“This is a Wii for you. Wii U.”

So who was the last Wii for, Reggie? You silly, silly man.

Nintendo just unveiled their new console which will finally boast HD graphics and online play, catching up on those newfangled consoles of five years ago.

Of course the big pull is that crazy new controller, which has the same size and look as a tablet. The screen is a 6.2″ single-touch screen (which seems like a step backwards since most of us own multitouch phones) that will enable you to have information about the game right at your fingertips, just like the Dreamcast. The controller features an accelerometer and a gyroscope, a rumble feature, an inward-facing camera, a microphone and speakers.  The massive controller will also offer the usual “classic controller” buttons- two analog Circle Pads, +Control Pad, A/B/X/Y buttons, L/R buttons and ZL/ZR buttons.

Here’s what they say the controller will do.

  • In single-player games:
    • The new controller can display information on its screen that does not appear on the TV.
    • The information and viewpoint can also change in the new controller based on the orientation of its gyroscope.
  • In multiplayer games:
    • The player using the new controller can have a different experience than those looking at the TV. This will offer a wide variety of competitive and cooperative opportunities.

 

It’s certainly intriguing, and when Nintendo implements their new ideas well you have all sorts of new gameplay experiences- just look at their success with the DS. But you’re really only meant to have one of these controllers per Wii U, which seems a bit off-putting. Sure, it’s probably incredibly pricey (look how much we spend on Xbox 360 and PS3 controllers alone!) but it will force developers to be clever in how they implement it to make it fair to the other players for multiplayer. Four other standard Wii remotes can be connected to the system to play along in controller envy.

No word on launch date, price, launch lineup or any of that other good stuff, but expect the Wii U to hit sometime in 2012.

New iterations of Smash Bros and Pikmin are confirmed in the works but expect Zelda, Star Fox, Mario and the usual crew. Nintendo seems to have done well courting third party companies this time as promised, since  ports are on the way of Darksiders 2, Aliens: Colonel Marines, Batman: Arkham City, Assassin’s Creed, Ninja Gaiden 3, and more. The one thing no one’s saying is that if this console is coming out sometime in 2012, why would anyone want to play all these old games? Much more on this curious new move by Nintendo as we hear it.

Check e3.nintendo.com for videos and more.