True to its roots in the toy industry, Nintendo's products are not highly technical yet innovative, very addicting and fun to use. In other words, Nintendo knows its game.
Wii U GamePad was subjected to much ridicules over the last few years. Many critics believed it was the Sega-Saturn for Nintendo (Saturn was the last console Sega produced). However, it may not given that Nintendo knows its game and Nintendo is innovative.
Gaming, to be precise "Electronic Gaming" is not all about graphics, physics or biology. It is certainly not about photo-realistic graphics, real-life physics engines or blood/organ/gore. It is about fun -- gameplay and presentation. Nintendo has changed the game in gameplay from time to time. NES was revolutionary in the sense that it brings Light-gun and microphone to an 8-bit-processor-based console. SNES evolved further by introducing shoulder buttons (the buttons you press using your fingers), which Sony shamelessly followed. GameCube was cute (it and N64 weren't hits). Wii brings motion-controllers, which Sony shamelessly followed again (Microsoft's Kinect is a different story). Now, they are about to take out Wii U along with Wii U GamePad, Wii U Pro Controller and Miiverse.
Wii U GamePad
Wii U GamePad was subjected to much ridicules over the last few years. Many critics believed it was the Sega-Saturn for Nintendo (Saturn was the last console Sega produced). However, it may not given that Nintendo knows its game and Nintendo is innovative.
Wii U GamePad is claimed to have good ergonomics to ensure comfortable game-play. It also has motion and gyro sensors to utilize it as steering wheel in racing games. However, most importantly, ergonomics, motion and gyro sensors aside, Wii U GamePad has (a) NFC chips, (b) Stylus and (c) a touch-screen. These three are the game changers and I don't think Sony can shamelessly follow these in a short notice this time.
For non-geek readers, NFC technology is like bluetooth -- it can connect two piece of gadgets. NFC is used to make payment in certain areas of the world. However, the application of NFC in entertainment industry is still new and unexplored. Imagine this scenerio, instead of using SD-cards and catridge, you can save your games (so that you can continue playing from the point you leave) in your smart-phone. Then when you get to your friend's place, tap your phone on Wii U GamePad and, tada, you can continue playing. It is seamless and intuitive, isn't it.
Here is another scenerio. There are some Free-to-play games with inventory store. Kids without credit cards cannot buy inventories. Current solution is to buy the credit as a some kind of card and enter the number on the card to obtain these credit in game. The process, with NFC, would be more steamlined. Kids buy inventory chips in store then tap the inventory to GamePad. You can even allow kids to share their inventories with their friends if you shape the inventory chips as sword, shields etc. It may also have a nice trick on Pokemon and other monster-collecting games.
The stylus and the touch-screen also play an important role. Combined together, they pave a way for games that need signature or drawing as a major game-play mechanics such as the current smartphone hit Draw Something. I also see this as a potential for detective games other games. For example, in FMA universe, except for the main character and his teacher, every fighter needs to draw a circle to fight or do something. Since FMA universe has many strong and lovable characters, playing as other characters drawing circles to fight would bring a tremendous fun. Also imagine an in-game store system, which collects your signature for each transaction to authenticate.
Last but not least, Miiverse is a Nintendo's social network. Why not Facebook, one must ask. I feel a bit wield for this aspect but this is Nintendo, who forced some games to say, "Fall" instead of "Die" twenty years ago so safety for children (from stalkers) would be one of their reasons. Combined with touchscreen and stylus, you can even send hand-written notes and pictures among your friends. The front-facing camera also helps you video chat with your friends.
Another feature (yes, I know I have said "last" above but I need to say this) about the screen is something Nintendo call "Assymetric Diversity in Gameplay". In the video below, you may see how a golf-game, ninja game etc can take leverage upon the second screen in your hand.
In their pre E3 announcement, Nintendo almost showed everything. It showed their Wii U Gamepad, briefly Wii U Pro Controller and MiiVerse. This is an anatomy of their pre E3 showcase. For more information, look again at Doughnut I/O this evening after their event in E3.
I'm quite exciting.
Logged on Doughnut I/O. U.E. 1338881086
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