Announcing a notably ambitious platform at its recent press conference, Nintendo unveiled its highly impressive, home-entertainment-centric TVii effort, underscoring a substantial advancement of the company’s family-oriented approach to gaming.

The announcement of Nintendo TVii came as a big surprise at the company’s press event, which chiefly pivoted around the disclosure of the pricing of its forthcoming Wii U console as well as it launch date.

Clearly more ambitious than the Xbox 360’s remarkable TV efforts, the Nintendo TVii will boast the capability of cross-platform search, not only via streaming-video services like Netflix, Amazon Instant, YouTube, and Hulu Plus, but also through live TV listings. Hence, TVii will bring together all of the users’ video content - including streaming, live TV, and recorded shows - into one single integrated interface

The Nintendo TVii will, thus, offer the users interactive, second-screen information on the GamePad screen; and will also have the ability to function as a remote control for controlling their home theater components, like the DVR.

Apparently, the most important driving force for the Nintendo TVii – which will also boast TiVo integration - will be the fact that it will apparently covert the Wii U GamePad into a full-fledged universal remote for the users’ living rooms; more so as the GamePad is itself capable of controlling the users’ cable box and TV, thanks to the remote commands which its sends via a built-in IR blaster.