Wii Remote Wrist Strap
RVL-018
Wii U GamePad
ウィー ユー ゲームパッド
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A touchscreen controller that defined the Wii U console. Designed to integrate second‑screen play, offering motion input and asymmetric gameplay, and embodying the shift toward more versatile, interactive hardware experiences.
Description
The Wii U GamePad was the default game controller for the Wii U console. This is effectively a tethered, wireless tablet with touchscreen, game controls, motion controls, speakers, microphone, camera, NFC, expansion interface and more. The unit contains its own ARM9 32-bit CPU and sports a 720p LCD touchscreen. GamePads were region locked to like consoles, with European (-03) and Australian (-04) models interchangeable. The unit came in white and black, matching the basic 8 GB and premium 32 GB console models respectively.
Over time the GamePad saw a lack of software support for what was a bold attempt at innovation that struggled in implementation that was often forced. Ultimately the whole Wii U packaged, but particularly the GamePad, set the path for Nintendo with its extremely successful successor. Looking at the Switch console, you can easily see the evolution from the Wii U GamePad, and appreciate the technological advancement that enabled the design to became an entire standalone console. With hindsight, this may have been a case of the design arriving before there was sufficient underlying technology, particularly the specular leaps forward in computational performance and efficiency. Despite this legacy, the Wii U GamePad provided a number of unique experiences for its time and no doubt shaped the portable console and PC gaming we experience today.
