Recently, through BrokenJoysticks.net, I was invited to a WB press event in Toronto along with my wife. It was to show us various Wii U games that have been released through WB for the console thus far. I have to admit, thanks to this experience I also understand the Wii U now. Originally I’d just thought it was like a tablet, or an extension of the concepts the DS put forth. Really there are a lot of other creative ideas in Nintendo’s new system than that.
We were shown Scribblenauts Unlimited, Game Party Champions, and Batman Arkham City Armored Edition. Detailed impressions, and hopefully video of my first crack at recording at an event worked out, are on the way. Though I think it’s important to mention what made me realize the Wii U was a different kind of console.
First off, it’s easy to have fun as a group with the Wii U. At least with the titles we were shown, the on screen view usually shows something to the rest of the audience, even when your focus is on the gamepad. So while you’re busy staring at your bat computer to aim that remote control batarang, your friends are watching it sail off into the distance as Batman focuses on his forearm based screen. That’s a basic example, but others include full views of the action while you’re zoomed in, or even Scribblenauts still typing the word out on the screen for all to see, while you’re typing out your latest creation on the gamepad. The concept is usually it seems to have others not feel excluded while the gamer plays even a single player experience.
Another thing I noticed was Game Party Champions made good use of turning the gamepad into the view of what is down in front of you while the TV displays what is right in front of you. So, “Skill ball,” the games variant of ski ball allows you to look down at the lane on the gamepad, as well as slide the ball down it to aim for the point holes at the end of the lane. The holes you’re aiming for are on the TV.
Finally a wonderful example that I really liked is how the gamepad can be turned into a viewscreen you aim around a 3D space. So by tilting the gamepad up, it tilts the view inside the screen up, and so on. The result is a neat 3D appearance that I’d like to see in FPS games.
Stay tuned for more updates from the WB press event coming soon!
