Nintendo's E3 Press Conference Summary

Nintendo's pre-E3 press conference earlier today in Los Angeles revealed a whole lot more forthcoming goodness for Gamecube and Gameboy Advance, spanning Zelda, Mario, The Sims, Pacman, Metroid, and more - here's a summary. Don't forget to check our previous, briefer story about Microsoft's press conference, and watch out for a round-up of Sony's press event later this evening. - Gamecube and Gameboy Advance connectivity was showcased both with the Pac-Man prototype, produced by Shigeru Miyamoto, as mentioned a couple of days ago, plus a new Miyamoto-designed surprise. This is a Gamecube-based, 2D topdown multiplayer-orientated update of the GBA Legend Of Zelda:Four Swords. The hook? You must connect your Gameboy Advance as a controller, and can then move your character from the Gamecube screen to the GBA screen in order to receive secret messages and commit skullduggery that only you can see.

- there's also a new Gamecube title called Zelda:Tetra's Trackers, in which you need to run around getting stamps from pirates (!) Again, this title seems to rely on private messages being sent to a GBA controller, while in competitive multiplayer modes, for a lot of the strategy.

- Will Wright of Sim City/The Sims fame appeared onstage alongside Miyamoto and announced Gamecube and GBA versions of The Sims, with connectivity between the games. It seems Nintendo are really pushing the GC/GBA interactivity angle this year.

- Hideo Kojima also appeared to talk about Metal Gear:Twin Snakes, which we mentioned a little while back. Interestingly, it's confirmed this Gamecube exclusive is being developed by Silicon Knights, of Eternal Darkness fame.

- the version of Namco's Starfox shown also included ground-based over-the-shoulder multiplayer combat alongside conventional flight-based tussles, a cool but distinctly unexpected development.

- Resident Evil 4 seems to be exclusive to Gamecube, amongst several Capcom exclusives for GC, and there was a short video from its creator.

- Super Mario Advance 4 for GBA was announced, and it'll be a conversion of the much-loved Super Mario Bros 3.

- Factor 5's Rogue Squadron 3 was shown in video form, and it was mentioned they're working on another Nintendo-exclusive title that will be announced soon. Rumors appear to be that it's a Gamecube version of Pilot Wings.

- overlooked game of the press conference? Puzzle freaks will, uhm, freak over the Nintendo Puzzle Collection for Gamecube, including Dr.Mario, Yoshi's Cookie, and Panel De Pon (Pokemon Puzzle League, minus Pokemon), all with simultaneous 4-player modes.

- the ending highlights video included very brief preview footage of Metroid Prime 2, looking very good, as well as many of the other previously-mentioned games, including Advance Wars 2 and Sword Of Mana for Gameboy Advance, plus F-Zero, 1080 Avalanche, and The Hobbit for Gamecube. And we haven't even mentioned Custom Robo, Kirby's Air Ride, Donkey Kong Country GBA, Pokemon Coliseum, Pikmin 2, Geist, Mario Party 5 and more, augh..

If you're looking for screenshots and movies of these titles, recommendations would include Gamerfeed or IGN Cube - other good media-heavy site suggestions welcome, though.

Slashdot Games will be on the show floor for all 3 days of E3, and will be giving hands-on impressions of the biggest games in all the major booths, including Nintendo's, so keep checking the page for regular updates.

Comments

All of the All-Stars games are already on the GBA

[Xenex]

All of the Super Mario All-Stars games are already available on the on the Game Boy Advance, in some form:

Super Mario Bros is available for the Game Boy Color (and therefore the GBA) as Super Mario Bros Deluxe. It also includes the so-called "Lost Levels" (SMB2J).

Super Mario Bros 2 is available for the GBA as Super Mario Advance.

Super Mario Bros 3 is going to be available for the GBA as Super Mario Advance 4.

Super Mario World is available for the GBA as Super Mario Advance 2.

Also, the tracks from Super Mario Kart can be unlocked in Mario Kart Super Circuit for the GBA. And Yoshi's Island is also available for the GBA as Super Mario Advance 3, although it's not one of the games you mentioned.

So you can get All-Stars on the Game Boy Advance, it's just going to be spread across a lot of cartridges. You'll never see them all on one cart though - Nintendo do exist to make monkey after all.

Personally, I think there's a better option: Just play them all on my decade old SNES...

No Price Drop for Gamecube

[captainstupid]

Despite the fact that a GameCube price drop seemed imminent (many rumors were flying as well as reports from retail employees claiming to have recieved new marketing kits with the GameCube priced at $99, Xbox at $150 and PS2 at $150 - the PS2 did drop to $179), Nintendo confirmed it would not be dropping prices as reported by Gamespot.

Here's the relevant bit...

he company proceeded into a Q&A session with the press, but not before ruling out rumors of a price drop for the GameCube and reaffirming the themes of the conference--that Nintendo will grow with the times, stick to what works, and stay in the thick of the console market while continuing to focus on its systems' innovative features.

This comes as a big dissapointment to gamers everywhere (namely, me).

Re:Wow!

[Zico]

Drak, you should start following E3 more closely. Nintendo's been getting their ass handed to them. Nintendo's big stories out of E3:

1. Try harder to force the GBA-GC connector down people's throats.
2. Yay, we paid EA not to abandon the GC!
3. We're working on a successor to the GC which will be out in 2005, but really, we're still focused on the GC. Seriously.
4. You're not gonna see Mario shooting hookers, but hey, we're not a kiddie console!
5. Sure, other consoles besides the GameCube might be getting MGS *3*, but screw that, wouldn't you rather play a remake of the MGS 1?
6. And if you're still itching for a remake after RE and MGS1, we're also gonna remake...wait for it...PAC-MAN!!
7. We've got a brand new game based on Star Wars eps. 4-6!

I've got a Cube of my own, and I'm seriously looking forward to F-Zero, Super Monkey Ball 3, and yes, even Mario Kart (tho' it should be online, dammit), but I'm not the only person who's looked at Nintendo's performance so far at this year's E3 and thought, "Worst of Show, by far."