From the system's first unveiling at E3 2011 to Thursday's final announcement of launch details, Nintendo has been releasing information about its next home console, the Wii U, in bits and pieces for about 15 months now. Unless you've been closely following all those data drops, you may have missed some important details about Nintendo's future hardware plans.

That's where we come in. The below FAQ collects all the pertinent information we currently know about the Wii U.

Basic information

Q: So when is this thing coming out?

A: The Wii U will launch on November 18 in North America, November 30 in Europe, and December 8 in Japan.

Q: How much is it going to cost, and what do I get in the box?

A: Nintendo is offering the Wii U in two basic configurations. The $299.99 "Basic Set" (colored white) includes the system, touchscreen-equipped GamePad controller, a stylus, a sensor bar (like the one that came with the Wii), AC adapters for the system and GamePad, and an HDMI cable.

The $349.99 "Deluxe Edition" (colored black) comes with all the stuff in the Basic Set, plus a copy of NintendoLand, a GamePad stand (to prop the system up in front of your TV for certain games), a GamePad charging cradle, and a console stand.

Q: Are there any other differences between the Basic and Deluxe systems?

A: Yes. While the Basic system comes with 8GB of on-board Flash memory (for downloads and saved games), the Deluxe system has 32GB of storage space. The Deluxe Set also entitles owners to a "Deluxe Digital Promotion" that lets them earn points toward future purchases every time they download a game for the Wii U. It's unclear exactly how this system will work, but a recent Japanese press conference seemed to suggest that Deluxe system owners would earn back 10 percent of the purchase price for each download.

Q: What games are going to be available for the system at launch?

A: So far, Nintendo has only confirmed two titles for the North American Wii U launch on November 18: NintendoLand and New Super Mario Bros. U. Dozens of other games have been confirmed for the "launch window," which runs from launch through the end of March 2013. Some of these games, such as the ports of current-generation titles, will likely be ready for launch day, while other games won't be ready until early next year. Specific launch information will come from publishers as we get closer to launch.

Check out our early analysis of the announced Wii U "launch window" lineup for more on what games are coming to the system.

Q: How much are games going to cost?

Most games for the Wii U will be sold at a suggested price of $59.99, Nintendo says, though individual games may go for slightly less. That's an increase from the $49.99 ceiling generally seen for games on the original Wii, but comparable to the $59.99 average price for most big-name Xbox 360 and PS3 games.

Controllers

Q: So what's the deal with this tablet controller?

A: The wireless Wii U GamePad is an odd hybrid between a standard button-based game controller and a touchscreen tablet. The 6.2", 854×480 resolution touchscreen in the center of the GamePad can display images streamed from the Wii U base station sitting under your TV with very little latency. The screen's pressure-sensitive touch panel is only capable of registering a single tap at a time, however, unlike the capacitive multitouch screen on tablets like the iPad.

At the sides of the screen, the GamePad has two clickable analog thumbsticks, a directional pad, four face buttons, four shoulder buttons, and start, select, and home buttons. There's also a front-facing VGA camera, a microphone, stereo speakers, a headphone jack, and an infrared transmitter that lets it act as a universal TV remote. The GamePad also features a gyroscope and accelerometer for motion-sensitive games, and an internal motor for force feedback.

Finally, the GamePad features support for near-field communications technology, which will let users quickly enter information from certain credit cards and cell phone payment plans just by tapping them against the GamePad. NFC technology could also be used to detect other physical objects placed near the system, such as Activision's Skylanders toys.

Q: Can I use the GamePad as a full-fledged tablet computer?

A: Not really. The GamePad doesn't have any significant processing power on its own, and only works in conjunction with the Wii U base unit, which streams video and audio data to the GamePad. So if you take it too far outside your living room, it won't work anymore (Nintendo hasn't detailed exactly how far away from the system the GamePad can function).

Q: What other controllers work with the Wii U?

A: The Wii U will support all existing Wii controllers, including Remote/Nunchuk combinations, the Wii Fit Balance Board, and the SNES-styled Classic Controller. Nintendo will also be selling a $49.99 Wii U Pro Controller, which looks an awful lot like an Xbox 360 controller, for more traditional games that don't require motion controls or use of the touchscreen.

Q: Can games use more than one GamePad at the same time?

A: There has been some confusion about this over time, but at E3 2012 Nintendo confirmed that the Wii U will be able to stream content and receive input from up to two GamePads at the same time. However, no games currently announced for the system make use of more than one GamePad, and Nintendo has said it won't be selling GamePads à la carte in North America at launch. In Japan, however, an extra GamePad will run you a whopping ¥13,440 (about $172), or more than half the price of the base system.

Listing image by Nintendo