Wii system required to transfer data to Wii U

With the Wii U's official launch date now set in stone, many are rushing to the stores to get the most trade-in value for their current Wii system. But you may want to hold on to your older system for just a bit longer, or at least until the Wii U releases on November 18.

A Nintendo rep has confirmed that you'll be able to transfer your content — Miis, WiiWare, and Virtual Console games — from your Wii to the new Wii U system, but you'll need to have both systems in your possession at the same time to do so.

"Both systems will need to be connected to the Internet and the Wii U will need an SD card to facilitate the transfer," the Nintendo rep told Gimme Gimme Games. "The process is very similar to transferring content from Nintendo DS to Nintendo 3DS or from Nintendo 3DS to Nintendo 3DS XL; which has been received positively by consumers."

The transferred Wii content will be accessible and played through a Wii Mode, an application located on the Wii U's main menu.