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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.
- 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.
This makes either the GBA or the GCN the first console to host two Metroid titles.
No, that would be the Dreamcast.