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Digital Media Concepts/Wii U

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Nintendo Wii U
Example alt text
Wii U 8GB console and GamePad
Developer
Nintendo Integrated Research & Development
Information
ManufacturerNintendo, Foxconn, Mitsumi[1]
AvailabilityDiscontinued[2]

Introduction

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The Wii U (released in 2012 and 2013 around the world) is a home video game console designed by Nintendo. As a successor to the successful Wii console, the Wii U is Nintendo's sixth home video game console,[3] and considered part of the eighth generation of gaming consoles.[4] This is also the first Nintendo game console to support high definition resolution graphics with graphics resolution up to 1080p.

Features

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Hardware

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The main unit is powered by a tri-core IBM Power PC CPU, that is considered a modified, overclocked version of the CPU found in Nintendo's previous consoles, the Wii and Gamecube. ]][5] This essentially allows the Wii U to run Wii games natively with the CPU instead of running through software emulation. [6]

Graphics are powered by an AMD Radeon-based Graphics Processing Unit(GPU)[5]. Reports have shown that the Graphics Processing Unit may be based off of AMD's HD4000 series GPU. The GPU is more powerful than seventh console generation, such as the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, but it is not as powerful as other eighth generation consoles, such as the Xbox One and PlayStation 4.[7]

The main unit includes Samsung 2GB of RAM used for system functions and games[8], and 8GB or 32GB configurations of internal eMMC NAND flash memory is included for storage.[5]. A portion of the eMMC memory is occupied by the console's operating system. The unit supports 802.11b/g/n WiFi for internet connectivity.[9]

On the front side of the main unit, it includes a power button with power LED indicator, an eject button with a disc indicator LED, 2 USB 2.0 ports, a standard SD card slot reader, and a Blu-ray like optical disc drive. On the back side, it includes 2 USB 2.0 ports, a HDMI port with support of up to 1080p resolution, a sensor bar connector, and a Wii AV/Component cable connector (Cable not included).[5][10]

GamePad

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Wii U GamePad

The Wii U main feature is the addition of a controller known as the Wii U GamePad, which featured a 6.2 inch resistive touchscreen with a resolution of 480p and an aspect ratio of 16:9. The Wii U GamePad is capable of displaying an image of up to 480p.[11] The image is not produced by the GamePad, but it is streamed via a low latency, proprietary wireless signal, from the main console unit.[12]

The GamePad was confirmed by Nintendo that two GamePads could be used simultaneously with one Wii U console. However, no game has been created to use two GamePads[13]

Media

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The Wii U is capable of accepting Wii U optical discs and also Wii optical discs.[11] The Wii U takes a proprietary disk format made specifically for the Wii U, that is based off of Blu-ray discs with a capacity of 25GB. The edges of Wii U discs are soft and rounded.[14]

Other Accessories

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The Wii U Pro controller is a controller designed to be the regular controller with standard inputs such as the Xbox controllers.[15]

 
Wii U Pro Controller, designed for standard games

The Wii U is also capable of using many Wii console hardware, such as the Wiimote, Nunchuck attachment, Wii Pro Controller, Sensor bar, and Wii Balance Board.

 
Original Wii controllers can be used on the Wii U

Software

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Operation system

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The operating system was a customized OS, called MULTI, built specifically for the Wii U, developed by Green Hill Software. It features basic services such as online friends lists, parental controls, and user accounts. Updates are provided through online downloads. [16]


Pre-installed software
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Some of the pre-installed software includes:[17]

  • Miiverse
  • Nintendo eShop
  • internet Browser
  • Wii U Chat
  • Mii Maker
Nintendo eShop
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The Nintendo eShop is where all applications and games are downloaded from. The Nintendo eShop uses Nintendo eShop points as its currency. [18]

Sales

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As of December 31, 2016, the total sales of the Wii U reported by Nintendo is 13.56 million units globally. Compared to its predecessor the Nintendo Wii, which sold 101.63 million units globally, the Wii U is considered a commercial failure.[19]. Nintendo even admitted in 2014 that the Wii U was falling short of financial expectations and acknowledges that the Wii U failed to distinguish itself from the Wii.[20]

End of Production

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On November 10, 2016, Nintendo confirmed that all North American units have been made available to the retail, and that Nintendo will also will end production on the Wii U in Japan domestic market.[21] Later on January 31, 2017, Nintendo announced that Wii U Production has ended globally.[22]

References

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Official Nintendo Wii U page

  1. ↑ "iPhone, Wii U Manufacturer Admits to Employing Children," accessed Feb 14 2017. http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/10/18/iphone-wii-u-manufacturer-admits-to-employing-children
  2. ↑ "Nintendo Officially Announces Wii U Production Is Ending," accessed Feb 14 2017. http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/11/10/nintendo-officially-announces-wii-u-production-is-ending-in-japan
  3. ↑ >"Nintendo video game consoles," accessed Feb 7, 2017 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_video_game_consoles
  4. ↑ "Eighth generation of video game consoles," accessed Feb 7, 2017 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eighth_generation_of_video_game_consoles
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 "Nintendo Wii U Teardown," accessed Feb 13 2017 https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Nintendo+Wii+U+Teardown/11796
  6. ↑ "Console Hacking 2013: Omake," accessed Feb 14 2017. https://fail0verflow.com/blog/2014/console-hacking-2013-omake/
  7. ↑ "Wii U graphics power finally revealed," accessed Feb 14 2017 http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/df-hardware-wii-u-graphics-power-finally-revealed
  8. ↑ "Wii U Tech Specs," accessed Feb 12 2017. http://www.ign.com/wikis/wii-u/Wii_U_Tech_Specs
  9. ↑ "Nintendo Wii U Teardown," accessed Feb 13 2017. http://www.anandtech.com/show/6465/nintendo-wii-u-teardown
  10. ↑ "Wii U Quick Start Guide," accessed Feb 14 2017. https://www.nintendo.com/consumer/downloads/wiiu_quickstart_guide_en.pdf
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Wii U Technical Specs," accessed Feb 12 2017 https://www.nintendo.com/wiiu/features/tech-specs/
  12. ↑ "The surprising (mundane) tech behind the Wii U's magical GamePad," accessed Feb 13 2017. http://www.polygon.com/2012/11/16/3653294/wii-u-range-test-gamepad
  13. ↑ "Wii U supports two GamePads, Nintendo confirms," accessed Feb 7, 2017, http://www.polygon.com/gaming/2012/6/5/3065588/wii-u-supports-two-gamepads-nintendo-confirms.
  14. ↑ "Take a very, very close look at the round-edged Wii U proprietary discs," accessed Feb 13 2017. https://www.engadget.com/2012/11/12/nintendo-wii-u-proprietary-disc/
  15. ↑ "Nintendo’s Wii U Pro Controller may make Microsoft blush," accessed Feb 12 2017. http://venturebeat.com/2012/06/03/nintendos-wii-u-pro-controller-may-make-microsoft-blush/
  16. ↑ "Green Hills Software's MULTI Integrated Development Environment Selected by Nintendo for Wii U Development," accessed Feb 12 2017. http://www.ghs.com/news/20120327_ESC_Nintendo_WiiU.html
  17. ↑ "Wii U Built-in software," accessed Feb 12 2017. https://www.nintendo.com/wiiu/built-in-software/
  18. ↑ "Nintendo Support," accessed Feb 14 2017. http://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/landing/p/430/c/183
  19. ↑ "Hardware and Software Sales Units," accessed Feb 13 2017. https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/sales/hard_soft/index.html
  20. ↑ "Nintendo admits Wii U’s failure," accessed Feb 12 2017. http://nypost.com/2014/01/19/nintendo-admits-wii-us-failure/
  21. ↑ "Nintendo Officially Announces Wii U Production Is Ending," accessed Feb 14 2017. http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/11/10/nintendo-officially-announces-wii-u-production-is-ending-in-japan
  22. ↑ "Wii U Production Ends Worldwide," accessed Feb 13 2017. http://www.gamespot.com/articles/wii-u-production-ends-worldwide/1100-6447419/
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