Wii U Gamepad vs. Xbox 360 SmartGlass - comparing what we know so far
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E3 2012 is shaping up to be a grudge match for tablet supremacy between Microsoft and Nintendo. On Sunday, Nintendo unveiled the Wii U Gamepad. With its infrared capabilities and intuitive touch and stylus interface, it could have a library full of unique titles, plus fun gimmicks and meaningful gameplay tweaks from the biggest third-party developers. Then Microsoft debuted SmartGlass, an app that will turn your tablet or smartphone into a touch interface and media center bridge for the Xbox 360.
While competition is always good for the consumer, and having another tablet interface on the market might even help Nintendo wrangle third-party support, we can’t help but compare the two. Is the SmartGlass truly a “Wii U killer,” or will it be little more than a flashy TV remote? It’s way too early to say for sure, but let’s contrast and compare what we know so far...
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Price
Wii U- Nintendo has not yet announced the Wii U’s price, and has said it’s not planning to do so at this year’s E3. Still, we know that the Gamepad and the Wii U won’t function without each other. Unlike Microsoft’s tablet integration, which will use a device you already have/purchase separately, you’ll be getting both the system and tablet when you pick up a Wii U.
SmartGlass- Since Microsoft has said SmartGlass can use the latest iOS, Android or Windows tablets and smartphones, most users already own a device that will be able to work with their Xbox 360. Given that, SmartGlass will likely be downloaded as an app. No app price has been announced, but we think it’s safe to assume it will be free, provided you have an Xbox Live Gold account.
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Control
Wii U- Much has been made over the newly redesigned Wii U Gamepad. It now features dual analog sticks, a traditional four-button layout, and rear grips with triggers. It also has touch features that support a stylus and finger interaction. The Gamepad also supports motion controls, letting users place it on the ground and use it like a tee for golfing, amongst other things
SmartGlass- Since it’s basically an app for your smart device and Xbox 360, the SmartGlass uses a purely touch based interface. It does, however, have seamless integration with many Kinect voice features.
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Features
Wii U- Via webcast, Nintendo announced that the Wii U Gamepad will have infrared support, allowing for communication with many media devices. The Gamepad will also have NFC integration, used for interacting with toys, cards and other devices used by games like Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure.
SmartGlass- SmartGlass will turn your tablet or smartphone into an advanced tablet display and remote control for your Xbox 360. The two will be in constant communication, we’re guessing over Wi-Fi. Since multiple types of devices with varying levels of processing power will be SmartGlass-compatible, we’re wondering if there will be any disparity in performance, say between an iPad 2 and the new iPad.
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Functionality
Wii U- Nintendo has already informed the public that the Wii U will be able to serve as your TV remote. While it’s unknown if the Gamepad will also be able to control your Blu Ray player or other home theatre devices, it seems like a possibility. We also know that the system will be able to move games, videos and images to and from the Gamepad screen to the television.
SmartGlass- The Xbox's tablet service will also be able to move media between the two screens, turning your Xbox 360 into a hub for streaming entertainment on your television screen. Watch a movie on the bus, then pick right where you left off on the big screen! Also, some movies and TV will have SmartGlass enabled features, giving you information about the cast, credits and fictional world right on the tablet while you watch.
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Gaming
Wii U- As a proprietary part of the system, the Gamepad will be a key component of playing games on the Wii U. Expect first party games to be totally built around it, with third-party developers getting in on the action as well. Although, now that we’ve seen Nintendo’s Xbox-like Wii U Pro Controller, it’s possible some third-party games will ignore it for a more traditional control scheme.
SmartGlass- To demonstrate the gaming potential for SmartGlass, Microsoft showed two “conceptual” gameplay demos involving Madden and Halo, two massive franchises. The Madden demonstration showed how a player could draw a play just like a coach on the sidelines. For Halo, the tablet provided supplementary data, and manage game invites on Xbox Live.
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Social Networking
Wii U- Nintendo has referred to the Gamepad’s screen as a “social window.” With a goal of connecting people from living room to living room, players will be able to text, exchange doodles, comment on each other’s gaming experiences, share screenshots, user-made content, and even video chat. Best of all, users will be able to access this features without quitting their game.
SmartGlass- Gamers will be able to communicate and share invitations without leaving their game. Microsoft’s demonstration showed how both the touch interaction and second display of a tablet can make networking on Xbox Live much easier. An on-screen keyboard will make typing a breeze, and you’ll be able to glance at a message without cluttering up the main screen.
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Web Browsing
Wii U- The Gamepad will make web browsing much easier, thanks to a touch keyboard. Users will also have the option of displaying websites on the TV, making it easy to share the web experience with everyone in the room.
SmartGlass- Microsoft has announced that Internet Explorer will be coming to the Xbox 360. A fully functional browser, it’ll be made even better by the on-screen keyboard your SmartGlass tablet will provide. Also, the tablet’s touch interface will let you simulate the point and click of a mouse. With this feature, an Xbox 360 with SmartGlass could the most viable console browser around.
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What do you think?
Well, that's everything we know. Does either side really have an advantage? Do you like the idea of using the tablet or smartphone you already own, or a device designed specifically for your console? Let us know by voting in our poll!
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Shjonzo - June 5, 2012 12:52 p.m.
I'm never going to buy this or the kinnect or the wii U why are they still trying to change the way you control a game. They need to realize its not the way you play the game that makes it a good game it is the actual quality of the game. If things keep going this way a decade from now we will be playing terrible games with virtual reality and all gamers will just be little kids that whined to their parents enough to get that cool thing they saw in the commercials. -
zombi3grim - June 5, 2012 9 a.m.
Its so stupid comparing these two because their completly different. The Wii U's is a CONTROLLER. An input device you have to use to controle the game with. The Smartglass is an information hub, just something on the side that uses your ALREADY EXISTING Ipad OR Iphone to relay EXTRA information to you. Two completly different aspects of technology. You compare them because they have the word "pad" in their descriptions. Really? -
Oshawott - June 5, 2012 5:14 a.m.
I think Nintendo has the advantage between the two because a) the touch screen and buttons are on the same device, and b) the Wii U has a uniform interface for all of it's consumers and developers, as opposed to the SmartGlass which will have to compensate for having to be functional on touchscreens of multiple size, several operating systems, and varying levels of hardware power. -
sev705 - June 5, 2012 3:32 a.m.
The only difference I really see is that developers can't develop around the smartglass feature of the xbox. I know this might sound crazy to some people, but not everyone who owns the xbox has a smartphone. Developers can't assume consumers have all the neccesary components without risking losing potential sales. This means that smartglass will only ever be a gimmick in actual games. Same thing would happen to sony with vita functunality. On the other hand, every owner of a wii u will have a gamepad because it is included with the system at the time of purchase. This allows developers to locate game features to the touchscreen or create entire new features directly. The gamepad can be the entire control scheme. This isn't to say that some companies won't just make it a gimmick on the wii u also. There will be lazy developers that will add a smartglass function and then throw that same function on the gamepad. Also, random thinking, the gamepad is one controller. The smartglass would need a controller and tablet/phone to use. With only two hands, you can see how this could become an issue. Xbox will have to develop some sort of docking-controller to be on par with nintendo. -
zombi3grim - June 5, 2012 9:03 a.m.
Except Smartglass isnt something you use to control the game with. You just look at it and read the info on the screen as your playing the game. -
Annihilator820 - June 5, 2012 2:54 a.m.
Nintendo: Look at us, we're effing with new controllers yet again! This can't possibly go wrong! Microsoft (and possible Sony too later): Let's make addons for the current systems that do the exact same thing as Nintendo's new stuff! This can't possibly go wrong! All of them later on: We just don't know what went wrong! Everyone else: *facepalm* -
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zombi3grim - June 5, 2012 9:03 a.m.
You do know the Wii won this console generation in terms of sales, right? -
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BurntToShreds - June 4, 2012 11:02 p.m.
I thinks it's a pretty nice idea, integrating your already extant device with your console, rather than pushing peripherals onto people like they did with Kinect. However, it will most likely be similar to the Kinect in the aspect that few content creators will use the Smart Glass to its full potential. -
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Rub3z - June 4, 2012 6:40 p.m.
"No app price has been announced, but we think it’s safe to assume it will be free, provided you have an Xbox Live Gold account." Ha! Wishful thinking at best. Like thinking Microsoft has any reason to stop bombing their Gold members with ads. As if. And Geeek-O, if you are reading this, let me say that I do more often than not find that you have valid things to say, but, I am always jarred into thinking that you're another damn troll because of the structure in which you put what have to say... line by line in sentence fragments. But then I realize there's good spelling and otherwise fair grammar and I look again at the screenname and realize it's you. I guess what I'm saying is, I think people will feel more inclined to pay attention to what you have to say if you type it in normal sentence structure and punctuation, etc. because it's clear from what you have to say that you're perfectly capable of doing so, yes? It's just a suggestion. -
BallisticGE0RGE - June 4, 2012 7:30 p.m.
Xbox Live Apps for Windows and Android are already free....
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