14 DAY TRIAL // Nintendo has wrapped up its E3 press conference and some really interesting announcements were made by the creator of the Wii gaming consoles. More details on each individual announcement will come soon, but for now let's take a look at the overall Nintendo showing.
There were three big games announced, all for the Wii and all aimed clearly at the casual games loving crowd. Cammie Dunaway, vice president of sales and marketing at Nintendo of America, said that "much has been reported about the 'expanded audience' for games, but what's really at play is an expanded experience. People of all ages having fun together - whether in the same room or from remote locations - puts smiles on faces and drives millions of new players into video game entertainment," showing that Nintendo intends to continue to dominate the market for social-oriented gaming.
Wii Sports Resort is a refinement of the concepts that Nintendo has already implemented in Wii Sports, which might just be the most popular Wii game at the moment. The title will become available in spring 2009, and will add such new games like Sword Play, Power Cruising and Disc Dog. The new sports related games will all make good of the newly announced MotionPlus add-on for the Wiimote. The company says that it plans to bundle the new accessory and a new, bigger Wii Remote Jacket with the game at no extra cost.
Before you get to experience the new improved gameplay of Wii Sports Resort, you'll have an opportunity to get busy with another Wii exclusive game, Animal Crossing: City Folk, the sequel to the very popular Animal Crossing: Wild World for the Nintendo DS. The new title will focus on the urban experiences that the players can enjoy, and on the social and communication related aspects of the game. WiiConnect24 will provide support for the multiplayer component, which includes bidding for items and hanging out at the Happy Room Academy. The players will also be able to go and visit the towns that their friends have created, as well as to use the new WiiSpeak microphone to chat with them.
The other big announcement Nintendo made was the unveiling of Wii Music, the company's first foray into the music simulator genre. The Nunchuk and the Wiimote will be used to simulate movements that are specific to more than 60 different instruments, from violins to drums and electric guitars. The game is expected to be available by Christmas. It seems that no microphone will be used or supported.