Nintendo Bringing NFC Demos to E3

WiiU

by Andy Goergen - January 29, 2014, 6:41 pm EST
Total comments: 11 Source: Nintendo, Wall Street Journal, http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2014/01/29/live-ninten..., http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/library/events/140130...

Also, a new Speed Boot mode is coming early summer.

Games using the Wii U GamePad's Near-Field Communication (NFC) functionality will be demoed at E3 2014.

Also, an early summer system update will make use of a new Speed Boot Menu option that will allow GamePad users to start up the game quickly. See how it works in the short video at the bottom of this news story.

The usage of NFC and the Speed Boot Menu is part of an effort made by Nintendo to refocus their efforts on what makes the GamePad unique. While Pokémon Rumble U has used the NFC capabilities, it has largely been ignored by both first and third party developers.

Games such as Skylanders and Disney Infinity have shown ways to bring NFC technology to games, and Nintendo may very well use these titles as inspiration. The technology is inside of every Wii U GamePad, even if most gamers aren't aware. It can also be used as a payment system with compatible credit cards.

Talkback

Pixelated PixiesJanuary 29, 2014

Wow, I completely forgot about the NFC functionality.

Wasn't there some Pokémon scheme in Japan that utilised NFC?

ShayminDonald Theriault, News EditorJanuary 29, 2014

It got released in North America and Europe, too. Of course, since Gamestop got the exclusive for the scam and the game was on the eShop, nobody bit.

BlackNMild2k1January 29, 2014

The fact that Nintendo is suffering from major losses, a game shortage and a genreal reason for even Nintendo fans to go out and purchase a Wii U, yet they haven't released a Pokemon: Gotta Catch 'Em All game with every pokemon, and every transformation and variation in a little plastic collectible form like Skylanders & Disney Infinity, is beyond a mystery to me.

StogiJanuary 30, 2014

I don't even play pokemon, but that would excite the shit out of me.

They could even bust out multipad support for two players. They said it was a possibility right?