The words "Nintendo" and "competitive gaming" usually do not belong together in the minds of most gamers. The company is aiming to change that with the announcement of two Turtle Beach headsets for Wii U, its next-generation gaming console.

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First, and less expensive, is Turtle Beach's Ear Force NLa headset. Offering "high-fidelity stereo game audio and crystal-clear communication in a sleek, lightweight, and durable design," according to Turtle Beach, the headset plugs into Wii U and also works with Nintendo DS and 3DS. The headset costs $30 and will be released this holiday season, perhaps alongside Wii U.

Second, and more expensive, is Turtle Beach's Ear Force N11. In black, the headset offers "acoustically angled 50mm speakers" and a "lightweight headband and breathable mesh ear cushions" that the headset manufacturer says will allow for comfortable, extended gaming sessions. It also launches this holiday season.

The headsets have a simplistic single-color design with the Turtle Beach logo and headset number on ear cups. A microphone is attached to the left cup. Nintendo is not bundling the headsets, unlike the route Microsoft took with the Xbox 360 headset.

Nintendo is clearly aiming for the core audience with titles like Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 arriving on the console and Platinum Games' Bayonetta 2 an exclusive. While the headsets are nod towards competitive gaming, consumers may be hesitant. Audiophiles are likely to balk at the low price. Turtle Beach's strong-selling X11 headset is as low as $71 on Amazon, yet provides good quality audio for entry-level headsets.

Wii U launches November 18 in the U.S.

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