Backwards Compatibility With “Most” Wii Titles Thrown In
In a fairly jam-packed Nintendo Direct, the Big N detailed the technical side for its upcoming console, the Wii U. While the Basic and Premium packs will feature different sized internal flash storage, both versions will contain main memory that will be “20 times bigger than the Wii.” Get the full details after the jump.
President for Nintentdo Europe Satoru Shibata confirmed the gaming world during the online stream that the Wii U will feature 2GB of RAM, with half of it dedicated to games, and the other half dedicated to the system to provide enough power for multitasking. Meanwhile, the disc capacity for Wii U titles will be 25GB, with the disc drive having maximum read speed of 22.5 MB/sec.
Elsewhere, Satoru confirmed that the Wii Remote Plus and the sensor bar for the Wii will be compatible with the Wii U. While this will disappoint some who thought that their original WiiMotes might work with the new console, Nintendo did announce that bundles for buying Wii Remote Plus would be available for those that still needed to make the upgrade.
Although we knew ahead of time most of the Gamepad’s features, but we now know that there will definitely be Gyroscope, microphone, speakers, a geomanetic sensor, and an accelerometer, as well as the much touted LCD touch screen. Finally, it was announced that “most” Wii titles would be backwards compatible with the WiiU, and that any products that had been purchased on the WiiWare Storeand the Virtual Console Arcade would be transferable to the upcoming console.
We’ve got more news on the Wii U to come, so stay tuned. In the meantime, prepare for the info-dump below.
Size
Approximately 1.8 inches high, 10.5 inches deep and 6.8 inches long.
Weight
Approximately 3.41 pounds (1.5 kg).
Appearance
The new console features a compact design that will make it a natural addition to any home entertainment setup.
CPU
IBM PowerⓇ-based multi-core processor.
GPU
AMD Radeon™-based High Definition GPU.
Storage
Wii U uses an internal flash memory. It also supports SD Memory Cards and external USB storage.
Media
Wii U and Wii optical discs.
Networking
Wii U can access the Internet via wireless (IEEE 802.11b/g/n) connection. The console features four USB 2.0 connectors – two in the front and two in the rear – that support Wii LAN Adapters.
Wii Compatibility
Nearly all Wii software and accessories can be used with Wii U.
Audio Output
Uses six-channel PCM linear output via HDMI port, or analogue output via the AV Multi Out connector.
Video Output
Supports 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 480p and 480i. Compatible cables include HDMI, Wii D-Terminal, Wii Component Video, Wii RGB, Wii S-Video Stereo AV and Wii AV.
Wii U GamePad
The Wii U GamePad removes the traditional barriers between games, players and the TV by creating a second window into the videogame world. It incorporates a 6.2-inch, 16:9 aspect ratio touch screen, as well as traditional button controls and two analogue sticks. Inputs include a +Control Pad, L/R Sticks, A/B/X/Y Buttons, L/R Buttons, ZL/ZR Buttons, POWER Button, HOME Button, - Button SELECT, + Button START, and TV CONTROL Button. The GamePad also includes motion control (powered by an accelerometer, gyroscope and geomagnetic sensor), a front-facing camera, a microphone, stereo speakers, rumble features, a sensor bar connector, an included GamePad stylus and support for Near Field Communication (NFC) functionality. It is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and weighs approximately 1.1 pounds (500 g).
Other Controllers
The Wii U console is capable of supporting two Wii U GamePad controllers, up to four Wii Remote (or Wii Remote Plus) controllers or Wii U Pro Controllers, and Wii accessories such as the Nunchuk, Classic Controller and Wii Balance Board.
