M+E Daily
Nintendo Bets on the Second Screen
Story Highlights
Pity poor Nintendo, trying to make some news today when most of the tech press was still sleeping off its Apple hangover. But the game company managed to make some anyway.
At a news conference in Tokyo, Nintendo announced pricing and availability for the Wii U, its next-generation game console (November 18 in the U.S., starting at $300). The real news, though, was TVii, a new video streaming and second-screen platform integrated with the Wii U console. While Nintendo up to now has lagged behind rivals Sony and Microsoft in adding non-game related video features to its consoles, the TVii platform is a major step toward closing that gap.
Wii U users will have access to Netflix, Hulu Plus and Amazon Prime Video, just as PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 users have. Unlike those other consoles, however, the Wii U will be able to integrate with the user’s cable or satellite TV service, as well as their TiVo service if they have it. That’s possible because of the Wii U’s Game Pad controller, which is essentially a touchscreen tablet and can double as a remote control and second-screen device for the TV.
The Game Pad can be used to browse listings from streaming services like Netflix, or live TV listings and to control a TiVo DVR. The Game Pad also turns into a second-screen device when watching live TV using technology developed by i.TV. A content discovery engine will help users search for programs.
Nintendo officials confirmed to Engadget that TVii is supported by all major U.S. and Canadian cable and satellite services.
