Nintendo debuts “Wii U” with controller

*Note: You can see the Wii U console box under the TV in the image above. It slightly resembles an old XBOX 360.

The wait is finally over and Nintendo has revealed the name of their new system: “Wii U;” intended to illustrate more focus on you, the player. Weird title aside, the new controller can act as a portable device as long as it’s connected to the new console. Nintendo described this by showing someone playing a game with Wii U on a TV, while another person came in and changed the channel. Once the TV changed to sports, the gameplay continued on the controller’s 6.2″ screen.

The controller resembles an iPad, with its various abilities to share content remotely with a TV, such as images and video . Two people could rest the controller on a table and play a game of checkers. The controller also has interaction with current Wii hardware, such as displaying weight while someone stands on the Wii Balance Board or acting as a scope when connected to the Wii zapper.

The controller features a 6.2″ touch screen, accelerometer, rumble features, two circle pads, a D-Pad, a microphone, speakers, ABXY buttons, a front facing camera, and ZL, ZR, L, R buttons on the back. Yeah, that’s a lot of bells and whistles.

Third-party developers announced strong support with these games slated for the Wii U’s 2012 launch: Darksiders II, Tekken, DiRT, Batman: Arkham City, Lego City Stories, Ninja Gaiden 3, Metro: Last Light, Aliens: Colonial Marines, Assassin’s Creed, and Ghost Recon Online. EA Sport’s Peter Moore and Irrational Game’s Ken Levine both shared their support for the Wii U, but made no game announcements.

Nintendo also announced a new Smash Bros. for both Wii U and 3DS, both of which are intended to interact. A new Zelda title was also shown with Link attacking a giant spider, but no details on the title were shared. Nintendo ended the conference by allowing press members to play with the new controller. The games they will be playing are intended to be “prototypes,” which just show the functionality of the new controller. So no new first-party titles. Sorry folks.

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