Wii-U thoughts so far

[ZenErik]

Can't wait. Just the load time after exiting a game is annoying. And I hope that there are hard drive installs because in game load times are also annoying. I have an external HDD attached. Let me use it, dammit.

[RyaNtheSlayA]

I'm pretty sure just TVii is coming out tomorrow. Iwata commented on the load times and that they were going to fix them, but he didn't give any date for it. So I'd take that with a grain of salt. (Though I really hope load times improve, Miiverse is fine, but the rest of the system is so sluggish)

[Octopod]

I'm still not sure what TVii really is and I haven't bothered to set up the remote features for use with my tv. Is it something basically like PlayOn?

[Reprise]

The remote features to use for the TV are pretty cool to be fair. Although it did take me about 30 attempts to get the correct frequency. As for TVii, yeah I don't really understand what it is either. And is it only for the USA?

[RyaNtheSlayA]

The remote features to use for the TV are pretty cool to be fair. Although it did take me about 30 attempts to get the correct frequency. As for TVii, yeah I don't really understand what it is either. And is it only for the USA?

Japan and the USA for sure. Maybe the UK as well.

[Reprise]

The remote features to use for the TV are pretty cool to be fair. Although it did take me about 30 attempts to get the correct frequency. As for TVii, yeah I don't really understand what it is either. And is it only for the USA?

Japan and the USA for sure. Maybe the UK as well.

Thanks. It would be cool if it came out in the UK too, as that's where I'm from.

[Zing]

Still plenty of these systems around me. I visited Ohio last weekend and best buy literally had four stacks of deluxe systems as tall as me. Target also had plenty. This is good for people who want this system. I always hate the stress of trying to find items that are in short supply.

[crux]

TVii is basically Nintendo's stab at Apple TV (and the none too successful Google TV). Basically, cable (including Tivo), streaming (Netflix, Amazon, Hulu), and internet all with the gamepad. The controller is the key, since it can potentially offer a much easier to use interface than pretty much anything else. I've only briefly tried Netflix, which is in need of some fine-tuning (takes too long to scroll categories), but what it does well it does very well. Scrolling and choosing with a touch screen is a intuitive, fast, and simple. TVii promises to merge all the functions, so you can search for something and it will crawl cable and streaming options to see what it comes up with. Then there's the social media stuff as well, which I'm not into, but seamlessly commenting on live television without interrupting it and without having to grab the nearest computer/phone/tablet isn't a bad idea. It also allows different users to set profiles (using their Mii's, I presume) which will save favorite channels.

What I would REALLY love is for a "picture in picture" type operation. Watch one source on the television and channel surf or browse on the gamepad. That would be incredible, if the Wii U can handle it and Nintendo can program it. I could do PiP with my old CRT, so I hope it's possible with the gamepad.

The big negative for me and why I'm going to be a doubting Thomas is that the Wii U, last I checked, doesn't even allow me to control my receiver with the gamepad. This means I can't change the volume with the Wii U, which means it won't function as my only remote when I'm using the system. That could be fixed with an update, of course, but the fact that it didn't occur to them right out the gate makes me worried about how well-featured TVii is going to be. Even my super old universal remotes let me program my audio and video separately.

Zing: Boy, wish I didn't go through that stress initially. Took me weeks to find a deluxe. It's had a little time to settle down, so supply is probably opening up now.

[EvilRyu2099]

I still can't get over the fact that there is underscanning and the Wii games upscaled don't look anywhere as good as component on wii u.. And having an emulated Wii menu was not needed either..

[Octopod]

I'm using mine to play Wii games but only because I do not have a Wii. I think I will eventually grab one for Wii games and emulators because I do not like having to go into Wii mode either. Wii games are also looking a bit worse than I remember on it but that might be my tv settings since I have never tried to optimize them.