A key Microsoft executive appears to have talked down the desirability of Nintendo's upcoming Wii U system by claiming that the new console's technology does not outstrip the current generation Xbox 360.

Phil Spencer, the corporate vice president of Microsoft Studios, said Nintendo is "building a platform that is effectively a 360 when you think of graphical capability".
"Now [Nintendo is] really making an on-ramp for the back catalog of games that are on Xbox 360," he added, speaking in an interview with GamesIndustry International.

Spencer's comments mark another flare-up in the war of words between representatives of console manufacturers.

In June, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata went on the offensive against Microsoft's new SmartGlass technology, claiming that it offers a "only a small facet of what the Wii U is capable of".

Aside from the Wii U's tablet controller, Nintendo also has plans to manufacture a 'pro' pad which closely resembles the Xbox 360.

Spencer said the Pro Controller "makes a lot of sense with the platform Nintendo has built. They've moved the buttons around, and they've made a controller that feels familiar for 360 gamers, so I get why they are putting those pieces together," he added.

Nintendo has yet to disclose a release date or launch price for the Wii U.

Posted: Jul 04, 2012 10:36 am

Source: http://www.computerandvideogames.com/356500/microsoft-exec-wii-u-is-effectively-a-360-in-terms-of-gpu-power/