The GamePad
The Wii U’s touch-based GamePad controller has
its roots in the Nintendo DS, as proven by the stylus concept of the GamePad, the
touchscreen becomes outdated (although it is larger than 6.2 inches, with the resolution
of 854x480 and 16:9 ratio), and the microphone is located along the bottom. A
camera facing the player which is certainly borrowed from the DSi – is located
parallel to the mic, just above the giant touchscreen. Two clickable and convex
analog joysticks which copy Nintendo Wii Nunchuk emphasize the left and right
of the GamePad, and the + and - buttons (instead of start / select) from
Wiimote located along the bottom right. The SNES’s 4-distict-button layout and
d-pad line up on either side of the touchscreen just below the analog joystick.
This is certainly a Nintendo device, isn’t it?
The
GamePad
Of course, the GamePad does not only show
respect to the previous Nintendo hardware, there are m also any new things to
see as well – a volume slider that controls the loudness of the GamePad’s speakers,
a home button along the bottom (which allows quick access to the GamePad’s settings
and the game's main menu) and a red flashlight to let you know when you need to
recharge (continuous alert flashes when the battery is running low).
The digital triggers are waiting for your
index finger on each side around the back, with a button that can be clicked on
each trigger (similar to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 controllers). A deep
groove allows you to hold comfortably that controller weighing 1.1 pounds in
the long run – we are not sure you will be able to use it longer than 3 hours
if it is not plugged into the socket. It lasted 5 hours with the brightness
reduced, sound off and without any rumble, but on the average it lasts only
about 3.5 hours in general use. There is also an energy saving mode which automatically
adjusts the screen brightness based on whatever is displayed, but that does not
seem to do much to preserve battery life; we found that decreasing sound and
keeping the brightness at the lowest setting is the best way to extend the run
time than the average. If you want to rest and fully charge the controller, it
will take about 2.5 hours to do it.
Regarding the new functions, there is room
for NFC connection, but we could not test it because there was no software to
support it (even Activision’s flagship Skylanders series). Perhaps the
tablet-like controller’s latest function that is not for gaming is the IR-based
common remote control ability – the GamePad can be used to control your HDTV
(well, "most" HDTVs) according to some basic, but very important,
ways. Instead of holding a few remote controls to turn on the TV and game
consoles, the Wii U’s built-in common remote feature – controlling whether the
Wii U is turned on or not – everything is reasonably organized for your console
controller. Of course, it is not a substitution for your Harmony One; according
to our experience, it is mainly used to supply power to the Wii U, television,
and switch to the appropriate input / volume / etc, and fortunately with little
impact on battery life.
A
close-up view on the GamePad
Only this feature alone can greatly affect
the way we approach the game machine as part of the entertainment center. It
has also changed our gaming habits a lot, because many games on the GamePad’s screen
are reflected images of the TV – we found ourselves pampering the concentration-deficit
disorder and turn to watch the evening news while we were beating the goombas.
It also helps families avoid fighting for the remote control of the television.
Little Sally can continue to play New Super Mario Bros. U while
father is watching Sunday football (or other similar circumstances).
Of course it will not work with all
software, such the new released Land Nintendo – a collection of carnival-themed
games which consists of 12 Nintendo’s major franchised games, from Animal
Crossing to Zelda. It implemented all the tips of the GamePad throughout one-
and multi-player games. That includes asymmetric gameplay, in which you can see
on the gamepad is not what you see on TV. Those features which are praised much,
such as off-screen gaming, only works on a case-by-case basis. (We could not
test this feature with Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant Software or any other
non-game app prior to the launch, because none was available).
It
looks like a toy.
Unfortunately, in general, the GamePad
controller offers a pretty bad impression: it looks like a toy. The four main
buttons mimic aspirin pills and are not so subtle as we expected from the
modern game consoles; the + / - shiny buttons emphasized further this tragedy.
The shallow and soft shoulder buttons like those on Sony's DualShock 3 ware
very bad compared to the buttons on the current Xbox 360 controller as well as competitive
third party controllers (such as Razer Onza). And the convex analog lever made
our thumb slide off during our session of playing Mario. The shiny surface which
attracts fingerprint smudges and dust on the GamePad does not offer anything
good to its style (we like the anti-glare surface on the back of the GamePad).
It's not entirely bad – the d-pad is solid as ever, and has digital triggers work
fine (as long as you do not play FPS or racing games). The GamePad is also
comfortable, regardless of weight and size.
Yes, we tried to bring Wii U gamepad
everywhere, but Nintendo estimates (admittedly modest) quite accurately – the
video which is streamed from the Wii U to the GamePad will not need to go very
far without a problem or cutting out completely. We're not saying we had a problem
in the estimated distance – in fact, the transmission worked smoothly - but do
not expect you can play game at midnight from the bedroom while the Wii U lies somewhere
in the other end of the house. Although people in rural areas can do better, our
testing apartment in New York with three wireless devices (in addition to Wii
U) will not allow anything away from 20 feet or so. However, within the Wii U range,
pushing games to both the GamePad’s screen and TV did not fail to do which is not
a tiny achievement, and opens the Pandora's box of ideas for game developers
and media providers.
