendo's Tuesday morning press conference – that's when this game will likely get its official confirmation.

I'm personally looking forward to the flying squirrel suit

[avelanch]

Wii U achievement-like system spotted

Scott Grill

Among the many screenshots and videos shown for the Wii U during the Nintendo Direct broadcast on Sunday night, included one shot that indicates Nintendo's new console will get an achievement or trophy-like system.

The image of the Wii U GamePad shows two players communicating with each other in the overworld of New Super Mario Bros with one of them exclaiming that they cleared a level in under 100 seconds. Above it is a gold box with the text saying "Cleared in under 100 seconds!"

No points or any other information was displayed but this, along with other information, shows that Nintendo is interested in at least matching if not exceeding the current functionality found on the Playstation Network and Xbox LIVE.

We should hopefully see more about this Wii U achievement system during Nintendo's press conference on Tuesday.

[-Vintage Canuck-]

[Bob Singh]

WII U IS GONNA BE AWESOME!

TAKE THAT SONY!

[Bob Singh]

I hope the pro controller makes all the "controller too big" people shut up.