Did Wii U screw up with its gargantuan gamepad controller?

I'm fine with it.

But Pro controller > other controllers

Best controller ever.

Nope.

I like how there are many controller options that developers can play with. Wiimote, Motion+, Pro controller, screen gamepad. Though I heard pikmin's controls weren't that good with the gamepad which is ridiculously surprising because Pikmin is what came to mind when they first revealed the controller.

Not at all. It's easy to hold so if developers don't use the screen much I don't care because it's a good controller.

Its not worth the amount of money it costs to make, not even close.

No, it's biggest failing is its online MP and lack of third-party interest.

Not much has been done with the controller thus far but they have plenty of time to utilize it and make it worth the investment.

Its biggest drawback is its poor battery life. Were that better, it'd be more excusable. Also its cost certainly took away from other areas of the system.

No but they did screw up with releasing the console without the ability to stream multiple Gamepad controllers simultaneously.

@MonsieurX: nintengodno screwed up with the wii ewww period.

I wonder how many of the people here who hate the Wii-U controller have ever held it. I have fairly small hands and I've held one before (have yet to play a game with it though) and it really felt good in my hands. So if my relatively small hands can handle it, I think most people in general can.

I really do have small hands for a guy my age though. :P

This is true.

Anyone who has held one will have no issues with it. It isn't huge to hold, nor is it heavy. It's very ergonomic and comfortable to use.

Yes they screwed up with the controller. Nintendo was looking for the next controller gimmick for their system and bet on the wrong horse. Not only that but they hardly utilize it. It's used as a horn in the new Mario Cart. A horn. Gimmie a break.

Nintendo has made alot of mistakes with Wii U... lack of hardware, lack of online. Seriously, the Wii U is still so far behind the 360 and PS3 it's crazy. The console is a failure.

It is my favorite controller currently.

Good controller.

They learned from the Wii not to force it into everything, even where it wouldn't fit. This "Nintendo can never do right" attitude is so prominent on these boards, it almost amusing.

...the problem is not the controller. The problem is they're not releasing anything compelling to warrant the inputs. And as one poster already mentioned, the idea of only being able to use one tablet controller at a time is assinine.

@foxhound_fox: They could have used it for anything. A map of the road, of the leader board, of anything. They used it as a horn. What a joke. They used it as a really large button.

I like it. The Wii U needs more games, though.

Nope

Nope. In fact I think it's one of the best ideas for a controller out there.

The problem is Nintendo won't utilize its potential because they're stupid, and no 3rd parties will utilize it either because Nintendo thought the smart thing to do was make a console that 3rd parties didn't ask for.

But seriously, all the things that could be done with a touch screen in the controller. Seriously, even without touch it could be awesome.

Imagine a Star Fox-esque game where someone could be flying on the big screen, and a 2nd player could be in control of a turret that takes place in AR off-screen. They look through the controller screen, and the screen shows enemy ships flying around your living room. That'd be amazing, but something Nintendo won't ever do.

On top of that it could be used to bring other genres to consoles. An MMO could work better given that you could map all the buttons to the touch screen, and strategy games could utilize the touch screen for more precise controls. And it could just have its fun little quirks like using it as a periscope, or a rear-view mirror, or a camera (in a fatal frame game), or whatever.

The possibilities that controller brings over your standard dual-analog controller is awesome, but Nintendo screwed up by making an underpowered console with limited features that isn't PC-like in its design, so why would 3rd parties make games for it over the PC/PS4/Xbone?

Just like the Wii Remote, the Wii U pad won't get utilized very well (Wii Remote was another awesome idea.....just wish it had better tech behind it).

I think the wii u gamepad is awesome. Yes, it's big; but its size doesn't get in the way at all. on the contrary, it's very comfortable and all of the buttons are easy to get to. Depending on the developer, the gamepad screen can make things more convenient (quick map \ inventory or off tv gaming) to controls (wonderful 101, art academy). And the gyroscope allows for quick and accurate aiming (windwaker hd). It's easily one of my favorite controllers of all time; the only things wrong with it are the battery life and that it's only single touch.

I don't see many people bashing the ds\3ds bottom screen, so idk why so many hate the wii u gamepad when it's the exact same concept.

The wii u certainly has some problems, but the controller isn't one of them.

Mario Kart. Fixed

But the Wii U can support more than one Gamepad simultaneously. The option currently isn't available in any games yet, but the console is dual Gamepad ready. [Source]

Gargantuan?! You clearly don't have a Wii-U. It's not heavy, it's not too big, it's fine. It's more comfy than say a 360 controller because of their stupid battery pack.

I love it personally. One of the best controllers I've used.

it just doesn't add anything to the experience, i mean the Wii came out and it had motion control, that was an experience playing games in a different way, but Wii U it's just a second screen, all it does is free up the main screen of rubbish and puts it on the other screen, they just tried to mimmick the sucess of the 3ds/ds, which on a home console just doesn't give me anything i truly need.

it's alright having all them controller options but isn't that the worst part, companies will look at it and think there to many options which not all will have except the screen.

I love it, it is so great in Windwaker HD, only downside is batterytime

All that money Nintendo spent on the Wii U's gamepad should have gone into building a more powerful machine. Pro Controller is superior anyways.

Its a great Controller. Much better than the PS3 and 360's Controllers.

It's not gargantuan. I'm surprised at how well made of a controller it is.

Just wish Nintendo or other developers utilized it properly like it is used for ZombiU. Then again, I haven't played all WiiU games out there. But the way ZombiU mixes tension with inventory management, looting, and weapon management..

No game like it.

It's actually not that big. It fits surprisingly well in your hands.
I was surprised.

What kind of battery does it have tho ?
USB plug in to recharge ?

they screw up by having a controller that's too expensive & not being able to support 2 of them..also weird controller combination when it comes to local co-op play...tho biggest screw up is only releasing 2 games at launch...& having old 3rd party ports. :P

Yet,you're the only one that keeps complaining about it here.

And you never touched one

the Wii U pad and Wii-mote are both running for worst controller ever made. A second screen is like the most pointless gimmick that Nintendo has come up with as already proven by the DS, so why even bother making a console controller around it? Couldn't they come up with something better?

Like seriously, in what world is better to have a map on the controller instead of on a corner of the screen? They say the action is seamless because you don't have to pause the game to look for items and stuff but what difference does it make when you still have to change your view from the main-screen to the controller screen?

I watched some of the implementations for Deus Ex and they tried sooo hard to use that second screen... I LoL'd. XD

Yes. It comes with a charger that you can plug into your WiiU controller stand, or you can just plug it into your controller.

Okay, and your point? Why does it have to be used meaningfully in every game? If they cannot come up with a compelling use for the touchscreen to pull attention away from the main screen, then what's the point? To justify it's being there? There are plenty of other opportunities for it to be used meaningfully and creatively.

no one will find a good use for the controller because it has no use!

i like it. but i prefer the Pro controller for the fighting games

Thank God Nintendo joined the 21st century.
Great news.

No, some games it works really well with. I think the console as a whole and what it offers is the problem, not the gamepad.

Never had an issue with the size of the controller when I owned a wii-u. The gamepad sucking up precious budget from the console hardware itself is a bigger travesty though.

Most definitely, i owned the system for two days and sold it on craigslist for profit. Playing games just felt so uncomfortable coming from regular controller.

No. It screwed up with:

-The price

-The name

-The lack of marketing

-The specs (in respect to complications with most games running worse than 360, and missing features, glitchy, bug ridden, etc)

-The clusterfuck of missing features, complications, etc.

-only having 8GB and 32GB of storage.

Yes, but the current gen specs is what really killed it.

The gamepad is an awesome controller. The biggest blunder is the god-awful and hardly existent ad campaign. Many didn't 'get' what the Wii U even was. Software delays and the meh launch lineup also contributed to the severe fumble.

@carljohnson3456: that was a build from E3. They'll probably add a mini map and all that jazz when the game Is released. Stop nitpicking

It already had a mini map at the E3 build it also had a leader board and you can switch between the horn and the map/leader board by tapping the side of the gamepad.

Yes and they screwed up with lack of marketing, pos underpowered console and lack of HDD space (in 2013 no less!) and lack of 3rd party support.

I mean really what difference does it make if I were to keep looking at the TV screen, click a button for a secondary window option and then fiddle with more options......vs......looking down on a tiny screen slapped on to a game pad and doing the same thing, which is quite distracting if I were playing a fast paced game. What? Paused the game and then look down on the gamepad? That's dumb and gimmicky really. Gimmicky because it ONLY SUPPORTS 2.....that's right just 2 Gamepads, while the other Two players use the Controller Pro? WTF? I thought the Gamepad was the MAIN FOCUS? Contradictory to what Nintendo's plans are. That's why its a GIMMICK. Why not just support 4 Gamepads to even out the playing field? Let me guess....WiiU isn't powerful enough? 4 power chords is too much clutter if Gamepad power dries up? LOL

So, I play a game and then look up down up down up down up down up down up down up down up down up down up down up down up down up down up down up down on gamepad....rinse repeat....LOL.

Sure you can play on the Gamepad screen and while the TV is off. But that doesn't apply to me, since I have my own apartment.

Hey just being honest and real...

...Waits for sheep enlightenment 4or dis Cee Oh Dee, Haylow, Geerz, Brohfisst Gaimor.....lololol