Here’s Your European Wii U Info Round-Up

If you’ve been paying attention you know the date, November 30th, you know there’s no price set in Europe with retailers free to set their own and you know that Bayonetta 2 is a Wii U exclusive.  Here’s a quick run-down of the other info we gleaned from Nintendo Europe’s Wii U presentation.

For those of you who like technical information, the Wii U console has 2GB of RAM with 1GB available for games (double the total RAM in the 360 and PS3) and 1GB reserved for the system with Nintendo giving the example of being able to browse the web without interrupting your game.  Though presumably you’d pause it, right?

The optical discs it spins have a 25GB capacity and Nintendo said the drive had a 22.5 MB/s data transfer rate.  If they really do mean megabytes (MB) and not megabits (Mb) that gives the drive around double the data transfer rate of the PS3’s Blu-ray drive.

You probably have already heard that the Wii U will come in two different models, Basic and Premium, with differing amounts of internal storage and different collections of items in the box.

The Basic pack containing a white 8GB console and white GamePad is clearly targeted at those more casual players who just want a drop-in replacement for their long-suffering Wii.  They can use their existing controllers, play their existing games, both disc based and transferred from WiiWare and Virtual Console.  The pack contains nothing extra apart from the new cables they’ll need; an HDMI cable and AC adaptors for the Wii U and Gamepad.

The Premium pack with its black 32GB console and GamePad and the same cable set also includes a stand for the Wii U and a simple stand and separate charging cradle for the GamePad.  It also includes a sensor bar and a copy of Nintendo Land, the Wii U’s 12-minigame equivalent to Wii Sports.  Naturally, the Premium Wii U will also play Wii games and let you transfer digital purchases.

The Premium pack also comes with Nintendo Network Premium which for two years from launch will earn you points for digital purchases equivalent to 10% of the purchase price.  When you’ve earned 500 point you can change them into €5 (or your local equivalent) to spend online.

There will be a Wii Remote + Pack available at retail containing a Wii Remote controller, nunchuck and, curiously, a sensor bar.  The idea being I guess that you can buy that and a Basic Wii U pack to get fully up and running for a minimal outlay if you don’t have a Wii already.  And of course there is also the Wii U Pro controller for those of you who’d like to play with a 360-shaped controller with the analogue sticks in PlayStation positions.

[videoyoutube]Explicitly listed for launch day, November 30th remember, are Nintendo Land, New Super Mario Bros. U, Rayman Legends, Zombi U, FIFA 13 and Mass Effect 3: Special Edition.  A Zombi U bundle including a black Wii U and Pro controller will be available at launch.  ME3: Spec. Ed. contains a digital comic to bring you up to speed if you missed the first two installments and the Extended Cut DLC.

Download titles mentioned included Trine 2: Director’s Cut, featuring new levels and 4-player local or online play, a new Toki Tori with level editor functionality on the GamePad and twin-stick shooter Nano Assault Neo.

Post launch releases include Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, The Wonderful 101 which we knew under its working title of Project P-100 when we saw it at E3, the aforementioned Bayonetta 2 and Lego City Undercover that will initially come with a limited edition Chase McCain, the game’s hero cop, minifig.

In addition to the games already mentioned a sizzle reel showed us Assassin’s Creed 3, Tekken Tag Tournament 2, Scribblenauts Unlimited, Disney’s Epic Mickey 2, Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge, Batman Arkham City: Armored Edition, Warriors Orochi 3 Hyper, Sonic and All-Stars racing Transformed, Darksiders 2 and NBA 2K13.

Lastly Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate got some time in the spotlight.  It will be able to share save games with MH3 on the 3DS and be able to play together with the 3DS over local wireless.  Naturally, you’ll be able to play online with MH3 Ultimate too.

There’s a lot of good stuff there.  Does any of it take your fancy?