In speaking with Kotaku, Jeff Brown of EA confirmed that EA currently has no active titles in development for Nintendo’s Wii U.  EA has previously declared that putting Battlefied 4 on the Wii U was too risky, and has finally noted that there are no Wii U titles in current development at this time.

EA came out strong at Nintendo’s press conference in 2011 where the Wii U was first shown off to the public, but has since slowly backed their support. Most of EA’s titles for the system have come as ports from existing titles or months after a game’s release on the other platforms. If the Wii U does manage to get a larger install base it is not out of the question for EA to restart development for the system.

The latest system update was released for the Wii U by Nintendo a few days ago. Have you downloaded it yet? If so, what do you think? If not, check out the list of improved load times for the console’s different features as tested by Polygon:

System Power Up
Pre-patch: 15 seconds
Post-patch: 10 seconds

Opening Mii Maker
Pre-patch: 18 seconds
Post-patch: 12 seconds

Opening System Settings
Pre-patch: 13 seconds
Post-patch: 8 seconds

Going Back To Menu
Pre-patch: 25 seconds
Post-patch: 21 seconds

Starting Nintendo Land
Pre-patch: 21 seconds
Post-patch: 14 seconds

While a few of these load times are certainly a big improvement over the previous lengths, they’re mostly still a bit tedious. I mean, 21 seconds to go back to the main menu is certainly somewhat of an annoying wait. Here’s hoping Nintendo turns out another update that improves the loading further in the near future.

In addition to the slightly speedier load times, a few others features were introduced. One of the bigger ones is the ability to transfer data between USB drives. You can now also put the Wii U on standby mode while downloading content. The system will then shut down entirely once the download is complete.

Nintendo mainstay Shigeru Miyamoto believes that the Wii U has a long, fruitful future ahead of it. According to the mind behind Mario and Zelda, there’s a lot of time for growth. Miyamoto isn’t claiming that the Wii U has gotten off to a hot start, though. In fact, the legendary designer told the New York Times that he would like for the console to produce stronger sales. That said, he does think more individuals will adopt the platform in due time.

“I think that the Wii U still has a long future,” said Shiggy. “We really view it as being the ideal device that families are going to want to have connected to that screen in the living room that everyone is going to gather around and watch. Certainly in the short term I would want to see it performing with probably a little more momentum. I think in the long term I’m not at a point where I’m concerned yet.”

It should be noted that the PlayStation 3 didn’t exactly blast off in terms of sales right off the bat, either. However, Sony’s console eventually made its way into more households. Still, we’re entering a new console generation, so it’s hard to tell exactly how the Wii U will fit in and perform against the PlayStation 4 and Microsoft’s next Xbox.

As far as mobile gaming is concerned, though, Miyamoto isn’t worried and states that the Wii U is a device for people who want to play games on a larger scale. “As long as we’re able to provide an entertainment experience that people want to play, they’re more than happy to purchase another device to carry around with them alongside their smartphone,” he explained.

Nintendo has revealed the new Wii U ZombiU Deluxe Set. Packaged in the box you’ll find the Wii U, charging cradle, and stands like the normal Deluxe offering. However, you’ll also get a copy of ZombiU, a ZombiU art book, a Wii U Pro Controller, and a download of Nintendo Land. The bundle will feature a $389.99 price tag and is due out on February 17.

ZombiU is a hell of a game, so that title alone is a great pack-in with the Wii U. Additionally, all of the other stuff included in the set mean consumers can save 70 bucks. It’s not very surprising then that this new bundle has existing Wii U owners quite perturbed. As a matter of fact, plenty of individuals have reportedly claimed that they rue the day they ever bought the Wii U.

Normally, I’d say the internet is overreacting like always. This time, though, I have to admit that this obvious financial move from Nintendo kind of blows for early Wii U adopters. I picked up my Wii U Deluxe a couple of weeks after launch and snagged a copy of ZombiU right along with it. My total came out to about $410 (not including tax), so seeing this bundle is definitely a bit of a bummer.

Following the close of the Q3 Financial Results Briefing, Nintendo’s President Satoru Iwata told investors that there are currently no plans to cut the price of the Wii U. If you consider that the console is being sold at a loss and came out just last year it’s not all too surprising, even with the lackluster sales.

Additionally, EA isn’t grouping the Wii U as part of its “Gen 4″ roadmap, which includes next-gen consoles. While this doesn’t bode well for third-party support, at least from the likes of EA, the  company thinks the Wii U will do just fine – once Nintendo starts leveraging more of its own IP to drive adoption.

So, couple of things. First, you never count Nintendo out. They’ve got some of the best IPs in the game industry, when their marquee titles show up, that’s when you usually see the bounce. I’m deeply respectful of the achievements they’ve had over the last several years, and so yeah, never really count them out.

Having said that, I wouldn’t say that we see much correlation between the results that Nintendo have just shown with the console debut of the Wii U and what we see coming. We see a pretty sharp distinction and unfortunately I’m unable to go any further than that.

Ours is an industry where a lot of devices come in and represent themselves as the next generation or the next generation after that. You know in many ways, we would argue that the gen— what we’re describing as “Gen 4″, is yet to come — and it’s that we’re excited about, and that’s what we’re investing in, and frankly we’ve been quite consistent with that for some time, recognising the frustration our inability to articulate precisely why, causes for you.

Thanks, iMax @ NeoGAF.

Nintendo will be doing some emergency maintenance across the Nintendo Network today and tomorrow. Unlike the company’s regularly scheduled maintenance, this will affect certain aspects of online features on the Wii U, 3DS, and DS.

Starting tonight at 11 PM and running until 5 PM tomorrow, DS titles Pokemon Black, White, Black 2, and White 2 will receive some network maintenance. The online features in Warriors Orochi 3 Hyper for the Wii U will also be affected starting today at 5 PM and lasting until about 6 PM.

Last, Nintendo’s online shops will get some maintenance time between 12 PM and 5 PM today. This includes the Wii U eShop, 3DS eShop, Wii Shop Channel, and DSiWare Shop.

All schedules listed above are for Pacific time.

Nintendo President Satoru Iwata has given some insight on Wii U sales. Speaking with Reuters, Iwata explained that while the figures haven’t been as massive as the Wii’s were back when that console launched in 2006, the new system is still doing quite well.

“At the end of the Christmas season, it wasn’t as though stores in the U.S. had no Wii U left in stock, as it was when Wii was first sold in that popular boom,” said Iwata. “But sales are not bad, and I feel it’s selling steadily.”

In addition to sales info, the Nintendo president pointed out that the Deluxe version of the Wii U is in higher demand. “Specifically, inventory levels for the premium, deluxe package was unbalanced as many people wanted that version and couldn’t find it,” stated Iwata.

The news comes courtesy of Nintendo chief Satoru Iwata on the latest segment of Nintendo Direct, translated by GoNintendo. A specific date other than December was not given. The firmware update will presumably coincide with the belated launch of Nintendo’s TVii service, which groups several video streaming services in one easy to use app.

Survival horror in its purest form has all but disappeared over the past several years. While certain games still have elements of horror and stylistically dark themes, it’s really difficult to find a game that makes you feel like you’ve lost all hope — like you’re going to die and you’re really only prolonging your gruesome, horrific fate. The reason a lot of individuals don’t feel that way is because “survival horror” video games these days thrust them into a world that’s hardly scary, and they have a ton of equipment at their disposal to use as they see fit, in the process being free of any real worries.

Thank goodness ZombiU is nothing like any of those games.

When Ubisoft first revealed ZombiU, the game had the potential to be a genuinely enjoyable romp through a zombie-plagued London setting. I don’t think anyone ever thought for a split second that this game would spark the glorious return to form for an entire genre, but that’s exactly what happened. ZombiU delivers an experience that’s actually frightening, and while it suffers from a few unavoidable bumps along the way, this journey is well worth taking.

As far as plot is concerned, this is your typical tale of the undead. You find yourself amidst the horrific zombie apocalypse, and all you have to guide you is the voice of a man known only as “the Prepper.” This guy offers to help you out by providing you with shelter, but obviously, you’re going to have to earn your keep by following his instructions and doing everything he says. Generally this entails risking your ass to get supplies, helping other characters out, and so on. The Prepper’s safehouse is your central hub, allowing you to save your game, store collected items, and turn in after completing missions.

The Wii U GamePad comes into play throughout the entire game, and it’s incorporated quite nicely. When you’re traveling through London the touchscreen acts as map and radar, pointing you in the direction of your next objective. At first all you have is a blank screen, but finding special monitors and scanning them with the GamePad will upload that specific area’s map, allowing you to navigate a bit easier. You can also scan suitcases and zombies so that you can find out if they have necessary items, and scanning doors lets you know if they’re barricaded from the other side. Tapping the radar icon sends out a signal that tracks all life forms, indicated by red dots on the screen. This feature helps you keep track of zombies in the area, but it doesn’t make the game easy or less scary. It’s important to know that the radar tracks all life forms including animals, so sometimes you’ll expect to turn a corner and find an undead freak, but you’ll instead be startled as a crow notices you and flies past you.

Of course, you should never keep your guard down, because that red dot on your radar could have been a zombie, and chances are it will be. Unless it’s a rat. Either way, be prepared, because ZombiU is a game that loves to play tricks on you. It constantly keeps the tension high, and it plays some of the most amazingly terrifying mind games of any video game in recent memory. If your radar isn’t picking up a life form nearby, then you may just hear the distant groans of a walking corpse. You’ll know it’s nearby, but you won’t be entirely sure, and as those groans grow louder, you’ll get this sinking feeling deep down, knowing that you may not make it back to your safehouse.

You can access your inventory through the touchscreen, equip items, use health supplies, and rearrange your looted equipment. This system works nicely a lot of the time, but dragging and dropping items isn’t always as responsive as it should be. Easily the most useless function occurs when you’re tasked with removing barricades or boarding up doors. You’ll be prompted to tap the touchscreen repeatedly, and doing so just seems unnecessary and tacked on. Thankfully, these instances don’t dominate the experience and only pop up once in a while. Despite the fact that your character stops what he or she’s doing while you access the touchscreen features, it’s important to note that the world around you won’t stop. If there are zombies after you, they’ll continue to charge at you, so get that ammo or health item you need from your backpack and keep moving.

The entire atmosphere of ZombiU is shrouded in dark shadows, and it forces you to stay alert and prepared at all times. You’ve got a flashlight to keep areas decently lit (nothing is ever well lit), and using it exhausts its battery life. Simply turning it off will recharge it, and while the recharge rate is actually quite rapid, mere seconds feel like an eternity when you’ve got a zombie or two (or three) chasing you down a dark sewer. It’s absolutely terrifying, and that small source of light should definitely not be taken for granted. It’ll save your ass more often than not, so use it wisely.

Your primary weapon is a cricket bat, and you’ll use it a lot throughout your experience in this dreadful rendition of London. It doesn’t deteriorate and you can’t lose it, so more often than not you’ll find yourself smacking the undead upside the head with it. These zombies are tough, and you can expect to deliver a hardy four to six shots with your cricket bat. If you encounter infected riot cops who happen to be wearing helmets, expect to land a good eight shots before you can finally crush their brains in. The action is visceral, and if you’re outnumbered by even a single zombie, your entire strategy changes to a game of survival.

As you continue to try and stay alive, several weapons will become available to you. Aside from your default handgun, you can collect a crossbow, a shotgun, explosives, and an assault rifle to name a few. While guns are loud and generally not very ideal, they do the trick when you’re surrounded by zombies. Aiming in ZombiU isn’t perfect. As a matter of fact, it’s a bit fidgety, but really, that just makes the game even more intense. I’ve never understood how games can have a protagonist who’s never used a gun in his life all of a sudden have such a natural feel for heavy firepower. ZombiU doesn’t give you that luxury, instead requiring that you make very single shot count, which is a lot easier said than done when you’re clearly stepping into the shoes of a character who’s never used a gun in his life.

ZombiU takes a unique approach to death. If, no, when you happen to fall victim to a zombie attack and die a gruesome death, your current character will be gone for good. You’ll then witness a new character waking up in the Prepper’s safehouse, ready to continue the work of the last individual. You’ll lose all of the guns, ammo, and health items you picked up along the way and pretty much start from scratch. Thankfully, all hope is not lost. If you go back to the area where your previous character perished, you’ll be able to collect all of your previously found goods. The only catch: You’re going to have to kill a zombified version of your last character, and if you die trying to do so, all of your old loot will be lost for good.

Despite the fact that these characters never talk, I found myself struggling with killing my previous character during one of my play sessions. While this wasn’t the case early on when my characters were being eaten alive more frequently, I eventually managed to get pretty far with one particular character, lasting over two hours and completing a large number of missions. When the time came to put her down permanently, it was one of the harder things I had to do in the game.  After I crushed her skull and looted her backpack, I dumped her into the ocean and finally moved on.

ZombiU truly is a riveting experience from start to finish. Even though you’ve got a useful radar to help you out, the game sometimes throws zombies at you out of nowhere. I can’t count the number of jump scares I experienced during my time with the game, and as much as I hate to admit it, there were a few instances where I actually screamed. ZombiU is a scary game — one of the scariest games in recent memory, and quite possibly the scariest game of the year. It’s true to the survival horror genre in every sense, and it triumphs because of that.

Sadly, ZombiU isn’t exactly a graphical treat. The game is actually quite ugly in parts, and sometimes it seems like little effort was made to make this look like more than an above average Wii game. It’s also a shame that character models are recycled so frequently. Those gripes aside, there are certainly some cool lighting effects, zombies animate eerily, and the dark ambiance is fitting.  The sound design is also strong, with music that plays loudly as you face hordes of zombies and the groans of the undead staying with you long after you’ve survived an encounter.

You can get through ZombiU in about 10 to 15 hours, and there are even some fun extra modes to play around with. Survival challenges you to enter the campaign with a single survivor. Once you die, you’re done. This is a solid component for folks who want to climb the game’s online leaderboards. King of the Zombies has one player taking control of hordes of zombies and giving out commands through the GamePad while another player needs to capture bases as a survivor, fending off the “king’s” minions and using either the Wii U Pro Controller or Wii Remote and Nunchuk combo. This mode is a fun distraction, and one that can really be enjoyed whether you’re the king or the survivor.

As great as ZombiU may be, some hitches get in the way of the enjoyment a bit too frequently. As previously stated, tapping the touchscreen for certain actions isn’t fun, and dragging inventory items doesn’t always yield successful results. But by far the most tedious aspect of ZombiU is its series of glitches. While I certainly can’t say that I’ve encountered as many bugs as other individuals, there was one in particular that really irked me. One of my objectives required me to clear an area of zombies. I did so, and I couldn’t progress. I walked around trying to figure out what to do, and I ultimately exited the area and reentered it. I had no choice but to take on those zombies again, this time with a lot of my ammo depleted from my first encounter. I barely made it through, and I finally triggered the cutscene that was supposed to occur the first time around. The fact that I spent so many supplies and nearly lost my survivor was quite upsetting.

A handful of slightly annoying flaws notwithstanding, ZombiU is a true spectacle to behold. The game single-handedly reinvigorates the survival horror genre, and it does so in prime fashion. Developers, take note, because Ubisoft has created something magnificently special here. ZombiU isn’t some tribute to a long forgotten genre. No, it’s much more than that. It’s a successful entry that actually manages to do what so many other games have tried to do recently. The only difference here is that ZombiU succeeds. It succeeds in delivering a wonderful third-party experience on the Wii U. It succeeds in offering mature audiences a worthwhile M-rated game on a Nintendo console. It succeeds in utilizing the GamePad nicely. And above all else, ZombiU succeeds in scaring the crap out of those who dare enter its world.

Shortly after the Wii U launched, the famed Homebrew Channel was teased for folks who enjoy tinkering with their hardware. While there’s still no Wii U Homebrew option for these individuals to take advantage of, HackMii has reported that the Homebrew Channel for the original Wii is now fully functional on the Wii U.

If you plan on running the Homebrew Channel, you’ll be able to do so on your Wii menu. In other words, there’s technically still no Wii U option. Either way, this news may get some folks stoked as a lot of individuals use this “feature” to play games that weren’t localized in North America as well as pirated versions of classic titles.

I think it’s safe to say that it’s only a matter of time until someone cooks up a Wii U Homebrew Channel. If you’re into that stuff, use it at your own discretion and be wary of anything that may go wrong. Ya never know!

The Wii U launched just about three weeks ago, and in that time it’s received its share of praise and skepticism. The fact of the matter is that Nintendo made a lot of promises as its latest console approached release. After playing around with some games as well as the system’s internal apps, it’s easy to see how the company may be trying to offer a unique home console experience. Ultimately, there’s definitely a lot to like about the console, but it’s not without a few glaring flaws. Thankfully, there’s potential here, and the Wii U could very well be an incredible multimedia machine.

The Hardware: Deluxe and Basic Editions

The Wii U comes in two different flavors: the Deluxe Edition for $349.99 and the Basic Edition for $299.99. The differences between the two are miniscule, and depending on your needs versus your wants, you could potentially save 50 bucks. The Deluxe Edition features a black Wii U with 32GB of internal flash storage, the GamePad controller, console stands (because vertical systems look cool), a GamePad stand, a GamePad charging cradle, and a copy of Nintendo Land (which is priced at $59.99 as a standalone retail title). The Basic Edition includes a white 8GB Wii U and GamePad. Aside from that, both SKUs include AC adapters for the console and the controller, a sensor bar for Wii Remote use, and an HDMI cable. That’s right, none of that composite tomfoolery — the future is here (or whatever)!

Again, which version you go with relies largely on whether or not you want all of those stands, a copy of Nintendo Land, and a black Wii U. Whether you go with the 8GB or the 32GB model, you’ll have more than enough storage space for the first system update (more on that in a bit) and a number of game saves. Thankfully, the Wii U has a total of four USB ports so you can plug in an external hard drive if you decide to purchase a lot of digital content. For some Deluxe owners, this may be ideal considering the Digital Deluxe program which offers 10 percent credit on eShop purchases. Aside from the USB ports, the Wii U also features an SD card slot, so there’s that.

The GamePad Is Comfortable and Light … Oh, and It Works!

The major selling point for a lot of Wii U owners is that snazzy new controller, the GamePad. The device features all of the standard face and shoulder buttons as well as a D-pad and two clickable analog sticks. The GamePad is fairly light, and it’s super comfortable. It’s probably not ideal to hold it up with one hand given its width, but the ergonomic grips on the rear make it totally easy to hold.

Of course, we can’t talk about the GamePad without taking a look at the touchscreen’s specs. Measuring up at 6.2 inches, the touchscreen is totally responsive and pleasantly bright. It’s a great option for browsing the internet and playing games, and it’s just a really cool little device. It comes with a stylus, but there doesn’t seem to be too much use for that just yet as using the onscreen keyboard with your fingertips is precise and practical.

Sadly, where the GamePad takes a hit is in its battery life. Though you can adjust the screen brightness, you’ll ultimately only get about three hours of playtime before you need to charge the darn thing. Unfortunately, you can’t hook the GamePad up to the Wii U’s USB ports. Instead, you’ll need to have the packed-in AC adapter at the ready. Another gripe I had with the GamePad was with its signal which worked perfectly as long as I was within the same room as the Wii U. The moment I walked behind a wall just a few feet away, though, the GamePad let me know that the connection to the console was lost. This isn’t too big of a deal because Nintendo said right out of the gate that the Wii U wasn’t a portable gaming device, but it would be cool if you could go to another (nearby) room and keep playing.

Internet Features: Best Console Browser Ever?

Seriously, enough can’t be said about just how great browsing the internet is on the Wii U. Nintendo may not have been the first to do it, but the console’s internet functionality stands tall among the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Checking out different sites is a total breeze, and everything loads up rapidly. You can even open up multiple tabs and contribute to this nation’s ADD mentality if you so choose to.

Oddly enough, the Wii U includes a YouTube app, but honestly, it’s pretty useless. That’s not to say it doesn’t work — it does, and it works well. It’s just hard to relegate YouTube to an isolated app when you can simply watch your favorite videos using the Wii U’s browser instead. Videos load as fast as they would on your computer, so it goes without saying that they rely entirely on your internet connection. That said, it’s awesome being able to watch episodes of Angry Video Game Nerd on an HD TV while reading random Wikipedia articles on the GamePad. That’s right, you can do that, and it’s awesome. This functionality essentially turns the Wii U controller into a tablet device of sorts, and if someone takes up the TV, you can simply keep watching videos or surfing the web right on the GamePad. It’s functional, it’s fast, and it’s intuitive.

Miiverse: Nintendo’s Social Network

In an attempt to show that it can get with the times, Nintendo has created a video gaming social network called Miiverse. Is it a bit gimmicky? Yeah, sure it is. Here’s the crazy part, though: It’s actually a lot of fun. Basically, “communities” are split up between games and apps, so you’ve got separate threads for New Super Mario Bros. U, ZombiU, YouTube, and so on. Using the GamePad, you can post messages, leave comments for others to read, draw images using the stylus, or give others’ posts a “Yeah!” It’s a neat feature, and while it may not exactly be mind-blowing, it’s a welcome addition to the Wii U.

One of the cooler integrations of Miiverse is the ability to snap gameplay pictures. If you’re playing a game and something cool happens or you’re confused about what to do next, you can hit the Home button, select Miiverse from the menu, and post your screenshot (the last image that appeared before you hit Home) for others to see. I’ve already seen folks using this as a tool to brag about their best times in Mighty Switch Force and to ask for some hints in ZombiU. It’s a nice element that not only keeps the community engaged, but it also makes for some funny moments if something silly happens in-game — or, you know, if you encounter a stupid glitch or something.

Wait a Sec … What the Heck Happened to TVii?!

Nintendo promoted TVii as one of the launch features of the Wii U. This component would integrate Netflix, Hulu, TiVo, and other services so that you could have a seamless television source right on your Wii U and GamePad. Nintendo decided to push the service back, though there are plans of launching it later this month. Oh, and because the controller can also be used as a universal TV remote, you won’t need to worry about fumbling with different remote controls if you feel like raising the volume on the TV.

Other Apps Ensure You Can Still Watch Videos to Your Heart’s Content

If you’re looking for something other than YouTube and are bummed out about the current lack of TVii functionality, you’ll be glad to know that the Wii U has several other apps to ensure that your video viewing needs are met. Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Amazon Prime can all be accessed right from the Wii U, so you can watch your favorite movies and TV shows as much as you’d like. Obviously, the inclusion of premium video services on game consoles isn’t anything new. Still, it’s great to see Nintendo putting this much care and attention to the non-gaming features of the system.

Games, Graphics, and Glitches

There are a number of gaming options on the Wii U that are available both at retailers and digitally through the eShop. The consensus is that games like Assassin’s Creed 3 and Black Ops 2 look fairly on par with their Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 counterparts, but some noticeable performance issues cause unnecessary and unpleasant instability. Of course, there’s also Darksiders 2 which has a much better draw distance than the Xbox 360 version but also sacrifices a bit of foliage. New Super Mario Bros. U looks like what you would expect an HD Mario side-scroller to look like. As for ZombiU, the game isn’t so much technically impressive as it is stylistically appropriate.

In regards to the frame rate issues and glitches in certain ports, it seems that a lot of developers are still trying to figure out how to properly port games to the Wii U. Here’s hoping that gets sorted out soon so we don’t have to deal with more awesome titles like Batman: Arkham City receiving subpar port jobs. Nintendo has a strong lineup of first-party franchises, but it would definitely be nice to get other offerings outside of the Mario-Zelda-Metroid spectrum on the Wii U.

Other Things to Make a Note Of

There are several other factors to take into account if you’re going to purchase a Wii U. First, if you’ve got a backlog of older Wii games you want to play, you’ll be glad to know that the Wii U is fully backward compatible with its predecessor’s software. It kind of sucks that you can’t play your old GameCube favorites (I’m keeping my Wii hooked up so I can finally finish Killer7), but if you’ve yet to play stellar Wii exclusives like Skyward Sword, Mario Galaxy, or No More Heroes 2, you can do so on the Wii U. Best of all, the visuals will adapt to have a cleaner resolution similar to what the Wii component cables used to do.

If you’re looking to chat with your family and friends, you can do that as the Wii U sports a fully functional video chat app. This is pretty much what you’d expect from a component like this. You’ve got a mic on the GamePad as well as speakers, and if you want, you can even view the picture on your TV.

Probably the most obnoxious thing about the Wii U is the day one system update. The patch can take up to two hours to download, though some users have reported lengthier times. I, for example, had to deal with a four-hour wait. The good thing is that you can do a background download of all updates, so if you get a Wii U and want to play some games, be sure to cancel the update when the system prompts you to do so. This won’t actually cancel the downloading process. Instead, the patch will continue downloading without interrupting your experience, and you can check the status of the download on the Home menu. Oh, and before you ask, yes, this update is important. After all, it adds all of the online, Miiverse, eShop, and Wii features.

Also a bit tedious is the general loading, which is quite lengthy. It’s kind of a shame that the loading screen when you boot up a game (be it disc-based or digital) is so annoyingly long. Even worse is the fact that opening different apps such as Miiverse and the eShop takes a while, too. Hopefully Nintendo addresses that in the future with another 10-hour system update. (Jokes!)

The Verdict

As has been the case this console generation with both the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3, the Wii U is not without its shortcomings. Load times are annoying, that day one patch just plain sucks, and some third-party games are quite glitchy. That said, no one should be quick to write the Wii U off just yet. Nintendo has created a nice HD console here — one that does a lot of things aside from playing games. It’s great that the Wii U wears so many hats. The fact that it can play video games, features the best web browser on a video game console to date, and offers plenty of video viewing options almost turns the platform into an entertainment hub of sorts.

While it’s impossible to say what the future holds for the system, it definitely looks like said future will be bright if Nintendo and other developers can take advantage of the hardware. Browsing the internet, watching YouTube videos, and utilizing the GamePad for different functions are all a blast. Darksiders 2 proves that competent port jobs are possible on Nintendo’s system. Nintendo Land is a great casual experience for entire groups to enjoy. ZombiU is the first real original hardcore game on the Wii U. And the promise of games like Toki Tori indicates that indie devs are showing interest in the tech. Nintendo’s got a lot riding on this system, but thankfully, it has a ton of potential to go far and an interesting new controller to help it do so. Let’s hope that’s the case down the road, not just for Nintendo, but for people who love playing video games.

Well, this is just insanely absurd. Remember that Wii Mini that was announced by Nintendo for the Canadian market last week? Yes, I’m talking about that $99.99 Wii redesign that won’t feature internet access or GameCube backward compatibility. Well, now it’s going to be devoid of another feature: an SD slot. Man alive!

According to Nintendo World Report, the Wii and Wii U manufacturer stated that the Wii Mini is designed for “a different type of player.” I’m assuming the company means people who need paperweights.

I’m absolutely baffled at this wacky device and seriously can’t even fathom the idea of someone actually wanting this thing. I suppose if Nintendo lowers the price enough down the road more people will buy it just to play Zelda or Mario. I also won’t be surprised if corporate offices take my idea to heart and buy these things to use as paperweights.

As we all know, Wii U doesn’t feature a system of goals and intangible points like Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. The Achievement and Trophy support in those consoles has become a praised mainstay, not only for Microsoft and Sony, but for gaming. After all, people love their achievements. If you’re a Wii U owner, you now have another set of fruitless accomplishments to keep track of — at least as far as Ubisoft games are concerned.

The company has launched a new Uplay app on the eShop, and you can download it for free if you feel like being given a few interspersed goals while playing games like ZombiU, Assassin’s Creed 3, and so on. Despite Uplay getting a negative reaction from most people since its arrival on PC, the service isn’t all that intrusive on Wii U. In fact, it’s actually kind of nice if you dig hunting for achievements. I, for example, don’t care much for the points-based system, but I have to admit I was a little pleased when a pop-up appeared onscreen while I played ZombiU, informing me that I had cleared an objective and was being rewarded with 10 points.

Then I forgot all about it and kept playing, but that’s another story. If you desperately need an achievements system (No one desperately needs an achievements system. Think about it.) on Wii U, so far this is the closest you’ll get to that, so you may want to check out that app. The most noteworthy thing about this is that it totally paves the way for ridiculous overuse of the letter “U.” Now U can say U earned points playing ZombiU on Wii U thanks to Uplay from Ubisoft! Yay?

Thus far, they’ve released proof in the form of a video, keenly noting that it’s a demonstration at this point — there’s not a release date planned yet. Right now, this hack appears to be running under the sandboxed Wii environment, not native Wii U mode. However, judging from comments by marcan of fail0verflow, accessing Wii U mode is well within their reach.

We’re calling the Wii U security processor the Starbuck (vs. Starlet on Wii). And it seems to be about equally vulnerable, too.

Sorry, I’d rather not talk about how I got that yet. It doesn’t involve leaks, it involves Wii U hacks ;)

The second comment is in reference to the CPU details outed earlier today. According to marcan, the Wii U boasts a 1.24 GHz CPU with 3 PowerPC 750 type cores, akin to Wii’s Broadway chip. The GPU is clocked at GPU core at 549MHz. The processor spec can’t be directly compared to PS3 and Xbox 360, however, since the Wii U has a higher IPC — meaning it can do more work per clock cycle.

At any rate, check out the video below for an early glimpse at homebrew on Wii U. For those that’d like to take advantage of this, well, chances are avoiding any future updates will be wise until more details surface.

It looks like the Wii U is getting a a Yoshi game. At least that’s what a listing on Best Buy’s Canadian website indicates. Yoshi’s Land as it’s titled is priced at $59.99, available for pre-order, and scheduled to launch by the end of 2013.

According to the product description, Yoshi’s upcoming adventure will feature touchscreen functionality and Miiverse integration. That’s about all we know so far, and admittedly, the idea of a brand new Yoshi game on the Wii U is kind of exciting. Here’s hoping Nintendo does some interesting things with the GamePad and makes Yoshi’s Land feel significantly different from current Mario titles.

The original Yoshi’s Island on the SNES was lauded for its beautiful visuals and magnificent platforming gameplay. Will Yoshi’s Land be an extension of that awesomeness? As long as it’s nothing like Yoshi’s Story, it just might be.

In case you get an error page (like I’ve been getting) or the listing is removed from the Best Buy site, here’s a screen grab that proves this is more than just a simple rumor:

When Nintendo initially announced the Wii U, it stated that the machine was dedicated to video game players of all kinds. According to the company, the platform would be good for families, core gamers, and casual folks. With the GamePad’s ability to mirror the functions of traditional controllers, it’s definitely possible for developers to create games that are on par with the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 as far as mainstream functionality is concerned.

Sadly, the GamePad’s capabilities to provide normal controls isn’t exactly enough for developer Gearbox Software to attempt porting Borderlands 2 on the Wii U. “We get asked if there is going to be a Wii U version of Borderlands, and the reason why there’s not is because we couldn’t think of a natural, obvious, ‘OMG, I want that for what the Wii U brings to the table’ feature,” CEO Randy Pitchford told GamesMaster.

It’s obvious that a few developers share this mindset, and it’s a bit of a shame, actually. The Wii U is able to do things its current competitors aren’t, but thanks to the GamePad and the Pro Controller, it can still offer fans experiences on par with what those systems are doing. If you’re a diehard Nintendo fan who only owns a Wii U, you may be left in the dark in regards to a few key franchises.

Still, Gearbox is totally backing the platform as far as Aliens: Colonial Marines is concerned. “But with Aliens, the first thing we thought was ‘Holy sh*t, I can have a motion controller in my hands!’ When it’s there in my lap it feels like I’m part of the movie,” explained Pitchford.

Is this a bad approach for devs to take with the Wii U? Should Nintendo’s newest platform be completely devoid of traditional, non-GamePad-centric experiences?

Is the Wii U more powerful in terms of graphics compared to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3? According to Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime, it certainly is. Then again, he’s probably supposed to say that, right? Speaking to CNN, the Nintendo boss and internet meme stated, “If you would do a side-by-side comparison, you would actually see that third-party games like Call of Duty look dramatically better on our system.”

Of course, this interview wouldn’t be any fun without the CNN reporter asking the Regginator about Microsoft and Sony’s next systems. When questioned whether or not Nintendo was worried that it may be a generation behind when the next Xbox and PlayStation consoles launch, the Nintendo president said, “In terms of what competition’s going to do in the future, we’ll see.”

It definitely seems as though Nintendo is hoping to stay strong with the Wii U. The system has certainly sold admirably, hitting 400,000 in sales in its first week. I’m not exactly sure if claiming that the Wii U has superior graphics is very wise at this point, though, as various sources have stated that certain games such as Black Ops 2 look superior on the Xbox 360. But I reiterate, he’s probably supposed to say that … right?

People have been wondering whether BioShock Infinite will feature a multiplayer component. Rumors have been popping up on the good ol’ internet, leading many to believe that some modes had been removed from the final game. So what’s the final story on multiplayer in Infinite? According to series creator, writer, and designer Ken Levine, there will be no multiplayer functionality in the game.

Some folks are bound to be disappointed after hoping that this feature would’ve been included in Infinite. Others, however, seem to be fine with the omission considering the BioShock series is a strong single-player franchise. Personally, I just want to check the game out for myself because it looks pretty rad.

It should be noted that BioShock 2 introduced multiplayer to the series. This feature was well received by fans, so it makes sense that a few individuals aren’t very pleased about the lack of multiplayer in Infinite. Either way, if you fancy yourself a BioShock lover or just a steampunk aficionado, you can expect Infinite on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC in February 2013.

It was previously documented that for the first time ever Nintendo would be selling one of its machines at a loss with the Wii U. According to Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime, however, it doesn’t take much for the console to make a profit. In fact, all it takes is one game sale with every platform for Nintendo to come out winning.

“The business model doesn’t change dramatically, in that as soon as we get the consumer to buy one piece of software, then that entire transaction becomes profit positive,” stated the Regginator in an interview with Mercury News. “In the end, the business model is still to drive the install base of hardware, and then to drive a strong tie ratio with all of the other software and experiences for the consumer. And if we’re able to do that, then we will create significant profit for the company.”

With New Super Mario Bros. U being a surefire day one buy for a lot of folks, it’s fairly obvious that the Wii U will make a profit with almost every transaction. A lot of individuals were skeptical about the Wii U being sold at a loss, but with this new statistic being taken into account, it should be interesting seeing what kind of profit Nintendo rakes in with the system.

The team was given an early look at the Wii U, and although they consider a port to be technically feasible, it seems corners would have to be cut. Says Metro franchise communications head Huw Beynon:

We had an early look at it, we thought we could probably do it, but in terms of the impact we would make on the overall quality of the game – potentially to its detriment – we just figured it wasn’t worth pursuing at this time. It’s something we might return to. I really couldn’t make any promises, though.

For a brand-new console, released in 2012, this is somewhat disappointing to hear. It certainly makes us wonder just how feasible scaled-down ports of PS4 and next Xbox games will be, if porting over a demanding current gen title proves too arduous of a task.

I picked up a Wii at launch back in November 2006, so I didn’t have to deal with lengthy lines or long waiting periods to snag my Nintendo console. The Wii U, however, is a completely different story. When I finally decided to pre-order the darn thing, all I could do was add my name to a wait list.

According to Nintendo Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing Scott Moffitt, the Wii U will be restocked across retailers at a much faster rate than the Wii. Well, that’s certainly good news for folks looking to enjoy a brand new console.

“I can tell you this — on opening week we will have more systems on hand for the Wii U than we did for the launch of Wii,” Moffitt told GamesIndustry International. “And, second, our replenishments will be more frequent this holiday time than during the Wii launch.”

Of course, the Nintendo exec did clarify that the company can’t promise that every retailer will be fully stocked with Wii U consoles at all times. Still, the fact that there are actually wait lists this time around indicates that stock is much more likely to be replenished at a faster rate than the Wii ever was.

Wii U unboxing videos have begun flooding the good ol’ internet today. While it’s certainly entertaining seeing different members of the press opening up their shiny new Nintendo consoles, you should know that if you can only watch one of these videos, you should definitely make it the official unboxing by Satoru Iwata.

What you get is just over five minutes of careful box handling and product removal. Also, the Nintendo president is totally wearing white gloves. Is it a bit much? ‘That’s up to you to decide. Granted Iwata’s probably wearing those gloves so he won’t get any fingerprints on the Wii U or GamePad. Smart move? From an aesthetic standpoint, it definitely is.

Anyway, enough babbling on my part. Does this unboxing video get you even more pumped for the launch of the Wii U? Will you be picking up your very own system on November 18? If you plan on doing an unboxing video, you’re going to have to find a way to top this white glove performance. Maybe you can wear a top hat.

If you’re interested in playing the Wii U before launch, you’ll be glad to know that you can do exactly that. Over 5,000 Wii U kiosks are now conveniently placed within the confines of various retailers in the United States including GameStop, Toys R’ Us, Target, Best Buy, and Walmart.

Different kiosks will have different games on hand. The available demos include Rayman Legends, ZombiU, New Super Mario Bros. U, Nintendo Land, and Sing Party. Anything catch your eye? Personally, I’d recommend giving Rayman a go, especially if the kiosk allows for co-op play.

You can find out if there’s a Wii U kiosk at a retailer near you directly through Nintendo’s site. The upcoming console is set to launch later this month on November 18. If you want to get some hands-on time with a few titles, be on the lookout for one of those kiosks.

Ubisoft has gone on record to say that the Wii U version of Assassin’s Creed 3 will be identical to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 iterations. It seems as though that’s most certainly turning out to be true, because according to a report on CVG, the company recently announced that the game would feature all DLC on Nintendo’s system.

Ubisoft currently has five DLC packs planned for Assassin’s Creed 3, three of which will encompass a brand new single-player campaign. This content will look at the American Revolution in a different light, allowing players to “experience an alternate history.” New missions for the single-player mode, as well as added characters and maps for multiplayer will also be included.

It’s great to see publishers and developers delivering content for the Wii U that’s on par with the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. If this trend continues throughout the console’s life cycle, Nintendo fans won’t have to worry about weak port jobs and inferior titles. Additionally, if devs are stoked to experiment with the GamePad, the console will likely offer unique experiences for gamers to enjoy.

Randy Pitchford really digs the Wii U GamePad, it seems. Speaking to Joystiq, the Gearbox Software President said that its upcoming title Aliens: Colonial Marines would feature exclusive functions specific to the controller.

“This is the best controller Nintendo’s ever made for making an FPS,” said Pitchford. “This is the best controller Nintendo has ever given us for playing hardcore games.”

The Gearbox pres explained that the entire team was excited about the Wii U features on the GamePad, such as the in-game motion tracker and map. Additionally, he went on to say that the device was “perfect for Aliens.”

It’s interesting to see Gearbox in such high favor of the Wii U, and it’s obvious that the studio wants to take advantage of the hardware. It’ll be interesting seeing future Gearbox projects on the platform, especially FPS titles.

However, it seems Nintendo is finally sharing its plans with external partners. EA’s own private policy page has outed details on the inner workings of Nintendo’s network. Specifically, that a Nintendo Network ID, along with associated Mii and friends list information – will be transferred to EA when signing into Origin. Here’s the skinny:

If you sign up to play EA games through a Nintendo Wii U console, your Nintendo account information will be provided to EA so that we can establish an Origin Account for you. You need an Origin Account to play EA’s titles online. By signing up to play EA’s titles, you agree that limited user account information can be transferred to EA. Information transferred to EA includes your Mii information, email address, Nintendo Network ID, friend list, country, language and date of birth but does not include credit card number or other financial account information.

This basically confirms that Nintendo is unifying its online services and access to third-parties through a singular account. Xbox Live and PSN essentially work the same way, so while this comes as little surprise, it’s great to finally receive confirmation. While not confirmed – this likely means downloads will be tied to your Nintendo Network ID as well, rather than the hardware itself like on Wii and DS.

When Darksiders 2 is released on Wii U on November 18, it’ll feature multiple controller options for gamers to choose from. Part of the reason developer Vigil Games was able to provide such input variety may have to do with the Wii U hardware, which the studio says is pretty easy to develop software for.

Speaking to GameZone, Vigil Lead Designer Haydn Dalton explained, “Technically, it’s one of the easier platforms to develop for. We had our core game up and running on it in a very short amount of time. There were no major problems for us developing the Wii U version other than making sure we had a dedicated team to do it justice. For a new platform, it was surprisingly easy to port it to the Wii U.”

Well, that’s most definitely great to hear. Vigil has been one of the studios to openly express its excitement and support for Nintendo’s next platform. Knowing that the developer was able to port Darksiders 2 to Wii U without any problems, all the while implementing a number of GamePad-specific features and controller options, could indicate plenty of success for both future port jobs and original Wii U titles.

Ubisoft’s Michel Ancel has also stated that there are no latency problems with the Wii U GamePad. When you take all of these factors into account, we may be looking at a highly compelling and incredibly functional piece of technology from Nintendo.

At just about 11 years running, Pikmin has the distinction of being one of Nintendo’s most entertaining modern franchises. Having launched during the GameCube era, the series garnered a loving fan base almost instantly. That’s why it should come as no surprise that plenty of folks are stoked for the upcoming Pikmin 3 on Wii U.

While we haven’t gotten too much substantial information on the title from Nintendo, a recent edition of Iwata Asks revealed the planned launch window for the game. The strategy title will land sometime in spring 2013, which means it may fall in line for the console’s launch window that runs from November 18 to March of next year.

Other than that vague tidbit of release info, no other news regarding Pikmin 3 was announced. Nintendo is likely waiting to reveal further details following the release of the Wii U next month.

Folks have been wondering how responsive the Wii U GamePad will be when Nintendo launches its upcoming console on November 18. Will there be a delay in inputs on the touchscreen? How responsive will it be? Ubisoft’s Michel Ancel says the GamePad is surprisingly responsive, with a mere delay of 1/60 of a second.

“It’s really responsive,” said the Rayman creator in a statement to Nintendo Power. “The response time is crazy, in fact, and I think the competitors will need some time to [get their solutions] this responsive. It’s crazy because the game is running in full HD [on the television], we are streaming another picture on the GamePad screen, and it’s still 60 frames per second.”

Ancel excitedly explained that the GamePad’s fast response time makes it a viable device and that it has potential as “a real game thing.” The fact that the GamePad works with the Wii U so cohesively is definitely a good thing, especially if Nintendo wants to make the device an actual competent gaming peripheral. Let’s hope developers use that responsiveness to create some great software.

Reports indicate that the Wii U Pro Controller will last up to 80 hours per charge when Nintendo’s upcoming platform launches next month. While this hasn’t been officially announced by Nintendo, the product pages for the Pro Controller on both GameStop and Amazon clearly state the 80-hour battery life for the peripheral.

The initial report comes courtesy of Nintendo Life, where it was also pointed out that the Pro Controller’s battery life is quite lengthy compared to the possible 25-hour lasting power of the PlayStation 3 controller. Similarly, the Xbox 360 controller can also function for up to 25 hours. The Wii U GamePad, however, will only offer a five-hour battery life per charge.

Because the Pro Controller will hold a charge for so long, you have to wonder if developers will actually make plenty of games that are compatible with the device. I think some folks would like to be able to continue playing a game with the Pro Controller if their GamePad battery died out rather than stopping abruptly.

The Pro Controller will not be included with the Wii U, but it will launch alongside the console on November 18 for $49.99.

It seems that Straight Right, the developer working on Mass Effect 3 for the Wii U, may also be working on porting a triple-A Square Enix title to Nintendo’s upcoming console. According to a post on NeoGAF, the information was outed by Straight Right Technical Project Manager Chris Slater on his LinkedIn page.

Of course, the info on Slater’s bio has since been altered, but the NeoGAF report indicates that the Straight Right employee’s profile hinted at a triple-A Square Enix port for the Wii U. Oh, and if you need further evidence, here’s a nice Google Cache of Slater’s LinkedIn.

Aside from Mass Effect 3, Straight Right has revealed that it’s working on another Wii U project. Add to that this mysterious Square Enix port, and it’s obvious the studio has its sights set on the Nintendo platform. What could Straight Right and Square Enix be working on, though? Let the speculation begin.

When Darksiders 2 launches for the Wii U on November 18 alongside the shiny new console, players will have a couple of control options at their disposal. First and foremost, you’ll be able to play the game directly on the Wii U GamePad, which is one of the features Nintendo was really promoting when it first revealed the platform.

Of course, if you’d rather play on your snazzy big screen TV, you can definitely do so, and the GamePad will offer several different functions such as allowing you to access your inventory or pull off special abilities. But if you’d rather get an experience more akin to the other consoles, you’ll be glad to know that Darksiders 2 will also support the Pro Controller. Yay for options!

DLC is being included in the Wii U version of Darksiders 2. You’ll get the recently released Argul’s Tomb quest DLC, as well as Death Rides, Angel of Death & Shadow of Death, and Deadly Despair add-on content. Not too shabby, eh?

Nintendo previously released a video teasing the video game lineup for its upcoming Wii U. Several games including Game & Wario, ZombiU, and New Super Mario Bros. U were all showcased, but we weren’t sure which would launch alongside the new platform. Nintendo has officially released its list of day one Wii U launch titles, as well as a second list featuring the launch window games that will release following the debut of the console.

The following is the list of 23 total day one launch games for the Wii U:

• Assassin’s Creed 3
  
• Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 2
  
• Darksiders 2
  
• Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two
• EA Sports FIFA Soccer 13
• ESPN Sports Connection
• Game Party Champions
• Just Dance 4
• New Super Mario Bros. U (Preview)
• Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge
• NintendoLand
• Rabbids Land
• Scribblenauts Unlimited
• Sing Party
• Skylanders Giants
• Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed
• Tekken Tag Tournament 2 Wii U Edition
• Transformers Prime
• Warriors Orochi 3 Hyper
• Wipeout 3
• Your Shape: Fitness Evolved 2013
• ZombiU

Additionally, here’s the list of games scheduled to release sometime during the Wii U’s launch window, which will run from November 18 to March 31, 2013. There are 29 titles listed in total:

• 007 Legends
• Aliens: Colonial Marines
• Ben 10 Omniverse
• Cabela’s Dangerous Hunts 2013
• Chasing Aurora
• Cloudberry Kingdom
• Family Party: 30 Great Games: Obstacle Arcade
• Funky Barn
• Game & Wario
• Jeopardy!
• Lego City Undercover
• Little Inferno
• Madden NFL 13
• Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth
• Mass Effect 3
• Mighty Switch Force HD
• Nano Assault Neo
• NBA 2K13
• Pikmin 3
• Rapala Pro Bass Fishing
• Rayman Legends
• Rise of the Guardians: The Video Game
• Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien
• Tank! Tank! Tank!
• Toki Tori 2
• Trine 2: Director’s Cut
• Wheel of Fortune
• Wii Fit U
• The Wonderful 101

Nintendo recently held a Wii U Experience event in Los Angeles where it was showcasing a number of titles. Games such as Rayman Legends, Nintendo Land, ZombiU, and others were all on display and had their very own playable demos. I checked out a few of these titles including New Super Mario Bros. U, and I left the demo session with some pretty strong impressions as to everything I saw and played. New Super Mario Bros. U, in particular, is very interesting because it doesn’t change a whole lot of the basic Mario side-scrolling formula we’ve become very familiar with, but it’s still likely to be a hit because it’s Mario, but also because it’s pretty fun.

My gameplay session with New Super Mario Bros. U was stacked as there were four of us playing with Wii Remotes and a fifth player acting as a helper using the Wii U GamePad. The stage we played on featured a ton of high-risk platforming across giant mushrooms. Inspired by the classic mushroom-hopping lands of past games in the series, the level was rife with pitfalls, hard-to-reach coins, and cleverly-placed enemies. New Super Mario Bros. U also marks the return of Yoshi. Specifically, Baby Yoshi added a nice touch to the experience. By shaking the Wii Remote, the dino inflated like a balloon and allowed my partners and I to reach coins and power-ups positioned a bit too high for normal jumps to reach.

There was another factor in play the entire time: the chaos created when four people play Mario simultaneously. Four-player co-op in Mario side-scrollers has always been met with a mixed reaction. This is due to the restrictions weighing the experience down. Because the screen scrolls according to the player trailing behind, anyone who made it all the way to the right first during the demo had to wait for the others. Additionally, the experience was far too hectic to be completely enjoyable. Bumping into other players as you make death-defying jumps; having other characters bounce off the top of your head, thus impeding a potential jump; and losing a life only to return in a bubble and having to wait for someone to get you out create major pacing issues.

Despite my gripes with the four-player co-op, there was an interesting element added to the game courtesy of the player using the GamePad. This individual didn’t directly join in on all the running, jumping, and coin collecting. Instead, he altered the game’s world using the GamePad’s touchscreen. Colorful platforms appeared out of nowhere, making it easier to reach collectible Star Coins and Fire Flowers. This individual also helped the rest of us out by stunning enemies and popping bubbles with returning players. The GamePad user played a crucial part in our success, and I imagine it was quite hectic trying to aid four players at once. It’s going to be interesting seeing how the GamePad functions if there’s only one individual playing New Super Mario Bros. U.

As far as the level I played is concerned, and taking into account the other two levels in the demo (which I watched others tackle as I waited in line for my session), New Super Mario Bros. U looks like it will deliver the usual 2D Mario experience. Aside from some new power-ups like the squirrel costume, Yoshi’s comeback, and the new GamePad functionality, this is pretty much the Mario action we’ve come to know and love. No, it doesn’t look entirely new from a gameplay standpoint, but Nintendo has always been able to masterfully craft 2D Mario experiences, which means the chances of New Super Mario Bros. U being both successful and enjoyable are pretty darn high.

While the gameplay may feel familiar, it should be pointed out that this Mario adventure is visually refreshing. A lot of folks have long wondered what HD Mario would look like, and I can say from witnessing the game firsthand that it looks absolutely gorgeous. The inherent charm we’ve seen throughout the series shines even more in New Super Mario Bros. U. While foregrounds are nice to look at, it’s the backgrounds that really stand out. Everything pops more, with visually pleasing details at every corner. Even when it isn’t in HD, the Mario franchise has always looked quite lovely. Now, that great art style is being amped up thanks to the Wii U hardware, resulting in what will surely be the best-looking 2D Mario game to date.

After all is said and done, New Super Mario Bros. U doesn’t mess with the formula all that much. Nintendo has long been a practitioner of the mantra “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” and this upcoming title is proof of that. If you’re a fan of the series, and if you plan on picking up the Wii U, I’d highly suggest watching out for this one. The co-op may be a bit too chaotic to be considered more than a multiplayer distraction, but the platforming in New Super Mario Bros. U looks to be as solid as ever.

New Super Mario Bros. U is set to launch in North America on November 18 alongside the Wii U.

Did you pre-order your Wii U at GameStop already? If not, then you may be interested in knowing that, well, you can’t anymore. This counts for both the basic and deluxe Wii U bundles. That’s right, pre-orders are all sold out at the games retailer. Luckily, there’s a solution. Well, kind of.

While you can’t exactly put down a pre-order deposit for Nintendo’s upcoming console, GameStop has opened up a wait list for potential Wii U buyers. The wait list is exclusive to PowerUp Rewards members, and it will ensure that these folks are notified when more hardware shipments are stocked following the November 18 launch.

Alas, there are a few restrictions. First, you can only put yourself on the wait list for two Wii U units. That’s not terribly offensive because I don’t see too many people rushing to buy three or four Wii U consoles. Next, you’ll have 48 hours to pick up a Wii U after GameStop notifies you of its availability. Last, you have to physically show up at a GameStop location to add yourself to the wait list. I imagine this is especially annoying for lazy people.

If you’ve yet to pre-order a Wii U and are interested in acquiring the platform, be sure to add to yourself to GameStop’s wait list. Oh, and have that cash ready when you get the call.

Earlier today, Warner Bros. announced that Injustice: Gods Among Us would launch next year for consoles. The game, which pits numerous DC Comics favorites against each other, will land at retailers in April.

We already knew that Injustice was headed to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, and it wasn’t long before a Wii U version was announced. In case you’re wondering when that iteration of the upcoming fighter will launch, it looks like it’s in line to release alongside its Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 counterparts.

Last year’s Mortal Kombat was easily one of my favorite games of the year. That’s why I’m so stoked about developer NetherRealm Studios being at the helm for Injustice. Featuring an all-star cast of fighters, interactive environments, and a team of devs who know how to make fighting games, this one could potentially be a winner.

It appears that Nintendo and Unity have partnered up and have plans of working together as far as the Wii U is concerned. As reported on Engadget, the Big N’s upcoming platform will support the Unity Engine, which means a slew of developers will be able to create games using its tools.

Already we’ve seen a number of devs both large and small using the Unity Engine. The fact that there are currently 1.2 million Unity licenses floating around means that the Wii U could potentially get ports of numerous existing titles down the road. According to Utility Technologies CEO David Helgason, Nintendo will be able to grant access to Unity tools for first- and third-party development teams, as well.

The Unity Engine could be a great fit for the Wii U. Countless studios use its tools to create mobile games, and one would imagine that the Wii U GamePad could benefit from the engine. Additionally, the Wii U is said to be easy to port to, so we could see the return of previous Unity titles. Of course, we’ll have to wait until 2013 to see how it all pans out, as that’s when the console/engine support will take off.

How exactly will the online component for the Wii U function when that console launches this November? Heck if I know! But I would assume that some developers know at this point since the console is so close to its release date. That would make sense, right? Well, it seems that even devs may not be sure about how the Wii U’s online features work.

According to a report on Destructoid, Tekken Tag Tournament 2 director Katsuhiro Harada isn’t sure how the platform’s online systems will function. “Not quite sure at this point,” he said regarding the matter. “I don’t fully understand it. We’re still working with Nintendo to find out about their network.”

I just want to put things into perspective for you folks: It’s late September, and the Wii U is due out on November 18. That’s less than two months away. The fact that the Wii U’s online component is giving devs a hard time at this point is certainly not great news. But let’s hope that changes within these next two months.

When Nintendo revealed that it wouldn’t be selling standalone GamePads for the Wii U when the console launches on November 18, it raised a lot of questions. The main query was, “How the heck are we going to play games if the controller breaks?” Now, like many other gamers out there, I’m very careful with my expensive video game hardware and accessories. Unfortunately, some people have kids who aren’t very careful, so things happen. It’s understandable.

For those of you still wondering what to do when little Jimmy breaks that brand new GamePad, you’ll be glad to know that Nintendo will offer replacements. That said, don’t expect to get a sexy new GamePad absolutely free of charge. Speaking to Polygon, a Nintendo rep stated that the Big N would definitely offer replacement GamePads, but these will cost “a fee.”

Sadly, that’s all we know so far. The rep didn’t state how much the new GamePads would cost, though in Japan they’re priced roughly at $172. The cost of GamePads in North America will be revealed as the Wii U’s launch draws nearer. What I’m wondering, though, is if you necessarily need a replacement, or if the Big N will offer repairs. I imagine those would be cheaper. I mean, they would have to be, right?