E3 2012: Nintendo Press Conference Liveblog

10.12 - Andrew Hsieh

We see you, Nintendoland.

10.12 - Adam Sorice

Wii U(nderwhelmed). Just a bit.

10.12 - Adam Sorice

And that’s us done. No massive surprises but a lot of interesting games.

10.10 - Adam Sorice

Nintendo Wii U offers slightly odd communist future familial harmony. Anywaaaaay.

10.08 - Adam Sorice

Nintendo Land will launch at the same time as Wii U.

10.08 - Adam Sorice

Pikmin, Mario, Metroid elements in NintendoLand.

10.06 - Adam Sorice

Luigi’s Ghost Mansion feels familiar to Pac Man Vs?

10.04 - Adam Sorice

More discussion of asymmetric gameplay in relation to Nintendo Land. Luigi’s Ghost Mansion will feature Game Pad player as a ghost chasing players who can’t see them.

10.01 - Adam Sorice

MiiVerse is going to hook up with Nintendo Land.

10.01 - Adam Sorice

Also single player demoes based around Takamaru involving ninja stars and Donkey Kong something

10.00 - Andrew Hsieh

Here’s what the stage looks like, incidentally. Sort of like a Japanese game show. Except less zany.

10.00 - Adam Sorice

12 different attractions; 5 being showed this week. Zelda’s Battlequest, Animal Crossing’s Sweet Day and Luigi’s Ghost Mansion.

09.59 - Adam Sorice

NintendoLand will be the Wii Sports of Wii U.

09.59 - Adam Sorice

Katshui Eguchi on stage. Wii Sports and Animal Crossing masterman.

09.58 - Andrew Hsieh

Reggie talkin’ how Wii Tennis helped players “get” Wii. Nintendo Land will help players “get” Wii U.

09.58 - Adam Sorice

NintendoLand is many Nintendo franchises in a theme park setting.

09.58 - Katharine Byrne

Wow – Nintendo Land’s invaded the stage

09.57 - Adam Sorice

Avengers Battle For Earth featuring Spiderman, Wolverine and a very prominent shot of Scarlet Johannson’s arse.

09.57 - Katharine Byrne

Ubisoft now recycling their Wii U line up video from yesterday…

09.56 - Adam Sorice

Now we’re just seeing all of Ubisoft’s games. No surprises here.

09.56 - Andrew Hsieh

Assassins Creed and Rabbids Land being showcased. As is Yourshape and Rayman Legends.

09.56 - Katharine Byrne

Reggie: The Zombie Puppet Master

09.56 - Andrew Hsieh

Oh, Reggie being zombified by looking at at the Wii U tablet camera. “I like French food.” Run away, Poix. Run away.

09.56 - Adam Sorice

Reggie is being zombified by ZombiU

09.55 - Katharine Byrne

No wonder the papers told our athletes not to shake hands with anyone…

09.55 - Adam Sorice

Game Pad also used as a sniper reticule. The game looks incredibly flash.

09.55 - Andrew Hsieh

The Wii U Tablet being used as everything from scanner to door hacker to sniper reticule. It’s … actually pretty awesome.

09.54 - Adam Sorice

ZombiU is set immediately after the London 2012 Olympics. Just something to keep in mind.

09.54 - Katharine Byrne

Game Pad used as the inventory and area scanner.

09.54 - Adam Sorice

Zombi U: one bite and you’re dead.

09.54 - Katharine Byrne

More info about ZombiU

09.54 - Andrew Hsieh

ZombiU. So this is what was in the ad in Nintendo Direct.

09.53 - Adam Sorice

I’ve always wanted to have control over people who play Just Dance but controlling their dance moves isn’t what I had in mind.

09.53 - Andrew Hsieh

“Being the puppetmaster is kind of like running Nintendo of America!”

09.53 - Katharine Byrne

Reggie: The Puppet Master

09.53 - Adam Sorice

AT LEAST they’re playing Moves Like Jagger by Maroon 5. We like your taste, Ubisoft.

09.52 - Andrew Hsieh

Oh, Reggie is literally making the players dance with Wii U tablet controls.

09.52 - Katharine Byrne

Just Dance 4 will let the Game Pad player dictate the moves the other players perform.

09.52 - Adam Sorice

Just Dance 4 now being featured. Headdesk.

09.52 - Andrew Hsieh

Just Dance 4 on stage. Reggie isn’t going to dance? Maybe? He’s got a Wii U tablet, so there’s gonna be asymmetric gameplay involved, we’re sure.

09.51 - Adam Sorice

Yves Guillemot sauntered on and said “asymmetric gameplay” in a French accent. It was fun.

09.51 - Katharine Byrne

Ubisoft’s about to reveal their line up!

09.51 - Andrew Hsieh

Xavier Poix has got to have the coolest name ever.

09.50 - Katharine Byrne

No one’s embodied this goal more than Ubisoft.

09.50 - Andrew Hsieh

Yves Guillemot here to talk about Ubisoft. As opposed to Miibisoft ohohohoho I’ll show myself out now

09.49 - Katharine Byrne

Nintendo reinforces its goal to provide all kinds of gaming experiences – for the hardest of the hardcore and the newest of newbies.

09.49 - Adam Sorice

Now we’re talking about Ubisoft.

09.49 - Adam Sorice

Lego City Undercover coming to 3DS too.

09.49 - Andrew Hsieh

He’s not holding on to him to save his life in that screenshot, by the way. He’s interrogating him. I’m telling you, this guy’s crazy.

09.48 - Katharine Byrne

Starring the “legendary” Chase McCain – who just went down a Mario pipe.

09.48 - Adam Sorice

Lego City Undercover looks suitably comedic. It’s a strong little franchise by the looks of it. Great voicework/animation too.

09.48 - Andrew Hsieh

09.48 - Katharine Byrne

Looks like it’s full of traditional Lego humour…

09.47 - Katharine Byrne

You can use the Game Pad to scan buildings!

09.47 - Andrew Hsieh

I almost thought this was going to be a Grand Theft Auto in Lego mode, but I suppose that would have been crazy.

09.46 - Katharine Byrne

Or Lego City: Undercover, apparently

09.46 - Adam Sorice

Lego City coming to Wii U in an open world experience involving the Game Pad. “Lego City Undercover”

09.46 - Katharine Byrne

Lego City Stories incoming…

09.45 - Andrew Hsieh

And Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance, of course.

09.45 - Adam Sorice

Third party games coming to 3DS – Castlevania (we know about it) (looks good though) Epic Mickey 2, Scribblenauts Unlimited for 3DS, Kingdom Hearts 3D (ancient news Nintendo). And that was it? Eek.

09.45 - Andrew Hsieh

Third-party time. What’s up, y’all? Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate, Disney Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion, Scribblenauts Unlimited.

09.45 - Katharine Byrne

Third party games coming in tomorrow’s broadcast.

09.44 - Adam Sorice

Luigi’s Mansion 2 this holiday season as well.

09.44 - Katharine Byrne

Multiple mansions and mission based objectives. You won’t be able to beat all these new ghosts unless you devise the right battle strategy – coming this holiday.

09.43 - Adam Sorice

Luigi’s Mansion 2 on 3DS featuring multiple mansions with mission based modes.

09.43 - Katharine Byrne

Luigi’s back and more spooked than ever!

09.43 - Andrew Hsieh

All this action “begins at launch, this holiday season.” Scott seemed a little hesitant at the end. Hmmmm…

09.43 - Adam Sorice

Paper Mario: Sticker Star coming to retail and digital distribution this holiday season.

09.43 - Katharine Byrne

Arrives physically and digitally this holiday season.

09.43 - Andrew Hsieh

Reminder that 3DS games are coming out digitally as well.

09.42 - Katharine Byrne

Stickers become battle commands in Paper Mario: Sticker Star. They can also reveal new ways to escape danger or help you find hidden items.

09.42 - Adam Sorice

Paper Mario to be surrounded on stickers. Not real ones. In-game stickers.

09.42 - Andrew Hsieh

Stickers collected by pulling off scenery, then they become battle commands.

09.42 - Andrew Hsieh

Paper Mario: Sticker Star has got, well. Stickers.

09.41 - Adam Sorice

Paper Mario now being featured. Paper Mario: Sticker Star.

09.41 - Katharine Byrne

Release date of August 19th 2012

09.41 - Andrew Hsieh

Game full of coins. Reminiscent of the Force Gems back in Four Swords Adventures.

09.41 - Adam Sorice

That’s a LOT of coins.

09.40 - Adam Sorice

First onto New Super Mario Bros. 2 featuring Golden Mario. “All about the gold”?

09.40 - Andrew Hsieh

New 2D Super Mario for 3DS. New Super Mario Bros. 2. Huh.

09.40 - Adam Sorice

Reminding us of the separate 3DS conference. All the fun!

09.39 - Andrew Hsieh

“A couple of minutes? Where’s the love?”

09.39 - Andrew Hsieh

Scott Mofitt, EVP of sales and marketing, now on stage to talk about 3DS.

09.39 - Adam Sorice

Now onto 3DS.

09.38 - Adam Sorice

Party vibe with SiNG as opposed to exclusion of Singstar like. Could be good.

09.38 - Andrew Hsieh

There’s dancing, too!

09.37 - Andrew Hsieh

Wii U gamepad displays lyrics on new Karaoke game, “SiNG.” Ad makes it look vaguely awkward.

09.37 - Adam Sorice

New musical game called “SiNG” for Wii U. Exclusive. Everyone gets involved apparently. Looks… differently.

09.37 - Andrew Hsieh

… “Call Me Maybe” is playing. Loud.

09.36 - Adam Sorice

Seems like Wii Fit U comes with a pedometer. “Fit Meter”

09.36 - Andrew Hsieh

Did Wii U always indicate how– oh, hello, uploading runs from pedometer to Wii Fit U.

09.34 - Andrew Hsieh

Wii Fit U– where Reggie can get his feelings hurt, again and again.

09.34 - Adam Sorice

Wii Fit U coming to Wii U. New peripheral apparently coming.

09.34 - Andrew Hsieh

That was Reggie’s joke, y’all. This man.

09.34 - Adam Sorice

We’re talking about Wii Fit now.

09.33 - Andrew Hsieh

Reggie saying people laughed at him when he was on the Wii Balance Board. We’re sorry for–PAHAHAH HIS BODY WAS READY

09.33 - Adam Sorice

Montage of games we already know about Tekken; Ninja Gaiden but Mass Effect 3 is a big scoop!

09.32 - Andrew Hsieh

Trine 2 and Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge. Aliens Colonial Marines. They just keep comin’.

09.32 - Andrew Hsieh

Tank! Tank! Tank! from Namco Bandai. And TEKKEN Tag Tournament 2!

09.31 - Adam Sorice

Mass Effect 3 coming to Wii U!

09.31 - Andrew Hsieh

Whoa, Mass Effect 3 on Wii U!

09.30 - Adam Sorice

“Help Maxwell by using the most powerful tool in his world: YOUR IMAGINATION”. Oh jeez.

09.30 - Andrew Hsieh

Maxwell looks like he wants a lady friend. Yes, we’ll be talking about his biography in Scribblenauts Unlimited.

09.30 - Andrew Hsieh

Showing a dude making a “Auto Mutt,” customizing how it looks on the Wii U tablet. It’s a dog with vehicle body– literally– and a Mohawk.

09.29 - Andrew Hsieh

Aw, look at that. Scribblenauts Unlimited: graphics look way better, but if they didn’t, this wouldn’t really be deserving of HD, would it?

09.29 - Adam Sorice

“Scribblenauts Unlimited” coming to Wii U. Looks pretty.

09.29 - Andrew Hsieh

5th Cell head Jeremiah Slaczka here to talk about history of Scribblenauts. Only this game can make adjectives interesting.

09.28 - Adam Sorice

Scribblenauts appears to be heading to Wii U.

09.28 - Katharine Byrne

Scribblenauts news incoming!

09.28 - Andrew Hsieh

Scribblenauts!

09.28 - Andrew Hsieh

Can use Wii U tablet to grab things from Batman’s inventory on the fly. Also to explode the gel separately. That’s gonna be useful.

09.28 - Katharine Byrne

“The most immersive Batman experience has arrived.”

09.27 - Andrew Hsieh

Newly designed Remote Batarang with Wii U tablet controlling its movement. Reminds me of the Beetle from Skyward.

09.27 - Katharine Byrne

Real-time item swapping via the Game Pad.

09.27 - Katharine Byrne

Players can use Game Pad to enable a new BAT mode to dole out more damage.

09.26 - Andrew Hsieh

“B.A.T. Mode”– during combat, Batman absorbs kinetic energy, in-game we assume. Then the Wii U gamepad can make him more powerful. Hm.

09.24 - Katharine Byrne

Official name is Batman Arkham City: Armored Edition

09.24 - Andrew Hsieh

Martin Tremblay from Warner Bros. onstage now. “You’re going to start experiencing Arkham City in a new fantastic way.”

09.24 - Adam Sorice

Batman Arkham City Armoured Edition coming to Wii U.

09.24 - Andrew Hsieh

Harley Quinn kind of, um, this is creepy, but she’s talking to Reggie. “I think it’s good to have Harley here, I’m not so sure.” — Reggie

09.24 - Adam Sorice

Warner Bros head honcho hitting the stage. Diabolically embarrassing Harlee Quin intro there.

09.23 - Katharine Byrne

Batman: Arkham City appears!

09.23 - Katharine Byrne

Four players can use Wii Remote to race through the level and a fifth player can help put blocks in the level with the Game Pad.

09.23 - Adam Sorice

Players can be supported by others on the Game Pad helping out with levels.

09.23 - Andrew Hsieh

“Boost Mode” is what happens when four people use their Wii Remotes while another person uses the touch screen to put blocks on the way to help players through levels.

09.22 - Adam Sorice

Yoshis will feature in NSMBMU. Four player action as well obviously. Something new called “boost mode”

09.22 - Katharine Byrne

Looks like there’s a new suit – Flying Squirrel Mario?

09.22 - Andrew Hsieh

Also, the return of Baby Yoshi! No sign of cape feather.

09.22 - Katharine Byrne

Mario’s stompin’ some goombas that turn into smaller goombas

09.22 - Andrew Hsieh

Every time I hear “oh yeah” or any of other various things Mario says, I just think about how much of a racket Charles Martinet must be making.

09.21 - Adam Sorice

New Super Mario Bros. Mii U will feature Miiverse integration. It’s what we saw in the Nintendo Direct. “New real time social window that opens up right as you’re playing”.

09.21 - Andrew Hsieh

New Super Mario Bros. U sounds like a sensible enough name, we suppose. Reggie says he’s going to brag about his high scores on Miiverse. Us, too.

09.21 - Katharine Byrne

New Super Mario Bros. U announced

09.20 - Andrew Hsieh

Reggie discussing common gamer thought: “I want [Wii U games] to be just like Mario’s always been, but I want it to be better.”

09.20 - Andrew Hsieh

WHO’S THE OLD FRIEND REGGIE oh Mario hi Mario

09.20 - Andrew Hsieh

An old friend? Who?

09.19 - Andrew Hsieh

Reggie talking about speech bubbles– simple text messages, illustrations, etc. that can appear on Miiverse. Also, screenshots.

09.18 - Adam Sorice

We’re going over Miiverse now.

09.18 - Adam Sorice

Two Game Pads is exciting. We also had a preview of the tablet controller. It has trigger buttons at the back!

09.18 - Andrew Hsieh

Reggie mentions Miiverse, a few questioning “woo?”s. C’mon y’all, it’s interesting.

09.17 - Andrew Hsieh

Looking at this thing wobble reminds me of Super Mario 64‘s opening Mario-putty thing.

09.16 - Andrew Hsieh

Mmm, black Wii U pad. Hello there.

09.16 - Adam Sorice

TWO GAME PADS SUPPORTED BY WII U

09.15 - Andrew Hsieh

“Asymmetric gameplay:” putting one player in a solitary goal, pitting him against everyone else … what’s he gonna talk about? Oh, two separate gamepads. Woo!

09.13 - Andrew Hsieh

The revolution is, uh, Hulu, YouTube, and Netflix. Hm.

09.13 - Adam Sorice

Wii U will revolutionize your living room. Netflix, Hulu, YouTube. They’re really pushing this.

09.13 - Andrew Hsieh

Reggie: “At its core, Wii U does three different things: it changes your gaming, it changes how you interact with your gaming friends, and it changes the way you enjoy your TV. It’s not just intuitive, not just accessible to everyone, but it stands to revolutionize your living room.” Do you wanna use that word again, man? (Apparently.)

09.12 - Adam Sorice

Wii U has three pilars, games, social and entertainment

09.11 - Adam Sorice

23 Wii U titles on stage today.

09.11 - Andrew Hsieh

Nods and yeahs all around as Reggie says “it’s all about the games.”

09.11 - Adam Sorice

78,000 viewers.

09.11 - Adam Sorice

No release date. Reggie is now on stage. “I feel just like a purple Pikmin” LOL

09.10 - Andrew Hsieh

Miyamoto making comments re: depth of “lighter games.” Also, he just took out a Red Pikmin from his suit jacket.

09.10 - Adam Sorice

Purple and White Pikmin not featured but stone guys are there.

09.10 - Adam Sorice

Pikmin is an example of a deeper game as opposed to lighter gameplay.

09.08 - Andrew Hsieh

Oh, in fact, Olimar won’t be present at all! “The reason for that is a secret.” Oh dear.

09.08 - Adam Sorice

Can be controlled just using the Game Pad too. You can control four characters at once, four Olimars.

09.08 - Andrew Hsieh

Looks like Pikmin 3‘s got up to four leaders– Olimar isn’t alone anymore.

09.08 - Adam Sorice

Pikmin will use nunchuk, remote and Game Pad. Game Pad will show map of area. Much deeper strategy in game.

09.08 - Katharine Byrne

It will use Wii Motion Plus too to aim Pikmin more accurately. Game Pad will be used to show an overall map.

09.07 - Adam Sorice

New type of Pikmin: Stone Pikmin. Also Pikmin can find materials to build bridges etc.

09.07 - Katharine Byrne

A new Pikmin type – rock Pikmin!

09.06 - Katharine Byrne

They’ll find materials to build bridges.

09.06 - Adam Sorice

Looks gorgeous. Brilliant visuals. Been ten years since the first game. Wii U hardware allows more specific movement of each.

09.06 - Katharine Byrne

Red, blue and yellow Pikmin are just chilling on a branch…

09.05 - Katharine Byrne

Pikmin 3 appears on screen!

09.05 - Adam Sorice

Pikmin 3 on screen.

09.04 - Adam Sorice

Wii U Game Pad on stage in fancy black sheen.

09.04 - Adam Sorice

It’s been six years since Wii. Wii U couldn’t be dependent on the television to be an entertainment device says Miyamoto.

09.04 - Katharine Byrne

A year after Wii was launched, Nintendo decided their next console couldn’t be reliant on the TV.

09.03 - Katharine Byrne

Pikmin are appearing all over the place!

09.02 - Katharine Byrne

Miyamoto welcomes everyone – intending to talk about Pikmin.

09.02 - Adam Sorice

Miyamoto heading on stage right now. Looks like Pikmin going to be up first; stage covered in leaf graphics.

09.02 - Katharine Byrne

Will Nintendo be followed out on stage by a hoard of Pikmin? We’re about to find out!

09.01 - Adam Sorice

Pre-video for the show. Miyamoto and all Pikmin in his dressing room.

09.01 - Katharine Byrne

Pikmin are playing in Miyamoto’s dressing room…

09.01 - Katharine Byrne

Here we go!

08.59 - Adam Sorice

Kotaku just got name dropped. WHERE IS OUR LOVE WENDY?

08.59 - Adam Sorice

Today is going to be “all about the games”. For Wii U obviously. Also, Nintendo has the best fans apparently. Holla at us.

08.59 - Katharine Byrne

Yep, Wii U games today; 3DS tomorrow in a separate broadcast.

08.58 - Adam Sorice

Reggie, Miyamoto and other developers going to feature.

08.58 - Adam Sorice

And the feed is go. Pre-recorded interview with a shiny man.

08.57 - Katharine Byrne

And we’re live!

08.56 - Katharine Byrne

And that number just keeps growing – 33,000 now.

08.54 - Adam Sorice

There are currently 28,000 people on Nintendo’s live stream of the conference. No wonder Kevin and Andy in LA have zero bandwidth to cover the event, all that pumping out of one theatre.

08.51 - Katharine Byrne

Mass Effect Trilogy for Wii U? I hope so!

08.49 - Adam Sorice

Obviously they know lots of things we don’t. Like how to speak German for one. But you get the idea.

08.49 - Adam Sorice

But what games? Apparently the official German Mass Effect Facebook page told fans to watch today’s conference from Nintendo. Do they know something we don’t?

08.47 - Katharine Byrne

I reckon it will all be about the games today. 3DS is being sidelined into another conference, so prepare for a wave of Wii U goodness!

08.46 - Katharine Byrne

Good morning everyone! I’ll be joining Adam today as co-host!

08.44 - Adam Sorice

I’m kind of intrigued as to what exactly Nintendo will be announcing today. After their pre-E3 presser and now the announcement of a 3DS conference tomorrow, they must have a *lot* of news.

08.39 - Adam Sorice

Right, twenty minutes to go. Can feel the anticipation/tech panic mounting!