Nintendo’s conference wasn’t horrible, but it wasn’t amazing, either.  And I was really wanting it to be amazing.  It was dedicated almost entirely to Wii U, with 3DS receiving an honorable mention. A full 3DS software showcase is planned for the the following day (today, actually). More videos and information can be found at e3.nintendo.com.

Highlights

• Pikmin 3

  Will be launch title.  Can target different parts of enemies for deeper strategy.  Olimar is pointedly missing but 4 other “leaders” are present, allowing you to control 4 different groups.

• New Super Mario Bros. U

  Boost mode allows GamePad player to generate blocks for other players to use.  Grab an acorn and you get the squirrel suit & baby Yoshis.

• ZombiU

  One bite and you’re dead. After dying, play a different character, encounter your previous character as a zombie, get your stuff back.  Or maybe one of your friends’ zombies. GamePad is used really well, love the idea of permadeath. Kotaku has more info.

• NintendoLand

  Will be launch title.  Collection of 12 different “attractions” (minigames) involving franchise crossovers. Half of them will be multi-player focused, the other half will be single-player focused. This will most likely demonstrate and showcase the Wii U GamePad, just as Wii Sports did for the Wii remote. Video.

• LEGO City: Undercover

  This was a big surprise for me. Open-world GTA-like kid-friendly LEGO game that actually looks really fun. 🙂

• Scribblenauts Unlimited

  Create and name your own objects, share, and modify friends’.

Wii U Sizzle Reel

• Dark Siders II
• Mass Effect 3
• Tank! Tank! Tank!
• TEKKEN Tag Tournament 2
• Trine 2: Director’s Cut
• Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge
• Aliens: Colonial Marines

Casual

• Wii Fit U

  Uses the existing 43 million balance boards from Wii Fit (I sold mine). Works with new pedometer peripheral. New activities.

• SiNG

  Karaoke for Wii U. In one hand, singer holds GamePad in vertical position and lyrics scroll on GamePad’s screen, mic in other hand. Dancer is shown on screen, everyone can try to follow dance. When lyrics appear on TV screen everyone is supposed to sing.

• Just Dance 4

  Use the GamePad to control what appears on the TV screen.

3DS News

• New Super Mario Bros 2

  Aug 19, So many gold coins, even gold Mario. Raccoon tail (from SMB3) is back – crowd cheered at that footage. 2-player co-op on and coin-rush mode with scores passed via streetpass.

• Paper Mario: Sticker Star

  Trailer. Stickers are used as power ups. In stores and as digital download this holiday.

• Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon

  Trailer. In stores and as digital download, this holiday.

3DS Sizzle Reel

• Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate Trailer
• Disney Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion
• Scribblenauts Unlimited
• KINGDOM HEARTS 3D: Dream Drop Distance

Other

• Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Video, YouTube confirmed
• Wii U supports up to 2 GamePads, but the framerate will be impacted.
• Wii U GamePad has rumble, volume control on GamePad adjusts volume of GamePad or TV
• White Wii U available at launch, black Wii U (quite sexy) available some time after.