The next installment in the Wii franchise, a stand alone console that can still play Wii games (Creative Commons)

To start, the date of the console's release was annouced, as well as more on the what they will look like. The Wii U will launch on November 18th and come in two models.  The basic model has an 8GB memory and comes with a standard white console, a white gamepad controller, an HDMI cable, a sensor bar, and an AC adaptor.  The premium model will have a 32GB memory and come with a black console, a black gamepad controller, HDMI cable, charging docks for the controller and the console, a copy of Nintendo Land, and a yearlong subscription to Nintendo Network Premium.  The basic model will retail for $299 while the premium model will retail for $350, giving plenty of consideration for both systems.

The console’s line-up of launch-window titles (titles set to be released around the time of the system itself) were discussed with a few new and unexpected titles along the already determined games.  Bayonetta 2  for instance(a PS3/Xbox360 exclusive), had to be the biggest surprise, as it was announced for the first time to be a Wii U exclusive. So far, no official list of launch day games have been revealed for North America but according to IGN, the European launch list is Super Mario Bros U, Nintendo Land, FIFA 13, ZombiU, Rayman Legends, Mass Effect 3, and Call of Duty Black Ops 2 and the North American list should be very similar.  Even though many of the games coming out for the Wii U are also coming out for both the Xbox360 and the Playstation 3, many of them will have Wii U exclusive perks.  Tekken Tag Tournament 2 will have exclusive downloadable content (like mushrooms and Nintendo character costumes), there will be an ‘Ultimate Edition’ of Monster Hunter 3 for the Wii U (no details were given), Batman: Arkham City--Armored Edition will have all the content the other consoles already have alongside new maps, suit upgrades, B.A.T mode, and game play designed specifically for the Wii U’s gamepad controller.

Over 50 games were announced to be "launch-window" titles (that’s from November to March) and that list can be found here. Nintendo also revealed that the Wii U would in fact support two gamepad controllers. Unfortunately, they will not be sold as stand alone accessories in North America, the reason being that there are no launch-window titles that support two gamepads, and they would rather use those resources to produce more consoles.  

In the end, the Wii U’s launch is looking impressive and should draw in many "hardcore" gamers who felt abandoned by the Wii’s casual approach.

You can contact contributor Jordan Austin here.