We've already covered what we think Sony and Microsoft need to do to dominate the water-cooler at E3.
Now, with the biggest event in the gaming calendar being less than a week away, we turn our expectant stare to Nintendo.
It's a company that comes to the show with a highly profitable console already on the table, a young handheld packing revolutionary tech and the promise of a brand new console to be unveiled in mere days.
Exciting? Yes, but there's still a lot of work to be done on Nintendo's part. Here's what we need to see if we are to crown the Mario maker, king of E3:
PROJECT CAFÉ: SOFTWARE AND SERIOUS TECH
Obviously the headline attraction of the Nintendo circus this year will be its new console, currently codenamed 'Project Café'.
We won't try and anticipate the implications of the name - there probably aren't any - because we already know a fair bit about the machine and it sounds like an attempt to net both the hardcore audience once more.
But it also comes with a controller that seems to feature every possible secondary function ever conceived by a human brain which, actually, could point towards the casual gamer just as much as the core.
An high resolution screen with touchscreen functionality, a front-facing camera and the ability to be used as a Wii sensor bar are all rumoured.
We're all for packing tech into bits of plastic but not without good reason. Project Café has to rely on much more than gameplay gimmicks. Specifically it needs all the usual franchise favourites and (for once, Nintendo) strong third-party support.
The current-gen tech spec should help attract the latter a bit more successfully this time around and, as for the rest, we'll be sold on software not more cameras.
FIRST PARTY GEMS FOR 3DS
The third point in Nintendo's hardware triangle is, of course, the 3DS. The handheld hasn't seen the sales that were expected and it comes down to the simple fact that it doesn't have the games to match its impressive 3D graphics.
The machine is just lacking the handful of big hitters it needed to draw people in. You can't sell a 3D game through the cold pane of a 2D TV so the title and the content has to do all the work.
The 3DS needs Mario, for example, it needs Zelda, Metroid, Donkey Kong and all the other massive Nintendo mascots that draw people in. There's still time, the 3DS is by no means a lost cause and, since the tech can be really special, it wouldn't take too much to snatch it from the brink.
Comments
30 comments so far...
shiwayb on 31 May '11 said:
"Similar Tech" to the Xbox 360 is not good enough in 2011, heading for a 2012 release.
I knows its Nintendo, but at least a 2 - maybe 4x performance increase over the 360 will keep it somewhat future proof...
damoxuk on 31 May '11 said:
Mario in Full HD will do it for me
And Mario in 3D will also be welcomed.
Stryker89 on 31 May '11 said:
I agree, if Nintendo truely want to appeal to hardcore gamers and make a decent impact, it needs to be significantly more powerful than the 360 and PS3. It will also need an online service at least on par with Xbox Live. I don't mind paying a subscription fee if need be, but make it good!
Also, another Mario Galaxy? Nooo no. A new Mario game for the 'Project Cafe' launch is a must, but I don't want another Galaxy game and I don't believe Nintendo does either. They made Galaxy 2 to fully realise the potential of the first game. Now that they've done that, it's time to move on to greater things.
boskersrevenge on 31 May '11 said:
Just don't f**k up the next console, please.
higgins78 on 31 May '11 said:
"hardcore Ninty fans will finally get the HD console they've been waiting for".
WTF!? I could easily be described a "hardcore" Ninty fan but haven't once this gen wanted the Wii to go HD. I have been favoring Nintendo since the NES but the reason never being "graphics", Master System arguably had better than the NES as did too the Genesis compared with the SNES. The reason I tend to stick with Nintendo and am always quick to purchase new hardware is 1 reason alone...gameplay. Other rival systems have had some great games but my highlights have always been Nintendo, be it A Link to the Past, Super Mario World, Metroid & Prime, Mario 64, etc etc etc, I could go on forever. I would actually like (it will never happen) Project Cafe to stick 2 fingers up again at its "rivals" and stay non-HD. 3rd party games I agree could do with some work but I wouldn't swap that at any time for the wealth of exclusives which keep me playing Nintendo.
charliecheswick on 31 May '11 said:
HOLD UP! I thought all reports suggested it was significantly more powerful than the PS3!?!
Laughlyn on 31 May '11 said:
Thing about 3DS is, folk forget that the DS wasnt flying of fthe shelves when it first. It wasnt until the DS Lite and some key titles to come out that it really took off. Later in teh year Ocarina of Time is out in a week or two and Mario Kart is supposed to be due out at end of summer and i think that will help lift its spirits.
At the moment tho the current games available are pretty terrible, i had a 3DS on release day with Pilotwings and Asphalt 3D and i just dont play on it half as much, i'm still churning most my life into Pokemon Black while waiting for the said Zelda and Mario Kart games. as ever tho, u can always guarantee that theres summat from Nintendo thats gonna set forums ablaze with rumour, speculation and excitement
alan666 on 31 May '11 said:
more 3DS stuff !!!!
TechnoWolf on 31 May '11 said:
Oh gawd not another galaxy game, I think we've had enough for one generation -_-'
Since xenoblade and Last story are heading our way I expect to see them during E3, also some more information and a trailer on Skyward sword would be nice.
As for project cafe...it's going to be nice to finally have some confirmed information about it.
me4pd on 31 May '11 said:
Advance Wars 3DS. I'd buy 5 copies.
originalbadboy on 31 May '11 said:
One thing Nintendo needs to do really ... turn up!
Think they have E3 in the bag this year, unless something goes very wrong
Clusks on 31 May '11 said:
I'd say for their new console they should make an entirely new Mario game instead of Galaxy 3.
treesmurf 11 on 31 May '11 said:
All I want to see is Iwata's Pull My Finger.
stealth on 31 May '11 said:
The ds and gba didnt fly off the shelves either. In fact the ds was more or less a sales flop until the lite came
revisionist history is scarey
Nintendo portables ALWAYS have third party support
The 3ds right now has more than the ds or gba did.
give it time
no more doom and gloom
"games to match its impressive 3D graphics."
this is the dumbest statement of them all
graphics are irrelevant. Give me gameplay and artstyle above all else.
graphics arent important in making solid games.
cooloneuk on 31 May '11 said:
I'm definately gonna pre-order a console once they start taking on the pre-orders. I don't care that it will be approximately the same specs as the Xbox360. The PS3 ans Xbox360 have got at least another 3 or 4 years life left in them if the companies play their cards right. It should not be all about how much guts you can put in the console, it should be what you gonna do with it.
I bought my xbox 360 for my Call of Duty and other shoot em up games cus i like that sort of thing. I bought my Wii for all the other "fun party" games etc. I love both consoles. I'm glad Nintendo did what they did with the Wii and I'm really looking forward to their next venture.
Zero_Cool on 31 May '11 said:
The PS3/360 fanboys are a bunch of elitist pricks towards the Wii. Yet, when PC gamers come on here and say just how s**te the PS3/360 are, the PS3/360 fanboys p*ss n' moan. What goes around, comes around. Assholes.
DSVIP on 1 Jun '11 said:
No please, no more mario galaxy, this is a new console, so it has to follow a new theme. I wasnt too bothered with the release of galaxy 2 since it is on the same console, but i never want to see the return of the galaxy theme.
Secondly, matching or slightly surpassing PS3 is not acceptable, is this is basically what the wii was: slightly surpassing (if not inferior) to the PS2. So i dont know why people get worked up over the next consolse having 3D, and people being in doubt that it will even be in HD at least. But hey, you cant blame them from being in doubt, its nintendo we're talking about, theyve grown to to have low expectations nowadays.
And finally, release on the aformenetioned nintendo franchises is not good enough, even if they make perfect use of 3D. The games actually have to be good and worthwhile, we cant be satisfied by just the existence of such games anymore, as was the case with wii and DS, even though they pretty much did lack in the sole existence of some franchises in the first place.
DSVIP on 1 Jun '11 said:
What i want to see is nintendo improving the quality of all their franchises, and make it appeal to everyone, not just people who whove been playing them for a long time. The ones on wii and DS are so terrible, its embarrassing to own and be playing these games, and they are games they people who dont own it dont want to play if they come to your house. And that does not mean make games more casual, thats just tonnes more embarrassing. Nintendo really need to expand their games, particularly multiplayer, so that everyone and anyone will want to play them. There is extremlely few games like that currently. The exisint multiplayer games are just really pointless, really bad, or get really boring too easily, or isnt something that appeals to most gamers.
The_Jaster on 1 Jun '11 said:
Win E3
(No that is not possible for anyone.)
You either have a great show or a horrible show.
Anyway, I think CVG are way off on the release more casual wii stuff to balance out the N6 "hardcore" approach, I think a lot of wii announcements will surprise a few people & make the console go out with a bang as wii had a cracking 2010 & a real good 2011 so far..........................so more to come I think with Xenoblade, Last story & Skyward Sword.
Plus 3DS will start to hit its stride, so all they need to do its keep their momentum up.
Cryotek on 1 Jun '11 said:
Yeah, unless Nintendo can drop a big first party title for Cafe - a Mario, probably - it's going to feel like a really empty announcement.
starsail on 1 Jun '11 said:
I would be happy if there were newer titles announced and not ports for existing games for Project Cafe. Sure the Wii has got some decent exclusives like Sin and Punishment, Little Kings Story etc but its best games are Twilight Princess (almost complete GC title), Okami (PS2 game), Resident Evil 4 (GC & PS2 title), Golden Eye (N64 remake), DKC (proper sequel to a SNES game) etc etc plus Smash Bros and Mario Kart are almost identical to their GC brothers.
The only real stand out exclusive is Mario Galaxy and Ninty made another one of those, while both awesome, they don't complete with Mario 64 (in my humble opinion) and I'd like to see Ninty return to that direction, please please please do not announce Super Mario Galaxy 3.
I will not be buying Bio Shock, Fallout 3, Oblivion, Portal 2 or Crysis again etc etc if these are all announced for Ninty's new tech (niether will the 40yo mums who own a Wii for the Fit tech), I want the quality brand originality that we are so used to getting from Ninty and I want it in quantity. The Wii lacked the punch of all Nintys fore-tech and I fell out with Ninty as a result (I know that will annoy loyal Wii owners so take on board that is just my humble opinion).
Lower the price of the 3DS and dedicate full support to it. The monies made on he Wii sales should allow Ninty to offer their full range of talent across all their platforms in bringing the best quality and therefore memories back to us loving gamers.
benji85 on 1 Jun '11 said:
I have a really bad feeling about this new console, I just hope that stupid controller with screen is not what Nintendo has gone with
milky_joe on 1 Jun '11 said:
No to Galaxy 3, it'll be something else (unless they turn that 3DS Mario game into Galaxy 3)...
Barca Azul on 1 Jun '11 said:
When Exactly did E3 become about winning?
boskersrevenge on 1 Jun '11 said:
Somewhere roughly half-way through this really bitter and picky console generation, I think.
Eclipse Dj on 1 Jun '11 said:
I take it by 'Win' you just mean have a successful show that keeps both it's loyal and casual following happy and encourages a new audience to invest in it's products.
Personally I'd like to see Nintendo offer voice chat out of the box, an improved online system with a menu hub allowing you to see friends online/what they are playing etc, an Achievements/Trophies type system maybe called Awards/Medals/Stars.
I'd like to see at least 360/PS3 and a half minimum capabilities, an advanced Wiimote+ controller and a classic/traditional controller straight out the box, instead of a sensor bar maybe something similar (but again improved) to Kinect/Playstation Eye including a decent camera and mic.
I'd like to see new IP's and some excellent 3DS games hopefully Mario 3DS and Mario Karts 3DS will blow us away!
Balladeer on 1 Jun '11 said:
1) Give us Café (not with that name - I liked Stream myself), make it blow the rumours out of the water and give us a killer 1st party game on it;
2) Put fully controllable Mario and Mario Kart for the 3DS in our hands, with tentative but realistic release dates;
3) Global release dates for Skyward Sword. Pre-Christmas, please.
4) A new IP! Nothing gritty - keep the usual Nintendo style, but give us something we haven't seen before.
5) Pokémon MMO;
6) Something to keep the "casuals" happy - Café Nintendogs/Wii Fit, perhaps?
7) No Reggie, no pie charts, no big talk - just show the flipping games.
http://media.next-gen.biz/files/imagecache/article/reggie%20fils%20aime_7.jpg
genfactor on 1 Jun '11 said:
"hardcore Ninty fans will finally get the HD console they've been waiting for"
Really? Eventhough it is nice to see them fire the first shot with next gen technology, if I cared enought about getting that from Nintendo to the point where it would hurt my gaming experience, then I wouldn't have bought a Wii in the first place. I have one of the HD twins for my HD game.
kimoak on 1 Jun '11 said:
No next Galaxy game for me. I want to see a new Mario game. Not as keen on the planet hopping as the more down to earth approatch of Mario 64.
TOKEN on 2 Jun '11 said:
At least 2GB ram,Starfox,Monster Hunter 4.