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Ever wondered what Wii U’s controller might have been like if Nintendo hadn’t chosen the GamePad? Well, in the latest Iwata Asks, we learn about two of these prototypes that were developed by the EAD team. The team created 30 different prototypes of hardware to go with the Wii U.
The first prototype discussed in the interview looks like a combination of the NES Zapper and the SNES Super Scope which included a monitor attached to the top of it.
The second prototype was one of the earliest versions of the Wii U GamePad that we know today, featuring two Wii Remotes with an LCD screen in the middle. Not too far off from what we have today, but still pretty interesting.
“It’s very high-tech,” says EAD’s Takayuki Shimamura, “a monitor and controllers stuck together by double-sided tape.” (laughs)
“As I remember it, completely separate from what kind of gaming console Wii U would be, our own team performed a number of experiments with regard to gameplay using both a small screen in your hands and the television screen,” says EAD general manager (and Animal Crossing head honcho) Katsuya Eguchi as he discusses the development of Nintendo Land. “We used this prototype and two Wii consoles to run simulations for Wii U.”
Wii U launches in Japan this weekend– are you still enjoying your new console? Let us know the comments below!
Source: Eurogamer
