Our favorite Nintendo exec, Satoru Iwata (sorry Reggie) has offered up a few new details on the Wii U's tablet-esque GamePad. In the latest episode of Iwata Asks, the Nintendo president discussed the range at which the controller will operate away from the console. Unfortunately, the answer isn't quite as simple as you might have hoped.
According to Iwata, "Differences will arise depending on whether you live in a house made of wood or an apartment of reinforced concrete, and what materials the walls are made out of. Since the Wii U sends radio waves to the GamePad, these waves can be affected if they have to pass through certain materials (like steel or water)."
Nintendo designer Tat Iwamoto elaborated on Iwata's statement, adding that "if you place the Wii U console in something like a metal TV stand it may deflect the radio waves thus reducing its usable range."
So it looks like those hoping to play the Wii U while, say… on the can, will just have to test it out for themselves when the console launches November 18th.
[Via]
