Wii U

Nintendo's delayed Google Maps app for Wii U is finally out in Japan. As demonstrated late last year, Wii Street U is based around Street View, and lets you use the GamePad controller to look around your environment while the mapping data is displayed on the TV screen. You can switch between satellite and basic imagery on your TV, and also use it to show Street View — the photography isn't exactly high resolution, but it looks fine.

More importantly, the GamePad motion control works great, and using it to "walk around" locations is pretty fun. Nintendo has provided a list of recommendations such as Shibuya in Tokyo or Stonehenge in England, but you can also perform a search to jump anywhere you like; I took a walk around my parents' house. Navigation is handled by the on-screen arrows, or you can switch to an overhead mode and drag a marker around the map like you would on a desktop browser.


Wii Street U is a free download, at least until the end of May, and it's definitely worth picking up at that price. It's obviously not the most convenient or feature-complete mapping solution out there, but it's a fun new way to use Google Maps and is a great demonstration of the potential for two-screen apps. There's no word on a US release date yet, but we'll keep you posted.

http://www.theverge.com/2013/2/6/3962122/hands-on-with-wii-street-u-google-maps-for-wii-u
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NNID: Ko-san
Currently Playing: Zelda2, Muramasa, One Piece

Chocobo115 posted...

Just why?
I never use any apps on my PS3. Does anyone actually use them? Wouldn't it been better if Nintendo devoted the time and money into another game...?

Nintendo didn't make Google Maps.
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NNID: Ko-san
Currently Playing: Zelda2, Muramasa, One Piece

Here's an article about that

President Satoru Iwata believes services such as Wii Street U “will help people widely understand the unique value of Wii U and increase the number of people who are interested in Wii U in a family and eventually lead to a bright future of this console.”

Wii Street U as well as other functionality like Miiverse and Nintendo TVii are primarily built on HTML5 and web technologies. As a result, Nintendo has “been able to deploy various services for this console with less in-house development resources in a more timely manner than our previous platforms.”

Iwata has also said that, in GDC in March, Nintendo “will show you some of our efforts to expand the range of software developers.” Talk about Wii Street U’s development environment (and “some VOD services”) can be expected.


As you can see, through this application, Wii U enables you to experience linking your living room to various places in the world.
Needless to say, the primary use of Wii U is to enjoy video games. We believe that, however, these kinds of services will help people widely understand the unique value of Wii U and increase the number of people who are interested in Wii U in a family and eventually lead to a bright future of this console.

By the way, this service has been developed by a small team mostly using web technologies based on HTML5, not the so-called native codes only for Wii U applications. Both Miiverse and Nintendo TVii have been created as web applications utilizing browsing engines. The Wii U console is powerful enough to smoothly run such applications as developed in this way without writing any specific programs. We have been able to deploy various services for this console with less in-house development resources in a more timely manner than our previous platforms.

Now is the time the development of video games for dedicated platforms requires a vast investment. Thinking of diversion of web services, creation of prototypes and development of independent label games, it has become more important to expand the range of software developers. At GDC (Game Developers Conference) to be held in March, we will show you some of our efforts to expand the range of software developers. They will include the development environment used for “Wii Street U” and some VOD services, where you can develop the Wii U software using web technologies like HTML5 and JavaScript and Unity, a cross-platform video game engine used by many users.

http://nintendoeverything.com/111736/iwata-talks-a-bit-about-wii-street-u-and-services/

It seems to me that Nintendo was like, "Hey, we need more apps. Wanna make one for us?" And they agreed.
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NNID: Ko-san
Currently Playing: Zelda2, Muramasa, One Piece

Can't wait for it to come to europe! The facts it's readily viewable on a tv screen, plus the gamepad 'exploring' functionality, are making it great for planning family holidays and trips. What do they mean by "free until may"? Is it just a free trial? And any words on europe/western release dates?
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Now playing: Dragon's Dogma, Batman AC, Fifa 13, Sonic Racing.
Just finished: Trine 2 DC.

You forgot to include the best part of this story.

http://twitter.com/RichIGN/status/299348529921531905/photo/1

Googlecam Iwata
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NNID - Wingo84
Currently playing: Darksiders 2, ZombiU Survival