Nintendo will officially show off the full version of the Nintendo Wii U during its own E3 press conference on Thursday but on Sunday the company began showcasing what could be a very cool social network for Wii U players called Miiverse.
The new system is a meeting place for Miis from around the world in which gamers can chat with one another in real-time while using their Wii U Game Pad. Meeting in the plaza your Miis will see different icons that represent popular games including titles you don’t own, gamers will then be able to find friends interested in the same titles they have chosen.
According to Nintendo President Satoru Iwata:
“It’s as native to Wii U as the Wii U Gamepad.”
Miis will be able to chat with players they know and with players who happen to wander into the plaza and speak the same language. Players will also be able to send text messages, drawings and images through the platform, adding new layers of communication to the traditional social networking premise.
Wii U gamers will even be able to share screenshots from a game on a wall within Miiverse.
Not only will players be able to communicate in the plaze, they will be able to create in-game posting so messages and tips can be left for friends to view as they play the same game. Nintendo has also included a spoiler checkbox so you can prevent friends from finding tips they may want to discover on their own.
Miiverse wil be supported on both Nintendo Wii U and Nintendo 3DS systems although it will not become available for 3DS gamers until the Wii U launched in late 2012. The company is also planning to over PC and smartphone apps for Miiverse to allow for further communication.
It is still not clear as to whether or not the original Nintendo Wii will support Miiverse.
