Nintendo E3 2011 Press Conference

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• Skyward Sword orchestra.

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• Miyamoto in front of the orchestra.

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• Twilight Princess on 3DS.

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The new gold Wii remote.

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Nintendo is also preparing two music CDs: the Ocarina of Time soundtrack, which will be free to the first group of gamers who register the game, and a CD highlighting the Zelda Symphony concerts.

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For the last 25 years, Zelda has been supported by an incredibly large development team, Miyamoto says, with 200 internal Nintendo developers working on the series.

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Donkey Kong's sweet new ride.

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Fils-Aime said 1993's StarFox made people feel like they were flying in 3D, but says StarFox 3DS does the 3D for real.

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Super Mario 3D for 3DS.

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Kid Icarus multiplayer.

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Finally, Reggie moves to talk about "the first brother of video games," and a trailer runs for Luigi's Mansion 2.

Luigi once again has his vacuum as he explores a haunted house, sucking in coins and getting startled by ghosts.


Luigi's Mansion 2.

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A montage shows Mario and Sonic, Ace Combat 3D, Tetris, Cave Story 3D, Resident Evil Revelations, Driver Renegade, Pac-Man and Galaga Dimensions, Tekken 3D, Metal Gear Solid Snake Eater 3D, and more.


Metal Gear Solid Snake Eater 3D
Fils-Aime said the library of 3DS games on the way is unprecedented. He says the eShop will open up the system like never before, and said demos will arrive on the system later this year.

The demos will be for downloadable or retail games.

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He talks about Virtual Console for 3DS, saying console titles will be arriving for it in addition to the Game Boy and Game Boy Color re-releases.

He mentions 3D Classics Excitebike, then teases the biggest download news for 3DS: Pokemon.

For the first time, Pokemon will spring to life "not only in 3D, but also in the real world," Fils-Aime said.

Pokedex 3D will start with 16 Pokemon registered. For players to complete the Pokedex, they will need to use SpotPass, get them from friends, or scan AR markers to get them.

Users will be able to superimpose their Pokemon on their photos, save the images to an SD card, and share them on PCs with their friends.

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The new Wii U controller.



The Wii U controller in action.


Up until now, he says home console games have had to occupy the TV screen to be played. But with a 6.2-inch screen on Wii U controller, there's no need to stop playing the game when somebody wants to watch TV.

It's backwards compatible with Wii controllers and accessories like the Balance Board.



Zelda on the Wii U.

The device is designed to appeal to all users, especially traditional gamers, who will appreciate the twin 3D pads, D-pad, two shoulder buttons, twin triggers, microphones, accelerometer, camera, and gyroscope. The controller also has a speaker on it.

However, Iwata said it wasn't designed to be a portable game system.

The images on the screen are generated by Wii U and wirelessly transmitted without latency.

Nintendo decided on the new structure for Wii U because it wanted to create a strong bond between players and the games and the Internet.


Could this be the next Zelda?


That can include web browsing, with players using the controller to find images to share on the big screen, or Web chatting on it instead.

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But the most important thing for gamers is to see how that structure can be incorporated into gameplay, and Iwata introduces a trailer of Miyamoto offering insight on the hardware.

Miyamoto said he's looking forward to new styles of play, and adds there won't be a shortage of ideas on how to use the system.

He stresses repeatedly that there will be numerous ways to play games on Wii U.



Miyamoto explaining the benefits of the Wii U.

New smash bros title announced for both 3DS & Wii U

Iwata said new ideas are popping up one after another. A few months ago, he explained the concept of Wii U to Kid Icarus designer Masahiro Sakurai, and they discussed if his next game should be for 3DS or Wii U.
His idea was to make a new Smash Bros. for both systems, which draws a large cheer. The games will work together on both platforms "in some fashion," Iwata says.


A new tech demo for the Wii U.

An high-definition trailer runs of a bird flying around a Japanese temple. Trees bloom, soft music plays, and the bird carries a flower in its beak, dropping it over a pond where fish dart around in the water.
The trailer ends, and Fils-Aime talks about how the new controller could change things.

He talks about a conceptual idea called New Super Mario Bros. Mii, where players' Miis play alongside Mario. There's also Shield Pose, where players use the controller like a shield to protect themselves from pirate arrows.


Chase Mii.

Next is Chase Mii, where the player with the new controller gets a birds-eye view on the four Wii Remote users trying to catch them. That same idea was used for a new kind of shooter, with Wii Remote users sharing a splitscreen on the TV as they try to shoot down a UFO. The player with the new controller is the UFO, trying to take out the planetary defenses.

Fils-Aime stresses they are all just prototypes, not actual games. However, he said Traveller's Tales will bring Lego City Stories to Wii U and 3DS.


Lego City Stories for Wii U.
It appears to be an open-world take on the Lego games. It's time for another montage, with various publishers talking about how excited they are for the system.


5th Cell's Jeremiah Slazcka, Irrational's Ken Levine, EA Sports' Peter Moore, Disney's Warren Spector, EA's Frank Gibeau, THQ's Danny Bilson, and more talk about it.

Ken Levine is bringing a new game to the Wii U.

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Tekken Wii Successor, Darksiders 2, Batman: Arkham City, a new Assassin's Creed, Ghost Recon Online, and more are confirmed for the system. Codemasters' Dirt is next, followed by Aliens Colonial Marines.

Ghost Recon Online gameplay is shown, then there's a clip of Metro Last Light from THQ.


Tekken on the Wii U.

Namco's Tekken is next, with a clip showing some character customization as players scribble on Jin's face and tailor an icon for the back of Lars' jacket.

Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge is next, which draws some applause.


Now that's a lot of blood for a Nintendo press conference.
There's a bit of a focus on gore in some of these clips.

Fils-Aime says everything people will see this week is just a first pass, and there's a lot to look forward to when it arrives in its final form. Iwata returns to his "deeper" and "wider" keywords, then invites Electronic Arts' John Riccitiello to the stage.


EA is a big fan of EA's new console.

Riccitiello and talks about a breakthrough in the relationship between Nintendo and EA. What Wii U delivers speaks directly to fans of EA Sports and EA Games, he says. Imagine a game that takes all the interface of Madden off the big screen, or a shooter like Battlefield 3 on a Nintendo system with a breakthrough controller and online functionality that allows players to participate in a global community.


Battlefield 3 on the Wii U?

Imagine those experiences being extended to mobile, social networks, and the Web. Riccitiello says Wii U is transformational, and says it will be driven by an unprecedented partnership with Electronic Arts.
He then leaves, and Fils-Aime comes back to wrap things up. Each is unique, but he says they share a common pedigree in innovation.

This week, Fils-Aime says E3 attendees will have the chance to hold the controller in their hands. The experience continues now for those at the Nokia Theatre as well as those watching online. Attendees here will be able to check out Wii U at the LACC, and those watching online can check out the Nintendo Network, Fils-Aime said.