Ten things that surprised us about the Wii U hardware (updated)
Our initial out-of-the-box inspection yielded a few unexpected twists.
Console Gaming / Ars Disciplines
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How Ubisoft kept the lid on Assassin's Creed III's biggest spoiler
Or: How to get hundreds of people to keep a major gameplay secret for two years.
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“I am no man”: For Zelda-playing daughter, dad gives Link a sex change
"Dad's favorite pastime shouldn't treat girls like second-class citizens."
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The Friend Code is dead, long live the Nintendo Network ID
Wii U's new online system makes it easy to connect directly with other players.
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Gaming & Entertainment
Report: Microsoft going to production with 7-inch "Xbox Surface"
Gaming device would work in conjunction with next-generation Xbox console
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From Zangief to Hero’s Duty: A gamer’s guide to Wreck-It Ralph
A bevy of gaming references and little details capture the heart of gaming.
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The OpenForum declares: George Lucas sold my childhood for $4 billion
Will Disney’s acquisition of the Star Wars franchise do right by the Force?
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ideas irl
Ouya is real, and here's the printed circuit board to prove it
Team adding Android 4.2, finalizing design ahead of December dev kit launch.
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Good riddance: Halo 4 creators threaten permabans for sexist comments
"Tits or GTFO?" After you, sir.
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Low Vita-lity
Vita sales continue to disappoint as Sony scales back expectations
Portable game makers continue to adjust to a smartphone-dominated world.
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Halo 4 review: Jumping head first without a Bungie (and loving it)
343 Industries takes the reins and moves the franchise forward wonderfully.
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What does the Disney buyout mean for LucasArts' gaming catalog?
Future is murky for everything from Star Wars games to classic adventure titles.
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Feature Story
Assassin's Creed III Review: American History X-treme
Historical fiction has never been so nuanced—unless you're hiding from bad guys.
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BADASS MODE UNLEASHED
Borderlands 2 characters killed off by virally spreading sabotage attack
Gearbox officials advise customers to stop playing with untrusted players on Xbox.
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Review: Medal of Honor: Warfighter struggles to find its niche
The focus on authenticity leads to a flawed, uncompelling game.
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Ars Technicast, Episode 13: iPad mini-me, can you complete me?
What's the tablet scene like with the iPad mini in it?
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Why Nintendo is losing money on each Wii U launch unit
Company is counting on strong software sales to turn a profit this year.
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Down Wii Go
Nintendo slashes profit forecast 70% on weak 3DS, Wii demand
Pressure is on for Wii U, which Nintendo expects to sell 5.5M through March.
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ESRB simplifies ratings process for downloadable games
Ratings org. will use developer questionnaire to deal with high volume.
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Sony faces setback as hackers release PlayStation 3 decryption keys
Availability of "LV0" keys allows access to console's most sensitive regions.
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Not our fault
Judge: Sony didn't promise "perfect security," isn't liable for PSN hack
PSN users had info exposed and services down for 1 mo.; can resubmit complaints.
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Gaming & Entertainment
Nintendo reveals baffling solution for Wii U's in-game chat
Feature only works on certain games, doesn't use GamePad's built-in microphone.
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The series of tubes is clogged
Eidos president: Low broadband speeds are holding the game industry back
Telecoms need to up their performance to help download speeds, gameplay lag.
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New Xbox interface brings Windows 8 "Metro" style to the console
Heavy usability testing has also made handy features easier to find and use.
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But who's counting?
Rayman developer: Wii U GamePad latency is 1/60th of a second
Delay between TV and tablet screen should be virtually unnoticeable, just one frame.
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