Miyamoto, the legendary Nintendo idea factory, has confirmed to an Australian news site that the Wii U will only feature one of the new tablet-style controllers per console. Apparently, the controller configurations are not yet set in stone and Nintendo are still looking into ways of allow you to take your Wii U tablet to use on a friends a console but the language used implies that this might be limited use, if at all.
They’re also looking into the possibility of allowing players to use a 3DS as an extra controller but the initial plan is simply to allow one tablet controller with extra players using Wii Remote Plus controllers.
This seems like an excellent way to allow a less costly upgrade path from the current Wii console but one which might disappoint many existing Wii owners who have grown accustomed to the multiplayer aspects on offer.
It also raises questions about controlling single-screen multiplayer games like fighting and football franchises. There are enough buttons, sticks and triggers on the tablet controller to enjoy a game of FIFA but if player two has to make do with a Wii Remote Plus, there’s going to be fights in front of the flatscreen.
Source: News.com.au via CVG
doswillrule
I can’t imagine that the likes of EA and Ubi would have got on board if multiplayer was so definitely limited. They might not be able to cater for more than one right now, but I think it’s a case of waiting to see how the games and the final iteration of the console shape up.
Juelz345
If they can get it up to 2 U controllers, i’ll be fine. It’s rare (not never, but still rare) that i have more than 2 people playing 360 or PS3 at the same time. Most of my local multiplayer is fighting games or 1 on 1 FIFA matches. I can see it being a dissapointment for people who regularly have 3 or 4 people playing local, but i’m guessing for core gamers that would be the minority. It’ll be interesting to see how this impacts the casual market.
job
But they are not aiming this at multiplayer. It’s to grab back core solo players and for me It’s seems like the right idea.
david
but in the era of multiplayer gaming with solid online easy to access muliplayer networks (XBL, PSN) where does this leave wiiU?
Think about it?
djhsecondnature
It’s certainly not a grab back to core solo gamers. If it was, then they would have focused on the games, the power and the functionality, not the controller.
Crocadillian
I think it would have been best to implement a Dreamcast-like system. Everyone has their own controller with a smaller, iPod Touch like screen. This way everyone can benefit from additional information, the console is more portable and the game can still selectively feed players information through their screen. Having additional memory on the controller that stores their game saves and online identity then allows for someone to quickly jump in on another system. Sure, you lose the ability to play games away from the TV, but the PSV fills this in and many households have more than one TV these days.
TSBonyman
“Right kids, dad wants to watch the news and i don’t want to listen to arcade noises beside me while it’s on. Go upstairs and use that tv i put in your room so your mother and i could be lazy parents”
Shalashaska
Maybe they mean that only one controller will be able to display the in game content at a time, eg. Only one person will have a map displayed on there controller. That seems to make more sense to me. Can’t understand why a next gen console can’t handle input from more than one.controller whilst sending info to one of those controllers.
Mikiyaru
I argue enough over who gets the dualshock and who gets the sixaxis. This actually means something a lot more though with games!
Foxhound_Solid
If you ask me they will push wii more, wii u sounds like ninty taking a bit out of the hardcore market..