As we edge even closer towards the launch of Nintendo's latest home console, the Wii U, yet another milestone has been passed. We know the launch date (the 30th of November, if you haven't already heard), we know all about the cool, tablet-like controller called the GamePad, and we know it's going to come with an incredible line up of exclusive games, including New Super Mario Bros U, LEGO City Undercover, and the Wii U's answer to Wii Fit, the minigame collection, Nintendo Land. And, with the launch now just five weeks away (it sounds so close when you say it like that, doesn't it), Nintendo have set the ball rolling with an ad shown in prime advertising space during the X Factor. Luckily, a keen eyed YouTuber was quick off the mark, and recorded the ad, to give those who missed it (like us) a chance to see if for ourselves - with an added glimpse of Brad Pitt for good measure:
Cramming everything there is to know about an entire console into one sixty second slot, the ad screamed through the launch line up, showing off glimpses Nintendo Land, four player platformer New Super Mario Bros U, horror game ZombiU, and sci-fi role player Mass Effect 3 - even the downloadable puzzle game Toki Tori 2 got a look in. After the confusion that surrounded the console's unveiling back in 2011, it was nice to see a focus on the fact this is a brand new console too - not just another add on for the Wii like, say, the Wii MotionPlus. Disappointing, though, was the lack of Nintendo's usual laser-like focus on the family, and, well, people who aren't your stereotypical "gamer". In fact, it was a world away from recent adverts for the Wii and 3DS.
For an ad shown during the X Factor, a show which has a large female and family majority, it seems odd that the only woman featured in the advert was one nagging about watching the TV. And for a console that holds so much appeal to a more casual/family demographic that made the Wii such a huge success, you'd hope the advert would have given them a bit more to sink their teeth into. Instead, most of the advert seemed to revolve around a bloke, who spent most of his time playing games in a dingy bedroom. None of the clips featured families playing together, to show off the console's much vaunted five player multiplayer, none featured a woman playing, and some big games for the more casual market - LEGO City Undercover, Just Dance 4 (complete with exclusive songs/features), and Wii Fit U were conspicuous by their absence..
Of course, it's safe to say there's only so much you can fit into sixty seconds, and we can only imagine this is only the first in a series of ads designed to show off every part of the Wii U (and there's certainly plenty to talk about), so it's likely Nintendo haven't forgotten about a good half (or more) of their audience. Now that the floodgates have opened, it's only likely that more ads will pop up all over the place - so keep your eyes peeled!
