The Wii U Info Dump Post

This post will be continually updated as new information becomes available!

Don't ask.

|THE GAMEPAD| 

The rumors were indeed true! The "Wii U GamePad" as it is officially called, has gotten a makeover and even more features.

- Regular analog sticks in round sockets that can be pressed down and used as buttons.


- A more elongated and rounded form factor with added grips and new, more comfortable button placement.


- An NFC reader/writer under the Dpad.


- A "tv" button next to the power button that allows you to use the gamepad as a universal remote.


|ONLINE|

Miiverse

Nintendo has gone from "never online" to "always online" by announcing the "Miiverse" for Wii U and (supposedly) 3DS. It's a bit hard to explain, but it's kind of like the Wii U social network. When you turn on your console, you'll get two menus– the standard grid view on your gamepad, and the Miiverse on your tv. The Miiverse populates your screen with hundreds of Miis from your own system, your friend's systems, and people all over the world. It groups them by the games their playing (which you may or may not own). You can send text messages, had written notes, screenshots, videos, and even video chat with other players in real time. You can browse or start a conversation without ever having to leave your game. The details diven were more conceptual and less concrete, but we're bound to get some hard examples come Tuesday. For now, I really like what I see. Nintendo used the example of being stuck in a game and turning to others for help who are playing the same game. The game suspends while you do this and then picks right back up with the push of a button. Here is a possible example of how this might be used in-game.

|GO PRO|
Guess what? Nitendo anticipated your bitching and they're one step ahead of you. Don't like the tablet controler? Then don't use it. Use the Wii U Pro instead.