Thoughts on Wii U (new console)

[bobv5]

Seems like a step closer to a commercial home vr system. At least not a step back like i worried it might be.

Also, strap it to your face with a lens, instant, wireless, tracked hmd! Woooo!

[PalmerTech]

I know! I am very curious about the resolution of the screen. If it is 1280x800, I am very, very excited. Engadget mentioned in their liveblog that it is capable of glasses free 3D, but not seen it mentioned anywhere else...

I hope this is hacked to interface with PCs.

[bobv5]

I think I saw somewhere that it is "not hd", but, as far as I know Nintendo never said either way, and, some would consider 1280x800 not hd. (Probably the same people who think 1600x1200 is somehow not hd...)

"I hope this is hacked to interface with PCs."

I'm sure it will be, I can't think of any other console accessory that hasn't been. Nintendo might never have helped with wiimote hacking, but from what I have seen there was nothing in the hardware to deliberately make it difficult. In fact, I expect they liked it, as it let them sell remotes to people that would never buy the console. As long as it uses a reasonably standard connection, its just a case of writing the software. I wouldn't be surprised if it communicated over normal wifi.

[PalmerTech]

The controls will be easy, as it is bluetooth. It is the video interface I am worried about.

If I had to guess, I would say that they are licensing WHDI technology from Animon, but if it ends up being something proprietary, we are out of luck. It will not be wifi, too much latency there.

[AntiCatalyst]

any HD or semi-hd resolutions in the remotes are probably out of the question here. high resolution panels would jack up the price level enormously. Not just by panel cost either, it would have effects further down the line. For example, the rendering of multiple HD screens at once would be very tough, and then all those pixels have to be sent wirelessly to the remotes.

800x480 maybe? could be lower too, Nintendo isn't exactly known for their high pixel densities.. just look at the dsi hd. Well it's not ALL bad - some people probably like the fact that everything looks like minecraft blocks.

[PalmerTech]

Keep in mind, though, Nintendo never showed more than a single remote screen being used at the same time. The only times they showed it displaying HD level content was when it was mirroring the TV, too.

I can't see them going lower than 1024x600, which is what a lot of cheap Android tablets have been using these past few weeks/months. Bleh, I am probably letting my optimism get the better of me, 800x480 seems most likely.

[cybereality]

To be honest, I'm not impressed. Seems like they are trying to cater to both the hardcore and casual market, without really optimizing for either. Is it cool, maybe. I'm sure there could be some interesting AR applications with that kind of hardware. But it seems like a step backwards from where they have been going with the Wii. I guess I was hoping for stereo 3D to be a key feature, more advanced motion-controls, haptic force-feedback, etc. This just seems like they are trying to be the iPad.

[Johnny-Mnemonic]

To be honest, I'm not impressed. ...

Me neither... Looks like advanced modern gameboy to me.

[Okta]

Looks like it could be fun for some multiplayer FPV with its accurate tracking. Maybe even AR FPV.

[cybereality]

Its the future of gaming... circa 1989...

[mcsilvio]

haha great pic. im no nintendo fan these days, but this wii u is definitely intriguing. a video review from e3 said the controls were not entirely comfortable (buttons lower down). i had this feeling about my psp and it was a big deterrent for me. great interfaces out these days anyway!