Nintendo tries to get back in game with new console

After falling far behind its rivals, Redmond-based Nintendo Thursday unveiled its next generation game console it hopes will propel it back to the top of the video game market.

The company’s highly anticipated Wii U video game console will go on sale Nov. 18 with a price tag starting at $299.99 for a basic 8GB package. A deluxe package, which includes the “Nintendo Land” game, 32GB of memory and various stands and accessories, will be sold for $349.99.

Even though its fallen behind the Xbox and PlayStation, analyst Todd Bishop with Geekwire.com says Nintendo is still a strong competitor.

“They do lots of interesting stuff and certainly this will be interesting to people particularly given the vacuum that’s created by the fact that Microsoft and Sony are not coming out with new hardware this holiday,” says Bishop.

The Wii U features a touch-screen GamePad tablet-style motion based controller, which Bishop says is a big step up from the company’s current offering.

“Using the tablet you’re able to interact with the game in different ways,” Bishop says of his initial tests of the new console.

The Wii U includes a new feature called Nintendo TVii, which works in conjunction with the tablet. It integrates existing services such as Hulu, Amazon Instant Video, Netflix, and TiVo along with live television, using the GamePad as a remote control.

Users will also be able to use the GamePad as a second screen, allowing such things as social networking, instant replay and the ability to see scores and related statistics while watching a sporting event.

While Microsoft and Sony have dominated the video game market in recent years, Bishop says the Wii U should put Nintendo back in the game.

“Never count Nintendo out, and that’s the thing about the console business. It always changes. Really, you’ve got this three horse race between Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony.”