Nintendo Opens Press Conference In Style

Wow. Nintendo's press conference just started, and it's quite the spectacle. Miyamoto enters the theater with Wii controller in hand, wearing a conductor's tuxedo. He then proceeds to conduct the animated concert opening with the "Wiimote". No words, immediately jumping into game footage showing people playing Wii titles. At least, I hope they're really playing. I suppose it's entirely possible (even likely) that it's just heavily choreographed.

Reggie is talking now. More later.

Right back into game footage. Mario, Metroid, Band Brothers, Wario Ware and more. One clip showed a guy listening to the remote while playing Mario. Looks like the speaker rumor was true. The game footage is interspersed with clipsof people (read: actors) playing the games. It's perfect. This just in. Wii wins.

Bill Trinen just confirmed not only built-in rumble, but the built-in speaker in the controller as well. Specifially, when playing Zelda, sound effects from the sword, bow, and even the famous "Zelda Chime" will be heard right on the controller.

Reggie kept saying "Wii version" in reference to Zelda. Turns out that the rumors that the GameCube version would have Wii controls was wrong. There will be a specific Wii version of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, and it launches day and date with Wii.

New Franchises - Excitetruck (yes, like Excitebike), Project HAMMER, and Disaster: Day of Crisis.

Third Party Games - Hyper Sonic, Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles, Madden '07, Tony Hawk, Rayman: Raving Rabbids, Spongebob, Red Steel.

No launch numbers today, but 27 games playable on the floor. Wow.

Chatting with some friends live at the conference, they said that the graphics are notably lower-res than Xbox 360, but the consensus is that they're good enough for the experience that Nintendo is trying to create.

Much discussion of Nintendo DS. I'm surprised they didn't announce a Wii version of Nintendogs, considering how obvious that really is. They did announce The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass for DS, though, complete with touchscreen play.

Iwata just confirmed that Wii is the first console that "never sleeps", with Wii Connect 24. Wii can be downloading information even when it appears to be off, using less power than a light bulb.

Wii Sports line, including Baseball, Golf, and Tennis ... all available at launch. Wii Sports allows "Core" gamers and new gamers to compete together, "destroying the wall between them."

Surprisingly, while I expected that Nintendo would save a Mario demonstration for the end of the press conference, other than the early clips, there was little Mario to be seen. Also surprising were omissions that I thought would be likely candidates for Wii games. No Nintendogs. No PunchOut! No Luigi's Mansion 2. Ok, I'm kidding on that last one. :)

There is one last surprise, though. Here's the classic controller.

Technorati tags: Nintendo Wii Mario Zelda Metroid Madden Nintendo DS Wii Connect 24 Wii Sports Gaming