Wii TVii, which was originally slated to launch alongside the Wii U, has at last rolled out to console owners. Nintendo's novel approach to the modern media hub proposes "second-screen" integration to compliment video content and acts, for all intents and purposes, as a universal remote. Whether you want to access Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant, or simply program your TV to tune in when the next episode of American Horror Story airs, Wii TVii conceptually provides a cross-media experience that unifies a suite of services on the GamePad. However, as with any software launch, there are still kinks to work out. For example, DVR and Netflix support are forthcoming in 2013. Let's take a look at what the critics had to say.
Digital Trends reflects on the potential of Wii TVii, noting: "When Nintendo gets its system to the point that selecting a program on any of the various services covered is as fast as changing the channel, it'll really be on to something." Yet, TVii is still incomplete and while "TVii version 1 is an impressive start, and a good try at making the complexity of modern television simpler, [it is] is not the elegant simplicity of the Wiimote."
IGN writes, "[The Wii TVii's] initial implementation [of a "second screen experience"] is still somewhat limited, the potential for greater use of the gamepad's display is extensive. Next year, Nintendo will expand the service to include support for Netflix and TiVo, allowing users to access content recorded to their DVR. With help from co-developer i.TV, TVii could become a regularly evolving product for Nintendo."
Wii U Daily adds that Nintendo's efforts are "a successful first foray into becoming a complete home entertainment solution," even if "it has its flaws. But out of the box, it immediately improves, personalizes, and socializes your TV watching experience while offering some features completely unique to the Wii U."
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