E3 2008 Roundup - Nintendo Press Conference

Nintendo held their conference the next morning with over 1000 people in the audience. But, like Microsoft, Nintendo announced some major news just prior to the event. They unveiled a new accessory for the Wii remote control, called the Wii MotionPlus adapter. It plugs in to the bottom of the remote and more accurately renders a player's movement in 3D space, allowing for better response time in the actual game.

At the actual conference, three major announcements were made concerning Nintendo DS: Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars will debut this Fall exclusively on Nintendo DS along with Guitar Hero: On Tour Decades. And new details emerged on Spore Creatures, which is more story-based than its online contemporary, Spore. While we're on the topic of "sim" games, Animal Crossing: City Folk will allow players to create their own worlds, write letters to other players, and participate in live auctions. It will also feature WiiSpeak, a microphone attachment that can be used by multiple people at once and can facilitate communication amongst other Wii owners.

Nintendo also announced the successor to Wii Sports, called Wii Sports Resort, that will be released in the Spring of 2009. The game utilizes the Wii MotionPlus adapter and will feature Frisbee, jet skiing, and fencing among others. But this game might have been overshadowed by another newcomer to the Wii Series. I'm talking about Wii Music, which will feature over 50 instruments, including violin, piano, and trumpet, that can be played using the Wii Remote, the Nunchuk, and the Wii Balance Board. Players will also be able to record and showcase their best performances.

Wii MUSIC

Personally, I've never been too keen on Nintendo's bubbly graphics and limited story lines (in fact I haven't actually purchased a Nintendo console since the Super Nintendo), but even I'll admit that the Wii has revolutionized game play. Add that to Nintendo's legions of loyal fans and it's no surprise that the Wii has surpassed the Xbox 360 as the top selling console in North America, despite coming out a year later.

Next: Sony Press Conference >>
 

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