Katsuya Eguchi, who is working on a five-player Wii U prototype here, doesn't make it sound like that'll be a requirement. In fact, it may not even happen at all.
"We're considering our options with maybe two screens," Eguchi told Kotaku, who said he considers multiple New Controller games to be "an interesting idea." That would mean games that used two new Wii U controllers. Eguchi's five-player prototype, here at E3, has one person using a new controller and four other people using Wii Remote-Nunchuck combos.
While Eguchi didn't explain why Nintendo isn't looking into four-new-controller gaming, it's possible that the Wii U couldn't output to four screens at once (plus a TV). It's also simply possible that Nintendo would find that configuration too pricey for its customers. Nintendo hasn't said what the new controller will cost. But Eguchi answered my question about whether gamers should be concerned about the controller's price by saying that "I do understand that if the price is too high that would be an obstacle."
So what they're saying is they're only
thinking about games that utilise
two Wii U controllers. At the moment, they're kind of relying on one Wii U pad, and the others with Wii remotes/nunchuks.
It's entirely possible that it'd be hard for the system to stream content to say 4 pads at once. The fact Eguchi says they're looking into using more than one pad suggests they can stream to more than pad, but it might be difficult. Maybe if they reduced graphics being streamed to the pads, or somehow made them output nothing, they could still be used as controllers, but then there'd be not much point in paying over the odds for those things.
Add in the images of how multiplayer works on Wii U:
http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n10/e3_2011/02/playstyle/img/04.jpg
http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n10/e3_2011/02/playstyle/img/06.jpg
And it's clear how multiplayer on Wii U is intended.
So am I going to have to buy Wii Motion Plus remotes now too? It's a good job I haven't sold my Wii and nunchuks yet but will my normal Wii remotes be useless?
On one hand, it's good that we can still use the Wii remote and nunchuk setup, because it's a good controller in itself. But I need to know if new Wii U games are being made with Motion Plus remotes in mind. Will the price of remotes drop by the time Wii U comes out?
Also - I want to play Smash 4 using a GameCube controller! Please let me, Nintendo. We need official confirmation on if GC games will work on Wii U.
Edit: So that's definite, Ikana? Fucking hell. I have like 4 official GC controllers because when I get my mates round for Mario Kart Wii, we all use them! I don't want to have to buy another 4 classic controllers modelled off of the GC pad now too! wtf is this?
But yes, this also kills off any hope for some awesome Four Swords or Crystal Chronicles multiplayer action. Sort it out, Nintendo.
( Edited 08.06.2011 11:33 by Azuardo )