News Article

E3 2012: Meet The Wii U GamePad

Posted by Mike Mason

Sticky thumbs

The Wii U controller has a new name — it's now called Wii U GamePad.

Nintendo President Satoru Iwata has revealed the redesigned controller, which now features two clickable analogue sticks rather than the sliders previously seen. It was decided that analogue sliders were better suited to handheld devices.

Iwata also revealed that the mysterious square seen on the left of the controller is a Near-Field Communication reader / writer, allowing figurines and other fancy things to interact with Wii U. Another button on the bottom right of Wii U GamePad lets you use the controller as an infra-red television remote control. Nintendo also revealed the back of the controller has been slightly redesigned to be more comfortable.

There was also a black Wii U GamePad spotted.

It's black, baby

It's black, baby

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User Comments (47)

Hey_Listen-

#6

Hey_Listen- said:

I wasn't sure about whether I was going to get this, but after watching the Nintendo Direct today, I think it's an absolute buy.

Dev

#11

Dev said:

I had a feeling that square box was for NFC, and I'm happy for analogue sticks. The name "Gamepad" sounds nice too.

GamecubeLad

#13

GamecubeLad said:

I wish this controller AND the Wii U Pro controller are include when you buy the Wii U but Iwata said during the conference that you have to buy it seperatly >:/

aaronsullivan

#14

aaronsullivan said:

Love the TV remote function. It's such an obvious feature but i don't recall anyone predicting it.

Phocks5

#16

Phocks5 said:

Sounds like the latest Spyro game bought some inspiration to the producers of the Wii U. How many more figurines am I going to have to start investing in now? It's totally cool and fun, but aren't the games alone expensive enough these days without having to buy interactive figures too?

aaronsullivan

#19

aaronsullivan said:

@GamecubeMan32
Really, though? I don't understand the reason for that. I could see a Wii remote in there to assure 3rd parties everyone would have one, and you'd also be able to have two player games from the start. Neither will probably happen, though.

WhiteTrashGuy

#20

WhiteTrashGuy said:

Nintendo is taking on Microsoft and Sony head on when it comes to intergrating everything in the living room. They need a hard drive, though. 8 gigs of flash ain't gonna cut it. They need at least 15 gigs of dedicated space for all the apps. (Hulu, Netflix, HBOGo, etc.) Not everyone is going to want to buy a huge SD card or have an external HD sitting with their stuff. Overall, though, I am very excited for the possibilities this Pad will afford; and not just with gaming.

WhiteTrashGuy

#21

WhiteTrashGuy said:

@ Phocks5

Imagine them selling trading cards, similar to the AR cards for KI:Uprising, where you can scan new items and weapons. They will be pricey due to the chips, but sound cool nonetheless.

Andrewroxsox

#22

Andrewroxsox said:

Why couldn't they say analogue sticks? Is that name copyrighted to Sony, because they kept beating around the bush.

tardis10

#25

tardis10 said:

NintE3ndo Direct was great. I think they're hitting all the right notes with the GamePad, and the Wii U itself, by the sounds of things - Vastly Improved online, well built 'in-house' online system, but yet heavily integrated with other devices. This is shaping up very nicely!

GamecubeLad

#26

GamecubeLad said:

@aaronsullivan
I was thinking something along the lines of how Super Smash Bros Brawl supported the classic controller. Maybe the next Smash Bros will have something like that with this controller? Just a thought.

Haxonberik

#27

Haxonberik said:

HEY LISTEN! Watch back to 22:30 on a replay, comments on the Mario game include a squirell suit power up and a baby yoshi tied by balloons!

Kirk

#30

Kirk said:

I'm very happy to be wrong about the leaked images not being the new version of the controller.

:D

VincentV

#32

VincentV said:

Hell yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is awesome! This should've been E3 2006 Nintendo. I've waited too long for a mind-blowing system like this.

JuLeDoS

#34

JuLeDoS said:

Pricing? Meh, it doesn't matter. Let me give you my money, my wallet is ready!

Pro-N-Gamer

#40

Pro-N-Gamer said:

I'm very impressed about the Wii U and the GamePad.. So definitely ready to buy it at which price Nintendo wants for it ^^

Skeletor

#41

Skeletor said:

Looks awesome! The only thing that wasn't mentioned that I wanted to know about was if there will be support for two GamePads. Hopefully Tuesday!

rjejr

#42

rjejr said:

@Skeletor
Yeah, that was the biggest omission in my mind, I was hoping for that to be announced since this was a hardware reveal. Makes me think it isn't going to happen now.
Black. Black is a dust magnet, but it just looks so much more like a real piece of hardware and less like a toy. OK, less like an Apple device.
Thumbsticks > thumbpads. End of discussion.
Are we really calling it Gamepad? Not Upad or UGamepad? Just Gamepad? Does that mean we are calling "Wii U Pro Controller" just "Controller"?

BJQ1972

#43

BJQ1972 said:

It would have been nice to have a multitouch capacitive touchscreen, but it looks like that's not happening.

Still can't wait to get my hands on one though!!

Capt_N

#45

Capt_N said:

Looks interesting. I'm gonna have to watch that Nintendo Direct later today.

MeloMan

#46

MeloMan said:

Time to internet speak the name of this controller. Wii Remote became Wiimote on the net, so I feel the Wii U Gamepad will be called the Upad from here on out :D

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