Nintendo E3 2011 Conference Talking Points

The conference began with a full orchestra, which played some of the most memorable songs from the Legend of Zelda games, celebrating the franchise's 25th anniversary. Scenes from the various titles, including Wind Waker and Link to the Past played on the large display. The montage ended with scenes from the upcoming Skyward Sword and its accompanying theme song.

Shigeru Miyamoto was the first on stage, and he introduced memorable music and sound effects from the Zelda games, played by the publisher's live orchestra.

Nintendo's eShop wlll be offering each of its Zelda titles for download to commemorate the anniversary, beginning with Link's Awakening for the Virtual Console. On next weekend, the Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time will launch for the 3DS.

The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords will be made available as a free download in September for the Virtual Console.

Skyward Sword will be available this holiday season on the Wii. The game, Shigeru Miyamoto says, is finally done. The game will be launched with a gold Wii-remote for the game as a separate peripheral.

Miyamoto announced that The Legend of Zelda orchestra will be making its way around the world during the fall. The publisher is also preparing two CDs: the Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time 3DS soundtrack, and an orchestrated album released in conjunction with skyward sword.

Miyamoto ended the section of the presentation with a group bow consisting of him and the other minds behind the Legend of Zelda series.

Satoru Iwata, Nintendo's global president, was next on the stage to talk about how the boundaries that once separated, segregated and defined gamers have been broken thanks to Nintendo's achievements in the industry.

Iwata believes that the studio's new home platform will offer deeper experiences and wider appeal than even the Wii, allowing players to see gaming in a different way.

The next home console will be released next year, in 2012.

In the meantime, several of the franchises will be moving into 3D on the Nintendo 3DS, including Mario Kart, Starfox, Super Mario, Kid Icarus, and Luigi's Mansion.

Mario Kart 3DS

The new Mario Kart 3DS will offer full 3D graphics, with a number of new features, like the hang glider, submersibles, big-wheels and the ability to trick out your vehicle with new parts. Mario Kart will race into stores this holiday season.

Star Fox 3DS

The new Star Fox game for the Nintendo 3DS will allow you to play with traditional controls, or allow you to use the system's new gyroscopic features to use the 3DS like a steering. It will be available in September.

Super Mario 3D

This is the first 3D Mario game created from scratch for a handheld console. The game plays from various axonometric perspectives. The game will be released before the end of 2011.

Kid Icarus: Uprising

Kid Icarus: Uprising will be an action adventure game that looks a lot like God of War with a lighter touch—a Demigod of War, if you will. Additionally, Uprising will have full multiplayer support with 3 on 3 multiplayer action.

Luigi's Mansion 2

Luigi's Mansion will be making a strong return in this long awaited sequel. Suck dem ghosts, Luigi. Forget Mario, Luigi's Mansion 2 is an entirely new game and not a revision, featuring not just one but several new mansions. Luigi's cleaning up an entire neighborhood in this one.

Nintendo ended the segment by presenting a montage of its library of 3rd party games on its device.

Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D
Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympics
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

Nintendo 3D Pokédex

Owners of the Pokemon Black and Pokemon White are familiar with the Pokedex. Nintendo will be making an enhanced 3D version of the Pokedex for the Nintendo 3DS platform for free through its online store. The application will come with 16 registered 3D Pokemon, and others can be collected through Streetpass, trades and scanning in special cards. Each Pokemon can be superimposed into real world backdrops thanks to the Nintendo 3DS' augmented reality camera.

Nintendo just announced its new system, and it will be called the Nintendo WiiU. The WiiU will come with an entirely new controller that features a touch-screen as well as regular controls. It's mini tablet and a controller all in one, and comes with gyroscopic, augmented reality interfacing with your TV, and Nintendo devices like the WiiFit.

The concept behind the WiiU is to allow gamers to play "free from TV."

Additionally, the device is equipped with a camera for internet video conferencing. It can also beam what's on your WiiU to connected TVs, much like Apple's AirPlay feature.

A single game was teased on the new Nintendo WiiU: an unnamed Legend of Zelda HD title.

The device is backwards compatible, and can support Wii controllers, the Wii steering, the Wii Fit, the balance controller and a variety of other Nintendo peripherals.

Specifics

The device carries a 6.2" monitor, with a plus pad, two circle pads, and the addition of L and R buttons. The WiiU also includes a touch screen, a microphone, speakers, accelerometers, a gyroscope, and inward facing camera.

Just as with the Nintendo 3DS, the device was created to support the widest variety of games from hardcore gamers to casual users.

The WiiU isn't designed as a portable device, and is instead meant to be used as a home entertainment system with a full screen TV. The device can be used for web browsing, sharing videos and photos, enjoying video chat on the controller, and is described as a "new structure for home entertainment."

The WiiU will have to remain within distance of a stationary console attached to your TV.

Nintendo WiiU Launch Titles

Super Smash Brothers for both 3DS and WiiU

The first game announced for the Nintendo WiiU is a new Super Smash Brothers title, which will run on both the 3DS and WiiU, and work together in "some fashion."

LEGO City Stories

The LEGO City Stories by Tt Games will be developed for the Nintendo WiiU as an open world game, packed with action, humor, and LEGO vehicles. It's basically Grand Theft Auto: LEGO.

If you were skeptical of its launch lineup, look no further than the following list of titles, which will be making their way onto the device upon its release in 2012: