Will Wii U Support Multiple Tablet Controllers at a Time?

When Nintendo unveiled the Wii U at yesterday's press conference, fan reaction varied between confusion and amazement. Let's clear up one thing that a lot of gamers seem to be misinterpreting: the Wii U is not just the tablet controller that was showcased at the presser. As evidenced by screenshots, announcements, and E3 footage, the Wii U is an entirely new console, and the tablet controller is simply its main input method.

Now that that's out of the way, let's look at another confusing point: will the Wii U only support one tablet controller at a time?

During Nintendo's multiplayer presentations, only one player has been seen holding the new controller while all additional gamers hold Wii Remote and Nunchuk combos. This immediately caused gamers to wonder whether or not multiple people will be able to play using tablet controllers. To add to the confusion, a Nintendo rep told CVG, "Both the controller and the console will be sold as one unit. You won't be able to buy the controller alone."

The representative also told the site that multiplayer games would be designed so that only one player can use the new controller. While this confusing tidbit can be taken to mean that the Big N will finally focus more on online gaming for core games, it also makes you wonder why they won't be pushing the new controller as the sole input for the Wii U. As much as I enjoy the Wii Remote and Nunchuk, it's strange to think that the Wii U will continue to use this combination largely instead of focusing entirely on the new controller.

Of course, the rep could have been entirely wrong, as Nintendo clarified to 1UP that nothing had yet been confirmed regarding the controller. So it's possible that more than one tablet controller will be usable with the Wii U at a time. It's also entirely possible that the former will be true, requiring all additional players to use Wii Remotes and Nunchuks.

What do you all make of this confusion? Should Nintendo allow multiple gamers to use the new controller on a single Wii U at a time? Do any of you have a problem using the Wii Remote and Nunchuk for the new console? What are your thoughts?