Nintendo's developers are also "taking into consideration [the system's] network-related capabilities."
The Wii U controller's realization of the original concept of the Wii Remote is one of the main ways the system is unique, according to Nintendo's Genyo Takeda, senior managing director and general manager of the IRD division, who said as much during the Q&A portion of Nintendo's recent Financial Reports Briefing.
Takeda, who worked on the design of the Wii and also directed Nintendo classics such as Punch-Out and StarTropics, followed up the point by saying: "We now have the new controller which revolves around the original concept of the Wii Remote, and the developers can take advantage of multiple screens, which enable them to leverage upon the unique combination of a big TV screen and a smaller screen in player’s hands."
Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto preceded Takeda's comments by noting that the Wii U is more than just a next-generation Wii.
"We have designed the Wii U to be recognized as being different from any other hardware system," Miyamoto said. "Although I cannot elaborate on its network functions today, as we are preparing for the launch of the Wii U, we are taking into consideration its network-related capabilities."
The two long-time Nintendo employees, along with Nintendo President Satoru Iwata, were tight-lipped on more definitive Wii U details, consistently noting that E3 2012 will feature a lot of new Wii U announcements. E3 2012 is taking place June 5-7. Nintendo's press conference is expected to take place on June 5.