Hardware Should I be okay with this?

[K3Nv2]

I was thinking about ordering a wii u console (then mod it) only then would need a power brick + controller and sensor bar.
Question is can I order a regular wii sensor bar and it would work with the wii u?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Nintend...1009933628?pt=Video_Games&hash=item1e80ccf13c - 135

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Orbital-AC-...ideo_Game_Cables_Adapters&hash=item2ecb430ef9 about - 15

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wired-Remot...me_Motion_Sensors_Cameras&hash=item589a74c221 5

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Built-in-Mo...US_Video_Game_Controllers&hash=item4610bc2baf - 15

Totals around 170

I'm not asking if you think the wii u is a horrible console just if all this will work and if it sounds like a good deal.

 

[Foxi4]

Any sensor bar should do - at the end of the day, it's literally just a length of wire, a plug and two IR diodes in a plastic case. In fact, you don't even need to buy a wired one - your average game store should have wireless ones for a couple dollars.

 

[K3Nv2]

Any sensor bar should do - at the end of the day, it's literally just a length of wire, a plug and two IR diodes in a plastic case. In fact, you don't even need to buy a wired one - your average game store should have wireless ones for a couple dollars.

Yeah I was thinking about that also thanks, I think $135 is a great deal for the console.
I'm not too big on the Wii U gamepad but they my game stores still want $25 for the original wii controllers.

 

[blaisedinsd]

Your problem is even if you don't want the gamepad the console is not going to work without it I don't think.

Maybe I am wrong, I know you can't navigate the eshop without it and certain games definitely require it. Some of the setup requires it as well. I am pretty sure you are going to need one to use the console.

If you just want it for Wii hacking you are better off just getting a Wii.

 

[K3Nv2]

Your problem is even if you don't want the gamepad the console is not going to work without it I don't think.

Maybe I am wrong, I know you can't navigate the eshop without it and certain games definitely require it. Some of the setup requires it as well. I am pretty sure you are going to need one to use the console.

If you just want it for Wii hacking you are better off just getting a Wii.

You can sync old wii controllers to it but I was going to ask if the gamepad is going to be required with most games.
I'm not buying a ps4 or x1 for a while so at least this has all the ports I want on it.

 

[CalebW]

Any sensor bar should do - at the end of the day, it's literally just a length of wire, a plug and two IR diodes in a plastic case. In fact, you don't even need to buy a wired one - your average game store should have wireless ones for a couple dollars.

It has two sets of 5 IR diodes about 8 inches apart.

 

[Foxi4]

It has 5 IR diodes on each side about 8 inches apart.

Fair enough, you get my point though.

 

[Tomy Sakazaki]

Seems that you are going to need a gamepad anyway.
If the console is truly brand new, it won't let you do anything without syncing a gamepad first, you are going to need the gamepad to create a user (this is needed even if you want to run only the vWii), you won't be able to play the vWii without installing at least the day one update, and I don't know if the newer WiiU games are coming with updates included on their discs, so you probably are going to need to configure the internet on your wiiu, and the configuration menu require the gamepad.
You can try to purchase a replacement gamepad, but if your main focus are wii games, I have to say that a actual Wii is still a better choice over wiiu, the only benefit on using the wiiu is the HDMI output while if you do something wrong on vWii and you end "bricking" it you are going to need a NAND writer to restore it, while in the actual Wii hardware you have easier ways to try and recover it.

 

[CalebW]

I have thought of building one of my own that runs on batteries and maybe bump up the voltage so you get more distance...

 

[K3Nv2]

Seems that you are going to need a gamepad anyway.
If the console is truly brand new, it won't let you do anything without syncing a gamepad first, you are going to need the gamepad to create a user (this is needed even if you want to run only the vWii), you won't be able to play the vWii without installing at least the day one update, and I don't know if the newer WiiU games are coming with updates included on their discs, so you probably are going to need to configure the internet on your wiiu, and the configuration menu require the gamepad.
You can try to purchase a replacement gamepad, but if your main focus are wii games, I have to say that a actual Wii is still a better choice over wiiu, the only benefit on using the wiiu is the HDMI output while if you do something wrong on vWii and you end "bricking" it you are going to need a NAND writer to restore it, while in the actual Wii hardware you have easier ways to try and recover it.

Nah I want it for wiiu games just wont be buying alot at once.
The gamepads going $100+ on ebay so might as well just buy a set, ah well it sounded like a good idea on paper.

 

[blaisedinsd]

All I will say is that it is a bad idea to spend all that money to try to use the console with out the gamepad. Controller support is a very varied thing on Wii U. Games that I have I know, ZombiU and Lego City, can only be played with the gamepad I am pretty sure. I am not sure if a game like NSMBU (which you can play with wiimotes) can even be started and played with out using the gamepad initially.

It is a very dicey situation. The gamepad is basically part of the console and you are likely to constantly be running in to issues trying to use it without one if you can even use it at all.

You will have plenty of gameplaying options where you don't need to use it, but you should definitely have one. Not getting one in order to save money I would say is a bad idea. Maybe in the future the console could be made more gamepad independent but it is very necessary as of now.

I have not even figured a way to get in to the vWii mode with out the gamepad yet. Maybe it's possible, maybe it's not but when I have tried I ended up needing to use the gamepad for something.

 

[Tomy Sakazaki]

Nah I want it for wiiu games just wont be buying alot at once.
The gamepads going $100+ on ebay so might as well just buy a set, ah well it sounded like a good idea on paper.

Well, in the end it seems that it would be better to buy the console set instead, they are going for US$ 300 now (also you have 1 year warranty).
Unless if you don't actually live in USA and importing the pieces may ending being cheaper (mainly if the customs in your country picks random packages to apply taxes like they do in Brazil).

 

[orcid]

I think that you will regret buying the wii u without the gamepad. The gamepad is great. Honestly I didn't expected that before I had my own Wii U.

edit: And I am also not sure if you can use the wii u without the gamepad at all.

 

[tbgtbg]

Just as an added point of interest, the gamepad has a sensor bar built into it.

 

[Tomy Sakazaki]

Just as an added point of interest, the gamepad has a sensor bar built into it.

Yep, and the last update let you use it to play the vWii on the tiny gamepad screen.

 

[blaisedinsd]

I don't think their is a way to use the gamepads sensor bar as a replacement for a regular sensor bar however.

Normally the gamepads sensor bar is shut off unless it is told to turn on by software. It only turns on when you need to point a wii controller at the gamepad screen.

 

[WiiCube_2013]

You will need the GamePad ($140) for the console to work properly so you can't work around it without it.

Things that are optional:
- Wiimote & Nunchuk
- Sensor Bar

I.e, optional if you won't use the Wii Mode although there's games like Sonic & Mario at the Sochi Olympics which use the Wiimote so you do need for these instances.

So in the end it still comes down to $275, you might as well just buy one of the official Wii U Bundles for $300.