Welcome to Gaia! ::

The Wii U was revealed before the 2011 Nintendo conference as their featured 2012 console - and there are several significant changes to the controller and format of this console, as compared to the original Wii.

Head over to ANN for more information here

Zelda Informer has hosted one of the Zelda-themed demo reels for the Wii U here featuring Twilight Princess. Take a look at the screenshots and video, the HD graphics are breathtaking and apparently legit (as in, it really would look like that on the Wii U)
Skip over a page to here for more bullet points about the Wii U.

The Wii U will be sold in two different bundles - Basic ($299.99 in US) and Premium/Deluxe ($349.99 in US). The Basic bundle comes with 8 GB of data storage, the Wii U GamePad and stylus, an HDMI cable, and a sensor bar. The Deluxe bundle adds on a Nintendo Network Premium Subscription, 32 GB of data storage, the Nintendo Land game, as well as stands for the console and controller.

The home page for the Wii U is here

What do you guys think? I'm happy to see that the new controls won't be completely replacing the Wiimotes, as Skyward Sword saw tremendous success with the MotionPlus technology.

But... it's just like a DS aimed at the screen, surely? Where's the large hand-movements? This makes the Wii no longer about physical involvement. Look at everyone's head down! How can they enjoy what's on the big screen this way?

New Wii U Pro Controller

Nintendo has unveiled a new version of the more classic handheld controller as it will be released for the Wii U.



........Striking resemblances, anyone?

As remarkably similar as this controller appears to be to the current Xbox 360 controller, you have to admit - what on earth else could we expect? As far as basic and comfortable handheld controller designs go, there aren't exactly lots of other options. Nintendo understands what works and what doesn't, and decided to make a design based off of what has already worked well over the past decade. And if you think about it, you could say the designs of these controllers' predecessors led up what we're seeing today in terms of design, functionality, and efficiency. All in all, I think that people who are jumping straight to saying that Nintendo ripped off the 360 controller need to step back and think about these things with some more perspective.