14 DAY TRIAL // French video game publisher Ubisoft has announced that it is working on a new tablet for the Nintendo Wii home console, called the Drawsome, which will allow players to freely draw using a special pen and interact with a series of games that it will publish.
The tablet includes a touch screen that is 6.5 by 5 inch (16.51 centimeters by 13.97 centimeters) and a stylus which connects via wireless to it.
The launch date is at the moment set for December 6 in the United States and Ubisoft plans to soon announce dates for other territories.
Anything that is drawn will be directly sent to the game or the application that is open.
The Drawsome tablet also includes an SD card slot which allows users to store their creations and share them with others who own the device.
Ubisoft has announced that there are two video game that come bundled with the tablet, Drawsome Artist and Drawsome Sketch Quest, both of which are aimed at creative types and include appearances by the well known characters from the Smurf franchise.
Tony Key, who is the senior vice president of sales and marketing at Ubisoft, stated, “Ubisoft is always looking for new ways to marry quality family time with a quality gaming experience.”
He added, “With the Drawsome Tablet, Ubisoft is bringing to the market a peripheral that will allow families to sit down together and create their own unique works of art while participating in fun, creative adventures.”
It's not clear why Ubisoft is adding the tablet to the Nintendo Wii so late in its life cycle, especially when considering that its Wii U successor will offer pretty much the same capabilities via its new controller.
The Drawsome faces competition from the U Draw, a similar device launched and supported by publisher THQ.