Wii U? Wii Me. Well it’s pronounced (Wii-Yoo), and it’s the first peek at the impressive new hardware going along with Nintendo’s new Wii U game system. The console is not nearly as impressive looking as the controller, but this bad boy above clearly makes up for it. Looks like we have a nice view screen for ‘game inventory’ type stuff along with the regular buttons and whatnots. Wonder if we will be able to play mini games on it too? Who knows, maybe even with the console powered off. More on this as we get it!

E3 UPDATE: June 08, 2011
(Gamespot) – As with the Wii, the controller is the heart of the Wii U. And it’s large–think somewhat smaller than an iPad and considerably bigger than the original Sony PSP. The reps on hand noted that the controller was designed to offer a new way for players to interact with the console, games, and other players. They understood that, much like the first time we saw the Wii Remote, the only way to really understand was to show us.

On the face of the controller you’ll find a 6.2-inch touch screen (Nintendo declined to say whether it was multitouch capable). A stylus slides out of the controller for use on the touch screen (which makes us think it’s based on resistive touch technology). During the E3 2011 press conference, Nintendo showed the stylus being used for fairly complex sketching, which shows us how detailed the touch screen will be. The matte screen has great viewing angles and offers vivid colors and brightness, making it ideal for use by two people at the same time at very off angles. The pixel density seems to be high enough to put it on par with modern smartphones. Nintendo stated that it’s not high definition, but the resolution appears to be substantially higher than the 3DS screen. We’re guessing the screen is under 1280×720 and above 640×480.

Nintendo eschewed a complex controller with the Wii by limiting the number of buttons. By contrast, the Wii U controller practically bristles with them. Two circle pads, similar to those found on the portable Nintendo 3DS, flank either side of the screen. A D pad resides on the left; A, B, X, and Y buttons are on the right; two shoulder buttons are on the top; two trigger-like buttons are on the bottom; and the usual array of start, select, and home buttons line the bottom. But it doesn’t end there.

Like the Wii, the Wii U controller also features motion controls that should be on par with the Wii MotionPlus. Although you won’t be using it like a Wii Remote, as its bulk and unwieldiness prevent it from mimicking sports equipment like bats and rackets.

A front-facing camera sits at the top of the controller, ostensibly for use in taking pictures and possibly for augmented-reality capabilities. At its E3 2011 press conference, Nintendo revealed that the controller will have video chat capabilities. Built-in speakers also play back sound, and the controller also features a headphone jack.

The controller is capable of playing games even if the TV is being used at the moment for something else, like watching shows. It’s portable in a sense, but only within wireless reach of the main console, because all of the controller’s visuals are generated by the console and then streamed to the controller.

One of the key features of Wii U is its backward compatibility with Wii controllers (remotes, nunchuks, and more). Many of the cases we saw involved anywhere from two to four remotes, with and without nunchuks, and one player on the Wii U controller. Players on Wii Remotes would generally get split-screen gameplay on the TV, while the player on the Wii U controller would primarily use the screen on the controller. Most of the games we saw would give the player on the Wii U controller extra information, or an entirely different perspective paired with vastly different controls. In general, the player with the Wii U controller was pit against the players with Wii Remotes.

Over the last week, the Wii has been rumored to be heading on its way off the market. With all of the major first-party titles released on the Wii, this wouldn’t shock me. What shocks me is how quickly it might be moving out. Could Project Cafe be here by the holiday 2011 or early 2012?

Last week according to CVG, a trusted source has said that Nintendo will cut the price of the Wii to May 15. With this announcement, Best Buy responded online by lowering the price temporarily to $169.99.Of course, Nintendo dodged the question when Nintendo of America’s President Reggie Fils-Aime replied to a few questions from CVG:

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Thor - God of Thunder

Last week out in California, most games press got the chance to fly out and check out the new Thor and Captain America video games. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to fly out. In Chicago at C2E2, I was able to demo the final build of Thor: God of Thunder for the Xbox 360 and the Wii. The footage I was able to capture was off-screen with a Flip-like camera. With experiencing the controls on both consoles, I can clearly justify their port to each console. For once for a multi-platform game, I think the Wii version plays the best. Though the graphics look terrible comparing to the Xbox 360 version, the controls for god powers work so much better. The motion controls feel natural and don’t take much time getting used to. With the Xbox 360 version, all of the god powers are on the yellow Y button.

Without further delay, enjoy looking at some gameplay from my demo with the games executive producer:

(Gamestop) – The Nintendo 64 shooter Goldeneye 007, a game heralded as pioneering the multiplayer movement, featured a one-shot-kill golden gun. Activision is bringing that gun back in the upcoming altered Wii remake, and along with it will come a golden controller as well.

Activision sent word that it’s planning to release a special Goldeneye 007 Classic Edition bundle that will pack in a copy of the game and a gold-colored Wii Classic Controller Pro. Activision did not announce a price for the bundle, but GameSpot sister site CNET is reporting the bundle will be available for $69.99.

Goldeneye 007 for the Wii will afford gamers a number of control options, including the ability to play using the standard Wii Remote/Nunchuk combination, the point-and-shoot Zapper peripheral, or the aforesaid gamepad.

As for the game, Goldeneye 007 for the Wii will include online multiplayer, a functionality its N64 cousin could not offer. In addition, players will be able to take part in 16 game modes, including Goldeneye 007 N64 favorites Paintball, Melee Only, and You Only Live Twice.

On top of that, players can square off against each other in the game’s adversarial modes, with the roster including eight characters from the revered Bond classic, as well as 40 other unnamed virtual soldiers.

The game is currently in development at Eurocom under the banner of Activision, the publisher that currently holds the license to create James Bond titles. A Nintendo DS version of Goldeneye 007, currently in development at n-Space, will also be released this holiday.

Uhhh, yeah were not sure either...

Disney has unleashed their first product shots of their massive Tron Legacy toy and electronics line, including mice, keyboards, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 controllers, and action figures with cutting-edge impulse light projection technology.

The 12 inch tall Ultimate Sam Flynn figure (right) arrives in stores in December ($40) which will be the first action figure incorporating impulse light projection technology. Like the characters in the movie, Sam’s face is projected onto the helmet of the action figure, where it appears somewhat large, and oddly misplaced. The face is animated, so when the figure spouts electronic phrases, it moves its mouth. Small children beware of this one under your bed!

Razer is doing up keyboards and mice for $79-$139, and PDP will have Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 controllers for $49.99 apiece. A bit pricey for a wired controller. The Wii version, also due out later this year, will be wireless, because thats how they roll.

[Source]

(Kotaku.com) – In an interview with Japan’s Nikkei, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata has hinted that the company’s next home console may, like the freshly-unveiled 3DS, go 3D.

“If you display a 3D image, the image quality becomes extremely bad, so we’d probably do it with the next system”, he said. “We’re thinking that the timing should be once the 3D television adoption rates crosses the 30% mark. We’re looking at the adoption trends.”

This is a curious comment, as it seems to go against everything Nintendo has stood for over the past decade. The company lagged behind on disc-based media despite “adoption trends”. It has twice passed on true surround sound. It even said “no thank you” to the high definition generation with the lo-fi Wii.

[Full Article at Kotaku.com]

We call this the 'poop shoot'.

At Nintendo’s 2010 Electronic Entertainment Expo media briefing this morning, Reggie Fils-Aime announced that Goldeneye 007 will arrive exclusively for the Wii this November.

(Gamespot) – A two-minute trailer for the game was shown, revealing that the remake will include updated visuals, four-player split-screen multiplayer, and new game modes. Although the original GoldenEye 007 featured Pierce Brosnan in the leading role, today’s trailer revealed current Quantum of Solace actor Daniel Craig as the leading man.

Goldeneye 007 for the Wii will also include online multiplayer, a functionality its N64 cousin could not offer. In addition, players will be able to take part in 16 game modes, including GoldenEye 007 N64 favorites Paintball, Melee Only, and You Only Live Twice. On top of that, players can square off against each other in the game’s adversarial modes, with the roster including eight characters from the revered Bond classic, as well as 40 other unnamed virtual soldiers.

The game is currently in development at Eurocom under the banner of Activision, the publisher that currently holds the license to create James Bond titles.

Babysitting Mama!!

(Kotaku.com) – I’m not sure what’s more disturbing; the fact that Majesco’s Babysitting Mama has you stuffing your Wii remote into the plush equivalent of a tiny human child, or the fact that it uses the nunchuck as well.

It turns out Majesco is completely serious about Babysitting Mama, the latest profession being taken up by our favorite cooking, gardening, and crafting superstar. Due out this holiday season for the Nintendo Wii, Babysitting Mama features more than 40 different activities, all revolving around a plush baby with a Wii remote stuffed inside of it.

Players will rock the baby, bounce the baby, feed the baby, and change the baby, all the while trying not to stare in horror at the nunchuck cord snaking out from the depths of the baby’s innards.

“The Mama franchise continues to evolve in exciting new ways that offer unique play experiences,” said Jesse Sutton, Chief Executive Officer, Majesco Entertainment. “With the plush baby as the controller, Babysitting Mama redefines traditional play patterns and combines game and doll in one outstanding collectible package.”

Babysitting Mama will be shown at E3 next month.

Wii Party around the globe!

(Gamespot) – The day after Nintendo reported its first fall in profits in six years, company president Satoru Iwata gave a presentation addressing both the previous year’s earnings and the current year’s release slate. The executive also used the occasion to reveal his company’s next big Wii title, Wii Party.

“As you know, ‘Wii something’ are the titles that we use only with software that Nintendo has developed exclusively for Wii with the aim to make them marquee titles for Wii,” said Iwata. “We are developing this game with the aim to make it a marquee party game for Wii.”

Although some would argue Wii Music and Wii Sports Resorts are well suited for gatherings, Wii Party will be the first first-party game made explicitly for parties on the console since 2007′s Mario Party 8. Iwata revealed that the title has sold over 7.6 million units worldwide to date, nearly 2 million of which were bought in the US.

Iwata said Nintendo is eager to emulate Mario Party 8′s success with Wii Party, commenting that “Since [the] Wii is usually being played by several people at once…a party title has great potential.” However, he was more miserly with details on the game, saying only that its “developers are spending significant time [on] this title so that they can include elements that are must-haves in a party game, as well as making sure that [an] adequate volume of gameplay [is] available.”

One nugget of information Iwata did confirm was that Wii Party will be based on gamers’ Mii avatars. He said that over 160 million Miis have been made in the US, Japan, and in six unnamed European countries. He also said that the success of Tomodachi Collection for the DS, which has sold 3.2 million units in Japan, has also boosted the popularity of Miis in the island nation.

Iwata also unveiled two screenshots from Wii Party, which show Miis balancing in the rigging of a ship and traveling through Central America on a globe. He also said the game would have a Wii Remote-based “Living Party” mode, but did not go into details about what that mode would entail.

Wii stories warrant unrelated pics of Wii Fit Girls - It's just us doing our job!

(Gamasutra) – A Potomac, Maryland-based company is the latest to file suit against Nintendo for patent infringement.

IA Labs, also known as Powergrid Fitness, sued Nintendo’s Japan headquarters and Nintendo of America on April 2, according to a filing obtained by Gamasutra.

IA Labs is accusing Nintendo of infringing on two separate IA Labs patents through technology used in the Nintendo Wii, Wii Fit, Wii Fit Plus, the Wii Balance Board, Wii Remote, Wii Wheel, Wii MotionPlus, Wii Nunchuck and Wii Zapper.

IA Labs said that it has been “irreparably harmed” by Nintendo’s alleged “continued infringement.”

The patents in question are “Computer interactive isometric exercise system and method for operatively interconnecting the exercise system to a computer system for use as a peripheral” and “Force measurement system for an isometric exercise device.”

The claim said that IA Labs had been in contact with Nintendo during 2007-2008, discussing possible overlaps of IA Labs and Nintendo patents. Emails between IA Labs and Nintendo showed that IA Labs wanted to license its technology to Nintendo.

IA Labs was also in talks with Nintendo about a product called Sqweeze, a controller for Wii and PC that’s meant to increase physical activity when gaming.

IA Labs is seeking a court declaration that Nintendo is infringing on the patents, and it’s pursuing an injunction against the alleged infringements in addition to unspecified damages.

Interaction Labs’ founders Greg Merril and Phil Feldman said that their patents were used in IA Labs’ products Kilowatt Sport, the Exer-Station controller, Exer-Station Pro and the PowerSquad Leg Joystick, among others.

The Exer-Station controller, for example, connects to a video game system and provides resistance for a workout while playing any off-the-shelf video game. The Kilowatt Sport had the same full-body workout-plus-games concept. Both won awards at CES in two separate years.

Nintendo recently won an appeal in a suit that accused the game company of infringing on controller-related patents.