Wii U controller now has NFC capabilties
As well as revealing the Nintendo Network online community features, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata confirmed new capabilities were being added to the tablet-like controller of the upcoming Wii U console.
Top of the list of new features was NFC tech, or “Near Field Communication”, which is the communications standard used in many new smartphones and London’s Oyster Card transport payment system. It allows the transfer of information just by putting two NFC-enabled devices close to each other.
“By installing this functionality, it will become possible to create cards and figurines that can electronically read and write data via noncontact NFC and to expand the new play format in the video game world,” said Iwata.
“Adoption of this functionality will enable various other possibilities such as using it as a means of making micropayments.”
Interesting concepts there from Iwata, that bring to mind similar ideas as seen Activision’s Skylanders game and toy range. As well as the obviously application of pairing the wireless controllers with the Wii U console itself, it’ll be intriguing to see what other ideas Nintendo bring to the relatively-unexplored NFC gaming table.
Though no precise date has been placed on the release of the Wii U, Nintendo yesterday revealed that they are on track for a Q4 2012 (October-December) release date.
