Nintendo wants you to get gaming quicker thanks to a new firmware update.
With last week's release of Mario Kart 8, the Wii U has found itself getting some much-needed buzz. So naturally, Nintendo wants to get players into the game as quickly as possible. With that in mind, the company has just released a firmware update that will allow gamers to "enhance their user experience" by turning on their GamePad and viewing the new quickstart menu that displays the icons of each players 10 most-used games and applications. Gamers can then choose what title they wish and it will load during the Wii U's seemingly interminable start-up sequence. (Saving you 20 precious gaming seconds in the process).
It's a smart idea that really should have been implemented at launch, but by finally making this change Nintendo has begun a slow walk down the road to fully restoring consumer confidence. According to the company's press release, other features included in the Version 5.00 update are:
- An improved user setting and selection experience.
- System updates can now be downloaded and installed when the Wii U console is in standby mode.
- Full-screen alerts and notifications can be displayed on the GamePad controller, even if the system is in standby mode. These notifications will tell Wii U owners about new updates, game releases and promotions from Nintendo. Users can adjust how they receive these notifications.
- Easier Nintendo Network ID setup for new users.
- Notifications can now be accessed from the Home Menu as well as the Wii U Menu.
So what do you think? Is this a step in the right direction for Nintendo? Or are you just so busy throwing bananas at rival racers that you don't even care? Let us know in the comments!
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