Nintendo are committed to bringing new quality titles to the Wii U which utilise the GamePad’s unique capabilities – and that can be seen with Shigeru Miyamoto’s three new projects revealed yesterday during Nintendo’s E3 coverage. In a recent interview with IGN, Nintendo of America COO Reggie Fils-Aime said that the GamePad was definitely here to stay and believes that the controller is an “integral part of the Wii U”.
With Miyamoto’s projects – Project Guard, Project Giant Robot and Star Fox – as well as new IP Splatoon and Mario Maker all using the GamePad in many different ways, it’s surely just the beginning of showing what else the Wii U’s controller can really do. Here’s what Reggie had to say on the GamePad and whether Nintendo would abandon it.
“For us, that is not part of our vision. We believe that the GamePad is an integral part of Wii U. During this week, we’re going to be showcasing other ways for utilizing the GamePad, and this has been a priority for Mr. Miyamoto. He, himself, has dedicated a lot of his personal energy to showing what can be done with the GamePad to really bring it to life.
“We’re committed to it. We believe that it is a key innovation that, otherwise, all you’re doing is making prettier pictures and using faster processors, and not bringing a lot of uniqueness in terms of gameplay.”
I am really happy that there still exist some people who can say this “all you’re doing is making prettier pictures and using faster processors”. This gives me hope to believe that videogaming is yet not dead.
Maybe his body was ready, but it seems that his mind is ready as well.
Sorry all those fools that were seriously hoping for a Gamepad-less Wii U. Unlike Kinect, the Gamepad is NOT a failure!
I think people don’t understand, the Gamepad is not a peripheral, like Kinnect. The gamepad IS the WiiU. It’s just as much part of the WiiU as the USB ports. The entire software and internal hardware is interwoven with the game pad in such a way they are technologically two parts of the whole. There will always be people bitching about something. (including me) but the game pad is not going anywhere and people need to deal with it. Just like Bayo2 is Nintendo exclusive. ;)
Don’t forget about Devil’s Third. xD
Completely agree with Reggie. It would be a disaster to ditch the gamepad.
yes nintendo, continue doing your unique games. I love the gamepad, i don’t know why people don’t like it at all, but ok, people have different tastes..
For the sake of the Wii U the Gamepad is definately an absolute staple for the console. However…
Dont take this as more than a grain of salt, but there are games out there that have the advantage to utilize the system without the gamepad just fine. This includes titles like MK8 and Smash Bros. Selling the system without a gamepad is not a shockingly bad idea in itself.
There are a few games out there, such as ZombiU and Sonic Lost World that could have done just fine without the pad, but implemented the pad as its primary controller source. This is especially the case with Lost World, where the gamepad at most times feels so unessecary that I’d love to just put the gamepad down and hold something more lightweight in my hands whilst im playing on the big screen.
By all means, please utilize the gamepad and make titles that do rely on it for the full experience, but for the sake of the people that want to pick up your new games (MK8, Smash Bros, Hyrule Warriors, 3D world, Zelda, etc etc etc) It would be a wise decision to push a version of the standard package without it, and dropping the price a tad. This wouldnt just sell systems, this would sell more games too. As a Wii U owner I first and foremost believe that the gamepad is great and that at times I couldnt play without it, but for those who arent interested in it and really just want to have the Nintendo experience, a package with 2 pro controllers and a standard console would be perfect to sell some more console off to the side.
I love you Nintendo and you will always be my favourite in the top trio, but it’s time you made your games a little more accessible to the people who arent looking for innovation.
Once again, take this comment as a grain of salt. Purely food for thought.
I highly doubt Zelda for Wii U will ignore the Gamepad. Nintendo once said they’ve made the last few console’s controls for their consoles with Zelda games in mind. Both Zelda games for DS was strictly stylus only & Skyward Sword was strictly Wii Motion Plus. Expect the Gamepad to be used heavily… unless they surprise people & continue to use the Wiimote. But that teaser for Zelda U has given me doubts about another Wiimote Plus Zelda game.
I understand what you’re saying. But just imagine all the disclaimers on the box of a Gamepad-less Wii U: You CAN’T play these games, you CAN’T access such-&-such feature, Gamepad sold separately (for like $100). Sure, some games & features could be patched, but would they be? Certainly that requires more time & money. & some games & features would still require the Gamepad. Kinda sounds like the Wii Mini, or @ best the Wii w/ GCN support. & if the Gamepad were sold separately, it might strengthen the misnomer that Wii U is an add-on for Wii.
Also, having 2 Wii U variants would split the market, & might make the Gamepad obsolete altogether (or only in Nintendo games & then optional). I’m not talking about the Basic vs. Deluxe models, & this is beyond 3DS vs. 2DS; those differences are comparatively skin-deep. Consumers would likely see a Gamepad-less variant as gimped &/or cheap, not ‘inexpensive’. Might even be fodder for Sony & MS fanboys. & then there are those who wish for a Wii U not only w/ out a Gamepad, but also w/ out a disc drive to help further reduce costs. Yet, that would increase the need for more storage available out of the box, & somehow I don’t think Nintendo can affordably increase internal storage (even phone manufacturers charge more for higher internal storage compared to external storage).
I know you were just saying, but I feel the Gamepad is tied w/ the Wii U more than some realize. As others have said, “It IS the Wii U.”
The problem is that since Microsoft dropped the Kinect for the Xbox One that Nintendo should do the same with the Gamepad of the Wii U. Just like how when Sony & Microsoft dropped region locking, a lot of people started harping Nintendo to do the same.
*Xbox One that they think Nintendo should do the same
Good. i like gamepad.
In your words I trust my Lord…
Lego city would be a just a Lego version of GTA if it wasn’t for the GamePad. I like the GamePad. Now I need it for Smash Bros for Amiibo.
I agree with Reggie.
The Gamepad is not being dropped! Suck it Ninty haters!
Isn’t it great they didn’t give up the uniqueness of what makes the Wii U the Wii U? What’s the difference between an Xbox One and PS4 if they have the same 3rd party tittles and the Kinect was dropped because they didn’t know what to do with it?
if it wasn’t such a stupid ass controller to use I would have agreed.
Whys it stupid?
Kinect and the ps4 touch pad are stupid
Nintendo always has the best controllers time after time.
i like the gamepad, but stop developing your games around it…
or in the future we’ll only get all these “fun” robot games etc. that are currently in development
i just want amazing games. great story, great characters, great gameplay and lots of fun!
i don’t give a shit about motion controls, just give me fantastic games
I loved the Gamepad when playing Assassin’s Creed IV. I couldn’t imagine playing that with any other controller. But for games like Pikmin 3 and Mario Kart 8, I hated using the Gamepad. I used the Wii remote/nunchuck with Pikmin 3, and the Pro Controller for Mario Kart 8.
well they do give you a choice of what controler you can use, me i preffered the gamepad on all games