The Wii U launches in the UK on 30 November, and Nintendo has started the advertising blitz.
The first advert is only on YouTube and Facebook so far, although it will get a TV spot at some point, AllThingsD reports. The ad is for the US launch, which happens on 18 November, but shows us what to expect.
The tagline is "How U Will Play Next". See what they did there? It runs just over a minute, and features Nintendo's target audience: children and families. We see the tablet control being used to watch Netflix, play games, and sing karaoke, implying that it's very much aimed at party gaming, much as the Wii was.
Hit play on the video to take a closer look.
We were recently able to examine the Wii U's innards, thanks to a teardown by Nintendo. Inside is a multi-core chip (a first for a Nintendo console) so it should be super speedy. You can pre-order the console now, with prices starting at £250 for the 'Basic White' console pack, and going up to £350 for the 'Premium Black' console pack with an extra game and a Pro controller.
It's the only console from a major player launching this Christmas, though success is far from guaranteed. My esteemed colleague Luke Westaway has some reservations, for one. The Wii suffered from a lack of third-party support, and Luke fears the same will be true of the Wii U. In his hands-on, the controls also felt less sensitive than those on a PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360.
And he's not the only sceptic. In our reader poll, you let us know you weren't too excited by the prospect of more mini games.
Nintendo posted its first ever loss in April, so it's a crucial time for the company. Will gamers still want to gather round the telly come Christmas morning? Or has the casual games market been eaten by mobile app stores? Let me know what you reckon in the comments below, or over on Facebook.
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Comments 12
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anonymous 4 November, 2012 14:29
Looks crap, I'm sorry but Nintendo you've failed yet again.
anonymous 4 November, 2012 14:41
Yet again? When did they last 'fail' exactly?
anonymous 4 November, 2012 15:54
''Nintendo posted its first ever loss in April'' they obviously are doing something right if this is their first ever loss since starting in 1889! I have an Xbox 360 and love it to bits but even I have to admit that I am really excited for this console! It looks stunning!
JohnsonDion1 4 November, 2012 18:23
I think Nintendo's Wii U will be a huge success just as the Wii was. Also I think the 3DS will improve in sales during people's Christmas shopping. Nintendo will defiantly be out of debt by the end of next year and will most likely see a nice slice or profit.
anonymous 4 November, 2012 18:38
can't see how it can work, you're going to be refocusing your eyes all the time
JohnsonDion1 4 November, 2012 21:42
I don't think having two screens will be a big deal, your eyes are made to focus and if it hurts to refocus them every now and then, then you may have a problem with your eyes.
anonymous 4 November, 2012 21:48
They have failed to make a good console since theN64
JohnsonDion1 4 November, 2012 22:28
I think every console Nintendo have made (with the exception of the gamecube) has been a huge succes, the Nintendo Wii was without a doubt the most popular home console of the time and my money is that the Wii U will be a best seller to.
damien2501 5 November, 2012 07:41
This looks like a nightmare. The controller looks awkward to hold, why would I wanna stop focusing on my 50" tv to look at a crappy white tablet every two mins? Pointless poor excuse for innovation
leoevs44 5 November, 2012 08:26
Yes ok nintendo has been very sucssesful but how I don't know probably because most of the games are pretty basic and are aimed at the younger kids, and as for the new wii u with that brick of a touch screen controller my 4 year old won't be able to get her little hands around it its ridiculous, and why would you play a game on that touch screen for it to just be displayed on you're tv, we can allready play touchscreen games on smartphones and tablets so it ain't nothing new, nintendo are still way behind, by the time they come out with something new someone else has already done it apart from the motion controller which I thought was the most unresponsive controller out there, so come on sony and microsoft bring out the true next gen consoles.........
JohnsonDion1 5 November, 2012 10:38
I hate it when people dont research before they make stupid comments. Look true the Wii controller was unresponsive but a year or so after release they were offering controllers for the same price with better accuracy. Also on the Wii U they are keeping the normall controller incase people dont like the tablet and are introducing a xbox 360 like controller for hardcore gammers. The idea of the touchscreen is for making looking in your inventory of something faster and not ment to display the whole game on it, it also means when other people want to use the tv you can play game on the controller without the use of the tv. Nintendo have thought about this for a while and when the price for pre-orders come down I might get one.
anonymous 5 November, 2012 13:09
Smartglass is now here which is probably going to become better than the wii u s second screen, the xbox still looks like it will appeal to hardcore gamers more and its got kinect, when the next xbox comes out it should blow the wii u out of the water, most peoole who bought a wii bought it for wii sports and because it was fun...