E3: The Nintendo Conference 2006

Nintendo showed its strength with a slick presentation that unveiled the final mysteries of Wii and finally delivered on long-promised software. Full report and all sorts of photo joy.

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Reggie went on to compare the unveiling of Super Mario 64 ten years ago, explaining how the 'new' feeling of genuine 3D control inspired the direction to offer a truly 'new' game feeling with Wii. "In the same way that Mario 64 changed everything, we asked, how do we make games that feel entirely new, all over again? This week, every one of you will feel our answer."

As for price however, Reggie said that Nintendo felt it was in the company's interest to keep the price details secret for just a "little longer", but did commit to delivering "more fun for less money" and said that we'd be playing Wii in our homes in the fourth quarter of this year.

The latest promotional sequences show the final Wii remote

Next he had to tackle the issue of 'Wii' - the name that has proved so controversial with gamers since its announcement two weeks ago. "First, we wanna thank every one who wrote good things about it the day you heard it... both of you!" The crowd lapped it up, almost as if its forgiveness and conversion was bought on preorder. "But seriously, the response didn't surprise us at all... change is good. Wii from Nintendo means just what it sounds like - 'we' - it's the sound of inclusion... it's the sound of the future." Reggie does have a way of making everything sound completely true. It's the sound of the future.

Metroid Prime 3: "most intuitive FPS ever" says Reggie

Another game line-up promotional video rolled, this time naming each game as it was displayed, with highlights including Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, Dragonball Sparking 2, Dragon Quest Swords, Disaster: Day of Crisis, Fire Emblem, Super Mario Galaxy, Tony Hawk Downhill Jam, Sengoku Action, Necro-Nesia, Excite Truck, Elebits, Red Steel, Rayman 4, Super Swing Golf, Sonic Wold Fire, Project H.A.M.M.E.R, Madden, and Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles.

But the Wii line-up also included the final anticipated GameCube title in relatively unique way. "This Legend of Zelda is by far the best Zelda game we've made - and it's also the most beautiful game Nintendo has ever made", offered Reggie. He announced that Twilight Princess would release on the same day as the new system, before welcoming NOA's Bill Trinnen and Nate Bihldorff to demonstrate how the game works uniquely on Wii. Link's movement was handled with the nunchuck's analog stick, while his arsenal of moves is mapped to the d-pad on the Wii remote. Zelda's targeting system is handled using the Z button, also on the nunchuck. "It provides a new, unique and intuitive feel to the gameplay, and that's what makes it great", said Trinnen.

Bill Trinnen and Nate Bihldorff show off Zelda on Wii

An on-screen fairy followed by a dust trail incidates the position of your Wii on screen which is ideal from a menu navigation point-of-view, but Bill pointed out that the gameplay itself is more exciting. Crates can be picked up with the A button and thrown at enemies with a quick shake of the nunchuck control. Another gameplay example unveiled one of Wii's remaining secrets - a speaker on the Wii remote itself - you can hear your bow loaded in front of your face and shoot into the distance, delivering depth-of-sound as the noise travels away from you towards the TV. "I know developers already have a lot of unique ideas about how to take advantage of this feature", commented Bill. He also offered that the game would be "probably one of the greatest Zelda games ever" which we couldn't help but note was a notch less enthusiastic than Reggie's previous analysis.

Reggie followed up on the demonstration by announcing that Twilight Princess would go on sale as two different versions - one for GameCube and one on Wii - both on the same day as the Wii launch. Moving on, Reggie explained some of the other major titles coming to Wii. "In Metroid Prime 3: Corruption - you'll not only do more running and gunning, but both the Wii remote and nunchuck controllers - each with its own motion sensor - will pump up your heart rate like never before". He described it as the "most intuitive first person shooter ever."

"Mario is back too," he continued. "His brand new adventure for Wii is called Super Mario Galaxy, and with freehand control, Mr Miyamoto has given Mario new moves he's never had before - swinging your hand to bat away objects, grab on to shooting stars with the pointer, swim through space, and skip along the stratosphere." Mario is seen navigating an outer-space game world with gravitational pull around small spherical planets, which already indicates some wild gameplay concepts when combined with the Wii control system. Graphically, the game seemed to be styled similarly to Super Mario Sunshine, but an extra layer of sheen and updated styling were both clearly evident.

Nintendo is bringing new IP to the system as well, demonstrated at the conference with three early previews of new franchises, starting with Excite Truck. "Remember how you always tilted the controller like handlebars when you played Excite Bike? Well now you're holding the steering wheel of a big damn truck, and the terrain deforms beneath you in realtime. This feels like driving." Next was Project H.A.M.M.E.R. , "swing the controller and the bad guys get nailed." And what happens if the bad guy is mother nature? "Survive or not - it's your choice in Disaster: Day of Crisis. Come feel the panic and bring the catastrophe under your control."

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Video Coverage (Latest Videos & Video FAQ)
PLEASE DO NOT DIRECT LINK TO ANY MEDIA FILE ON KIKIZO
Description	Dur.	Size	Details
Super Smash Bros. Brawl Direct feed trailer   (Wii - Nintendo)	02:35	67MB	DF, ED, 16:9 852x480p60 4.2Mbps
Super Mario Galaxy Direct feed gameplay   (Wii - Nintendo)	00:28	13MB	CAM, ED, 16:9 852x480p60 4.2Mbps
Super Mario Galaxy Showfloor gameplay 1   (Wii - Nintendo)	03:18	101MB	CAM, ED, 16:9 852x480p60 4.2Mbps
Super Mario Galaxy Showfloor gameplay 2   (Wii - Nintendo)	04:30	137MB	CAM, ED, 16:9 852x480p60 4.2Mbps
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption Direct feed gameplay   (Wii - Nintendo)	00:19	8MB	DF, ED, 16:9 852x480p60 4.3Mbps
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption Showfloor gameplay 1   (Wii - Nintendo)	02:23	72MB	CAM, ED, 16:9 852x480p60 4.2Mbps
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption Showfloor gameplay 2   (Wii - Nintendo)	02:10	65MB	CAM, ED, 16:9 852x480p60 4.2Mbps
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Direct feed trailer   (Wii - Nintendo)	00:24	11MB	DF, ED, 16:9 852x480p60 4.2Mbps
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Showfloor gameplay 1   (Wii - Nintendo)	02:54	88MB	CAM, ED, 16:9 852x480p60 4.2Mbps
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Showfloor gameplay 2   (Wii - Nintendo)	01:51	56MB	CAM, ED, 16:9 852x480p60 4.2Mbps
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Direct feed gameplay   (Wii - Nintendo)	05:36	169MB	DF, ED, 16:9 852x480p60 4.2Mbps
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Direct feed GameCube trailer   (Wii, GCN - Nintendo)	00:52	8MB	DF, SD, 4:3 640x480p30 1.3Mbps
Wario Ware Smooth Moves Direct feed gameplay   (Wii - Nintendo)	00:19	6MB	DF, ED, 16:9 852x480p60 3.3Mbps
Orchestra Direct feed trailer   (Wii - Nintendo)	00:22	8MB	DF, ED, 16:9 852x480p60 3.3Mbps
Orchestra Miyamoto demonstration gameplay   (Wii - Nintendo)	01:20	40MB	DF, ED, 16:9 852x480p60 4.2Mbps
Wii Sports - Tennis Direct feed trailer   (Wii - Nintendo)	00:19	6MB	DF, ED, 16:9 852x480p60 3.3Mbps
Wii Sports - Tennis Direct feed live demo   (Wii - Nintendo)	02:14	68MB	DF, ED, 16:9 852x480p60 4.2Mbps
Disaster: Day of Crisis Direct feed clip   (Wii - Nintendo)	00:13	3MB	DF, SD, 16:9 640x360p30 2.5Mbps
Excite Truck Direct feed clip   (Wii - Nintendo)	00:18	5MB	DF, SD, 16:9 640x360p30 2.5Mbps
Project H.A.M.M.E.R. Direct feed clip   (Wii - Nintendo)	00:10	2MB	DF, SD, 16:9 640x360p30 2.5Mbps