I don't own a Wii U, so I wonder, can you operate the OS and play games with just the pro controller?

I wouldn't want to have to charge the screen controller just to boot up games.

............but it's not a tablet. It's a standard controller with a large touch screen. Huge difference. Also, if I had to guess, yes, I would say you will see some "photo-realistic" looking games published by Nintendo on Wii U. Pikmin 3 and X are already good starts. Pikmin specifically is a nice blend, with cartoon looking characters, but with gorgeous "realistic" looking environments.

It has the potential, but when Nintendo realise it's not fantastic for party games like the wii mote, and more suited to in depth game experiences then they'll do well. Metroid would've been so good with the Wii U Pad, soooooo good cause we all know what Nintendo are capable of!

The wii u is 299, not 349. And without the gamepad the retail price would only be reduced by 50 bucks.

Wii U gamepad is dope, the problem is it seems that the developers at Nintendo unlike with the N64 controller didn't understand what they wanted to do with it, instead like the orignal DS they just slapped stuff together.

Which given their experience with the DS and 3DS, there really is no excuse for trying to do some of the stuff they did, including the idea that they didn't see the value in having two or more gamepad multiplayer capable games or the option to buy a gamepad probably because they realized some dumb parent would think it was just an accessory to the Wii due to the name.

It´s clear that the article´s author has not even played with the gamepad, rather than just observing other people playing with it. What a shame.

As an acessory it provides some interesting features. Those are very clear when using it for games designed specifically for it, like Rayman Legends, Nintendoland and ZombiU. Some games make a good benefit of it, like Re:Revelations and Monster Hunter 3, where is a blessing to have an expanded map all the time on the touchpad instead of a small limited map on the Tv. Lego Batman 2 is another good example, because you can get rid of those annoying screen divisions when playing co-op. The Puppet Master mode on Just Dance 4 is also a great feature.

For games that don´t need it, like Injustice and Tekken, it doesn´t make much of a difference, but it works well and provide off-tv play, and this is what really matters

On the other side, it´s not as intuitive to use as was the Wiimote, so people only can get a clear idea of what it can do if they actually PLAY with it. So, I think the Gamepad could be optional, still... selling the controller and the console apart would cause much more trouble for the consumer than selling them together.

Maybe bundles, like the ZombiU one, would be the ideal solution.

Ps.: talk about hypocrisy! many people condemned the Wiimote in the past are now saying that Nintendo should keep it improved instead of adding the gamepad... pffff... some people simply can´t have enough hate towards Nintendo

By the way...if the Gamepad is such a terrible idea, why are Sony and MS trying to figure out ways to mimic it with Vita and Smartglass? Can anyone explain that ?

I like to look at 1 screen when I game and that's my large TV. Good idea and lots of potential, but not for me.

I would love to see the gamepad dropped to an optional controller (still cool for off TV play), and replaced by a modified Wiimote/nunchuk that are equal to Move (no constant calibration issues....) and modified to include an analog stick on the wiimote (as well as nunchuk) and second trigger button replacing the need for pro-controller altogether. A small touch screen on it (replacing and alternatively acting as the A button - could be tied to orientation - that is held flat it's an A button, but tilt it up and you see the map, swipe for inventory, etc. would be welcome too.

Off TV play should be put onto smartphone/tablets (as a number of these have add-on controllers and Nintendo could sell one).

Exisiting games be patched for New Wiimote use (if Wiimote not already supported).

This would sell 10x's better and also allow them to reduce their price and avoid the confusion/cost of three separate controllers (gamepad, wiimote, pro).

Against.

It brought little benefit for the cost, and did little to expand upon the appeal of the original Wii-mote. Which disruption literature calls for if you are going to continue using the strategy. (Yes, I've read the book)