The Wii U Announcement at E3 2011:

The Internet community was going crazy trying to dig up all possible information out there about Nintendo’s new console. Project Café took over the front page of many websites multiple times before E3, and “leaked” pictures and videos appeared to show what seemed like the new system in all its glory. Little did everyone know that the “leaked” images were just mere photo-montages of made-up console and controller prototypes. There was always a doubt, but they did look real!

Nintendo finally unveiled the Wii U at their E3 2011 press conference, and GameDynamo was there at the Nokia Theater seeing it all happen. I even read the new name of the console on the teleprompter before Reggie pronounced it for the first time, making my wheels turn right from the get-go. Is Wii U a good enough name for Nintendo’s new console? Will people pronounce it differently in different parts of the world? Only time will tell, and while I don’t dislike it, it’s definitely something that might help make or break the success of this new console. 

Other than that, the reception of the console itself was quite good. The possibilities the new controller will offer might be nearly unimaginable right now, but I’m pretty confident that we’ll see some very interesting gameplay mechanics going forward. What’s more, the current third party games in development for the Wii U (Darksiders II, Batman: Arkham City, Assassin’s Creed, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Online, Tekken, DiRT, Aliens: Colonial Marines, Metro: Last Light, Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge, etc.) and the support John Riccitiello from EA and a few other video game industry personalities have shown towards the system are very good signs.

Perhaps the biggest flaw in the presentation was the lack of first-party games for the system and the absence of imagery showing the console itself, making many of us wonder if the system was indeed just the controller. Of course, once I saw the assets Nintendo released right after the conference (and later the actual unit), I realized the Wii U is nothing like the “leaked” pictures we had seen, and it's actually very fancy and even better-looking than the original Wii. Reggie explained after the conference that they just wanted to make the controller the highlight of the Wii U unveiling.

Click an image to view the Wii U gallery

Wii U Technical Specs:

The most impressive feature of the Wii U is the new controller with a built-in 6.2-inch display, allowing for new and innovative gameplay mechanics that we might not have even seen yet. The HD graphics the new system can output to the TV are also a highlight, as Nintendo’s home system will no longer be far behind the other home gaming systems available graphics-wise.

Wii U Controller Hands-On Impressions:

During our Nintendo booth tour, a representative took us by the hand and showed us a few different demos that showcased what the Wii U can do. Upon holding the controller for the first time, my fear of the size of the device was confirmed. It certainly doesn’t look or feel like any of the gaming controllers with which we’re used to playing. It is ergonomic enough and feels comfortable in the hands, the buttons and joysticks are completely accessible, and the weight is not an issue (it’s lighter than I expected), but it is somewhat shocking to play with such thing. Then again, looking at such a large and sharp screen is quite a treat during certain games, but I wouldn’t be surprised if smaller versions of the Wii U controller came out after the system’s launch. 

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