E3 2011: Wii U (Project Cafe revealed) [Update: with video]

Wii U, pronounced "We You", is the official name of Nintendo's 'Project Cafe'.

This bizarre controller that features a 6.2" HD touchscreen, dual analog sticks, d-pad, 4 face buttons, 2 shoulder buttons, a microphone, an inward camera and a gyroscope is Nintendo's newest gadget. It's meant to coexist with the Nintendo Wii.

Honestly, I have no idea what to say and where to start. Nintendo raised more questions with the reveal of this new 'console/controller'. I'll tell you what I picked up from what they showed at the Nintendo Press Conference.

You can switch you game screen from your TV to the screen on the Wii U controller. For example, you are playing New Super Mario Bros. Wii on your TV and some chotch walks in and changes the channel, you then put down the Wiimote and pick up the Wii U and continue your game from there.

Nintendo has not abandoned motion controls like we thought they would since the Wii U controller looks to be able to interact with the Wiimote. The Wii U controller can also interact with the Wii Balance Board and can even mount on the Wii Zapper.

As for it's other features. You can draw on it, play minigames on it like checkers, make video calls, browse the web, share media on the controller's screen to your TV. Sounds like iPad huh?

Now for the big news that got my blood boiling with excitement. Nintendo President Satoru Iwata mentions that Super Smash Bros. will be arriving on both the 3DS and Wii U. The final nail on my financial coffin. I've told people many times that "if Nintendo announces a Smash bros. game for the 3DS and I have no choice but to buy one".

New Super Mario Bros. Mii (yes, Mii) was announced to be a Wii U game where you can play levels are your Mii. That's pretty much it.

A very interesting part of the press conference was that Nintendo revelead that the Wii U will have some heavy 3rd party support. The likes of Ken Levine and Peter Moore were shown and then they played a bunch of trailers of games that will be coming out for the HD consoles such as the PS3 and Xbox 360.

Games such as:

Darksiders II EA / EA Sports Assassin's creed Batman Arkham City Tekken Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Online Dirt 3 Aliens Colonial Marines Metro Last Light Ninja Gaiden 3

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4e3qaPg_keg&w=560&h=349]

E3 2011: The Legend of Zelda 25th Anniversary [update: trailer]

It's Link and Zelda's 25th anniversary and Nintendo has a lot of plans for the franchise.

With the Nintendo eShop online for the Nintendo 3DS and the first virtual console game from the GameBoy line-up is The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening.

Next weekend The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D launches with an improved framerate, enhanced graphics, hint movies for those who get stuck and need a helping hand, Mirror Master Quest mode and a boss rush mode.

The DSi will be getting some love with The Legend of Zelda; Four Swords which will be available for free so keep an eye out and get it as soon as you can to play with your friends.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword will be launching this holiday season. 1 to 1 motion using Nintendo's Motion Plus for Link's sword and items will definitely be a different experience. A special gold wiimote will be released to help promote the game, possibly a pre-order bonus item?

The Nintendo Press Conference opened with an orchestral performance of tunes from The Legend of Zelda series along with a montage of scenes from various Zelda games. Legend of Zelda Symphony concerts will be happening around the world starting this fall.

An OST CD of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D will be available as a gift for Club Nintendo members who pre-order the game.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P155wBiLu4c&w=425&h=349]

Kevin Butler is back - "inFAMOUS 2"

PlayStation VP mascot Kevin Butler is back to promote the new "super-hero" action game inFAMOUS 2.

The VP of Heroic Actions talks to UltraGuy, the hero of New Metro City, about Cole's new powers and UltraGuy proposes a teamup between him and Cole.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l61Ekb8-_Uc&w=560&h=349]

E3 2011: Sony Press Conference Highlights!

Sony's Press Conference is finally done and it was....ok i guess. They've always had this kind of presentation used every year that I never really liked. Of course we all got blown away with a sick uncharted 3 Live demo, a short Resistance 3 live demo, info about the ICO and Shadow of Collosus HD version, lots of Palystation Move games, Bioshock: Infinite and presenting the sequel to the PSP, the Playstation Vita. Check out the highlight of Sony's Press Conference. - Because of the Sony PSN outage, Jack Tretton does an personal Apology about the incident.

- Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception Live demo presented. Also revealed a new trailer revealing the return of Chloe and Elena.

- Also annouced that the Beta of Uncharted 3 starts on June 28.

- Resistance 3 Live demo was presented.

- God of War: Ghost of Sparta and God of War: Origins getting HD treatment.

- ICO and Shadow of Collosus HD collection mentioned to be released on Sept of this year.

- Sony reveals their 24" 3D TV . build for gaming and ready for 3D. With the 3D enabled you can play any co-op looking as if you have your very own screen instead if sharing the screen with a friend. They also presented a bundle with Resistance 3 that includes 3D glasses and an HD cable all for $499.

- NBA 2k12 Presented with Move support. A live demo was shown with Kobe Bryant showing how to play the game with the PS Move.

- Sports Champion creators reveals a new PS Move-controlled game, Medieval Moves: Dead Man's Quest. Live demo shown.

- a new inFAMOUS 2 trailer was shown.

-Little Big Planet 2 will get updated so that you can do anything in the level creator using the PS Move.

- A new Starhawk trailer revealed.

- Sly Cooper: Thieves of Time announced. Coming 2012.

- Dust announced. an PS3 exclusive FPS title that is said to be link with EVE Online some way. Closed beta coming at the end of the year.

- a new in-game trailer for Bioshock: Infinite was revealed. Bioshock: Infinite creator working on making it Move support. Creators of Bioshock: Infinite also tease a game their working on for the PS Vita, a possible Bioshock game.

- Saint's Row 3 announced to have Move Support.

- A Star Trek game announced to also have Move Support. Trailer shown.

- EA giving exclusive content for the PS3 versions of three new games that they announced today. SSX will have an exclusive level in the PS3 version,Need for Speed: The Run will have 7 Super Cars Exclusive to the PS3 version and Battlefield 3's PS3 version of the game will include a free copy of battlefield 1947 in the Blue-Ray disc.

-PlayStation Suite announced. It's a framework that will be used to provide downloadable Playstation content for playstation devices. Devices like the PS Vita and I'm assuming their new Playstation Phone, Xperia.

- Plastation NGP officially named their PSP sequel PS Vita.

- PSN Party and Near services revealed for PS Vita.

- Uncharted: Golden Abyss announced for PS Vita. Live game demo was presented showing off the feature of the PS Vita and the game.

- Ruin announced for PS Vita. An Action - based RPG game that can also be played in your PS3 by simply uploading your save file from Vita.

- Mod Nation Racers for the PS Vita was announced. Demo was shown showcasing the features of the Vita being used to create a track. All Mod Nation Vita game owners will have access to all tracks created by players in the PS3 Mod Nation Racers version.

- Wipeout 2048 announced also for PS Vita and PS3. can be played up to 8 players with the PS Vita version linked with the PS3 version.

- Little big Planet for PS Vita announced with a trailer showcasing the PS Vita features.

- Street Fighter X Tekken announced for PS Vita. Capcom announces Cole from inFAMOUS to be exclusively in the PS Vita version. A short but sweet Live game demo was presented showing off Sucker Punch's Cole.

- Sony announces over 80 Vita titles are being developed right now from developers and producers like EA, Ubisoft, THQ, Activision and more.

- PS Vita is out this Holiday Season.

- The WiFi only PS Vita version will cost only $249 and the PS Vita with 3G is priced at $299.

Sony is done and the best highlights for me was the Uncharted 3 demo and all about PS Vita. The reveal of Street Fight X Tekken going to PS Vita was a shocker, they also added Cole into the mix making him an exclusive character. They presented a lot of PS Move games and games having Move support. Just like Microsoft, they presented the Move a lot but not as much as Microsoft's Kinect. Sadly no appearance again from Team ICO's The Last Guardian and no presentation from Twisted Metal, but they are there in E3 showing off the game.

The PS Vita is looking good and with that price range, everybody's excited for it. The Press Conference was i think better than last year. The PS Vita really saved them but they should have given sneak peaks of games coming to the Vita similar to what nintendo did with the 3DS.  hopefully those 80 Vita titles being developed actually gets ready for the Vita launch. One thing Sony should not do is have a small lineup of games on release similar to the PS3 release. Sony did well, their done and Nintendo is next and i predict that Press Conference will steal the show with the reveal of their new console.

Here's a link to the Press Conference to watch it yourself - http://e3.gamespot.com/press-conference/sony-e3/?tag=content_nav%3Bvideo%3Bsony

E3 2011: Ubisoft Press Conference Highlights!

Ubisoft's Press Conference was actually tolerable this year. No more Lazer tag announcements or a lengthy talk from James Cameron would put you to sleep. They gave us what we wanted and it's the games. But if only they put a lid on that damn host they had, jesus can't Ubisoft get a less annoying host? well at least their learning....sorta. Check out the highlights of this Press Conference now! quite the nice game reveals.

- Rayman Origins announced. Live Demo was shown.

- Driver San Francisco announced but with only a trailer revealed.

- Farcry 3 unveiled with a lengthy Live demo of its new game engine and gameplay.

- Brothers in Arms: The Furious 4 announced. Trailer only shown.

- The Adventures of TinTin was announced. Game is said to be connected with the CG movie being created by Steven Speilberg and Peter Jackson,these big names are said to be included in this game's development. A gameplay trailer was shown.

- More footage on Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier. A live demo was presented revealing that you can play the Campaign game with four players.

- Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Online announce. A PC only online game free of charge, only a trailer showing gameplay footage was shown.

- Trackmania 2 announced. Trailer was only shown.

- Raving Rabbits: Alive & Kicking announced. A Kinect game that uses augmented reality. You pretty much kick Raving rabbits right from your living room and play with up to four players. Will be out on Nov 8, 2011.

- Just Dance 3 announced. Will be supported each motion controller, the PS Move, Kinect and the Wii controller. Will be out on October of 2011.

- Rocksmith announced. A game guitar hero-ish game but with the ability to actually make you learn how to use a guitar. Really cords with a real guitar. Coming Fall of 2011.

- And Ubisoft ends with a bang, Assassin's Creed: Revelations makes an appearance. An impressive CG trailer was shown then right after a Live Demo of the game.

Well this was certainly better than last years boring Press Conference. They had a lot of nice game announcements but spent too much time with those weird presentations about what games were in the past. It was Ubisoft's 25th anniversary so they tried to make something.......errr different but just got me annoyed because of their Mr. Caffeine host Aaron Priceman. It's good to see Farcry 3 is coming, Ghost Recon: Future Soldier looks pretty good and Rayman get's a new game which is cool. Assassin's Creed: Revelations, well it just looks similar to each Assassins Creed game since 2 so I wasn't that impressed. I'm sure your all excited for the next one.

Here's a link to the Press Conference to watch it yourself - http://e3.gamespot.com/press-conference/ubisoft-e3/