Nintendo Direct Pre-E3 Press Conference - Breakdown and Discussion

Here's the link TO WATCH THE SHOW IF YOU MISSED IT:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=9AkPdAWfFjI

Courtesy of IGN's Controller Breakdown

Speaking to fans via a pre-E3 Nintendo Direct video, company president Satoru Iwata showed off the final version of the tablet-like Wii U controller. As expected, it looks just like the one we first saw a few weeks ago courtesy of an image leaked through a (now former) TT Games employee's Twitter account.

Here's that leaked image one more time, for comparison purposes:

And here's the controller again, from this afternoon's Nintendo Direct video presentation:

Yeah, that's definitely a match. Iwata thankfully didn't just hold the controller up for the camera, though, but went into detail regarding its final specifications.

First up, the controller has been given an official name. It's being referred to as the "Wii U GamePad."

Next, support for near-field communication is confirmed. As hinted at in Ubisoft's Rayman Legends trailer ? which leaked to the Internet earlier this year ? the controller will be able to interact with objects placed on its surface to activate a variety of in-game effects. (The square marking on the left side of the controller's surface indicates the placement spot, as many had guessed. Nintendo was quiet on specific examples of NFC, but that's probably just because the company doesn't want to reveal its software line-up until the Tuesday morning press event.

The other mysterious square, placed under the lower-right corner of the screen and sandwiched between the Power button and Battery light? That's the TV Control button ? which, again, is exactly what many people guessed it would be based on the leaked image. Pressing it will control the action of having your TV screen's image jump to the handheld screen for portable play, and vice versa. You can also use the GamePad as a remote control for your normal television viewing.

The analog control sticks are longer, now confirmed to be replacing the shorter, 3DS-style slider pads that the controller originally had in place when revealed at last year's E3. A new detail, though, is that the sticks are now clickable -- an extra button's hidden underneath each one.

The GamePad will also include gyro and motion sensors to pick up player movements.

Wii U Pro Controller

The Wii U console will support a number of input types, including a new Pro controller, which is built in the style of moretraditional gamepads. Check out a screenshot below.

Nintendo President Satoru Iwata announced new Wii U details today during the company's pre-E3 2012 Nintendo Direct briefing. When the system is first powered on, players will see a home screen full of all their friends' Mii characters - a "Mii Universe," as Iwata described it. It will act as a communication hub of sorts, where players can see their friends' Miis gathered around whatever game they're playing.

The Miiverse will also allow players to share in game assets, like screenshots, with each other, and to send each other messages during a game. Players can also send each other hand-written notes, much like in the 3DS's Swapnote application. Your Miiverse will be accessible from Wii U, 3DS, mobile devices and online, and you'll be able to suspend play of any Wii U games to check on your Miiverse whenever you want.

You could've blinked and missed it, but eagle-eyed viewers of this afternoon's Nintendo Direct video presentation might just have seen first footage of an upcoming New Super Mario Bros. game for the Wii U.

Take a look at these screen captures and see for yourself:

President Iwata was discussing the new social networking features of the "Miiverse," which allows you to connect with your friends to pass along messages while gaming. He demonstrated this in-game integration of Mii messaging via a Mario side-scroller that looks a lot like theNew Super Mario Bros. Miitech demo we saw at last year's E3. Only this time the Miis weren't running and jumping alongside Mario ? he was alone in the action, and they popped up to pass along messages of encouragement when a rogue Koopa collided with and killed him.

The video then shifted to a map screen, displayed via the screen on the Wii U GamePad, where more messages were waiting to be read from scattered Mii characters.

And take a look at the messages these Miis are giving. Could they be even more of a teaser?

One of them is saying "OK, being a flying squirrel is WAY more fun than it should be!" Could Mario be gaining a Flying Squirrel Suit in this sequel?

Another says "A baby Yoshi that balloons up to carry you? Too cute!" Again, that seems like another tease for a new and perfectly plausible gameplay element for a Mario game to include.

So could this be our first look at New Super Mario Bros. for Wii U? Last year's New Super Mario Bros. Mii was supposedly just a demo, but Nintendo has said that it serves as the inspiration for the final game that Wii U will be getting. This could very well be it, ladies and gentlemen.

Stay tuned for more details as we get them, and be sure to glue your eyes to your screen to take in Nintendo's Tuesday morning press conference ? that's when this game will likely get its official confirmation.

Here's the link:

http://www.nintendo.co.jp/nintendo_direct_pre_e3_2012/en/index.html

sonic_spark

Well I don't think we saw anything other than some strange social networking that was new. I am rather disappointed that they didn't go with Andriod for their OS.

all i saw was this .....and also it looks like it is coming in 2 colors ..... and one more thing.... there was a metroid game :o i hope they actually make it xD

The Miiverse reminded me of the Near app on the PSvita a bit. Anyway, it doesn't interest me at all at this moment. It's just a message system, nothing new. I liked the pro controller though. I have a feeling that the Wii U will be the first console in a long long time that I will not buy on day one.

so nintendo has a 360 controller now. only with a good Dpad and awkward button placement.BrunoBRS

Add very cramped to that list. My hype has dropped considerably after this video. Well lets hope Tuesday manages to restore some of it.

Also, I know this is kinda off topic but did he say the're only going to talk about WiiU on Tuesday, and that they'll talk about the 3DS at another time?

That multitasking was impressive, being able to keep a game on, chat and video chat all at once. And the "call me grandpa" thing was pretty funny. That connection seems like its going to be a disaster though. Has Nintendo ever heard of the internet audience. Sepewrath

[QUOTE="BrunoBRS"]so nintendo has a 360 controller now. only with a good Dpad and awkward button placement.spike6958

Add very cramped to that list. My hype has dropped considerably after this video. Well lets hope Tuesday manages to restore some of it.

Also, I know this is kinda off topic but did he say the're only going to talk about WiiU on Tuesday, and that they'll talk about the 3DS at another time?

[QUOTE="spike6958"]

[QUOTE="BrunoBRS"]so nintendo has a 360 controller now. only with a good Dpad and awkward button placement.BrunoBRS

Add very cramped to that list. My hype has dropped considerably after this video. Well lets hope Tuesday manages to restore some of it.

Also, I know this is kinda off topic but did he say the're only going to talk about WiiU on Tuesday, and that they'll talk about the 3DS at another time?

So far so good! :)

I must say I am impressed by the tiny bit of info on NSMBWiiU so far. I like the more complex look of the overworld and the throwback look to the ingame graphics. I am actually excited to see it unlike usual with NMSB. THOUGH this is no system seller. Bring me the system seller Nintendo! :P

I totally want a Wii U now :D Let's just hope Miiverse/NintendoNetwork isn't a flop. That would seriously kill this for me :(

For the Pro Controller, i'm not sure if I like the placement of the face buttons, seems like the buttons and right stick should swap places like on 360 controller. But who knows, it might work better this way; at least it would be the same layout as the Gamepad where both sticks are on top.

Miiverse looks pretty cool and i'm interested in hearing more about it. Btw, they showed that the plaza thing is what we would see when the console was turned on. Is this for both the TV and Gamepad screen? Or is there different Home screens that we can switch between the two?

[QUOTE="BrunoBRS"][QUOTE="spike6958"]

Add very cramped to that list. My hype has dropped considerably after this video. Well lets hope Tuesday manages to restore some of it.

Also, I know this is kinda off topic but did he say the're only going to talk about WiiU on Tuesday, and that they'll talk about the 3DS at another time?

spike6958

So far so good! :)

I must say I am impressed by the tiny bit of info on NSMBWiiU so far. I like the more complex look of the overworld and the throwback look to the ingame graphics. I am actually excited to see it unlike usual with NMSB. THOUGH this is no system seller. Bring me the system seller Nintendo! :P

NaveedLife

For the Pro Controller, i'm not sure if I like the placement of the face buttons, seems like the buttons and right stick should swap places like on 360 controller. But who knows, it might work better this way; at least it would be the same layout as the Gamepad where both sticks are on top.

moltenix

you know that that game isn't even technically a game yet, right? it's just easy to explain stuff with mario :PBrunoBRS

My only complaint (not having held it yet), is that the D-Pad and face buttons are too far inward. I wish they were more outward akin to the Dreamcast controller. But that's just me.

I thought the presentation was pretty good. I wasn't expecting them to reveal as much as they did, with E3 just a day away. I'm looking forward to their main show even more now, since it's going to be all about the games.

And I'm happy that it looks like they aren't just reusing the same background art/world style from previous New Super Marios.

My little pre E3 prediction is that the game will be called "New Super Mario World". ;)

good call on the multitasking. It is neat that you can go to the internet during a game like that. Maybe you can do other things like have downloads in the background. That's something I thought the ps3 was going to be able to do.GunSmith1_basic

And Iwata has confirmed that Wii U will be able to download content in the background.

[QUOTE="NaveedLife"]

So far so good! :)

I must say I am impressed by the tiny bit of info on NSMBWiiU so far. I like the more complex look of the overworld and the throwback look to the ingame graphics. I am actually excited to see it unlike usual with NMSB. THOUGH this is no system seller. Bring me the system seller Nintendo! :P

BrunoBRS

It could be right?

[QUOTE="BrunoBRS"]you know that that game isn't even technically a game yet, right? it's just easy to explain stuff with mario :PSepewrath

Sounds like Nintendo is trying to be facebook?..from watching that clip :P but this just one part of it. Might have missed it...I hope there is an "OFF" switch for those in game Mii pop-up junk & all that Miiverse junk - not into those things. The analog stick is clickable..yay should be no more complain now. :P

Sounds like Nintendo is trying to be facebook?..from watching that clip :P but this just one part of it. Might have missed it...I hope there is an "OFF" switch for those in game Mii pop-up junk & all that Miiverse junk - not into those things. :P

superbuuman

I have just word to descibe this:meh.

it was ok but not as exciting i hoped.

it would have been more exciting if that guy didn't leak the revised WiiU gamepad. But yeah, disappointing. I was expecting to get a general idea of the specs or at least to see the console itself.GunSmith1_basic

This and i wish they had rehashed less footage from last year's e3 since 99% of those games aren't real (nsmb mii being the one real game)

I think the Pro Controller is mainly for 4 player multiplayer.

and

:lol:

it would have been more exciting if that guy didn't leak the revised WiiU gamepad. But yeah, disappointing. I was expecting to get a general idea of the specs or at least to see the console itself.GunSmith1_basic

A bit of a silly expectation, considering that Nintendo has never released specs, especially not at a pre e3 thing. To get an indication of specs, you'll have to go off the software they show at their conference.

trugs26

Well that was boring, and no 3DS at the E3 conference really sucks.meetroid8

Wait.. WHAT?!

They're not showing any 3DS stuff on Tuesday?! :evil:

Sounds like Nintendo is trying to be facebook?..from watching that clip :P but this just one part of it. Might have missed it...I hope there is an "OFF" switch for those in game Mii pop-up junk & all that Miiverse junk - not into those things. The analog stick is clickable..yay should be no more complain now. :P

superbuuman

here it is:

[QUOTE="meetroid8"]Well that was boring, and no 3DS at the E3 conference really sucks.moltenix

Wait.. WHAT?!

They're not showing any 3DS stuff on Tuesday?! :evil:

[QUOTE="moltenix"]

[QUOTE="meetroid8"]Well that was boring, and no 3DS at the E3 conference really sucks.meetroid8

Wait.. WHAT?!

They're not showing any 3DS stuff on Tuesday?! :evil:

I'm not exactly sold on the WiiU yet so I suppose it's better for them to focus heavily on Wii U games at the main conference.

Still, I was really excited to see lots of stuff on 3DS games like Paper Mario, Animal Crossing plus a bunch of new announcements. Hopefully that Software Showcase on Wedneday isn't a disappointment and doesn't focus too much on just Wii U games.

I really hope the software for WiiU blows me away, because so far they are doing a tremendous job of showcasing the WiiU's capabilities. Very smart move in every aspect so far.

The direct was fine, somewhat dull but all the news was good. The biggest surprise is Nintendo opted to go for a 2-controller approach which makes me wonder how developers are going to treat the Wii-mote (seems like it's going to hit the backburner). Now they just need a solid online network and they're set. The only thing that could undermine Nintendo's momentum at this point are the system specs and how they stack up to the competition (as well as any deviations to the console control standard they take). I doubt Ninty is going to release any hard details on what they're packing under the hood.

there's an icon on the bottom right of the screen with a bunch of tiny squares, a la the wii's menu. so clicking it probably sets it to "default mode".

here it is:

BrunoBRS

That botton probably is the one that switches the screens between the controler menu and the one on the t.v

[QUOTE="BrunoBRS"]there's an icon on the bottom right of the screen with a bunch of tiny squares, a la the wii's menu. so clicking it probably sets it to "default mode".

here it is:

ShuichiChamp24

That botton probably is the one that switches the screens between the controler menu and the one on the t.v

[QUOTE="ShuichiChamp24"]

[QUOTE="BrunoBRS"]there's an icon on the bottom right of the screen with a bunch of tiny squares, a la the wii's menu. so clicking it probably sets it to "default mode".

here it is:

BrunoBRS

That botton probably is the one that switches the screens between the controler menu and the one on the t.v