Topic: Wii U GamePad Details Revealed

[MoronSonOfBoron]

Now with clickable thumb sticks, an NFC reader/writer, and universal TV remote.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/30406

Today's Nintendo Direct stream event started off by showcasing the new controller, the Wii U GamePad, named in honor of the original NES controller.

The GamePad now eschews circle pads in favor of clickable thumb sticks, and offsets the directional pad and face buttons for maximum comfort. The back has been redesigned to rest more comfortably in a user's hands.

Various connectivity functions have been built into the GamePad. An NFC reader/writer to the left of the screen allows the use of cards, toys, and other accessories to exchange information. A special TV button below the GamePad screen accesses a universal TV remote function that lets a user control their TV with the GamePad, even when the Wii U console is not powered on.

The Wii U GamePad can display video from the Wii U without delay, allowing users to continue playing or using apps while the TV is in use.

A closer look at one of the thumb sticks.

Comparison of prototype to final product.

[the asylum]

stick clicks

to think it only took them 13 years

[MoronSonOfBoron]

stick clicks

to think it only took them 13 years

I'm sorry, I can't hear you over the force feedback.

[Picoli]

Am I the only person who hates stick clicks?

[Ceric]

Am I the only person who hates stick clicks?

No

[BlackNMild2k1]

Did they say if the triggers were analog?

[Ceric]

Did they say if the triggers were analog?

If we didn't already know there was triggers you could have easily missed them.

[BlackNMild2k1]

And no one thought to mention that they showed off a Black uMote? to match that black Pro Controller.

better be at launch

[Adrock]

And no one thought to mention that they showed off a Black uMote? to match that black Pro Controller.

better be at launch

I certainly hope so. That's the one I'd get for sure.

[koovaps]

Am I the only person who hates stick clicks?

I too am not a fan. I kinda understand controller parity across systems, though.

[Chozo Ghost]

I hope this is a sign that black will be the default color of the console. They really need to do that because if they keep it white its going to confuse the market, because apparently they aren't going to change the name.

[MasterE]

I did not like stick clicks until I was forced to get used to them to play some first person shooters on 360. I don't particularly enjoy them but I do like that they add more ways to control a  complex game without adding more places for your fingers to go. They are a really helpful control option in some games. For example COD (which i don't play anymore btw) making both sprint and going prone clicking a stick (tactical layout) most of your immediate movement options are only stick actions. That means you are always ready to move and shoot without having to move your hands at all since getting to the buttons can be a pain, especially under stress. In general they aren't really needed for most games but it is nice to have them and it keeps parity with the other controllers so porting is less of a pain.

[Chozo Ghost]

Clicky sticks are an efficient way of adding more buttons without actually adding more button, if you know what I mean. Its adding functionality but it doesn't take up any additional real estate on the controller.

[Ceric]

I see clicking sticks like I see cursors in SQL.  Something that when used by a very experienced designer can be a truly great and elegant solution.  Mid-level to novice Designers a trap into inefficiency from a wrong paradigm of thinking.

[ShyGuy]

I too dislike clicky sticks. I played some game where it was the jump function. Really?

[house3136]

 I think Nintendo is just trying to cover all their bases. They want to make sure there is no reason for a developer to abandon the console over small features. I wouldn’t be surprised if a developer straight-up told them to include clickable sticks.

[Kairon]

I'm not a big fan of clicky sticks either, but I'm willing to take one for the team in the name of controller parity.

[ThePerm]

i like using clicky sticks to switch between third and first person perspective.

[Kairon]

Btw, Universal Remote functionality? Yesssssssss

[Soren]

I'm not a big fan of clicky sticks either, but I'm willing to take one for the team in the name of controller parity.

This. In the end it will help more than hinder. I despise clicky sticks, but maybe the reason I despise it is because I don't use them much when I do get to play Xbox or PS3.

[Chozo Ghost]

One potential problem with clicky sticks is there's a potential for accidentally clicking them when you don't want to, because your thumbs are going to be on them pretty much the entire time you're playing so if you press down a little too much you might get a click and this might sometimes result in your death, depending on what it does in the game.

[ShyGuy]

I miss the octagonal borders.

[Killer_Man_Jaro]

GamePad, huh? Sounds simple enough. We saw this final design in that leaked screenshot a couple of weeks ago, although I didn't realise they made it a fair bit wider when they changed the analog stick and button layout.

Like others before me, I have also thought that clicking sticks was always a bit of an unnatural control input, but it is the industry standard now, so its inclusion here makes sense.

As regards the TV remote function, I am intrigued by the scope of its control. At home, my TV is hooked up to a Sky+ box, and navigating the Sky menus of course requires a different remote from the standard TV remote, with many more functions like recording, rewinding, fast-forwarding, playing, pausing etc. It would be great if the GamePad could interact with the Sky+ box, but from the demo we saw, it looked like the most basic remote set-up displayed on the screen, indicating that this feature might be more limited than I have a use for.

Is there a shot of the back of the controller? What form have the triggers taken and will the stylus be stored back here?

[Kairon]

Is there a shot of the back of the controller? What form have the triggers taken and will the stylus be stored back here?

Check the actual story article on the actual website instead of the forum. Your wish has been granted.

[Chozo Ghost]

What if someone designed a controller which had no face buttons at all, and instead of buttons there were just a bunch of clicky sticks?