Pitchford: Wii U GamePad is best Nintendo hardcore controller ever

Gearbox Software president Randy Pitchford is a believer in the Wii U's GamePad controller. Speaking to Joystiq, the executive claimed Nintendo has never made a better input for first-person shooter games and other hardcore titles.

"This is the best controller Nintendo's ever made for making [a first-person shooter]," Pitchford said. "This is the best controller Nintendo has ever given us for playing hardcore games."

Pitchford also praised Nintendo for bringing second-screen gaming to the living room with the Wii U. He said Microsoft and Sony are also doing this, but not on the level Nintendo is.

"With the Wii U, [Nintendo] committed themselves to this promise. So the link is direct, fast, and immediate," he said. "Things like SmartGlass and Vita, they appreciate the value of the promise so they're making the promise. But they're not in with such commitment."

The first Gearbox Software game to be available for Wii U is next year's Aliens: Colonial Marines. Pitchford previously claimed that the Wii U version of the game is the best-looking iteration of the sci-fi shooter, topping the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions.