E3′08: Nintendo’s Continuing Revolution
These are my personal thoughts on the Nintendo E3 2008 Press Conference. A lot of this was written while watching the press conference, some added and edited after. So here are some thoughts on the press conference.
Shaun White Snowboarding: This game looks like another generic snowboarding game, but it will use the Wii Balance board so it looks like actual fun. Games like this make the balance board seem like a worthy accessory. Not much to say about the graphics, it’s Wii so you can’t expect too much. Expect this by the end of 2008.
Iwata-san’s Introduction: He reflects on his experience at E3′05 and how people were pessimistic about Nintendo. He uses this to show how Nintendo has overcome everything and is now owning everyone. He continues to mention the obvious that people are still buying games such as Brain Age, Mario Kart DS, Nintendogs, and New Mario Bros. for DS. It’s good to know that the teams behind the Mario and Zelda classics are hard at work, probably means we won’t see anything from those camps this presentation, bummer. Iwata-san continues to mention how Nintendo has done a good job expanding the audience of the Wii through Wii Sports, Wii Play, Mario Kart Wii, and Wii Fit, as well as GH3 which is apparently outselling the other platforms. That’s surprising, don’t know if it is actually true. Iwata-san concludes the introduction by saying that he is going to continue to keep Nintendo as the pioneer and keep things fresh.
Animal Crossing – City Folk video/demo: I’m not a big sim gamer so I probably won’t be picking up this game. I did rent the original Animal Crossing back when it came out in 2002 and enjoyed the time I put into it, but I am not a big fan of games with no real direction or ending. The graphics don’t look very different from the Gamecube version, but Animal Crossing never thrived off of graphics. This game does add a new accessory call WiiSpeak which allows everyone in one room talk to others in another room. If this is compatible with Brawl or Mario Kart then it is filled with win. This game has definitely evolved since you can goto your friends town and they can visit yours. I probably won’t pick this up but I’m sure fans of the original will be very pleased with this installation. Look for it in November of this year.
Sir Reginald (Reggie) Fils-Aime’s Speech: Now the moment I have waited for since this time last year, Reggie is here to give us the numbers and more of his great presentations. Numberwise it isn’t even worth mentioning because worldwide DS is the best handheld and Wii is the best home console. Big surprise. Another big surprise, apparently Pokemon has helped Nintendo out last year. A lot of what Reggie is saying is stuff already known or could’ve been reasoned. Onto the previews, which there will only be three.
Star Wars – The Clone Wars video: Well we’re first treated to a lackluster voice acting job of Yoda. The graphics look like the new movie that going to come out later this year, which I think is really ugly, but that’s not too important. Gameplay looks ok I guess, it seems like something you’d have to try first hand before rating it, but I’m going to remain skeptical.
Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party video: What can I say, the original Rayman games were made of so much win. I remember when Rayman could be mentioned in the same breath as Mario and Sonic. Too bad Ubisoft is cashing in on the Raving Rabbids, because Rayman 2 was truely in the upper tier of 3D platformers. Anyways, this game looks like it’ll be brainless fun for the fans of the original and little kids who can’t sit still.
Call of Duty World at War: I can’t say I’m too excited for this because Infinity Ward, the makers of CoD1, 2, and the recent masterpiece 4 aren’t developing it. Instead Treyarch, the team behind CoD3 is developing it. If the Wii controls actually make it more fun then I might purchase it.
Guitar Hero On Tour Decades: It looks like you can share songs with other people who don’t have the game themselves, which is very friendly for something related to the RIAA. Expect gameplay to be similar to On Tour.
Spore Creatures: Basically Maxis is putting the name Spore onto a DS cart even though it isn’t going to be the real Spore. Another way to put the Spore name out there while earning money for probably little effort. This is going to be a sim game so I have no real interest.
Pokemon Ranger (next) is coming out later this year.
Grand Theft Auto Chinatown Wars is announced for this Winter.
DS new use: Now they are testing how to make the DS a form of Yellow Pages. Mentions the Safeco Field exclusive DS baseball application that shows live clips and updated box scores of other games. Also a cookbook for the DS.
Wii MotionPlus: Reggie takes the stage again to announce the new add-on to the Wiimote which sends more precise data to the Wii, has definite potential. This would’ve been great if it launched with the Wii.
Wii Sports Resort: This immediatly shows the use of Wii MotionPlus, first with a frisbee throwing game. It’s pretty impressive how the add-on can pick up all those small movements. Looks like Nintendo has succeeded in opening a new door of innovation. Reggie immediately shows how that game isn’t manly enough for him and plays a Wii Sports version of Wave Race essentially. Reggie is pretty heavy on the wrist motion to boost the throttle. Lastly they show a sword fighting game that looks like it will be quite fun. Maybe Star Wars will implement the MotionPlus. Well the Regginator proceeds to beat Cammie’s ass, then he loses the next round (probably on purpose). I might actually pick this up because it looks pretty fun.
Wii Music: This makes me happy because I have been asking about this game pretty much since Miyamoto-san conducted the Legend of Zelda symphony to open Nintendo’s press conference at E3′06. This opens with some punk playing pretend drums, then Miyamoto-san waltzes on stage playing a jazzy saxophone tune. It seems Wii Music completes the initial batch of games Nintendo had planned pre-launch as true innovations. It seems Wii Music is really dumbed down so that no skills are requried since u only have to hold the Wiimote and pretend like you’re playing. 50 instruments are confirmed such as piano, violin, guitar, a variety of percussion instruments, along with the previously shown drums and saxophone. There are many modes including the conductor mode Miyamoto-san showed off 2 years ago. There is also a full band mode where u can record and mix videos together. They proceed to play the Super Mario Bros. main theme (not very well at that), but it looks fun regardless. Look forward to Wii Music at the end of this year, I know I’ll be picking it up.
Reggie Closing Comments: Reggie is publicly addressing the word “fad” with respect to Nintendo’s systems. He shuts down these comments and ends by saying that “Nintendo will always be searching for the Next Advantage to keep you smiling.”
MY CLOSING COMMENTS:
All in all this was an average press conference. None of the games they touched on are really what I want when I think of Nintendo. That isn’t a bad thing because there is a lot of new. Wii Sports Resort and Wii Music should be fun enough and the MotionPlus actually has potential. I have to say I am a little let down by this years press conference. Reggie didn’t have an awesome line, there wasn’t really a game for the true hardcore, and they didn’t even mention Chrono Trigger DS, which is going to be the best handheld game of all time. But in the end this just means that Nintendo has kept a lot of things quiet and next years E3 should be full of surprises. Next is Sony’s press conference, will this actually be Sony’s year? Find out my opinion soon.
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