E3 2011: Wii U (Project Cafe revealed) [Update: with video]

Wii U, pronounced "We You", is the official name of Nintendo's 'Project Cafe'.

This bizarre controller that features a 6.2" HD touchscreen, dual analog sticks, d-pad, 4 face buttons, 2 shoulder buttons, a microphone, an inward camera and a gyroscope is Nintendo's newest gadget. It's meant to coexist with the Nintendo Wii.

Honestly, I have no idea what to say and where to start. Nintendo raised more questions with the reveal of this new 'console/controller'. I'll tell you what I picked up from what they showed at the Nintendo Press Conference.

You can switch you game screen from your TV to the screen on the Wii U controller. For example, you are playing New Super Mario Bros. Wii on your TV and some chotch walks in and changes the channel, you then put down the Wiimote and pick up the Wii U and continue your game from there.

Nintendo has not abandoned motion controls like we thought they would since the Wii U controller looks to be able to interact with the Wiimote. The Wii U controller can also interact with the Wii Balance Board and can even mount on the Wii Zapper.

As for it's other features. You can draw on it, play minigames on it like checkers, make video calls, browse the web, share media on the controller's screen to your TV. Sounds like iPad huh?

Now for the big news that got my blood boiling with excitement. Nintendo President Satoru Iwata mentions that Super Smash Bros. will be arriving on both the 3DS and Wii U. The final nail on my financial coffin. I've told people many times that "if Nintendo announces a Smash bros. game for the 3DS and I have no choice but to buy one".

New Super Mario Bros. Mii (yes, Mii) was announced to be a Wii U game where you can play levels are your Mii. That's pretty much it.

A very interesting part of the press conference was that Nintendo revelead that the Wii U will have some heavy 3rd party support. The likes of Ken Levine and Peter Moore were shown and then they played a bunch of trailers of games that will be coming out for the HD consoles such as the PS3 and Xbox 360.

Games such as:

Darksiders II EA / EA Sports Assassin's creed Batman Arkham City Tekken Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Online Dirt 3 Aliens Colonial Marines Metro Last Light Ninja Gaiden 3

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4e3qaPg_keg&w=560&h=349]