This is the moment we’ve all been waiting for! The day has finally arrived! And despite some information you may have heard in the Japanese Wii U Conference that took place at 3AM EST this morning while I was sound asleep, I’m here to recap the information specific to the United States, straight from the Regginator himself.

The questions on everyone’s minds before this conference even began have been answered!

The official launch date of the Wii-U in North America is November 18th, 2012.

 

Wii U will be available in two bundles/SKUs:

Deluxe:

Price: $349.99 Color: BlackStorage: 32GB HDD/Supports external USB HDD & FlashMemoryIncludes: HDMI cable, Gamepad, AC adapter, vertical console stand, Gamepad Stand NINTENDO LAND AVAILABLE FOR DELUXE SET.

Basic:

Price: $299.99 Color: WhiteStorage: 8GB HDD/Supports external USB HDD & Flash MemoryIncludes: HDMI cable, Gamepad, vertical console stand, AC adapter

 

Console Specifications and Hardware Information:
  • Wii U supports full HD 1080p
  • Total Memory: 2GB
  • Main memory: 1 GB (for Games)
  • System Memory: 1 GB (for OS)
  • Game discs: Proprietary disc format holds 25 GB and runs at 22.5 MB/s
  • Power usage: 45 watts (avg.)/75 watts (max.)
  • Low latency between Gamepad and console, no noticeable lag
  • Compatible with all Wii games and accesories
  • Ability to transfer WiiWare and Virtual Console games from your Wii console
  • Both bundles include one Game Pad, HDMI cable, AC adapter, and vertical stand
Miiverse, the Wii U social network, will be available at launch for free to all Wii U owners
Will the Wii-U be able to transfer Virtual Console and WiiWare games from the Wii console?
  • Yes, this has been confirmed for a while now. More info below!

GAMES

Confirmed launch titles:

  • New Super Mario Bros U
  • Nintendo Land

 


“Launch window” titles:

  •  Aliens: Colonial Marines
  • Game & Wario
  • Pikmin 3
  • The Wonderful 101 (formerly Project P-100)
  • Rayman Legends
  • Wii Fit U
  • Assasin’s Creed 3
  • Lego City Stories: Undercover
  • Batman Arkam City: Armored Edition
  • Ben 10: Omniverse
  • Darksiders II
  • Family Party – 30 Great Games
  • FIFA 2013
  • Game Party Champions
  • Jett Tailfin
  • Just Dance 4
  • Madden NFL 13
  • Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth
  • Mass Effect 3
  • NG 3: Razor’s Edge
  • Rabbids Land
  • Rise of the Guardians: The Video Game
  • Sing
  • Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed
  • Sports Connection
  • Tank! Tank! Tank!
  • Transformers: Prime – The Game
  • Wii U Panorama View
  • Your Shape: Fitness Evolved 2013
  • ZombiU

DIGITAL GAMES

  • Nano Assault Neo
  • Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien
  • Toki Tori 2
  • Trine 2: Director’s Cut


Bayonetta 2 is announced as a Wii-U exclusive, published by Nintendo.

MONSTER HUNTER 3: ULTIMATE CONFIRMED FOR 3DS AND WII-U 
Nintendo TVii: “For our idea to fully come to life, we had to wait for the right technology to come along.” A quick preview shows a dashboard of sorts including just about any application you can think of from Hulu Plus to Amazon to individual cable channel apps.

Three parts to Nintendo TV:
1) Find something to watch via a personal programming guide including DVR.
2) Remote Control aspect.
3) Engage with friends and others.

The price point of most Wii-U games will be $59.99.

This last bit of new information comes from an interview with Bill Trenin courtesy of Wired.

– To purchase an additional Wii-U Gamepad in Japan, it would cost you about $150. Since no games announced today feature multi-Gamepad play, Trinen cannot confirm cost and availability of single Gamepads.
 Trinen could not announce any details regarding the enhancement of Wii Virtual Console titles, but “We are working on Virtual Console. More importantly, you will have the ability to transfer data from Wii to Wii U. This includes game save data, and the Virtual Console games you have purchased.” They’ll be talking more about Wii and Virtual Console before the Wii-U launches. 
 All first-party Wii-U titles that don’t require additional accessories will be available digitally.

I, for one, enjoyed Mr. Reggie’s Wild Ride. As usual, I’ve covered everything I felt was the most relevant to our readers in this recap, but additional information can always be found on Nintendo’s Facebook page. For information about ALL the games announced this morning (and for the future), this is your number one source.

Jonathan Higgins
[Former Staff] Jonathan parted ways with Operation Rainfall on June 15th, 2014. You can follow him on Twitter @radicaldefect.
http://www.twitter.com/radicaldefect