Yeah let's get the Kung Pow joke out of the way.

And so the next generation can now be seen over the horizon and it's Nintendo's turn to get the ball rolling with the Wii U. Now let me get the name thing out of the way right now. The Wii has significant brand name recognition that is now synonymous with Nintendo so to keep the Wii brand going is a smart move. We're all used to the Wii name and we'll all get used to the Wii U. I've seen people point out the view/Wii U homophonery and that makes sense given its crazy controller. But they could've renamed it something manly and cool... or super-generic. Like the WiiPad.

But trivial details aside, Nintendo's press conference was an odd bird. On one hand, they got some great 3DS software in the works and Zelda: Skyward Sword is still Zelda: Skyward Sword. On the other hand, they introduced the Wii U by showcasing its controller, ignoring the actual hardware making some people (crazy people who think Nintendo crazy enough to do such a deed) think the controller IS the console, and blurting out a handful of core games that will be coming to other consoles. It's all I need to "get hype" as the internet calls it, but the internet also invented skepticism so obviously everybody is ready to pounce on Nintendo picking at every negative aspect, no matter how minute it is. Not GameCube backwards compatible? Is this really a selling point? Name a console that is compatible with games from two generations ago.

Still waiting.

No Wii upscaling? Is it necessary? Obviously upscaling Wii games would be an improvement in clarity on HDTVs, but I would hope most people can live with the absence of HD Wii games. One tablet controller per machine? Well you guys might have a point here, but there's also the counterpoint that rendering two screens is impressive enough and attempting to render two or more of those controllers plus the TV would be overkill. Having more than one WiiPad per console can change how we play multiplayer games locally, but it could be a lot to ask for. Still, imagine playing Madden with a friend locally and choosing your plays via the controller... hold on... I forgot nobody plays Madden on Giant Bomb.

Despite the drawbacks and concessions the Wii U will ultimately need to live with, having Nintendo reaching out to 3rd parties and core gamers can only lead to good things. We wanted online support on par with the 360 and PS3 and it looks like the Wii U may fulfill that request. We wanted HD graphics because the world left standard definition behind... so Nintendo confirmed 1080p scaling is capable. We wanted a traditional controller scheme and Nintendo is giving you two circle pads and the usual assortment of buttons and triggers. We wanted strong 3rd party support and I think Nintendo will be more accommodating to the EAs and Ubisofts of the world. Nintendo listened to us and we're getting what we wanted. And we don't have to throw away our Wii Remotes just yet, a smart move since I've invested money in Wii Remotes, Nunchuks, and MotionPlus doohickeys. I realize lots of questions remain to be answered, but we've got over a year for a response to our queries. I suspect we'll hear all sorts of details if Nintendo is planning their yearly media summit this coming winter.

Maybe it's my loyalty to Nintendo's style of gaming, but I'm excited for the Wii U. Darksiders II is an official Wii U launch game and I will definitely pick it up for the Wii U provided it comes out around the same time or before the PC version. Killer Freaks from Outer Space... I like the concept so far. Old, British guy fighting Rabbid-like aliens with a cheesy B-movie motif. That can be a pretty cool title if they use the controller to its full potential. If New Super Mario Bros. Mii is a real game, I'll be sure to use my Hitler Mii to save the Mushroom Kingdom... and then conquer Poland. What I'm probably excited about the most is the unknown. What will the launch games be? Will we see the usual suspects (Mario/Zelda/Metroid) or will it be Pikmin 3? Or something brand new? What's the online structure gonna look like? It's safe to say Friend Codes are dead, but will there be achievements? Will the Wii Channels carry over? Will there be GameCube games on the Virtual Console? Where do I strap on the Vitality Sensor?

Will there be Mario Paint? Because this console SCREAMS Mario Paint.