Is This The New Wii U Controller Design?

By Landon Robinson | 19 May 2012 | 9 Comments

Recently, a quality assurance tester over at Traveller’s Tales tweeted a photo of a familiar but slightly altered Nintendo Wii U controller.

While we’ve not the slightest clue as to the photo’s legitimacy, we can (for now) assume that it’s real, and commence with pointing out the noticeable comparisons to its initially introduced E3 2011 counterpart.

First and foremost, the two analog nubs now appear to be actual analog sticks, reminiscent of the all too familiar Wii Nunchuck peripheral – certainly a good design choice in my book (nubs are lame, just ask the PSP).

Also, we have the addition of a Wii U logo on the bottom left, new placement of the ‘Start’ and ‘Select’ buttons, and what I’d venture to guess is a sync button on the bottom right between the battery light and power button. There’s also a noticeable extra square button below the ‘D Pad’, but I honestly haven’t the slightest idea as to what it might be.

Other than that, the controller seems relatively identical to the previously shown off model, but we’ll know for sure post-E3.

Now if they can only work on making that console not look so…meh. It’s not a bad looking console by any means, it’s just rather…rounded off…like a kid’s toy or something.

[via My Nintendo News]

9 Comments

Posted by CoreyClarkYC93 on 19 May 12 at 5:07pm

I’d still prefer the analog sticks to be below the buttons, rather than above.
- Posted by Landon Robinson on 19 May 12 at 5:22pm
  
  Not a bad thought. Certainly more conventional that way.
Posted by George Ogle on 19 May 12 at 5:38pm

Just looks a bit silly to me, I can’t imagine just chilling out gaming with a massive brick of a controller. Seems like we are going back in time rather than innovating and bringing things forward.
- Posted by Jake on 19 May 12 at 8:19pm
  
  Huh? Not conforming to current controller conventions, but in-fact building upon the ideas set by other people(and controller set-ups) while also attempting to try something new isn’t considered innovation?
  
  Would copying current controllers be innovation then? I don’t consider copying and innovation to be synonyms.
Posted by Jake on 19 May 12 at 8:23pm

On topic: I very much approve of the analogs, the nubs were a total turn off when I first seen the controller at E3 last year. Looks less flat, or heavier or something but maybe that’s just the angle/lighting of the picture.
Posted by Gabriel on 20 May 12 at 8:26am

Well, i honestly like the design of the wiiu console, it looks very…hmm.profesional and pretty
Posted by Narj on 20 May 12 at 2:22pm

I’d probably get this just becausse its new…
Posted by Dudeman on 21 May 12 at 11:12am

The square button below the d-pad is most likely something that aligns the controller like what the motion plus did, point at screen, press button.
Posted by Slice of Kris on 21 May 12 at 5:57pm

i feel that one of five of these wii u controllers will be stepped on by accident they do have the curse of both being a controller and something with a screen