After a very long night covering Microsoft's and Sony's E3 megatons, we've dragged ourselves out of bed, rubbed the salt out of our eyes and marched straight back into video embed hell for arguably the biggest conference of the show.
Nintendo's E3 press conference kicks off at 17:00pm BST this afternoon, and as with the previous platform holder press conferences you can watch it streamed live right here on CVG (or on Nintendo.com, if you prefer).
Alongside the live stream we'll also provide our unique brand of commentary on this very page for those who don't have a friend to chat about Mario with (we know the feeling). Stay tuned - it's going to be massive...
This is the big one; Nintendo's real chance to own E3. We want Project Cafe magic, Mario and 3DS to get a new lease of life. But what do YOU want to see?
Some Nintendo facts popping up on screen. It's very blue. So far, pretty similar to 2010.
"Life's waiting to begin," sings power punk American music over the speakers. Damn right. This is probably a famous band. We are old.
Stuff is happening. Exciting times. Tension is high.
There are two massive screens either side of the stage. We're expecting demos on these. The main centre screen is asking questions about Nintendo, Konami and more.
Yoshinori Ono's is milling about. His shirt is not exciting as it was at Sony's conference. But he's here. We only have eyes for Reggie this morning, though.
Getting impatient now. Expectations rising. Fact is, E3 2011 will have been a bit of a damp squib if Nintendo doesn't smash this one to bits.
Oh yeah. We're kicking off. Strings being played. Choral singing in front of us. And bloody Link. YES.
Proper history of Zelda happening on screen. Good stuff.
More than just strings. Full orchestra. No expense spared.
This is kind of brilliant. Going on a while. But balls out stuff. It's a movement! (We haven't known what one of those is in days. All the US red meat.)
While whoops. Then Miyamoto. More wild whoops.
"Last year was the 25th anniversary of super mario. This year, it's Zelda. Game has evolved with each new hardware... and so has the music." Shigsy calls orchestra - which was playing Skyward Sword theme - "exhilerating".
Orchestra playing Zelda chime and other famous sounds from the game, like opening a treasure chest. Bit niche, but nice nonetheless.
Starting today, Links Awakening will be available in GameBoy Color line-up from new e-store. Available around the world by day's end.
Legend Of Zelda Four Swords free download in September "we hope you'll gather all of your friends togather."
SkyWard Sword coming this "holiday season" around the world. "It's finally done," jokes Miyamoto.
Special gold Wii Remote will also be available as a promotion when the game launches.
Miyamoto says he's playing it every day. "Most satisfying Zelda experience of any game in the series."
Zelda concerts being played around the world in the autumn/fall.
Ocarina Of Time soundtrack CD and Zelda compilation coming this year.
A lod of Nintendo veterans out on stage, including Zelda producer Aonuma.
Ben Folds music greets Iwata on stage. "Changes in who plays, who plays and where we play."
Teasing detrails of new console. Coming later this morning... Wants to 'serve every player'.
Reggie now. Five new 3DS games coming. Mario Kart is one, we think. Luigi's Mansion. Nice.
"We hear you. You want what you've always wanted, but you also want something new... Contradictions come with the territory."
Customisation options in Mario Kart, a "tricked out version". Coming this holiday.
Star Fox 3D announced now. Can tilt the 3DS for control, or use traditional buttons / pad. 3DS camera puts your faces in the game. Believe that was a September release.
Now a brand new Super Mario. "This is the first 3D Mario adventure created from scratch for a portable system."
Kid Icarus gameplay video. Forgot about this one a little bit. No date: "Coming soon!" 3v3 multiplayer.
Wow. Luigi's Mansion 2 for 3DS footage. Surprise.
It's here: The Wii U.
"Up until now, home console games have to occupy the TV screen. 6.2-inch screen built into controller. You won't need to give up your gameplay when someone else comes into the room."
It seems to do everything. A girl has just played golf using the screen as a sensor. Bonkers.
Touch screen, two thumbsticks. It's what we thought, only better.
Wii U games to play in LA this week. Reggie's going to tell us what they are.
Eight different "interactive experiences". That means mini-games.
Prototypes says Reggie.
"New Super Mario Bros Mii". Tasty.
LEGO City Stories from TT Games is one game that can be announced. Erm. Huh?
Big developer support. EA, 5th Cell, Namco, Warner.
Wow. Arkham City, Assassin's Creed, Ghost Recon Online, Darksiders II.
DiRT, Aliens: Colonial Marines.
This. Is. Hardcore.
Riccitiello's on stage from EA. Battlefield!
So there you have it. As we predicted. It only does everything... and more besides.
Comments
52 comments so far...
me4pd on 7 Jun '11 said:
You went to bed during the run-up to e3? Thank goodness we don't have to subscribe!
TOKEN on 7 Jun '11 said:
Just watched Sony E3 and it was good but you know what Its time for the big one,come on Ninty this is what E3's are all about new console hardware.
Blow us all away....
jubbgi01 on 7 Jun '11 said:
It's Angels and airwaves. Tom from blink-182's other band.
potnoodle1 on 7 Jun '11 said:
I'm expecting good things from this one. Nintendo, amaze me!
MattyR95 on 7 Jun '11 said:
I hate this translation stuff, sounds like they're just trying to talk over each other.
bazz2k on 7 Jun '11 said:
Boring so far!! Mariokart looked decent! 3DS is pretty rubbish though! Bring out the new console already!! And mario looks like mario which is a good thing!
Balladeer on 7 Jun '11 said:
This bit's flipping tedious. The 3D Pokédex really isn't as interesting as Reggie seems to think. The rest of the 3DS bit has been great though, and flying in Skyward Sword!
infamous76 on 7 Jun '11 said:
not impressed with any conference thus far - please Ninty save us all
Imaduck on 7 Jun '11 said:
Failname
f**k sake it's just the same thing with a lunchbox with a screen on it!
BLARRG on 7 Jun '11 said:
OMG!
potnoodle1 on 7 Jun '11 said:
New controller looks pretty cool but seems rather expensive.
Imaduck on 7 Jun '11 said:
Apparently it comes with an "axelroamer"! Just what I always wanted!
BenJy on 7 Jun '11 said:
Christ this is terrible.
Imaduck on 7 Jun '11 said:
What the hell is it?! I mean we see all the Wii stuff, then current gen games with their E3 trailers for the other consoles. ...... I'm totally lost
lonewolf2002 on 7 Jun '11 said:
Colonial Marines with the motion tracker being displayed on the handheld screen might be good.
TOKEN on 7 Jun '11 said:
i dunno about this,wtf.
PandyBear on 7 Jun '11 said:
So, this controller is the console itself, or what?
Would i be right in saying that it'll weigh more then my Gamegear?
kimoak on 7 Jun '11 said:
Battlefield 3?!? Looking at some of these games in development is causing a bit of a dilemma for me as a PC owner.
beensprout on 7 Jun '11 said:
eh? i dont understand. the first demo games they showed for the Wii U were wii graphics. terrible. but then they showed trailer which were in HD and loooked almost as good as ps3.
?? so can it play wii games? and this thing is just a new controller for the wii?
if so... where do you put the HD disks for the wii U ????
euanb123 on 7 Jun '11 said:
There's a lot of unanswered questions, however, a console that can support Nintendo games and the likes of Battlefield 3 in a completely unbastardised manner is a day-one purchase in my book.
Imaduck on 7 Jun '11 said:
Seriously, what a disaster of explanantion. For those asking: yes, there's a new console. It's not just the screen thing. Beyond that, I have no f**king clue.
TOKEN on 7 Jun '11 said:
i feel gutted.
Codename4p on 7 Jun '11 said:
This is going to sound stupid but is it a contoller for the Wii or Hardware with a Built on Controller? Is it a portable device? Or is it only for home use? Does it use Discs? Or is it just downloads? This is what I don't know, cause they haven't said a f**king thing about it? Its HD, but is it a console, a controller or a combination of the two! Cause seriously it doesn't make sense!
I only ask this question because there is a Wii on the side of the TV's in the demos. It appears to be Turned On. So as a first look, is it just a controller for the Wii allowing anyone to play whatever the hell they want all the time? Or is it a new system?
Either way they Win E3.
Malmo on 7 Jun '11 said:
Everyone's getting all excited about the games coming out and its like hello? they'll be on the ps3 and 360 anyway, and probably be pretty much the same thing.
Really not sure what to make of the wii u, i don't really wanna be looking at my controller all the time whilst playing a game, and the whole thing just looks like its gonna be uncomfortable playing regular games. Having had a wii, and all the nintendo handhelds going, they've really gone backwards for me, 3ds doesn't impress me at all, especially not compared to the vita, and the wii which i got at launch turned into a waste of money (thankfully not too much though!).
Nintendo's E3 officially leaves me feeling HMMMMMM....
decays on 7 Jun '11 said:
Unconvinced. The dreamcast VMU didn't take off and the controller is about ergonomic as a brick, and probably similar weight. Battery life and cost will be an issue. Want to attract hardcore gamers back by annoucing a lego title? The trailer graphics didn't look beyond ps3/360. Still, the sexting possibilities are interesting...
potnoodle1 on 7 Jun '11 said:
Hmm. Not much to get excited about it seems. The new console itself wasn't shown (Wii U, awful name, just awful!) just the controller. I take it they haven't finalised the hardware then? Being backwards compatible with the current Wii controllers makes it that the new one isn't essential for it, which means it will be pretty pricey as controller go. It did seem like a pretty nifty piece of kit however. A proper version of Sony's streaming PS1 games from the PS3 to PSP.
As far as games go, pretty disappointing offering for the Wii and 3DS, but then not much was actually shown. Kid Icarus is looking pretty nice though. Surprised Starfox on the 3DS is taking so long!!
Metagen on 7 Jun '11 said:
Weak. Not much else to say really. Well I guess there's still some hope
euanb123 on 7 Jun '11 said:
Kotaku just posted a screen grab of the actual console, it looks very similar to the Wii but it's clearly a new machine.
http://kotaku.com/5809482/the-is-the-first-picture-of-nintendos-new-console-the-wii-u
StonecoldMC on 7 Jun '11 said:
You know, Nintendo just blew the competition away!!!
Missed the first 30 minutes getting back from work, but Jebus H Christ, the Wii U really does look like it could be the Future.
I was always Nintendo growing up over SEGA, then the PS1 came out and I kind if switched over to Sony, still had the N64 and Gamecube along with my Sony machines, then the Xbox came out and I kind of switched again.
Only thing ill say right now is, I'm back Nintendo, if you'll have me?!?!
potnoodle1 on 7 Jun '11 said:
Is that official? I find it odd that Nintendo wouldn't have shown it themselves in the conference, and in the demo video's there was clearly a Wii sitting besides the TV instead.
euanb123 on 7 Jun '11 said:
I may have just fanned rumour flames here but IMO it looks too good to be a mock-up. I'm hitting the refresh button like some demented slavering idiot.
Felly117 on 7 Jun '11 said:
"lets go cycling" "yeh cycling Awesome!"
No GTA 5
boskersrevenge on 7 Jun '11 said:
I am confused.
http://images.icanhascheezburger.com/completestore/2009/3/27/128826716086921034.jpg
bazz2k on 7 Jun '11 said:
What a load of crap!!! It was ok at best and shows some potential but an appalling conference!
flyfletch on 7 Jun '11 said:
Good controller, looks like its just a wii with a new controller, not gona buy this,, i was hoping Nintendo where about to give me a reason to come back to them, totally outdated hardware isnt it......terrible
potnoodle1 on 7 Jun '11 said:
Well the picture is posted up on CVG now so you're probably right. I personally think it looks like the first iteration of the XBox and really Nintendo could have revealed it themselves in the conference and saved a hell of a lot of confusion.
Balladeer on 7 Jun '11 said:
I missed the last bit of the conference - I take it I didn't miss much?
Quite frankly I can't see what everyone's complaining about. They've got a killer line-up for the 3DS. They've got a Zelda with flying for the Wii. And they've announced a new console with what looks like the controller to end all controllers (assuming it's comfortable and not too heavy, which at the moment look like they could be problems). No we don't know much about it, and yes it did start off looking rubbish, but that's just to rope the casuals in. I'm sure th actual console has more power than that. And Smash Bros.
Did it win E3? As a Nintendo fanboy, I have to say... who gives a flying f**k? I loved it. That's what matters.
boskersrevenge on 7 Jun '11 said:
EA hinted at putting Battlefield 3 on it. So it's at least capable of that.... still, I am old and easily confused
rbt2 on 7 Jun '11 said:
Same here.
I've got a headache now.
euanb123 on 7 Jun '11 said:
Exactly, they did a crap job of explaining it. As far as I could gather it's like the Wii U controller will be backwards compatible with Wii, and the new console will be the one pumping out awesome stuff like Aliens: Colonial Marines and Battlefield 3
but even then, I'm not so sure. Being a lifelong Nintendo fan and seeing third party support like that has pretty much made my day.
cult on 7 Jun '11 said:
The usual fare but in better definition is not the future of gaming infact its the past, infact its nintendo's back catalogue yet AGAIN just DSed and 3Deed.
Ninty's new console, Wii u be any good?
I am sure it will be a success for the nintendo fans but what is the point in this new home console for us PS3 and 360 owners, we get the same multiformat games minus the pad, i am sure the ps3 and vita will be equally adept.
Its ironic that 3rd party creativity and sequels to games that you (wont touch any other system hardcore) have been turning your nose up at for the last 5 years are now coming to nintendo with such hutzpah.
Are these games even nintendos demographic?
No mention of price, genuine tech specs or launch?
There was nothing there that I wasn't expecting or haven't seen before and frankly depending on launch price and date too late for the current party.
Lets just put this E3 behind us eh and move on. Sony was the most impressive this year and i expect both sony and Microsoft can resist the next gen for another 2 years if need be.
A bit of a non starter for me,
I came I saw I meh'd.
StonecoldMC on 7 Jun '11 said:
In what way was it a load of crap
?
The console itself won't be out until late next year, probably? So it wasn't expected that we would get the console itself onstage or even see proper Games in action, that's what E3 2012 will be for.
Nintendo are between a rock and a hard place, they have the 'casual' audience already and they want to win back the 'core', for me, personally, they have done this.
It will all be speculation and conjecture until we see it ALL in action and I'm afraid that won't be until next year but as an optimist, ill look at my glass half full
.
Fr33Kye on 7 Jun '11 said:
Your inability to understand how the internet works astounds me, but i think nintendo might have a winner. Good thing it wont come out till next year. What we need is a gaming drought.
Michael622632 on 7 Jun '11 said:
They do seem to be focusing more on core players now than with the Wii but I can't see any reason to buy WiiU when I already have a PS3. So far they've shown no games that interest me that I won't be able to play on PS3 in 2011. With regards to the controller, I'm not sold on it yet. I can see that it has a lot of potential but so did the original Wii and Kinect and as of yet I don't think they've been fully taken advantage of, also it looks kind of bulky and uncomfortable. I suppose it has just been announced though so I'll wait to see what other games they've got to show.
originalbadboy on 7 Jun '11 said:
Nintendo FTW! ...
You can never count them out thats for sure!
Roll on 2012
KippDynamite on 7 Jun '11 said:
It looks interesting, that's for sure, but at the end of the day I already own a couple of machines capable of playing all of the games they showed. And I am extremely sceptical of this controller. They have made a new controller every generation - there is a reason that the dualshock has basically stayed the same for 16 years, and the dualshock is actually pretty similar to a SNES controller.
feeg86 on 7 Jun '11 said:
Wow, Wii.5
Keep on shelling out the same old stuff time and time again...
I think I'm done with Nintendo.
mike_mgoblue on 7 Jun '11 said:
I posted this comment in another spot too, but I think it belongs here as well. Nintendo's press conference was a bit disappointing. I expected the release of a new console to cause Nintendo to easily win this year's E3. But that didn't happen because most people walked away confused. It was also disappointing to realize that rather than seeing "next-gen" graphics, we were seeing graphics that weren't as good as Xbox 360 or PS3 -- as was proven in the Tekken game.
Conspiracy is my blog where I explain all of this in detai. I've already explained the specifications of the Wii U (formerly known as the Wii 2). I also rate each the E3 press conference of each company. If you want to see who the winner is, please take a look and share your thoughts. Everyone here is intelligent and I respect what you have to say. That's why I'd like to hear from you on my blog at http://www.controversy.typepad.com/videogamenews
Solm on 7 Jun '11 said:
Maybe Nintendo are doing the opposite to what they did with the Wii. Remember they showed the console first way back when and then later they showed the wii remote. Maybe they are showing the remote first this time around and going to show the console at a later date.
Skullet on 8 Jun '11 said:
Oh dear, that didn't go well.
So after all the excitement we get a console thats on par with current gen consoles in terms of performance. But in a typical Nintendo rinse and repeat fashion they have tried to distract us with a gimicky controller, only this time it looks like a cheap tablet PC with a resistive touch screen.
Overall the presentation was rather confusing, and any potential wow factor was completely lost in the "WTF is it" factor. Its great that it'll have more core games, its just a shame you'll have to play them on a controller the size of a 16 bit console.
euanb123 on 8 Jun '11 said:
I had a read of the article, decent stuff. It'd be awesome if you could return the favour
ricflair on 8 Jun '11 said:
Sorry, but the hardware specs are rumour (although I similar to PS3/360 looks about right) and your analysis of E3 rated MS's conference as an 'A', Sony as a 'B' and Nintendo as a 'B-'!
I'm not saying Nintendo's was the best (it was for me) but an A for MS???