Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Iwata: Wii U NFC to be used for payments or in-game, prototypes due this year]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/05/iwata-wii-u-nfc-to-be-used-for-payments-or-in-game-prototypes/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/05/iwata-wii-u-nfc-to-be-used-for-payments-or-in-game-prototypes/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/05/iwata-wii-u-nfc-to-be-used-for-payments-or-in-game-prototypes/#comments The Wii U GamePad includes a near-field communication function, but you wouldn't know it if you didn't, say, read obsessively about game consoles on the Internet. At the moment, no Wii U game uses it for anything, not even Skylanders, which ships with its own NFC reader.

Speaking to investors, CEO Satoru Iwata discussed potential plans for the tech, none of which have been finalized. Nintendo's ideas for NFC uses split in two directions: Skylanders-style toys and credit card reading.

"For example, we can create cards and figurines with NFC and design our video games to work in conjunction with them," Iwata said of the first possibility. "Also, an increasing number of arcade games are utilizing IC cards which can read and write data in order to record users' scores and it is possible for Wii U games to connect with them." Nintendo is working with "several" developers on ideas like this, "and, by the end of this year, we will probably be able to show you some output, tell you about some more concrete examples of the possibilities or even let you try out some tangible examples."

The other potential use of NFC, as discussed by Nintendo before, is for payment cards. "Technically, it is possible to settle an account by waving an e-money card over the Wii U GamePad," Iwata said. "We are conducting research into this right now as one of this technology's future possibilities." While NFC payments are more prevalent in Japan than elsewhere, there are lots of credit cards in America that can be used by tapping on the card reader. Setting your card down on the GamePad would certainly be more convenient than entering a number.

Whatever Nintendo does with the technology, Iwata is adamant that it had better do something. "Since we have made a certain investment in order to install NFC," he said, "we will make efforts to at least receive a return on our investment."

JoystiqIwata: Wii U NFC to be used for payments or in-game, prototypes due this year originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 05 Feb 2013 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>nfcnintendosatoru-iwatawii-uwii-u-gamepadTue, 05 Feb 2013 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Cave on Wii U uses GamePad for camera and character switching]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/17/the-cave-on-wii-u-uses-gamepad-for-camera-and-character-switchin/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/17/the-cave-on-wii-u-uses-gamepad-for-camera-and-character-switchin/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/17/the-cave-on-wii-u-uses-gamepad-for-camera-and-character-switchin/#comments The Cave on Wii U 'pretty much plays like all the other versions'The Cave will be Double Fine's first foray on a Nintendo system, believe it or not. At a demo event last week, I spoke with Double Fine's Chris Remo and got our first glimpse at The Cave on Wii U.

Above, you can see how the WiiPad plays into the game. It's essentially a glorified character selector and camera controller - by tapping on a character, you'll jump to them; by tapping on a character twice, you can switch the camera focus to them. In The Cave, characters cannot move independently off-screen.

"So other than that, it pretty much plays like all the other versions," Double Fine's Remo told me. "We did work really hard to ensure that visually everything you're seeing is identical to the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions, so there's no downscaling, there's nothing going on that is not up to par with the other next-gen systems. There's nothing super wacky going on, but it's a completely full-featured version of the game."

The Cave launches on Wii U next year.

JoystiqThe Cave on Wii U uses GamePad for camera and character switching originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 17 Dec 2012 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>double-fineeshopgamepadnintendothe-cavewii-uwii-u-gamepadwiipadMon, 17 Dec 2012 14:15:00 EST<![CDATA[FIFA 13 Wii U walks onto the pitch with an instructional video]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/21/fifa-13-wii-u-walks-onto-the-pitch-with-an-instructional-video/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/21/fifa-13-wii-u-walks-onto-the-pitch-with-an-instructional-video/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/21/fifa-13-wii-u-walks-onto-the-pitch-with-an-instructional-video/#comments
FIFA 13 Wii U uses the WiiPad for touch-based passing, kicking and tackling, plus real-time manager options like substituting players and changing positions. Also if you take off your shirt and run around screaming after you score a goal, EA sends you a nice email - okay, we made that last one up.

Continue reading FIFA 13 Wii U walks onto the pitch with an instructional video

JoystiqFIFA 13 Wii U walks onto the pitch with an instructional video originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 21 Nov 2012 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eaea-sportsfifa-13nintendowii-uwii-u-gamepadwiipadWed, 21 Nov 2012 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii U GamePad: Console gaming with no TV required]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/13/wii-u-gamepad-console-gaming-with-no-tv-required/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/13/wii-u-gamepad-console-gaming-with-no-tv-required/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/11/13/wii-u-gamepad-console-gaming-with-no-tv-required/#comments The hallmark feature of the Wii U is its tablet controller, the GamePad. It promises to foster some interesting, asymmetrical gameplay innovations, but one of its best features is a bit more obvious. The GamePad's screen is a perfect gaming display, and many Wii U games can be played directly on tablet itself, no television required.

Handheld gaming is certainly nothing new, but the ability to play full-fledged console games without hogging the TV is a surprisingly delightful feature we've become addicted to. Once you try it, you may begin to wonder how you lived without it. See a round-up of our own experiences with the feature after break.

Continue reading Wii U GamePad: Console gaming with no TV required

JoystiqWii U GamePad: Console gaming with no TV required originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 13 Nov 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gamepadhardwarenintendowii-uwii-u-gamepadwiipadTue, 13 Nov 2012 18:00:00 EST