Examiner

So it's been going back and forth from Nintendo to the media on if the Wii U can support two WiiPads or not. We've gotten a few answers, all with some extra tidbits of information. We're getting some more today via Gamasutra, who spoke to Reggie Fils-Aime (Nintendo of America President) about the WiiPad.

When asked if any of the games that will launch for the console will support two WiiPads at the same time, Reggie said, "It's going to be well after launch for those game experience to come to life." He also stressed that developers would have to find a way to use a second screen on the WiiPad before they could bring in more, which makes perfect sense when you think about it.

Reggie is confident that developers can figure it out, saying the next step for them is learning the asymmetric gameplay of the Wii U, much like they had to do with the Wii. There's been a few examples shown how two WiiPads could be useful, but most of them have been weaksauce.

Let's also not forget how running two WiiPads on one game will cut the frame rate per second in half, from sixty down to thirty, and that's a big deal. Anyone confused as to why Nintendo is letting people use their current WiiMotes on the new system shouldn't be confused anymore.

http://www.examiner.com/article/wii-u-games-will-not-support-two-wiipads-at-system-s-launch

We knew this. It was mentioned in the E3 conference specifically. That's why I won't buy a 2nd gamepad at launch. Just take what's in the box and probably one or two pro controllers.

that's just messed up! if, IF Madden launches with the WiiU that would be a perfect game to intergrate a second GamePad!! This is really a missed oppertunity!

Haha, owned by Sony. The PS3 can support two Vitas as cross controllers, just as soon as Sony sells that many.

Or it may not. I just wanted to make that joke.

Next Madden will surely have it. Hell this one might too if its easy to implement.

For that kind of money, you can buy two Wii U's and support two gamepads.

Right, the feature was added too late in the cycle to be implemented at launch, which is why you get stuff with Nintendoland and ZombiU emphasizing asymmetric gameplay.

As I understood it, it wouldn't be implemented at launch, but that it might be added later on...

Ah yeah an update to Madden could probably bring. I'd think it would be a rather simple code execution to allow the 2nd gamepad.

Within the past 2 generations, it has not been safe to buy launch consoles...in my opinion. Whether its the features not being all there or the hardware malfuncitoning, there are always kinks that need to be worked out.

After 24 months I'll consider a Wii U...unless Zelda or Smash Bros comes before that time period.