Check Out This Early Wii U GamePad Prototype

In the most recent installment of Iwata Asks, designers of Nintendo's online service Miiverse revealed the early prototype they used to get accustomed to the "feel" of the Wii U GamePad: one made entirely out of cardboard.

The model even had a slot in which to insert pieces of paper, enabling the designers to change the display.

The prototype was built by Kazuyuki Motoyama, a Hatena designer who worked on the Miiverse UI."We wouldn't know how it felt unless we could actually hold it, but since we didn't have one, the only thing to do was make one," Motoyama explained. "In the middle of the night, I cut pieces of cardboard and glued them together."

"It even has the grips in the back," added Hatena director Yoshiomi Kurisu. "Motoyama-san burnt the midnight oil to make this."

For those who can't wait until the launch of the Wii U, perhaps it's time to get out the scissors.

The Wii U will be released in North America on November 18, and Europe and Australia on November 30.

Source : ign[dot]com

Nintendo Details Miiverse

Today Nintendo President Satoru Iwata delivered another Nintendo Direct livestream, in which he detailed some of the Wii U’s functionality with a focus on Nitendo’s new online service, Miiverse.

When you first power-up the Wii U, you'll be taken to Warawara plaza where you'll make a Miiverse account. Each Wii U will be able to support up to ten different account, with each one containing unique save game data, browser bookmarks and other user-specific information.

Iwata also demonstrated how Miiverse will provide a helpful, informative community while playing specific games. Say you only get a silver medal on a level in New Super Mario Bros. Wii U. You can now turn to the Miiverse community for advice on how to claim gold next time. If you die several times, you'll be asked to talk about your frustration on Miiverse. You can choose to follow reliable or particularly help contributors, and there's even a function to hide spoilerific contributions. Iwata also said that Miiverse functionality can be integrated without additional work for developers.

Incidentally, Iwata also used the opportunity to don a pair of immaculate white gloves and unbox the Wii U himself, removing the console, holding the GamePad aloft, and (less exciting) unpacking various cables.

Nintendo's new console Wii U will be released in North America on November 18, Europe on November 30, and in Japan on December 8.

Daniel is IGN's UK Staff Writer, and you can be part of the world's worst cult by following him on IGN and Twitter.

Source : ign[dot]com

Pikmin 3 Coming in Spring 2013

Nintendo has revealed that Pikmin 3 is coming next Spring. In a footnote on the most recent Iwata Asks column on Nintendo’s site, Nintendo mentions that “Pikmin 3 is scheduled for release for the Wii U console in the spring of 2013.”

The release will mark nearly five years since creator Shigeru Miyamoto announced that a new Pikmin game was coming at E3 2008. In 2010, Miyamoto said development was “well under way” and the project was confirmed for Wii U at E3 2011. Nintendo formally unveiled Pikmin 3 a year later at E3 2012.

Pikmin 3 will support 100 Pikmin on screen at once and adds new flying pink Pikmin. For more on the sequel, read our hands-on impressions from E3 and read about the origins of Pikmin 3 as explained to us by Miyamoto.

Andrew Goldfarb is IGN’s associate news editor. Keep up with pictures of the latest food he’s been eating by following @garfep on Twitter or garfep on IGN.

Source : ign[dot]com

Nintendo Addresses Criticism Directed at Mario Sequels

Nintendo President Satoru Iwata has responded to recent criticism that the company is diluting the quality of its Mario titles by iterating too frequently on its most famous mascot.

It will ration the number of side-scrolling 2D Mario titles.

"We only create a New Super Mario Bros. title one [sic] per platform," said Iwata in an interview with Kotaku. "I think we'll probably go ahead and continue at that pace.

"That being said, that's probably Miyamoto's choice, so I can't give you a 100 per cent guarantee that that's the pace we'll continue at."

Super Mario 3D Land came out towards the end of last year and was the first Mario title to be released on 3DS, receiving great reviews. New Super Mario Bros. 2 came out last week to a more mixed response. And it isn't long before Nintendo releases New Super Mario Bros. U alongside its new console, Wii U (sometime later this year).

“

I believe the two titles are unique enough that I wouldn't say that I'm super-worried that people are going to be confused.

Responding to concerns that the two games (New Super Mario Bros. 2 and U) might be too similar, and could suffer from being released just months apart, Iwata stated: "I believe the two titles are unique enough that I wouldn't say that I'm super-worried that people are going to be confused.

Iwata also spoke about the company's approach to DLC. New Super Mario Bros. 2 is the first Mario title to feature downloadable content. Iwata allayed any fears that it might be selling content stripped out of the game, saying: "Our goal is to create DLC in such a way that consumers do not feel that they have been cheated or deceived. Now I believe there are people out there, readers, who have are worried about that, and we just want to ensure them that we have that in mind and want them to know that that's not what we are planning on doing," he concluded.

Daniel is IGN's UK Staff Writer. You can be part of the world's worst cult by following him on IGN and Twitter.

Source : ign[dot]com