Nintendo unveils new Wii console

Nintendo unveils new Wiiconsole Gaming giant Nintendo has been showingoff its next-generation Wii game console,at the E3 games show in Los Angeles.The much-anticipated console, dubbed WiiU, comes with a controller that features atouchscreen and camera.The original Wii console was hugely popularbut Nintendo has faced pressure from rivalswith similar devices.Nintendo hopes the new console will createa new genre of gaming.Wii U will feature a set-top box similar tothe first generation console.But the 6.2-inch touchscreen controllercomes with a front-facing camera as well asthe more traditional buttons of a Wii remoteand a motion detector.It will broadcast high-definition video andcan be used to make video calls and browsethe web.PrivacyIn demos, the Japanese gaming giantshowed off some of the things the controllerwill allow - including offering users a privatescreen to view gameplay information that isnot shared on the big screen.It will also allow users of games such as WiiFit to weigh themselves and get a read-outvia the controller rather than the TV.Users can also swap game play between thebig screen and the controller, for instance ifsomeone else wants to watch TV.Wii U is "an interesting new concept" thinksDan Pearson, a staff writer atGamesindustry.biz."It is a hybrid between a handheld withelements of tablet design but also has allthe traditional controller elements," he said."Initially people may be confused by thecontroller but so were they when the firstWii was unveiled," he said.Nintendo was also keen to show off theprocessing power of the new console."Nintendo has been under fire for chasingcasual gamers and it is good to see themtrying to win back core gamers," said MrPearson.Wii U will work with older games andcontrollers and will be available from spring2012.There was no indication of the price of thenew console. Nintendo unveils new Wiiconsole