Nintendo considering multiple tablet support for the Wii U

[p1ngpong]

It is being reported that Nintendo are reconsidering their previously held stance of only allowing one tablet controller to be usable with their upcoming Wii U console. When the Wii U was unveiled at this years E3, Nintendo disappointingly revealed that the Wii U's tablet like controllers would not be sold separately, and that the Wii U would only have the capability to support one tablet at a time, with any other players using Wiimotes instead. The main reason behind this decision being the restrictive cost of the tablet controllers.

But the general disappointment at that announcement has apparently made Nintendo reconsider, and they are reportedly endeavouring to allow support for at least one more tablet for the Wii U, however it is unlikely that more than two will be supported.

A source is quoted as saying: "Nintendo now know they absolutely need to support two tablets,"

"At E3 they didn't commit to this, but they know how important it is to make it technically feasible to support two screens. Even if that affects framerate, as a developer and player, I don't care. It needs to work. Developers will design appropriate games for this. If you're building a quiz game you're not going to give a shit about the framerate."

Source

 

[xxNathanxx]

I couldn't care less if the WiiU had one controller or sixteen, as long as the games are nice I'll buy anything.

 

[Heran Bago]

The rumors about dev kits and the very slow (currently) bluetooth connection with the tablets really make me think it isn't feasible without a very drastic redesign.

 

[prowler]

If you're building a quiz game you're not going to give a shit about the framerate

It begins.

 

[gameandmatch]

Well we will see what Nintendo plans to.

 

[yuyuyup]

If this is true, I'm willing to bet the awful "Wii U" name will be changed, since the U reflects an individual using 1 tablet controller (at least that's how I understand the name.) Jesus God what an awful name. I've mentioned this joke in another post but it shall be respammed: WHAT IS THIS, A VIDGAME OR WIENER COLLEGE ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? I'm ashamed of myself for retelling a shitty joke.

 

[pistone]

well it would be nice ,also i dont think that the wiiu tablet/controller will be connected thorough blue-tooth more prob by wifi

 

[Guild McCommunist]

Seems kinda stupid if they didn't. Considering the Wii was all about "family fun", aka local co-op, hampering that with only one controller seems like a giant contradiction.

And if you say "YOU CAN USE THE WIIMOTE/CLASSIC CONTROLLER", then games have to be developed to support those without giving tablet users a big edge. Which makes the tablet entirely redundant. Which means you basically just would have a Wii HD at that point. Which means you should've just got a Xbox 360/PS3/high end PC at that point.

I really don't see myself buying Nintendo again for a good couple of years. Maybe a 3DS when it's really cheap on the used market and game prices also drop drastically on the used market but definitely not the Wii U.

 

[Sicklyboy]

Tablet looks like a 3DS - 2 front cameras and an extra screen, + circle pad.

I sense a lot of redundancy here, period.

 

[qlum]

if the controller itself is cheap enough and if people get the thing to run of a pc I would happily buy the thing, I've always wanted a potable touch screen

 

[SS4]

If it gets a decent custom firmware like the wii i might get one down the line when the price is about 200$

 

[Deleted User]

Finally, a group of like-minded individuals that don't think the controller is the may.ost awesome invention since air. Which wasn't invented anyway.

 

[notmeanymore]

The rumors about dev kits and the very slow (currently) bluetooth connection with the tablets really make me think it isn't feasible without a very drastic redesign.

I'm thinking it'll also need a better video card to be able to display those extra screens of unique content. I agree though, they should definitely look into faster connection methods besides Bluetooth.

That alone may delay the launch by 6 months (personal prediction), which in that case, they may as well wait a bit longer for the holiday season.

Edit: Had a thought: Perhaps by using multiple Bluetooth transmitters and receivers they could speed up the process, but that's just a theory. I'm not sure what the maximum speed bluetooth is capable of at this point in time, and what the technical maximum is could ever reach is. Anyone know this information?

Edit2: Bluetooth max speed: 25Mbit/s. Maybe Nintendo should consider using Wi-fi Direct, which maxes out at 250Mbit/s. That should be more than enough to cover multiple tablets worth of content.

 

[Foxi4]

Seems kinda stupid if they didn't. Considering the Wii was all about "family fun", aka local co-op, hampering that with only one controller seems like a giant contradiction.

I'd like to remind you that the Wii is the Wii, and the WiiU is supposed to be a return to the roots and to the core gamer, mostly with Singleplayer or Online Multiplayer. Many would preffere "on the same couch" Multi to be concluded, hence the cries for having the option of connecting two, but with the target in mind, it's not a necessity.

I agree though, they should definitely look into faster connection methods besides Bluetooth.

Bluetooth currently has transfer speeds of even 24 Mbits/s and requires no change, what they have to work on is the way the internal microcontroller deals with the recieved data. Remember, the controller only gets an "image" generated by the console and sends out button input, nothing more, nothing less. It's not a whole lot of stuff to process.

I'm thinking it'll also need a better video card to be able to display those extra screens of unique content.

The one they're jamming in already is the best one used in consoles yet, anything higher than that will mean a much pricier end product. This one is entirely sufficient.

 

[T3GZdev]

so wii u games will be 6 players now?

imagine COD in 6player split screen,

 

[Foxi4]

so wii u games will be 6 players now?

You do realize those were just concept games? It's likely that none of this will see the light of day. Other than than, "probably", depends on the developers.

 

[DiscostewSM]

I'm thinking it'll also need a better video card to be able to display those extra screens of unique content.

Which wouldn't change anything from the perspective of using extra screens, because developers would then use that extra power to graphically enhance the games from a single-player PoV, and be in the same position as before.

They could always cut the framerate in half when using 2 screens so the same amount of data gets sent out.

 

[T3GZdev]

You do realize those were just concept games? It's likely that none of this will see the light of day. Other than than, "probably", depends on the developers.

i just edited that post. also i thought super monkey ball was confirmed. also its almost certain to have cod.

 

[notmeanymore]

I'm thinking it'll also need a better video card to be able to display those extra screens of unique content.

Which wouldn't change anything from the perspective of using extra screens, because developers would then use that extra power to graphically enhance the games from a single-player PoV, and be in the same position as before.

They could always cut the framerate in half when using 2 screens so the same amount of data gets sent out.

Well they could either dedicate the power to the extra controllers, or the enhancement of power could be allowed to be allocated to either singleplayer or to extra screens in multiplayer. I see no reason why having both available puts them in a bad position.

 

[Guild McCommunist]

Seems kinda stupid if they didn't. Considering the Wii was all about "family fun", aka local co-op, hampering that with only one controller seems like a giant contradiction.

I'd like to remind you that the Wii is the Wii, and the WiiU is supposed to be a return to the roots and to the core gamer, mostly with Singleplayer or Online Multiplayer. Many would preffere "on the same couch" Multi to be concluded, hence the cries for having the option of connecting two, but with the target in mind, it's not a necessity.

It seems really stupid of them to make a console sold to the casual gamer and then make their next console completely alienate them. They are definitely aiming for a casual audience, if they didn't they'd have Gamecube level failures.