Gallery: Taking the Wraps Off Nintendo's New Wii U
01wii-u-the-unboxing
Wii U, Nintendo's next game console, [arrives in stores on November 18](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/gamelife/2012/09/wii-u-liveblog-us/), just in time for the holiday sales madness. Wired's unit came in today, and although we can't show you what it looks like turned on, we can look at everything inside the box. And it's a lot of stuff. Nintendo is releasing this new machine at a time when [game consoles are facing stiff competition](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/gamelife/2012/10/consolation-prize/) from new business models. Wii U is Nintendo's first high-definition gaming machine, but that's not the core element of the Japanese giant's plan to stay relevant. That is, as usual, to introduce crazy new ways of playing games that its competitors can't match. With Wii U, it's all about the GamePad, a massive controller featuring a touchscreen. It's adding a lot of the cost to the package, but the addition of a second screen is the killer feature for Wii U. How that gets used in games is all up to designers' imaginations (and Nintendo's ability to convince software makers to throw their lots in with Wii U). Wii U will come in two configurations: a $300 standard package with a white console and GamePad, and the $350 "Deluxe Set," pictured here, which comes in black and includes among other extra goodies a copy of the NintendoLand game. Why no hands-on impressions? Nintendo has placed an embargo on reviews until launch day, November 18. The reason why is likely because it is preparing a massive system firmware update for that day, which will add all of the major online functionality like streaming-video apps and the eShop for digital game purchases. We expect that Nintendo's working on polishing these experiences from now until launch. We will have impressions of early Wii U games in the days to come. In the meantime: Here's what you'll find when you open up your Wii U box, including photos of the karaoke game Sing Party and its microphone, as well as the Wii U Pro Controller.
Alex Washburn02wii-u-console-2
The Wii U console itself is about as tall and as wide as the old Wii, but it's significantly deeper to accommodate the extra high-definition horsepower. On its face, we have the standard Power and Eject buttons, the disc slot and the sync button. Behind the hinged door are one SD card slot and two USB inputs. On the rear of the unit are inputs for the power cord, sensor bar (for the standard Wii motion controllers, which are not included with the package), HDMI and A/V inputs and two more USB ports.
Alex Washburn03wii-u-pro-controller
The Wii U Pro Controller (sold separately in white and black for $50) is for playing hard-core games ported from the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 consoles, so that Wii U can accommodate the traditional gaming experience as well as new ones. It is wireless, and charges with a standard USB cable, one of which is included in the box.
Alex Washburn04wii-u-gamepad
Here's the [big gun](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/gaming/gamingreviews/news/2005/06/67854?currentPage=all). GamePad may be colossal, but it has everything: A full set of joysticks and buttons for traditional gameplay, motion control, a front-facing camera, a sensor for Wii motion controllers, near-field communication (for as-yet unannounced games) and right at its center the giant resistive touchscreen. There's a stylus for the screen as well, which docks on the upper right of the controller. The bad news: Unlike the Pro Controller's, the GamePad's batteries can't be charged by plugging it into the Wii U console via USB. You've got to actually plug it into the wall with the included AC adapter, which actually has a little power brick at its center. There is a charging cradle included, so you could always just set that up somewhere out of the way and remember to put the pad back in it after each use. But you will need two power outlets reserved for Wii U, no two ways about it.
Alex Washburn05wii-u-sing-party-game
Videogame buffs who like keeping their games in mint condition should watch out for Sing Party, the new karaoke game available from Nintendo the day that Wii U launches. The top of the box is glued so ridiculously tight to the flaps, with giant globs of super-adhesive, that pulling it up without ripping the cardboard is next to impossible. You might want to use a letter opener if you don't want to ruin the outer box, which includes the game and a microphone.
06wii-u-sing-party-microphone
The microphone controller looks like a real karaoke mic, but is much lighter than the real thing. This package will retail for $60 in stores, but you can download it instead for $50 (although you of course cannot download a microphone, any USB mic for other music games should be fine).
Alex Washburn07wii-u-unboxed
As we intimated above, there's a lot in the Wii U box. Here's everything in the $350 Deluxe Set, clockwise from top left: The box, the Wii U console, the included NintendoLand software (which comes in a standard DVD case, not a cardboard sleeve like Wii's packed-in game), the instruction manual and Quick Start guides, the GamePad, a sensor bar for Wii motion controls (identical to the one that comes with the old Wii), a charging cradle for GamePad, a stand for GamePad, an HDMI cable, two "legs" that let Wii U stand up vertically, the power brick for the Wii U console and the smaller power cable for the GamePad controller.
08new-super-mario-bros-u
While game publishers seem to be getting away from paper manuals and moving towards digital ones, at least some Wii games like New Super Mario Bros. U will have colorful manuals included inside the box. It's just like the old days! Some nice disc artwork on this game, too. (The disc may be dying, but it's going out with a bang.)
