Nintendo Wii U

So I've just read about Nintendo's successor to the Wii, aptly named Wii U. Apparently this comes from Wii being a reference to 'We' meaning you, me and the whole family, and U which obviously means 'You'. It's a strange description from Nintendo but essentially they're saying it's a console for all the family but that's also perfect for the individual. I guess that means it's going to have all the family fun of the original Wii but with an equal amount of attention given to the Next Gen gaming that solo players found on PS3 and Xbox 360.

As I've just mentioned the Wii U is going to bring HD gaming back to Nintendo, at a quality to rival Sony and Microsoft, but they also are bringing a whole host of new innovations to the table, in just the way Nintendo always do. The most striking has to be the new controller. It looks like a mixture of an iPad and a standard game controller. There is a touch screen in the centre of the pad that can apparently do HD graphics, and then sticks, buttons and a D-Pad located around the screen. The pad is also motion sensitive and has a built in camera and microphone. With all of that the only thing that's missing is the kitchen sink!

One of the new concepts is the ability to take a game you are playing on your TV and in an instance transfer it straight over to your pad's screen. This smooth transition is set to work both ways and with the pad being portable you can then take your gaming to another room if someone wants the TV. Of course the pad isn't an independent console so you will need your Wii U within range and turned on to continue playing. The touch screen will also be usable for web browsing and utilizing the built in camera, it will be possible to have video chat over the new Nintendo Network.

Only a couple of games have been announced so far; Super Smash Bros and Lego City Stories, however several demos have been revealed to the press that demonstrate the power of the Wii U and it's new controller. One of the most interesting demos uses different Wii pads to view an arena from different angles depending on the location of the pad in relationship to the Wii U. Nintendo are trying to emphasize to gamers that games no longer need to be within a 3D realm on the TV but actually within the immediate area surrounding you. It's a first hint at the 3D worlds of sci-fi movies.

If Nintendo can pull of the Wii U incorporating both the family fun of the Wii and the Next Gen gaming that PS3 and Xbox 360 players have grown accustomed to, then they are on to a winner here. As a Nintendo fan from way back, I look forward to seeing and hearing more about the Wii U.

Nintendo's Wii U is set to be released next year.