Nintendo has posted yet another Nintendo Direct which discusses storage options, backward compatibility plus lots of other important information heading towards Wii U launch.

Some of the highlights include :-

Basic pack only comes with just over 3GB of usable data storage
Up to 2TB data storage accepted, Wii U will format the hard drive and it will not be usable with a PC
Only one drive at a time
Cannot guarantee system can power a one USB cabled drive
Wii U Virtual Console coming in the future.
Unable to accomodate current Wii Virtual console customers requests to Gamepad play.
Premium users 10% value back can be used on Wii U eShop as well as 3DS, Wii and DSi.
10% value back also applied on eShop cards bought instore.

You can find the full transcription below as provided by cvxfreak over at NeoGAF



Parental Controls

- Nintendo realizes that some parents may fear that their children may use the Wii U's internet functionality without permission. Wii U has Parental Controls.
- Can restrict content based on user age, CERO (Japan ESRB) rating, internet functionality, internet browser, e-Shop spending, Miiverse functionality, friend registrations, videos, data management, internet settings
- Wii U keyboard input can save user input habits and predictive input in a specific database that depends on the game and user. Wii U does not save input data that you don't want other users to know into the database.
- Miiverse settings can be turned on/off depending on the save profiles per game.

USB Data Storage

- 8GB = 7.2GB, 32GB = 29GB in terms of actual save data. Wii U uses around 4.2GB when using the system for the first time.
- NSMBU is ~2GB, Nintendo Land is ~3.2GB. So, both won't fit into the Basic set at the same time.
- Wii U lets you put data onto a connected USB media drive.
- One USB drive at a time only.
- Cannot disconnect the external drive while plugged into the Wii U and receiving power.
- You can use general drives.
- In terms of powering the HDD while connecting to the Wii U, if you do not use a Y Cable Type drive (2 USB cables), then Nintendo cannot guarantee it will work properly.
- Nintendo can guarantee functionality if the HDD plugs into a power outlet.
- No games on USB Flash Memory due to games not running properly all the time (whatever this means...)
- Wii U will read up to 2TB only for external hard drives even if hard drive has more space.
- In Data Management, you must format the connected media drive. Note that this means you cannot use the drive with a PC.
- You can move data from internal Wii U storage to external USB media in Data Management and vice versa. Data on both internal and external media will appear in the menu.
- At launch, only 1 USB hard drive can be connected, but through a future update, more than 1 will be possible and you will be able to move data between them freely.
- SD Cards can hold PC data, Wii Virtual Console, Wii Ware, and Wii save data, but cannot be used to save Wii U game save data.

Backwards Compatibility

- Wii games, Virtual Console, Wii Ware stuff cannot be played using the GamePad screen, but only on the TV in Wii Mode
- Iwata: "We understand that there are people who were looking forward to playing Wii games, Virtual Console games, and so forth on the GamePad, but unfortunately we cannot accommodate those users' expectations."
- There are plans for a Wii U Virtual Console that WILL be compatible with the Wii U GamePad. Please look forward to it in the future.

Nintendo Network Premium

- For Premium Set buyers only
- Point service
- Make Nintendo Network ID, then login to find and use the service
- After logging in, you can see the points you have earned
- Buy with download card or download number
- Earn 10% back on purchases
- Earn back purchase points in ¥500 increments
- Points earned can be used with Wii U/3DS e-Shop, Wii Shopping Channel, DSi Shop

URL to share (right click and copy)

when you say NSMBu and Nintendo Land both wont fit, you mean if you buy them digitally, right? You dont have to install game data from the disc, im assuming....

Posted by

Scrawnton

on: 11/14/12, 14:15

*looks at single-cable USB external drive I bought last month in anticipation of the new system*

Aww. Anyone know NewEgg's return policy on stuff you've opened?

Posted by

VickiL

on: 11/14/12, 14:24

@Scrawnton
Yes.

@VickiL

You might not have to. Some single cable HDD will work but not all. It will matter. But to play it safe you can return it to get a HDD you know will work.

Posted by

Nintendo.Wii

on: 11/14/12, 14:27

@Scrawnton

Yes it means if bought digitally, in fact Nintendo Land would barely fit on there. Basic owners are pretty much going to have to get an external USB hard drive if they plan on using the eShop at all.

Posted by

warerare

on: 11/14/12, 15:01

I don't see any casuals buying a HDD for extra space which means retail digital download will be for core gamers.

Posted by

Abdooooo

on: 11/14/12, 15:19

Think this is the first time VC games was announced for the gamepad. VC legitely dominates PC emulators now. I never made the VC plunge (thank goodness), this is another chance to live the VC era.

Posted by

Renjaku

on: 11/14/12, 15:31

If they have the gall to ask me to buy Super Mario Bros again, I'll... I'll...I'll be really mean in my Club Nintendo surveys

Posted by

Jargon

on: 11/14/12, 15:41

@Jargon

I say if they aren't going to allow us to transfer then they should at least offer us a certain points value back for each game we trade back in toward a new purchase. Maybe 50% value back or something, I have a feeling Wii U VC games will be more expensive that their Wii equivalents though.

Posted by

warerare

on: 11/14/12, 15:45

I was reading the NeoGaf thread and cvxfreak clarified the details regarding USB drives:

cvxfreak said:

A few more clarifications on the USB drive functionality, including a correction regarding USB flash drives:

- Nintendo cannot guarantee that small hard disks (bus-powered) that require more power than USB 2.0 can handle will work properly.
- Generally, hard disks that have Y-Cables (2 USB connectors) will work with the Wii U.
- Nintendo warns that for USB flash drives, even though the Wii U will detect and connect them as it would a hard disk, due to limitations on the number of times data is read from the disk and how this will eventually wear the USB flash drive down, Nintendo does NOT recommend leaving important save and other game data on a USB flash drive for long periods of time. How this plays out depends on the game, of course.

I don't quite understand the point about flash drives. Flash memory can be read an unlimited number of times, but they do have limited writes, so what Nintendo says doesn't make sense.

Also, I'm glad I didn't buy any drives before this. I've been wanting a USB hard drive for general back up of my files, and was thinking that I could partition it and use a portion for the Wii U, but it sounds like that won't work. I'll probably just end up using the 32GB internal space for now since I don't plan on buying many retail games, so it'll only be eShop games taking up space. By the time I need more storage we should know which drives work and which ones do not.

Posted by

canonj

on: 11/14/12, 15:46

Edited:

11/14/12, 15:47

I have a 1TB HDD collecting dust that has its own power supply so I am golden. No space limitations for me on Wii U

Posted by

warerare

on: 11/14/12, 16:00

@warerare

Same here, but mine's two TB. My wife and I back our stuff up once every three months (if that), and it's on its own power supply.

Posted by

ludist210

on: 11/14/12, 16:11

I think I can get at Y cable for my drive. It kinda sucks that there will be another $10 I can't spend on games. I've spent a significant portion of my budget on the hardware. Oh well! Guess I'll just have to pick up the games later.

Posted by

VickiL

on: 11/14/12, 16:49

I took the liberty to make the thread's title more informative.

NWR is rubbing off on me.

Posted by

Guillaume

on: 11/14/12, 16:52

Edited:

11/14/12, 16:52

Jargon said:

If they have the gall to ask me to buy Super Mario Bros again, I'll... I'll...I'll be really mean in my Club Nintendo surveys

You know they will and you know you'll buy it.

F'n Nintendo. They gonna get me to rebuy shit just to play on the gamepad, aren't they? lol.

Posted by

anon_mastermind

on: 11/14/12, 17:04

I would imagine it's gonna be like when the Ambassador NES games were made available for sale: our versions got updated, for free.

You can never assume anything with Nintendo, but I'm fairly confident.

Posted by

Guillaume

on: 11/14/12, 17:06

Edited:

11/14/12, 17:07

@Guillaume id imagine ours wouldnt be a free update, but a highly discounted price, such as paying another dollar for the gamepad compatibility....

Posted by

Scrawnton

on: 11/14/12, 17:12

Edited:

11/14/12, 17:20

@Scrawnton

Why would they do that? There's no precedent.

Posted by

Guillaume

on: 11/14/12, 17:14

Nintendo said:

- In terms of powering the HDD while connecting to the Wii U, if you do not use a Y Cable Type drive (2 USB cables), then Nintendo cannot guarantee it will work properly.

warerare said:

- Nintendo can guarantee functionality if the HDD plugs into a power outlet.

-Iwata said:

"We understand that there are people who were looking forward to playing Wii games, Virtual Console games, and so forth on the GamePad, but unfortunately we cannot accommodate those users' expectations."

Nintendo is making it really hard for me to like the Wii U right now. First, the lack of a optical out and Ethernet ports which just shows how out of it they really are when it comes to competitive multiplayer gaming. Then the games being tied to your Wii U console, but as guess as long as you use your Nintendo network account to make purchases, they should easily transfer to a new Wii U if you so choose, so it is not that bad. Now I might not be able to buy an ethernet to USB connector since my HDD might have to take up both USB ports.

But the cherry in the cake is not being able to play Wii games or Wii VC games on the gamepad. At this point I'm going to be safe to assume the Wii controller pro is out of the question for use on Wii. It looks like I'm going to have to make due with the lackluster Wii Classic Controller Pro.

Posted by

Tranquilo

on: 11/14/12, 17:18

So I guess SD cards are out for storing games? I wonder why that is, too easy to pirate or something? Because I'd rather pony up for a 128GB card and call it a day instead of connecting an external hard drive (I've lost count of all the hard drives that have died on me over the years, kinda over it).

I might just stick with physical disks for a few more years...

@Tranquilo
I never thought of that, anyone know if the new pro controller is backwards compatible with Wii/VC games? If not I still have my GoldenEye gold Classic Controller Pro (but I've always been annoyed how that thing has to connect to a Wii-mote and sucks out it's battery life at an alarming rate).

Posted by

deathly_hallows

on: 11/14/12, 17:20

Edited:

11/14/12, 17:24

Guillaume said:

@Scrawnton

Why would they do that? There's no precedent.

sorry i said Would be a free instead of WOULDNT. Nintendo will not give us this for free, i expect that. But i do not think they would make us flat out have to purchase it again. There needs to be some middle ground...

Posted by

Scrawnton

on: 11/14/12, 17:20