No Blu-ray or DVD in Wii U
Nintendo announced its upcoming Wii U console during this year’s E3, and it is hoped to be able to make up for lost ground in both gaming enthusiasts and casual gamers. The focus was for the most part on its innovative controller, and the actual console was left out of the limelight.
Since then, however, more more and more information has found its way online. Last out is the website Inside Games, which has released a series of photos of the console from different angles. The pictures show a clean design with a few ventilation holes and connectors, including HDMI and dual USB.
Exactly what is under the hood is also shrouded in mystery, although some information is available . The hardware includes a processor from IBM along with graphics from AMD that can deliver video at up to 1920 x 1080 pixels and 5.1 audio via HDMI.
Anyone hoping for a full-featured video machine will however be disappointed. Nintendo’s Satoru Iwata confirms fears that the console’s proprietary optical drive is not capable of either DVD or Blu-ray, a conscious choice because of the high patent costs.
Nintendo has revealed that they have sold an estimated 65.3 million Wiimotes in the U.S. since the console was launched on 16 November 2006. 30.41 million of the hand controls were included in the base package, and 12.92 million copies were in Wii Play . The remaining 21.97 million copies sold each.
David Tyler, general manager of Activision’s licensed business unit, has said that the company has very high expectations for the upcoming Wii title GoldenEye 007
It’s been many years since Sega released a well received Sonic game in 3D. Is the Wii version of Sonic Colors the title that will reverse the trend? According to the English branch of the gaming magazine Ngam, who has published the first review of the game, so can very well be the case.