Off-TV Play

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Off-TV Play is a feature of Nintendo's eighth-generation video game console, the Wii U. Like all video game consoles, the Wii U uses a console and a controller to manipulate an image on a television screen. The Wii U's unique feature is that its controller, the Wii U GamePad, has its own built-in screen for displaying images. It can display an entirely different image, or duplicate the television screen into the Wii U GamePad. Off-TV Play is the term used for when an entire game is played strictly on the controller, without the use of a television.[1][2]

Contents

Background [edit]

The Wii U console was officially announced at E3 2011 in June 2011, where it was first detailed that the console's controller would feature a tablet-like touchscreen.[3] Nintendo announced that a major focus of the console would be the ability to display the image seen on the television on the touchscreen, to continue playing the game if the television was needed for other uses, or the player needed to move away from the television.[4] Official terms were given at E3 2012; the controller was named the Wii U GamePad and the concept of playing games strictly on its screen being labeled Off-TV Play.[5]

For supported games, a television isn't required to be hooked up to the Wii U; the Wii U can operate in Off-TV Play mode as long as the console is hooked up to a power source.[6] However, as the processing is done on the console, and transmitted to the GamePad, the user must still keep within the transmitting range in order for it to work.[4] Not all games support Off-TV Play, as some games conceptually rely on the asymmetric interplay between the television screen and the Wii U GamePad screen, such as Nintendo Land and ZombiU.[7][8][9] Additionally, Virtual Console and original Wii games on Wii Mode are not compatible with Off-TV Play.[10]

In January 2013, Nintendo announced that Virtual Console titles purchased directly from the Nintendo eShop will include the option to use Off-TV Play.[11]

List of compatible games [edit]

Title Genre Developer Publisher Available Notes
Assassin's Creed III Action-adventure game Ubisoft Montreal Ubisoft AUS, EU, NA Supported[12]
Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition Action-adventure game Rocksteady Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment AUS, EU, NA Supported[13]
Ben 10: Omniverse Action-adventure game D3 D3 NA Supported, but must be initially activated via a menu on the TV screen[14]
Call of Duty: Black Ops II First person shooter Treyarch Activision AUS, EU, NA Supported[15]
Chasing Aurora Other Broken Rules Broken Rules AUS, EU, NA Supported[16]
Darksiders 2 Action-adventure game Vigil Games THQ AUS, NA, EU Supported[17]
Deus Ex: Human Revolution Director's Cut Action role-playing game, First-person shooter, Stealth Straight Right Square-Enix NA Supported[18]
Dragon Quest X MMORPG Square Enix, Armor Project Square Enix JP Supported[19]
FIFA 13 Sports EA Canada Electronic Arts AUS, EU, NA, JP Supported[20]
Injustice: Gods Among Us Fighting game NetherRealm Studios Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment EU, NA, JP Supported[21]
Little Inferno Puzzle Tomorrow Corporation Tomorrow Corporation AUS, EU, NA Supported[22]
Madden NFL 13 Sports EA Tiburon Electronic Arts NA Supported, but cannot switch to mid-game.[23]
Mass Effect 3 Role-playing game Bioware Electronic Arts AUS, EU, NA Supported[24]
Mighty Switch Force: Hyper Drive Edition Platform game Wayforward Technologies Wayforward Technologies AUS, EU, NA Supported[25]
Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate Action role-playing game Capcom Production Studio 1, Eighting Capcom AUS, EU, JP, NA Supported with an update.[26]
Mutant Mudds Deluxe Run and gun Renegade Kid Renegade Kid NA Supported[27]
Nano Assault Neo Shooter Shin'en Multimedia Shin'en Multimedia AUS, EU, NA Supported[28]
NBA 2K13 Sports 2K Sports 2K Sports NA Supported[29]
Need for Speed: Most Wanted Racing Electronic Arts Electronic Arts AUS, EU, JP, NA Supported[30]
New Super Mario Bros. U Platform game Nintendo Nintendo AUS, EU, JP, NA Fully supported in single player mode,[31] limited availability in multiplayer mode; cannot play as a character, can only use touchscreen for item placement.
Pikmin 3 Real-time strategy Nintendo Nintendo Unreleased Supported[32]
Puddle Puzzle game Neko Entertainment Neko Entertainment AUS, EU, NA Supported[33]
Resident Evil: Revelations Survival horror Capcom Capcom Unreleased Supported[34]
Scribblenauts Unlimited Puzzle 5TH Cell WB Games NA, AUS Supported[35]
Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed Racing Sumo Digital Sega AUS, EU, NA, JP Supported[36]
Tekken Tag Tournament 2: Wii U Edition Fighting game Namco Bandai Namco Bandai AUS, EU, NA, JP Supported[37]
The Amazing Spider-Man: Ultimate Edition Action-adventure game Beenox Activision NA Supported[38]
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker Action-adventure game Nintendo Nintendo Unreleased Supported[39]
Toki Tori 2 Puzzle game Two Tribes Two Tribes Unreleased Supported[40]
Trine 2 Puzzle game Frozenbyte Frozenbyte Unreleased Supported[41]
Yakuza 1 & 2 HD Collection Action-adventure Sega Sega Unreleased Supported[42]

Reception [edit]

The concept has received mostly positive reviews. The CNET praised the feature as being "nothing short of fantastic [...] because it prevents the monopolization of a TV while gaming -- something anyone who doesn't live alone can appreciate. For those households where the main TV is in constant demand, off-TV sounds like a godsend."[31] However, a major concern cited is that it wasn't a required feature, meaning the developers can opt out of making it possible in their respective games, so in theory, it could become obsolete.[31] Kotaku praised it as well, stating that it is a good feature for those who like to multi-task, since it frees up the television for other uses.[43] TechSpot described it as "a luxury few people asked for but that turns out to be wonderful to have".[15] Destructoid praised it for being the exactly the same as playing on the television, only "with some limited portability for no extra charge. Hard to find fault in that."[44] GamesRadar praised the feature for being perfect for the avid television watcher, but criticized the fact that there wasn't a standardized way to activate it, such as its own button.[45] IGN stated in their review for the Wii U, that in regards to single player experiences, they preferred it when the entire game could be transferred to the GamePad over using it in conjunction with a television.[46]

Some critics have argued that the image has superior quality while using Off-TV Play,[15] while others have cited concerns over the small size of the screen making it difficult to see all the details of the image.

See also [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ Lynley, Matthew (2012-11-19). "Nintendo Wii U Review Roundup - Digits - WSJ". Blogs.wsj.com. Retrieved 2012-12-01. 
  2. ^ "Spotlight on Wii U: Off-TV Play". Nintendo. 2013-02-27. Retrieved 2013-02-28. 
  3. ^ "7 Things You Didn't Know About the Nintendo Wii U". Fox News. Retrieved 2012-12-01. 
  4. ^ a b Stevens, Tim (2011-06-07). "Live from Nintendo's E3 2011 keynote!". Engadget.com. Retrieved 2012-12-01. 
  5. ^ "Better Friend Codes, Achievements and More: Nintendo Answers Our Burning Wii U Questions". Kotaku.com. 2012-06-11. Retrieved 2012-12-01. 
  6. ^ Stark, Chelsea (2012-11-27). "Play Your Wii U Anywhere - Even on a Train - Yahoo! News". News.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2012-12-01. 
  7. ^ "off-tv play". My Nintendo News. 2012-06-11. Retrieved 2012-12-01. 
  8. ^ "Streaming Games to Wii U GamePad Optional for Developers - Known as Off-TV Play at C3 News". Cubed3.com. Retrieved 2012-12-01. 
  9. ^ "ZombiU review". Edge. Nov. 28, 2012. Retrieved Dec. 15, 2012. 
  10. ^ Peckham, Matt (2012-09-17). "Nintendo: Wii U Is Core Enough and It’s the Most Innovative Game System Ever Made | TIME.com". Techland.time.com. Retrieved 2012-12-01. 
  11. ^ Goldfarb, Andrew (2013-01-23). "Wii U Virtual Console, OS Upgrades Announced". IGN. Retrieved 2013-01-23. 
  12. ^ "Eurogamer.net". "Face-Off: Assassin's Creed 3 on Wii U"
  13. ^ "Eurogamer.net". "Face-Off: Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition on Wii U"
  14. ^ http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/33072
  15. ^ a b c "Nintendo Wii U Review - TechSpot Reviews". Techspot.com. 2012-11-19. Retrieved 2012-12-01. 
  16. ^ http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/32206
  17. ^ Audrey Drake 17 Nov 2012 (2012-11-17). "Darksiders II Review". IGN. Retrieved 2012-12-01. 
  18. ^ http://www.siliconera.com/2013/03/20/deus-ex-human-revolution-on-wii-u-supports-off-tv-play-and-miiverse/
  19. ^ Ishaan (2013-03-08). "Dragon Quest X Wii U Trailer Shows Off Its Enhanced Visuals". Siliconera. Retrieved 2013-03-08. 
  20. ^ http://www.gamespot.com/fifa-soccer-13/reviews/fifa-soccer-13-review-6400803/
  21. ^ "Siliconera.com". "Injustice: Gods Among Us Has Quick Move List & Off TV Play On Wii U"
  22. ^ Ohlew, Tyler (November 22, 2012). "Little Inferno Review". Nintendo World Report. 
  23. ^ "Madden NFL 13 Review - Review". Nintendo World Report. 2012-11-24. Retrieved 2012-12-01. 
  24. ^ Colin Moriarty 21 Nov 2012 (2012-11-21). "Mass Effect 3 Wii U Review". IGN. Retrieved 2012-12-01. 
  25. ^ http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/32206
  26. ^ Daniel Vuckovic (2013-03-03). "Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate Gets Off-TV Play, Online Region Lock Removed In Upcoming Patch". Vooks.net. Retrieved 2013-03-09. 
  27. ^ http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/02/06/whats-next-for-the-wii-u-eshop?page=2
  28. ^ http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/32206
  29. ^ Liebl, Lance. "Review: NBA 2K13 Wii U is the same great g... | Reviews". GameZone. Retrieved 2012-12-01. 
  30. ^ http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2013/01/wii_u_version_of_need_for_speed_most_wanted_will_feature_off_screen_play
  31. ^ a b c Stein, Scott (2012-11-19). "Packed with promise, Wii U still has a lot to prove". CNET. Reviews.cnet.com. Archived from the original on 2012-12-15. Retrieved 2012-12-01. 
  32. ^ George, Richard (2013-02-04). "Pikmin 3 Will Support GamePad-Only Play". IGN. 
  33. ^ http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/33191
  34. ^ Seedhouse, Alex (2013-02-09). "Official Nintendo Magazine tease revealed as Resident Evil Revelations". nintendo-insider.com. 
  35. ^ Ronaghan, Neal (2012-11-20). "Scribblenauts Unlimited Review". nintendowoldreport.com. 
  36. ^ "Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, Warriors Orochi 3 Hyper, and Epic Mickey 2 - Feature". Nintendo World Report. Retrieved 2012-12-01. 
  37. ^ "Tekken Tag Tournament 2 (Wii U) Review". Nintendo Life. 2012-11-24. Retrieved 2012-12-01. 
  38. ^ http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/impressions/33486
  39. ^ http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/33103
  40. ^ http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/32206
  41. ^ http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/32206
  42. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxfMw8PB5fI
  43. ^ "Wii U Could Be The Perfect Console For People Like Me | Kotaku Australia". Kotaku.com.au. Retrieved 2012-12-01. 
  44. ^ "Hands-on with Call of Duty: Black Ops II on the Wii U". Destructoid. Retrieved 2012-12-01. 
  45. ^ Splechta, Mike. "Console Review: Nintendo's Wii U starts it... | Reviews | GameZone". Gamesradar.com9.gamezone.com. Retrieved 2012-12-01. 
  46. ^ Nic Vargus 21 Nov 2012 (2012-11-21). "Nintendo Wii U Review". IGN. Retrieved 2012-12-01. 
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