Adding onto the mounting pile of news coming from an investor’s briefing with Nintendo president Satoru Iwata is word that the Wii U’s tablet-like controller with have “Near Field Communication” technology (NFC). In Nintendo’s words, the tech will serve to “read and write data via noncontact NFC and to expand the new play format in the video game world.” Owners can apparently create their own cards and figurines for use with the WiiPad’s NFC functionality.

Confusing as that may be, Iwata means that the Wii U’s WiiPad will come equipped with the same tech that Skylanders uses to alter its gameplay via real world objects. The tech could conceivably be used to make credit card payments as well, which Iwata specifically mentions in the last paragraph.

We wish it were all announcements of new entries in classic franchises and promises of unified online systems, folks, but that’s just how it goes. On the bright side, more Drobot?

JoystiqSkylanders-esque NFC tech built into Wii U’s WiiPad originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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