uDraw GameTablet for Nintendo Wii hands-on
The Nintendo Wii has already had its fair share of accessories. The latest – the uDraw GameTablet from THQ is a little different. It’s a drawing tool equipped with a stylus, powered by a Wii Remote so that you can play all sorts of motion sensor-enabled games with it. Stephen Ebert put pen to virtual paper for a scribble ahead of its imminent UK release.
uDraw is a drawing and gaming tool developed by THQ for the Nintendo Wii
The first thing you notice about the uDraw GameTablet is its Wii-white looks. The uDraw is actually made by game developer THQ, but you’d be forgiven for thinking this is an official Nintendo-made product. It feels like a top quality bit of kit.
It’s well made and for such a light gadget is incredibly tough, and won’t break into little pieces if dropped. The drawing area isn’t large, but still big enough for smaller hands, at which the uDraw is aimed to allow for plenty of sketching space.
A matching white stylus comes attached via string. It has a pressure sensitive nib on the end that makes it feel more like a chunky ball point pen, and a button on the side you’ll use to apply ink or grab things with when playing games. Again it’s well made, but its placement on the right side could make for an awkward left-handed experience.
How does it work?
No wires? That’s right. Battery power comes courtesy of the Wii Remote, which you fit neatly into its own compartment on the side so that you can still use its buttons to play games and navigate in-game menus. It means you won’t have to spend extra on pricy batteries.
What is uDraw like to use?
Unless you or your kids are supremely talented and creative don’t expect to create work to rival a renaissance artist using uDraw. It’s a basic drawing tool but still manages to pack in all the essentials to get users drawing all sorts using the accompanied uDraw Studio package filled with virtual pens, paintbrushes, adjustable pen sizes and a choice of bright colours for children to daub all over their creations.
Teens and adults won’t get much out of it, but as a kids drawing tool uDraw is great substitute for messy pens and paint. It takes getting used to at first as you have to be sure to press hard enough so that the pressure sensitive nib pushes down, but eager little ones should have little problem. The menus are big and bright too adding to its cute appeal.
Are there other games available for uDraw?
You bet! We’ve already played some of them too.
In uDraw Pictionary players draw a picture based on a worded clue, which other players must guess. It works just like the physical version minus piles of scrap paper cluttering up your room. Extra modes have you attempting to draw while the virtual ink trickles out of your pen, and task you with drawing without lifting the stylus off the board. It’s a fun well presented party game and one of the better uDraw launch titles.
Dood’s Big Adventure is a platform game where players must guide a character named Dood across a variety of obstacles such as spikes and pits by drawing magic trampolines. The Wii Remote sensor bar lets you move Dood through levels by physically tilting the uDraw from side to side.
Spongebob Squigglepants is a fun selection of over 100 mini games that involve fast reactions. Each game makes full use of the different control methods of uDraw as players clear levels to unlock even more. In-game tutorials help you get to grips, while a dedicated drawing space lets budding artists let loose their creativity. Spongebob Squigglepants isn’t a launch title but it’s coming soon.
The uDraw GameTablet for the Nintendo Wii launches in stores this Friday.
