Nintendo TVii Hits Wii U Today

[Sarah LeBoeuf]

Nintendo TVii Hits Wii U Today

Netflix integration will not be available at Nintendo TVii's launch.

When Nintendo TVii was missed the console's November launch [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/119576-Nintendo-TVii-Coming-to-Wii-U], with the publisher instead offering a vague "December" release window. December is winding down, but Nintendo is keeping its promise: Nintendo TVii will be available for the Wii U starting today.

"After Dec. 20, you'll never look at your TV the same way again," Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime promised in a press release. "Nintendo TVii shows how the integrated second screen of the GamePad can also transform and enhance the TV viewing experience." Nintendo TVii will allow users to access all of their current content in one place, including cable packages like Comcast and streaming services like Hulu Plus. It also adds social features, allowing Wii U owners to "engage with others by commenting and sharing on Miiverse, Facebook and Twitter. Or they can comment, post or tweet about an incredible touchdown, a remarkable performance or a shocking plot twist, all using the personal screen of the Wii U GamePad."

While the service, which launches today in the United States and Canada, will support cable and satellite providers in those regions, Netflix and TiVo integration are not expected until early 2013. Amazon Instant Video and Hulu Plus will be available for Nintendo TVii at launch, however.

As the press release is sure to remind us, Nintendo TVii doesn't require any additional hardware or cost, other than your existing cable and streaming media subscriptions. It's a shame that even after delaying TVii, it's still launching as an incomplete service. Hopefully, the "early 2013" date for Netflix and TiVo isn't too far off.

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[grigjd3]

Just another box sitting by the TV. I already get these services through the PS3 and it's not like my cable provider doesn't provide me with a receiver. Now, if they managed to deliver content rather than just be another receiver, that would be nice.

 

[BrainWalker]

I'm still not sure what this service is actually supposed to do. Does it actually turn your WiiU into a cable signal reciever? That could be useful for me since we have cable, but only one box. Would be nice to have the full range of cable services upstairs as well as downstairs. Or is it just a social networking app that cues in to what you're watching and lets you comment on it on the fly over Miiverse or Facebook or whatever?

 

[Moosejaw]

I just used it, and I'm incredibly disappointed. The thing's just a glorified remote control that operates slower than my cable box. It doesn't do anything with 'live' TV, you just select your provider and it programs all the channels into it, then when you select a channel just skips over to it so long as you've got your cable hooked up to that TV. The Wii U doesn't even actually do anything, it's all happening on your Cable input with the Gamepad.

I'm in a household where we don't have any cable running in here, and the only way to get TV in here is to jump on the tuner. This thing has no tuner support whatsoever or any other method to actually jack in to the cable, my 360 can already do all the crap I was hoping this would do. With no DVR or Netflix support, this application of the Wii U is effectively useless to me. I guess it's great if anyone else gets something out of it, maybe it lets you watch live TV on the gamepad (I've no way to test it myself)? But for me, being a Nintendo fanboy bites me in the ass yet again.

 

[Shinsei-J]

To bad noones gonna get to use it.
The whole doomsday thing and all.

 

[Beautiful End]

It's funny; I've started most of my latest posts regarding the WiiU with something along the lines of "I told you so".

So, once again, Nintendo wanted to jump gun and be the first one to deliver a next gen system, right? That's fine and all but usually, people like to have a useful system that makes the "old gen" systems look archaic and dumb.

I dunno, Nintendo. You worry me. It kinda makes me wonder if there will be another system after the WiiU.

 

[Evil Smurf]

Why do we fall Nintendo? So we can get back up again.

 

[Strazdas]

Well, another useless device that will be bought by millions of idiots.
also lets speculate what name will they come out next.
WCii?
Headsetii?

 

[Racecarlock]

Well, another useless device that will be bought by millions of idiots.
also lets speculate what name will they come out next.
WCii?
Headsetii?

Maybe they will team up with apple and release the "Iphoneii".

 

[Strazdas]

Well, another useless device that will be bought by millions of idiots.
also lets speculate what name will they come out next.
WCii?
Headsetii?

Maybe they will team up with apple and release the "Iphoneii".

an iphone that runs 2002 technology and has a loading screen for 5 minute whneever you do anything? yeah that will surely be perfect. want to answer a call? loading.....