Nintendo Wii U launch guide: How to find a Wii U come Nov. 18

SALT LAKE CITY — It's been six years since Nintendo introduced the Wii to the world.

Since then, Nintendo has gone on to sell nearly 100 million of them worldwide. On Nov. 18, the Wii U, the successor to the wildly popular Wii, will hit store shelves, and Nintendo is hoping it becomes this year's must-have holiday item.

Despite being a totally new console, the Wii U is backward compatible with Wii games and accessories. If you have a Wii, you can keep your games and controllers and they'll work fine with the Wii U. Many games will actually require Wii controllers for multiplayer action.

The Wii U Basic and Deluxe Sets

The Wii U will be available in two different configurations on launch day. The Basic Set includes the following:

• White Wii U console with 8GB internal storage
• Wii U GamePad with stylus
• Sensor bar
• Wii U AC adapter
• GamePad AC adapter
• HDMI cable The Deluxe Set includes:- Black Wii U console with 32GB internal storage
• Wii U GamePad with stylus
• Sensor bar
• Wii U AC adapter
• GamePad AC adapter
• HDMI cable
• Nintendo Land video game
• Wii U GamePad stand
• Wii U GamePad charging cradle
• Wii U console stand
• Access to Nintendo's Deluxe Digital promotion Buying a Wii U at LaunchIf you're looking to buy a Wii U at launch, the system hardware will be available from most major retailers on Nov. 18. Amazon will not be carrying the Wii U system officially, so expect to pay a premium through third-party sellers if you prefer shopping on Amazon. Otherwise, the price for the Wii U is $299.99 for the Basic Set and $349.99 for the Deluxe Set. Additional accessories, such as controllers and headsets, will also be available on the 18th.

If you must have the console on Day 1, plan on waiting in line somewhere if you don't have a preorder placed. Most retailers have already taken the maximum number of preorders possible, but they will also have additional units available for those who wait in line. If you purchase online, your console will most likely arrive a couple of days after release due to shipping times.

Games Available at Launch

There's a nice variety of titles, 23 in total, available at launch for the Wii U, with several more coming soon after. The following are some of the more notable games that will be on store shelves Nov. 18:

• "Assassin's Creed III"
• "Call of Duty: Black Ops 2"
• "Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two"
• "New Super Mario Bros. U"
• "Nintendo Land"
• "Sing Party"
• "Skylanders Giants"
• "ZombiU"
• "Just Dance 4"
• "Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition" Additional Things to ConsiderThe Wii U, like the Wii, will focus heavily on family gaming. In order to play with multiple people on Day 1, you'll need extra controllers. If you have Wii controllers around, they'll suffice. If not, you'll need to spring for three-to-four additional controllers, depending on how many people will be playing at one time.

The Wii U comes with some internal storage built in, but you can expand the system's storage capability with a USB external hard drive or USB flash drive. This storage can be used for keeping saved files, media, and even full games.

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The Wii U is also enabled for online play and social interaction. Games like "Call of Duty" or "FIFA 13" will encourage gamers to connect to the Internet for multiplayer matches, but in order to communicate with friends and foes, you'll need to buy a headset. Headsets will be available from third-party accessory makers at launch within a variety of price ranges.

A specialty controller, the Wii U Pro Controller, will also be available as an official accessory from Nintendo. While this controller won't be required to play any games, it more closely resembles an Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 controller. Many gamers who play shooters, sports games or action titles might prefer this controller to playing on the larger and more weighty GamePad. The Wii U Pro Controller will retail for $49.99 and be available in black or white color options.

Finally, the Wii U is projected to be in short supply through the end of the year and into the spring. If you can't find one on launch day, ask store managers which days they typically receive additional shipments and try to come back near opening hours on those days. It's not going to be easy to find a Wii U, but a little persistence will help you avoid paying a premium on eBay or online classifieds if you're determined to get one before Christmas.

Jeff Rivera is the founder and EIC to the independent video game news and reviews website, www.GamerTheory.com.

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