Details from Nintendo’s Unity GDC Europe session
Posted on August 20, 2013 by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Wii U, Wii U eShop
Nintendo’s second session at GDC Europe 2013 focused on the console’s support for Unity tools. Details from the presentation, courtesy of Polygon, can be found below.
– Devs can use just about all of the console’s features with Unity Wii U tools
– Unity tools can be acquired for free to those who are authorized Nintendo devs
– Simple click-through application
– License’s cost is waived for developers on Wii U
– Builds generated in Unity still have to run through a Wii U dev kit purchased from Nintendo
– Price unknown since devs must sign a non-disclosure agreement
– At the presentation, a Unity rep went through how the development tools had been optimized for the Wii U SDK version
– Wii U version of Unity supports DX10 level graphics, deferred rendering, GFX output support on the Wii U GamePad (using its forward-facing camera) and a few other specification-heavy tweaks
– Using similar console or PC inputs as the other versions of Unity, devs can use the GamePad, its second screen, camera, microphone, and secondary or Wii-generation devices
– Wii U Pro Controller, Wii Remote, Wii Motion Plus and Balance Board support
– Wii U software can also be accessed through Unity
– This allows devs to use Miiverse connectivity in their games through a native plugin distributed with the Wii U Unity installer
– Looking to develop a repository for these plugins to let devs take advantage of even more system-side tools like showcasing games users are playing on other players’ friends lists, user accounts and voice chat
– Wii U software demoed was a cinematic showing the tools’ visual capabilities
– Wooden Sen’Sey is a Unity project
– Game is playable at GDC Europe
– Wooden Sen’Sey was ported to Wii U within a couple of days of the dev owning a kit
– Release candidate for Unity for Wii U is available now
– Final release and launch of Unity-made games for Wii U eShop are unclear
