Story Tools: PRINT | Text Size: S M L XL | REPORT TYPO | SEND YOUR FEEDBACK

E3: Nintendo is smug – but with good reason

Tuesday, July 15, 2008 | 04:24 PM ET

By Mathew Kumar, Special to CBCnews.ca

LOS ANGELES - Still riding high on the continuing buzz surrounding the Wii following the recent launch of Wii Fit, and with the Nintendo DS still performing strongly thanks to recent hits like Guitar Hero: On Tour, Nintendo opened the first day of E3 proper from a position of near unassailable strength. Nintendo didn’t have anything to prove, and as a result it held a press conference that was both infuriatingly smug and embarrassingly awkward.

While some games on offer underwhelmed, Nintendo showed some titles that shined with innovation and polish.

Snowboarding fans might be excited for Shaun White Snowboarding, a newly announced Ubisoft title that uses the Wii Fit balance board to recreate the snowboarding experience, but it was an incredibly flat start to the conference. An appearance from Shaun White didn’t make it any more exciting - perhaps thanks to the cringeworthy performance from Nintendo’s vice-president of sales and marketing, Cammie Dunaway.

2.jpg
Nintendo's Reggie Fils-Aimé introduces Wii Sports: Resort.

Thankfully Nintendo’s CEO Satoru Iwata was charming as always, joking at Wii Fit’s expense that five years ago Nintendo’s staff could never imagine that they’d be “shipping millions of bathroom scales across the world,” and promising that the Mario and Zelda development teams were hard at work.

But it wasn’t until Nintendo started showing its first party titles that the “magic” that has made the company a success became apparent. The latest title in the Animal Crossing franchise, Animal Crossing: City Folk was announced, and while it was surprisingly similar to previous incarnations, the new addition of online features was welcome – especially with the surpise announcement that the title would include the WiiSpeak peripheral, a microphone that sits near the Wii’s sensor bar and allows players to (for the first time on the Nintendo Wii) talk to each other.

Nintendo’s other new accessory, the MotionPlus that was announced yesterday, didn’t disappoint in demonstrations. Due to ship with new Wii Sports Title - Wii Sports Resort – the MotionPlus does truly seem to allow the Wii to understand the exact position of the Wii Remote in 3D space, and the demonstration of three of Wii Sports Resort’s games – Frisbee catch, jet skiing and sword fighting - was not only exciting for the Wiimote’s new potential, but looked incredibly fun.

3.jpg
Nintendo's Cammie Dunaway plays Frisbee with her Wii puppy.
(Mathew Kumar)

Of course, curmudgeons (myself included) must complain that this is clearly functionality that should have been included with the Wii Remote in the first place. And now we’ve seen what the Wii is capable of with the MotionPlus attached, it’s going to be pretty hard to make do with the current Wii Remote until Wii Sports Resort ships next spring.

(The author is a Canadian freelance writer blogging for CBCnews.ca from the Electronics and Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles.)

« Previous Post | Main | Next Post »

This discussion is now Open. Submit your Comment.

Comments

Carolyn

Animal Crossing: City Folk looks like the coolest game EVER.

Posted July 16, 2008 07:33 AM

Cait

ott

I haven't bought a video game system since the SNES in 1994, but if this MotionPlus meets it's potential, I could be tempted back...

Posted July 16, 2008 01:09 PM

Monkey

Winnipeg

Looks interesting enough, I like it how Nintendo is so out of the box with their games, its ridiculous.

As for the old SNES, mine doesnt seem to work anymore, probably thanks to the mistaking of a PB&J sandwich for a game cartridge :D

!!PEANUT BUTTER JELLY TIME!!

Posted July 17, 2008 09:18 AM

« Previous Post | Main | Next Post »

Post a Comment

Disclaimer:

Note: By submitting your comments you acknowledge that CBC has the right to reproduce, broadcast and publicize those comments or any part thereof in any manner whatsoever. Please note that due to the volume of e-mails we receive, not all comments will be published, and those that are published will not be edited. But all will be carefully read, considered and appreciated.

Note: Due to volume there will be a delay before your comment is processed. Your comment will go through even if you leave this page immediately afterwards.

Privacy Policy | Submissions Policy

Story Tools: PRINT | Text Size: S M L XL | REPORT TYPO | SEND YOUR FEEDBACK

World »

UN raises fears of civil war in Syria video
Syrian government forces renewed their assault on the rebellious city of Homs on Tuesday, activists said, as the UN human rights chief raised fears of civil war.
Moody's downgrades Italy, Portugal, Spain
Ratings agency Moody's Investor Service on Monday downgraded its credit ratings on Italy, Portugal and Spain, while France, Britain and Austria kept their top ratings but had their outlooks dropped to "negative" from "stable."
new U.S. gets 1st hard look at future China leader
Washington gets its first hard look Tuesday at Xi Jinping, the man destined to lead China in the coming decade, during which the global powers probably will see their economic ties grow.
more »

Canada »

Mandatory gun sentence struck down by Ontario judge video
An Ontario Superior Court judge has struck down a mandatory minimum sentence for a first offence of possessing a loaded firearm.
HMCS Corner Brook collision damage extensive video
The damage done to HMCS Corner Brook when it hit the ocean floor off B.C.'s coast last summer was more extensive than first reported, CBC News has learned by obtaining exclusive pictures of the submarine.
photos O Canada! 12 Flag Day stories of patriotism
Ahead of tomorrow's Flag Day celebrations, our readers shared some of their proudest Canadian moments. Here are some of the best.
more »

Politics »

Online surveillance critics siding with child porn: Toews video
Critics of a bill that would give law enforcement new powers to access Canadians' electronic communications are aligning themselves with child pornographers, Canada's public safety minister says.
Canada dropping the ozone ball, scientists warn
Leading atmospheric scientists are warning that Canada's cuts to its ozone monitoring program are already having effects on the world's ability to monitor air quality and ozone depletion.
NDP leadership race heats up with conflicting polls
The sleepy NDP leadership race has heated up with the release of competing poll results and a surprise endorsement from the late Jack Layton's mother.
more »

Health »

Chronic fatigue may be reversed with exercise
Taking it easy is not the best treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome, rather exercise and behaviour therapy are, a large study finds.
AT&T buys T-Mobile USA for $39B US
AT&T Inc. said Sunday it will buy T-Mobile USA from Deutsche Telekom AG in a cash-and-stock deal valued at $39 billion US, becoming the largest cellphone company in the U.S.
Milky Way home to 50 billion planets: NASA
Scientists have compiled the first cosmic census of planets in our galaxy: at least 50 billion planets are estimated to call the Milky Way home.
more »

Arts & Entertainment»

Whitney Houston's body now at N.J. funeral home video
Whitney Houston's body has been flown from Los Angeles to New Jersey, where her family is making arrangements for a funeral at the end of the week.
Tintin in the Congo ban tossed by Belgian court
A Belgian court has rejected a claim that Tintin in the Congo is racist and tossed a request to withdraw the controversial comic book.
CBC digital music service launched video audio
CBC is diving into the world of online music with the goal of providing listeners access to their favourite tunes, and a way to discover new artists and connect with fellow music fans.
more »

Technology & Science »

Online surveillance critics siding with child porn: Toews video
Critics of a bill that would give law enforcement new powers to access Canadians' electronic communications are aligning themselves with child pornographers, Canada's public safety minister says.
Canada dropping the ozone ball, scientists warn
Leading atmospheric scientists are warning that Canada's cuts to its ozone monitoring program are already having effects on the world's ability to monitor air quality and ozone depletion.
Ban Wi-Fi in classroom, Ontario teachers union urges
The Ontario English Catholic Teacher's Association says computers in all new schools should be hardwired instead of setting up wireless networks, citing safety concerns.
more »

Money »

Moody's downgrades Italy, Portugal, Spain
Ratings agency Moody's Investor Service on Monday downgraded its credit ratings on Italy, Portugal and Spain, while France, Britain and Austria kept their top ratings but had their outlooks dropped to "negative" from "stable."
U.S. bank reforms could hurt Canadians, Flaherty fears
Canada's finance minister and the governor of the Bank of Canada have formally complained to their American counterparts that proposed banking reforms could harm Canadian banks, business, investors and the government itself.
Air Canada in talks with pilots as deadline nears
Air Canada says that talks with the union representing 3,000 pilots are scheduled to continue this week and it remains confident a work stoppage can be avoided as a key deadline approaches.
more »

Consumer Life »

Honda recalls Fit subcompacts
Honda Canada says it will recall 14,640 of its 2009 and 2010 Fit subcompact cars to replace lost motion springs.
U.S. travel fee proposal criticized by Harper
Prime Minister Stephen Harper says he doesn't think much of a new border tax that's being proposed by the United States, calling it a cash grab designed to help a budget crisis.
Bell class action suit approved by Que. court
A Quebec Superior Court judge has authorized a class action lawsuit to go ahead against Bell Mobility.
more »

Sports »

Scores: NHL NBA

Canucks' shootout win moves team closer to West lead
Ryan Kesler scored the shootout winner Monday as the Vancouver Canucks continued their bid for the Western Conference lead with a 2-1 win over the Phoenix Coyotes. David Booth scored the Canucks' regulation goal and again in the shootout as the team closed to within two points of the idle Detroit Red Wings atop the West and have a game in hand.
Hurricanes snap Canadiens' 4-game win streak video
Jaroslav Spacek scored in his return to Montreal as the Kirk Muller-led Carolina Hurricanes snapped the Montreal Canadiens' four-game winning streak with a 5-3 victory on Monday.
Bruins goalie Thomas posts Coolidge quote to Facebook
Boston Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas posted a quote from former U.S. president Calvin Coolidge on his Facebook page Monday, the latest in a string of messages that have brought attention to him.
more »

Diversions »

[an error occurred while processing this directive]
more »