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The Wii U GamePad is the primary controller for Nintendo's Wii U console. The controller has traditional buttons as well as a 6.2-inch touch screen. The touch screen can be used to supplement what's happening on the TV screen, or, with some games, can also be used to stream the game to the controller.
A prototype was first revealed alongside the Wii U at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in 2011. The almost-final version, along with the name "Wii U GamePad", was announced June 3, 2012, with a redesigned button layout, ergonomic grips, analog sticks, and an overall wider build.
Design[]
The Wii U GamePad is shaped similarly to the original Nintendo Entertainment System controller, but is larger to accommodate the LCD screen placed in the center. The screen is a single touch resistive touchscreen, similar to those on the Nintendo DS and 3DS models. Alongside the screen are Nintendo's normal input buttons, with the analogue stick on the left and ABXY buttons on the right.
It also has a microphone and a front-facing camera for in-game voice chat and video chat. The prototype originally featured Circle Pads similar to those of the Nintendo 3DS, but were replaced with analogue sticks to supply buttons underneath them when pressed down.
Prototypes[]
Trivia[]
- Despite possessing a built-in microphone, Nintendo requires a headset to enable it.
- The prototype version may have used circle pads, similar to the Nintendo 3DS, however, they were scrapped in favor of analog sticks. These were the first Nintendo analog sticks to be clickable.