New Wii console goes on sale

The Telegraph says it is "comfortable to hold," has "a real sense of fun" but has a "cumbersome" CPU and "lacks a real system seller" game.

The Guardian says its multiplayer games are "enormous fun" but the split controllers and screens are a "difficult proposition."

Gamespot likes its "exciting innovations" but isn't as keen on its "cheap hardware" and "clunky OS".

Techradar thinks it's "wonderful" to finally see Mario in HD and a "fantastic perk" to be able to play your console without a TV, but criticised the GamePad's battery life and range of available games.

Tweets from gamers this morning suggest customers won't have to queue for long to get their hands on a Wii U:

The Wii U is the first major UK home games console launch for six years.

This is a timeline of the market leaders' releases:

Sony PlayStation

• 1994: PlayStation
• 2000: PlayStation 2
• 2006: PlayStation 3

Microsoft Xbox

• 2002: Xbox
• 2005: Xbox 360

Nintendo:

• 1997: Nintendo 64
• 2002: GameCube
• 2006: Wii
• 2012: Wii U

The first major UK home console launch in six years took place at midnight, with Nintendo's Wii U hitting the high streets.

Close to 300 fans queued outside HMV's Oxford Street store last night in London to land the new device.

The Wii U, which features a new tablet-type GamePad controller that allows users to keep playing away from a connected television, was released in the US earlier this month.