What exactly separates the Wii U from its Wii predecessor?
Significantly improved graphics and gameplay, improvements which could make it
one of the hottest selling toys of 2012.
Graphics
The original Wii competed with the PS3 and XBOX 360
in terms of gameplay, not graphics. Five years have passed since the original
Wii and the Wii U has graphics that will match, if not beat, those seen on
current competitors. Sure the PS3 and XBOX 360 may very well come out with new
models and leave the Wii U to its former place on the bottom of the graphics
totem pole. At the same time, the Wii U’s next generation graphics may entice
hardcore gamers who were previously turned off by mild graphic capabilities.
Controller
Everybody, including Nintendo, is getting in on the
tablet craze. The new Wii U controller will feature a 6.2 inch touch screen
which works seamlessly with your larger TV. The gyroscope, accelerometer,
camera, microphone, and stylus on the controller will allow for a much more
immersive gaming experience. Although all of the gizmos on the new controller
may seem confusing, early reviews and videos of the gameplay are impressive,
proving that the Wii U still caters to its target market: the casual gamer who
has no need for long game play and, instead, prefers a quick, one time way, to
have a little fun.
The original Wii is at the end of its product life
cycle. 4.5 million Wii units were sold in 2011, low sales which caused Nintendo
to lose $1 billion. Both the XBOX 360 and PS3 received motion sensing add-ons
following Wii’s popularity, eliminating a key advantage of the console. The
improved graphics of the Wii U will allow the redesigned console to compete. However,
whether or not the Wii U takes away sales from its competitors depends on its
tablet-like controller, a first for the gaming industry. Sure, games on touch
screen phones and tablets already exist. Nintendo’s job will be to make for a
tablet gaming experience that interacts flawlessly with the television,
something which no company has ever done. The Wii U
trailer shows that the new and improved controller does just
that, setting the company up for a possible sales success when it is released
sometime this year.
The official release date of the Wii U is still
unknown.
