250°

Can the Wii U GamePad be charged with a USB port on the console? Nintendo answers, sort of...

"The Wii U's release is just over a month away now, on November 18th. (44 days, 4 hours, 15 minutes 30 seconds away as of typing this!) Each Wii U console, whether the Deluxe Set or Basic Set, will come with a Wii U GamePad and apparently a Wii U GamePad AC Adapter. From the only pictures I have seen of it, the Wii U GamePad AC Adapter requires an AC outlet; meaning it must be plugged in a wall outlet or power strip.

While the Wii U GamePad can be charged with a cable that has to be plugged in a power outlet for it to charge the GamePad, I was curious if the Wii U GamePad can be charged with just a USB port on the console itself. After some searching and not finding any direct answer to the question, I contacted Nintendo to find out.

I asked, 'Can the Wii U GamePad be charged using a USB port on the Wii U console, just with a separate cable; or, can it only be charged with a wall AC outlet?' Brew yourself some coffee, and see how Nintendo responded below!", writes CoffeeWithGames.

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coffeewithgames.com
Shok4235d ago

Nintendo and their vague, difficult answers lol.

-Mika-4234d ago

It not funny. It just sad. They should not have any problems answering that simple question.

ChickeyCantor4234d ago (Edited 4234d ago )

It's just some person that works at Nintendo who probably doesn't even know all the ins and outs. He emailed Nintendo, you think Reggie is 24/7 reading these emails? He doesn't even see them.

They aren't allowed to give away information unless it's someone like Reggie or Iwata ( or someone similar in such position).

This person is just your average joe. He was specifically promoting the "Cradle" like the Nintendo personal he is.

jjdoyle4234d ago

@sidars
you didnts even read it dids you? he contacteds them two times on it
they provideds different answers boths times knowings the previous answers they gaves him

beerkeg4234d ago

@jjdoyle

Is this Talk like Gollum Day?

mrbojingles4234d ago

I dunno, maybe they don't have cables ready to produce yet? Maybe they're still making that decision whether to let it be USB powered too? Isn't AC powered always a faster charge anyway?

Campy da Camper4234d ago

I want to know how long the battery will last on the controller. If I have to stop playing to charge it, then how long do I have to game? Some weekends I can sit for 6 hours straight and play a game. If there is no USB charging while playing and the battery life is only 2-3 hours then Houston, we have a problem.

SilentNegotiator4233d ago (Edited 4233d ago )

@sidar

The system is a month from release. It's time for even the little guys at Nintendo to know simple details like that.

Heck, they should have known before starting preorders.

ConstipatedGorilla4233d ago

Mika, I know it's hard for you, but you need to try and not troll these Nintendo articles. We all get it - you don't care too much for Nintendo. You're going to be down to 1 bubble soon.

ChickeyCantor4233d ago

@silent,

Even so. They are in no position to give answers like that. No matter how trivial it is.

Neonridr4231d ago

it's not like you can't continue using the gamepad even if you have to charge it. Obviously if you don't have an outlet near you, then yes, that could be a problem.

+ Show (6) more repliesLast reply 4231d ago
guitarded774233d ago

@ Shok

Tell me about it... I wish they'd go into detail about the accomplishment system for the Wii U. First they say there will be some sort of system through MiiUniverse, then they say it won't be required by devs in an overarching system. They can't just say "here's what we're gonna do". I got the deluxe system which comes with a charge cradle, so I'm not too concerned about the charging issue... although my power strip is getting overworked.

iamnsuperman4235d ago (Edited 4235d ago )

Wow I wasn't expecting that first response. What kid of answer is that. It sounds like it can't be as saying no information a month before release hints at it being more of a no than a yes but who knows. Really odd answer for somethig quite basic and simple to answer

jjdoyle4235d ago

im justs glads i donts have one reserved nintendo needs to answers questions now

MariaHelFutura4234d ago

I could care less how you charge the controller. USB or an outlet makes no difference to me.

Chidori4234d ago (Edited 4234d ago )

While I would prefer to have a USB option available, it really doesn't matter to me either. I guess I got comfortable with charging me ps3 controller. But charging the gamepad would be no different than charging my phone per say, so it's cool if that's the only method.

What I was thinking about though....since the gamepad is such a nice piece of costly tech, also taking into consideration that stand alone gamepad's won't be available to us any time soon, maybe Nintendo decided this with us consumers in mind. Having to work with a short USB cable running from the console probably isn't the safest thing. There's countless times where my ps3 controller has fell to the ground while charging because of various different reasons. Mainly because of the short USB which reaches as far as a few inches away from the console and my entertainment center which is always kept busy. If we're forced to charge the gamepad in a safer zone or even just a longer cord to work with, I'm sure it will all be for the better. I don't want my fancy new Nintendo tablet receiving the same treatment as my ps3 controller.

EDIT: Yes I'm sure you can buy longer USB cables for the ps3 controller. Fact of the matter is, most people won't. It's not about me or you, it's about the gaming population. You can buy 3DS battery packs with longer life, but most people won't. That's why we choose to complain about it instead.

dark-hollow4234d ago

You can buy long USB cables for the ps3 controller.

Baka-akaB4234d ago

You know guys , it's not that it matter so much , but its about getting concrete answers instead of vaguelessness and ether .

It's just annoying to go through such process only weeks away from a launch , as if there were big secrets to uphold .

Lazyeye794234d ago

I think having it charge through an AC adapter is better. The charge times will probably be quicker and I wont have to leave my console on (or some other USB powering device) and can instead leave it plugged in while at work or sleeping, so its always charged when I need it without having to leave anything on.

Baka-akaB4233d ago

It isnt better when your area is prone to random surges and other hazards . Even with protectors

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80°

Game Developers Have Begun Confirming Nintendo Switch 2 Support

Game developers have already started to confirm that they will support the Nintendo Switch 2 with their future titles.

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twistedvoxel.com
80°

How Many More Victims, Like Garry's Mod, Will Nintendo's Hurtful Crusade Create?

Hanzala from eXputer: "As Nintendo takes out 20 years' worth of stuff from Garry's Mod, I watch in shock, thinking why it continues to hurt and discourage its fans."

RiseNShine6d ago (Edited 6d ago )

The irony that some of the most disgusting business practices come from companies like Disney or Nintendo, i can't even begin to understand what terrible damage was Garrys Mod making to Nintendo bottom line, imho they're getting pretty nervous about where they're heading in the future, handhelds are no longer something exclusive to Nintendo, from Steam Deck to many others, now you can play the latest games and pay a fraction of the price on Steam sales, so it's up to their exclusives, which just on their own would make hard to justify purchasing a closed overpriced hardware with outrageous price policies (Super Mario Odyssey is still 60 euro 6 years later!), and as a home console they're always underperforming compared to Sony or Xbox.

gold_drake5d ago (Edited 5d ago )

i cam guarantee you, that their exclusives alone is what drives switch sales. they sell in the 10s of millions of copies.

nintendo created their franchises to be sort of nostalgia driven, exclusive only on nintendo.

people will always buy the pkmn games as they always bring in new younger fans amd is family friendly

mario kart, the same thing, mario games in general.

zelda games are system sellers. animal crossing for the casual gamers.

nintendo doesnt need third vame devs essentially. they made sure with the switch and the limitations that they looked more to pc ps and xbox.

its sad, but nintendo is more than fine with what they're doing. they positioned themselves to appeal to the more casual gamers.

but to your point, im not sure why they're doing this rly.

Inverno5d ago

Look at how they handled Nintendo games being streamed or uploaded on YouTube in the past. They killed Yuzu and Citra even when they had nothing to do with ToTK being leaked, not to mention it was basically unplayable on emulation the week it was leaked. Smash Bros tournament, that was fairly recent. They shut down their online services without any care for purchases made. I bought a switch after skipping their last 2 consoles and handhelds but I don't plan on buying anything Nintendo in the future. They take things to the extremes, they legitimately hate their fans. They're honestly right up there with the likes of Acti, EA, and Ubi, only difference is that they disguise themselves as being family friendly all the while being shady.

80°

Nintendo's Massacre Of The 3DS And Wii U Is Finally Complete, Regrettably

Hanzala from eXputer: "The cruel hammer of Nintendo has fallen. Farewell, 3DS and Wii U, you surely brightened my life and many others; you won't be forgotten."