There's also a sync button for wireless controllers, and a small panel under the disc drive pops open to reveal two USB 2.0 ports and an SD card slot for expandable storage. The front of the console retains its simple design with a slot-loading disc drive, power and eject button. Nintendo's new console retains the same general shape and size of the Wii, but with rounder edges and a longer body. ©Michael Buckner/ Getty Images for NintendoĪt first glance, it wouldn't be too hard to mistake a brand new Wii U for the six-year-old Wii. Understanding how the Wii U works means looking at its brand new GamePad, Nintendo's new eShop, its play for living room dominance called Nintendo TVii, and, of course, a new generation of video games.
In fact, many WIi U games, including Nintendo's New Super Mario Bros U, still use the Wii Remote for control. The Wii U is backwards compatible with Wii games and Wii hardware, too. More than ever before, Nintendo hopes to capture two different audiences: the gamers who love big-budget franchises like Zelda and Call of Duty, and the Wii fans who were introduced to gaming through Wii Sports and Wii Fit.
#Can you play wii u games on wii download#
Online games, a more robust download store, social networking, and media center functionality are all big features for the Wii U. While the Wii U introduces a unique feature that other video game consoles don't offer, in many ways it represents Nintendo playing catch-up with the other HD game consoles.
#Can you play wii u games on wii movie#
Some games can even be played exclusively on the GamePad, leaving the larger television screen free for a movie or TV show. The console streams video to the GamePad, allowing games to display content on both screens. The GamePad resembles a tablet/controller hybrid, and its onboard touchscreen offers some novel features. The console's primary controller is called the GamePad, and it combines traditional controls (analog sticks, face buttons and triggers) with an embedded touchscreen and motion sensors. Like the Wii before it, the Wii U focuses on a new feature or gimmick to differentiate it from the gaming herd. But the Wii sold, and sold, and sold thanks to games like Wii Sports and Wii Fit, ultimately selling nearly 100 million consoles worldwide.Īnd after six years, Nintendo followed up with a brand new console: the Wii U. Some gamers who preferred traditional controllers criticized the Wii's motion and "waggle" controls and Nintendo's use of old, underpowered hardware. Instead of focusing on HD graphics like the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, the Wii instead promised new ways to interact with video games, thanks to the Wii Remote, a motion-sensing wand-like controller. On November 18, 2012, Nintendo released its first HD console in the United States, almost six years to the day after releasing the Nintendo Wii.