Wii-U

The next generation - Wii-U

The Wii-U is the first console to enter the 8th generation of games consoles. The console was first unvelied on the 7th June 2011 at the E3 expo. It is scheduled for release in North America on the 18th November, the 30th November in Europe and Australia, and the 8th December in Japan. Nintendo have said that the Wii-U will support 1080p graphics (with consoles being supplied with HDMI cables) and will have two versions. A white version will offer 8GB of internal storage for approximately £249.99 and a premium black version which includes 32GB of internal storage for approximately £299.

'Nintendo Network' will be supported by the device and will allow people to have a similar experience to Microsoft's Xbox Live and Sony's Playstaton Network. There have been reports that Nintendo is working with Netflix, Hulu Plus and YouTube. This is an example of cross-media convergence and will be a huge step for Nintendo as they have never really been on parr with Microsoft and Sony in regards to online and social services. The Wii-U gamepad can also be used as a universal remote with a built in guide, even when the console is off. Users can also use the Gamepad screen to get information on the show they are watching, this information is received from Wikipedia, IMDb, as well as individual source services. The information provided on the Gamepad for each show can range from reviews, screenshots, player positions updated in realtime (in sports broadcasts), cast lists, trailers, and general information about the show. Users can then interact with the information as well as share and comment on the information on social networks such as Miiverse, Facebook, and Twitter through the Gamepad while they watch their show on the TV screen. Nintendo are also making a move towards attracting 'core gamers' with release titles such as Assassin's Creed 3, CoD Black Ops II and Darksiders II, to name a few. Titles such as these are a bid from Nintendo to move further away from their usual 'family friendly' status. By doing this, Nintendo would be able to attract some of the 'core gamers' that are used to playing similar titles/genres on other consoles, while at the same time building a reputation in gaming away from the usual family entertainment.