[Rösti]

We have 3 Wii U threads continually on the front page (this one, Smash, and Retro) all running on pure speculation. I think it's safe to say that we all really need some solid news to talk about. 4 months until E3 :(

The likelihood of Nintendo releasing new information about Wii U at Game Developers Conference is high, due to several factors:

• They have booked a larger booth than in 2011, and they also have a booth in the business area
• While not directly connected to Wii U, Nintendo has two speakers featured: Steve Rabin (NoA) and Koichi Hayashida (EAD)
• Several of Nintendo's closest business partners (AMD most prominently) with the Wii U are exhibiting
• Reggie Fils-Aime has in interviews with both CNN and GameTrailers said that they will share more information between now (this was in early January) and E3
• GDC is the single most important industry event before E3, and provides excellent opportunities to create hype as well as informing partners about deals, licenses and more

In addition to what Nintendo provides, there are several events connected to GDC, that could surely function as a ground for discussion, amongst industry members, about Wii U: Choice Awards, Independent Games Festival, Magnetic Game-O-Matic, Career Pavilion, Game Career Seminar, Parties & Networking, GDC Play and more.

While Nintendo has not confirmed nor denied Wii U at GDC this year, I think we can safely assume the system will be there in more ways than one. I take the liberty of once again posting the floorplans:



Notice that Nintendo, Crytek and AMD have their booths very close. AMD's developing the GPU for Wii U, and former Director of Technology at Crytek, Mark Atkinson, was hired by Nintendo last year as Consultant Software Engineer. And Crytek's Cevat Yerli expressed excitement about the Wii U SDK last year, as reported by Beyond3D and GamesIndustry.biz:

The specs are very good," Yerli enthuses. "It's a challenge for designers, but once thought through it can add value, and that's what ultimately important. Our guys in Nottingham they are very happy with their tests on the dev kits and they're excited about it."

Sources: http://forum.beyond3d.com/showpost.p...postcount=7706, http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...ytek-editorial

Nintendo's deep contacts with both AMD and Crytek, as well as other exhibitors at GDC, can mean they will be given golden opportunities to demonstrate the Wii U's capabilities. Probably not through games, but through tech demos (other than Chase Mii and Shield Pose). Opportunities I at least wouldn't waste.