E3 2012 | Nintendo Detail Wii U Online Communication - Mii Universe

Tonight Nintendo also revealed part of the Wii U's interface geared at online communication - introducing, the Mii Universe.

With the core focus of the hardware so far being on the controller, now known as GamePad, players had been wondering just how Nintendo will be approaching online play and communication, in an era where "Facebook" is likely said more than "milk" and "bread". Given the company's contemporaries have solid online systems in place, for the most part, Nintendo's plans for their online Network have remained a mystery - until now.

During the pre-E3 Nintendo direct broadcast, company boss Satoru Iwata illustrated a chunk of how the Wii U's interface will work - via a large social hub known as Mii Universe, or Miiverse for short.

Wii U Mii Universe Features include

• User accounts - you, your parents, friends and even your pet hamster can create an account with specific friends and settings.
• A bunch of Miis - your own, friends and others in your country playing similar games to act as a form of communication hub.
• Send hand-drawn notes, images with facial expressions, straightforward text and live video
• Share in-game content with your network, send messages during a game - play can be suspended and the menu accessed, without leaving the game like on 3DS.
• Eventually Nintendo will roll out access to Miiverse on any internet-enabled device like your PC, mobile phone and 3DS.
• The hub can be accessed on the big screen, GamePad screen or both - letting players have freedom and flexibility in communicating. Even pull up a video screen to chat with your friends using Wii U.

Nintendo are expected to reveal more functionality during E3 itself this week.

What do you think of the Miiverse and online infrastructure on Wii U so far?