Nintendo Explains Wii U's Nintendo Network & Miiverse

With the Wii U launch just days away, Nintendo has been releasing videos explaining the new console's features and functionalities leading up to its release. The one below explains the Nintendo Network and Miiverse. Bill Trinen's from Nintendo's Treehouse explains how the Nintendo Network works and how it is not friend codes anymore, which they were used for the Wii, the DS, and 3DS. Players can set up Nintendo Network IDs once you boot up the Wii U for the first time and they can be used on an unified basis with other Nintendo systems in the future. Speaking of booting up the Wii U for the first time on Sunday, you'll be prompted to download a big firmware update that contains the Nintendo Network stuff, Miiverse, Nintendo TVii, and more.

The video below also demonstrates how Miiverse, the core of the Wii U's social functionalities, used during games such as New Super Mario Bros. U as players can get help by typing into a forum-like setting if they're stuck in a certain level or challenge. Nintendo has a system ready to handle spoiler-related content if players type those up on Miiverse. Another demonstration from this fourteen-minute video is how players can still play games on the Wii U gamepad while playing TV thanks to Nintendo TVii. A handful of games can be played with just the gamepad on and not the TV like New Super Mario Bros. U and some third-party games. Personally, I'm looking forward to playing Mario this way when I'm about to go to sleep.

The Wii U comes out this Sunday and a number of third-party games are already out at retailers to be purchased early. The video above has more information about Nintendo Network, data transferring from your Wii, Internet browser functionalities, and Miiverse. Any of these features make you excited for Nintendo's new console? Let us know in the comments below.