Nintendo Steals Spotlight Ahead of E3

While you might be waiting for all the excitement of E3 to start, you don't have to wait for juicy details of the new Wii U! Though E3 officially runs from Tuesday to Thursday at the Los Angeles Convention Center, on Monday Nintendo released a slew of information about the Wii U including images of the final version of the Wii U tablet, now officially dubbed the Wii U GamePad, and teasers for a new Super Mario Bros. game. If that isn't enough for you, Nintendo also released details on a controller that seems designed to compete with the Xbox and Playstation 3 controllers, that Nintendo called the Pro Controller. Check out below for more information on the new controllers, Super Mario Bros, and the new social networking platform that the Wii U will feature.

Wii U GamePad

Those of you who have been following the developments of the Wii U over the past several months have probably seen a lot about a tablet controller that is arguably the most revolutionary feature of the Wii U. On Monday, Nintendo released imagery of the finalized version of the controller as well as it's new name, The Wii U GamePad. The GamePad features a touch screen, gyroscopic and motion sensors, as well as a button that will allow the player to switch the image from the TV to the Game Pad with one-click (think about when your roommate wants to steal the tv to watch ESPN- no problem, just transfer game play to the Pad and walk away!) Additionally, the GamePad will serve as a TV Remote Control, so if you're someone who prefers a clean room without clutter, you'll only need to have one device on your coffee table to unlock a world of entertainment.

Wii U Pro Controller - note that the Wii U will also be offered in black!

The Wii U Pro Controller is perhaps the most obvious attempt by Nintendo to snatch up serious gamers who might otherwise opt for the Xbox 360 or the Playstation 3. When the Wii was released in 2006, it offered two types of controllers: the Wii Remote with it's long skinny design and motion and gyroscopic sensors; and a Classic Controller that followed the design of the Super Nintendo controller, there was nothing that competed with the comfortable and functional design of the Xbox 360 Remote. By rolling out the Pro Controller before the start of E3, Nintendo is acknowledging how important it is to stay competitive with gamers who want what this type of controller has to offer.

Miiverse

The addition of Miis for the Nintendo Wii was a fun way for players to create avatars in their own images, and in the images of their friends and family. Plus it enhanced games like Mario Kart Wii and Wii Sports, both of which allowed players to drive, fly, and play as themselves. What was missing from the Wii however, was a way for you to actually talk with, see, and play games with your real-life friends and their avatars. Unlike the Xbox, which has offered the ability to network and chat directly with your friends who are logged in and using their Xbox, the Wii failed to tap into the burgeoning social networking aspect that is becoming increasingly popular with gamers. As the home screen for the Wii U, the Miiverse will seek to fix that. The Miiverse will be accessible from the Wii U, the 3DS, online and on other mobile devices. With the ability to send notes to other Miis, swap screen shots and generally play with and watch other Miis in the network, the Miiverse should help to bring the Wii U squarely into the world of social networking.

Super Mario Bros for the Wii U!

Nintendo teased a new Super Mario Bros game for the Wii U on Monday, giving rise to increased speculation about the interaction between the Miiverse and actual game play, as well as a possible integrated achievement system for the Wii U. As you can see from the picture, Miis are displayed on a map screen making comments about the game. One of which is "OK, being a flying squirrel is WAY more fun than it should be!" -- sounds like Mario might be getting a flying squirrel suit! Another clue is a gold banner that appears over someone's comment about "clearing it in under 100 seconds". The gold banner says "Cleared in under 100 seconds"- sounds like an achievement! Hopefully we'll see Nintendo release this new Super Mario Bros as a launch title for the Wii U, meaning we'll all get a chance to play it come this Christmas!

It's clear that Nintendo is trying to drum up excitement for the Wii U by enticing both families and traditional serious gamers. By highlighting the internet connectivity/social networking aspect of the Wii U, along with the Pro Controller, Nintendo is obviously trying to eat into the Xbox/Playstation market. Features such as online gaming, integrated achievements, and a traditional controller have been standard on the Xbox 360 for years, and Nintendo's Wii, though it pioneered the revolutionary motion control technology, has lacked these essential components in a market that is leaning more and more toward online access and comprehensive entertainment value.