Topic: A few questions to those who have a Wii U (in EU)

Hey, since I want to get a Wii U soon, I thought it might be better to put all my questions into this collective thread without cluttering the board with separate threads. Okay so here are my questions:

• eShop games still more expensive than in retail? (has already been answered with yes 5-10 €)
• is the WHITE pro controller available in europe?
• if not, can I import it from somewhere (guess JAP) and will it work?
• the 2 USB ports under the lid on the front of the Wii U, are the only ports to connect an external HD too? (looks cluttered then)
• the SD Card slot under the same lid, does it have any other purpose than supporting old Wii games?
• anyone of you ever tried running games from USB-THUMBdrives? (thinking about really small ones that will hide under the lid)

Thats it for now, any help is appreciated, I'll update this thread if I have any more questions!

Thanks in advance!

4 usb ports mate (2 front + 2 back)

Yeah usb thumb drives are supported and games run fast off it

SD card is only for Wii stuff (could possibly change with a firmware update)

MAB's tip for using wireless headphones - don't plug them into the back usb port because it will interfere with the wireless signal (use the front port for W/headphones, back port for HDD)

I recommend getting a deluxe model mate

Actually, some games are cheaper on the eShop. Tekken is $5 less, and AC3 is $20 less for example, unless there's a store sale.

4 USB drives, I'm pretty sure white Pro controllers aren't in EU, but an import will work, SD card slot is currently unused besides for Wii menu, and USB drives can store games, but I recommend just getting an ext. HDD.
I have a USB 3.0 self powered ext. HDD, and I need to use a y-cable to do so. Just a heads up if you plan on buying an ext HDD.
Just wanted to add to what AussieBloke said...

• eShop generally more expensive
• Yes, white Pro-Controllers do exist. Don't know about the UK or the rest of the EU but they definitely exist in AU
• Fairly sure imported controllers work. If they don't that would be a first and I haven't heard otherwise
• Two USB ports on the back and you might need both of them with some external drives
• No other use for the SD card
• Officially thumb drives aren't recommended but I have heard of people using them. Prob better off getting an external HDD anyways but

@SCAR392
eShop prices being cheaper really depends on where you shop and what sales are on. Every time there has been an eShop "sale" on retail titles I have seen it cheaper in some shop. That combined with the fact that a fair amount of stores price match means that the eShop's not that great an option.

That said if there's a stock shortage of some game you always have the eShop to fall back on. I remember early in the Wii's life I spent quite a while trying to find a copy of Twilight Princess. I ended up having to pay full RRP because the only place I found it wouldn't budge on the price. If they had the system they have now I would have given up, saved myself some time and downloaded it.

Accessories are usually region-free (except for the Gamepad). I use a few Japanese accessories myself

The only retail games I have are ZombiU, AC3 & BLOPS while all my other games have been downloaded to take advantage of the premium discount... I haven't been bothered getting up to change a disc for a while now and the other good thing is my disc drive won't burn out playing Monster Hunter, RE Revelations raid mode & whatever other highly addictive game comes out in the future.

I don't sell my games anymore and I find it convenient just selecting from the menu

Atleast Nintendo gives you options unlike the XBoner

@MadAussieBloke
Depends on what's the best deal and what game it is. At one extreme if it's a game like Animal Crossing where you play it a little bit every day and everyone's selling it at RRP because it's going to sell like mad anyway. Download seems by far the best option. On the other hand if it's something like ZombiU which some places sell for more than $10AU below RRP and which you're probably not going to play for 30mins at a time every day till the console wears out.....

Deluxe Digital helps. I've already gotten like $45 worth of promo cash. I basically got Sonic Racing for free, although I actually bought Kirby for free, then I got another Kirby for free. You get 10% back from the 10% back.
Their plan is working, because the numbers suck you in.
I realize there are discounts at retail, but there are sales on the eShop, plus the promo, and you won't get as much in the long run for the money you did spend on disc versions of the game if you decide to part with it.

Many online retailers have a point system that rewards you money off and are still cheper than the eShop.

I remember when ZombiU was on sale for £30 on the eShop and at the same time it was £25 at ShopTo.co.uk. With the points I had on their site I got it for £21.

You live in EU, right? Here in the U.S., Best Buy gives you $5 for every $250 spent. GameStop gives you $5 for every $70 or something, plus bonus points or whatever for stuff. GameStops deal only works well towards used games, but other wise you need to spend over $70 for a $5 coupon on new goods.
The eShop beats every reward program when it comes to video games, as far as I know.

EDIT: It really depends on what shop you're talking about, but having the games digitally is a benefit for some.

If an online retailer sold eShop cards for face value and gave $5 for every $40. That would be a better deal, but they sell more products than just video games, so some can't give as good as a discount, because your not invested in only one area of shopping, where they can guarantee a future sale.

Australian Wii U eShop:
RE: Revelations: $59.95AU
Injustice: $79.95AU
Lego City: $79.95AU
Need for Speed MW: $89.99AU
New SMB U: $79.95AU
ZombiU: $89.95
Tekken Tag Tournament: $49.95
Just Dance 4: $59.95

JBHiFi (Australian physical retailer):
RE: Revelations: $59AU (about the same)
Injustice: $69AU ($10 less than eShop)
Lego City: $69AU ($10 less than eShop)
Need for Speed MW: $79AU ($10 less than eShop)
New SMB U: $69AU ($10 less than eShop)
ZombiU: $49AU ($40 less than eShop)
Tekken Tag Tournament: $49AU (about the same)
Just Dance 4: $49AU ($10 less than eShop)

Exact conversion of the Premium bonus here works out to be about a 7% discount. So a $79.95 eShop title has to be less than ~$74.35 to be "the same price" as a retail purchase. Most of those titles are $69 at JBs and that's without a sale or special offer in store. Yes there are eShop sales sometimes but there are also retail sales often at about the same sort of rate if not more. It really only makes sense if it happens to be one of those games that's the same price or if it's a game where downloading is worth paying more for.

Of course it also makes sense if you live in the country where buying a game from somewhere like JBs is either a 2 hour drive or a few days wait while downloading is a couple of taps away. Or if the game is unexpectedly popular/poorly stocked and you didn't pre-order....

Yeah but I make MAD stacks so price is not a issue... It's people like me that help drive this industry forward

I've had a cheap USB-thumb drive, with games like Trine 2 and a number of save files on it, for a while now. It works fine, though to be honest I'd suggest you to get an external hard drive right away.
About the pricing; It really depends on where you live. The eShop prices are the same all around Europe, but the retail price varies depending on VAT and other country specific expenses.

I'm not doubting the benfit of digital downloads, sofar all my 3DS games have been bought digitally.

You raise a good point with the premium discount. It's £5 back for every £50 spent, which is much better than the likes of ShopTo however, the lower prices still out weigh the money I would get back.

For instance, RE: Revelations is £39.99 on the eShop and £32.99 to buy from ShopTo.
I'm already saving £7, plus getting 330 ShopTo reward points (100 = 25p).

At least in the UK, retail still trumps digital.

Also worth noting that if you're in the UK you can get download codes from GAME online which offer a nice discount £8 for Lego City if I remember correctly) though they only apply to Nintendo-published titles - so far.