Nintendo Press Conference> Reggie is speaking to the group in SF right now.
Showing off the Nintendo DSi to the US press right now. Looks to be about the same size as the DS Lite. Flash storage is built-in. Downloadable games are now possible. DSi shop.
Some of the first games available will be redesigned versions of the two brain age games.
Includes a camera and music functionality. Reggie says "you have to understand that we didn't set out to create the world's best camera or the world's best media player. "What we wanted to do, what will be the sould of DSi will be new forms of entertainment."
The DSi has two different cameras. One will face forward acting in a typical camera fashion, the other points back at the user. You can combine picutres. You can add graffiti options. Photos can be inserted into a daily diary or share with other DSi users. "We think of this as a fully interactive camera for your everyday life."
Songs will be stored on a SD card. The DSi will use the AAC format.
The DSi has built-in software which allows user control of speed, pitch, etc. You can use audio filters to do things such as removing vocals. You can record your voice through the mic. All this software is built-in.
The screens are slightly larger, but physical footprint is the same. It is somewhat slimmer than current DS Lite.
THERE IS NO GBA SLOT! DS games only.
Can play sound at larger volumes.
UPDATED version of Opera included in DS ROM.
The DSi WILL NOT ship in the US into "well into 2009."
On Nov. 1, 2008 it will be Japan only.
Reggie says, "Last year we sold more DS hardware than had ever been sold on a hardware platform in any calendar year, " and claims they are on track to beat last year's numbers by 22%. 116 million households in the US, and Nintendo Of America has sold 22 million DSesm while Japan has sold 23 million DSes into 46 million households in Japan.
Wii Storage> You will be able to purchase and download directly to SD card. The process of moving games from SD<->Wii will become way easier.
"We are selling hardware at rates that no system has ever experienced." says Reggie, but there will be significantly more units of both DS and Wii into the October - December holiday period this year.
Today it is all about the games.
Cammie Dunaway - EVP Sales and Marketing -- just took the stage.
Punch-Out!! for the Wii
<demo video plays>
Call of Duty - World at War
MadWorld -- Black and white. Use all sorts of weapons to attack enemies.
Dead Rising: Chop Til You Drop -- "The Wii remote takes zombie bashing to a whole new level."
The Conduit (Q1 2009) -- Alien forces descending on Washington DC. Exclusive first party shooter coming to the Wii. Developed by High Voltage Software.
Showing a live demo now. third level of the game in a cold war bunker. Later than the PAX build. Currently in pre-alpha. Majority of the single player content is complete. Focus is currently on multiplayer. All Seeing Eye device will reveal hidden geometry (hidden areas, traps, invisible enemies, etc.). Currently running 16 players simultaneous. Deathmatch, Team DM, CTF. Pentagon, Oval Office, Library of Congress, Jefferson Memorial, 15 enemy types in the game. Enemies are mostly aliens. Showing off detail mapping so that walls (and other textures) don't look super blurry when you get up close. Light maps, dynamic lights, interactive water with reflection and refraction. Depth-of-field.
Wii Music > Over 50 songs, over 60 different instruments.
They are demoing the virtual violin right now.
You hold the nunchuck in your extended left hand and then hold the WiiMote upside down in the right hand, pressing on the trigger to apply "pressure" as you pull the "bow" across the strings. Demo guy is playing a classical version of the SMB theme. Now he is switching to an Acoustic Guitar. Swap trigger for A button earlier. You can play chords and double pick. Switching again to bagpipes (at audience suggestion). Raise and lower to increase and decrease bagpipe volume.
Oh, it has a cowbell and a beatboxer.
Two guys are now on stage for a demo jam. Ukulele and Violin are being played. They have a bass guitar, a guy clapping, a jazz drumset and a nes boy in background. The "band" is now playing the SMB theme song.
Animal Crossing: City Folk - Avail Nov 16
Wii Fit - They have a professional trainer on hand to demo Wii Fit.
Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party -- Uses the Wii Fit balance board. You control the game with your ass. Yes, literally. You control it with your ass.
Sin and Punishment 2 (for Wii) -- This WILL be released in the US for Wii due to the large number of downloads that the VC console version of the original Sin and Punishment got.
"You're not going to have to import it." --Cammie Dunaway
<demo video plays>
Switching to NDS games.
New Series. -- Personal Trainer. 3 titles - Walking, Math and Cooking
Personal trainer Cooking is avail Nov 24th.
Rhythm Heaven - Avail 1st Half 2009 -- Tap the screen in time to the music.
Now four "hardcore" titles.
- Age of Empires Mythologies (THQ) -- Avail Nov 2008
- Tecmo Bowl -- Avail Nov 2008
- Castlevania Order of Ecclesia -- Avail Oct 21. Will connect to Wii Castlevania Judgement to get unlockable items.
- Chrono Trigger -- Avail week of Thanksgiving
Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon -- Avail 1st Half of 2009, first ever in series to offer multiplayer online play. Includes 4 Prologue chapters that tell the story of before the original NES game. Six different difficulty levels.
WiFi Features:
- Wi-Fi Battle - Pick your five best characters and play against another player in combat. Mic is supported for full voice chat when playing over Nintendo WiFi Connection.
- Loan Units> Allows you to loan out a unit to a friend or borrow a unit from a friend to help in the SP campaign.
- Shop Online - Online version of the Armory. There are rare and powerful items that rotate in and out of the shop on a daily basis. Use in-game gold to buy items online.
Pokemon Ranger -- Available Nov 10
Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure -- Early 2009
Mario and Luigi RPG 3 - Avail 2009
<demo video plays>
Back to Wii stuff.
Wii Speak Channel -- Allows you to use Wii Speak mic to chat with up to four people at once. You can also send voice messages to friends (and attach a photo).
CLUB NINTENDO IS FINALLY COMING TO THE US! We'll actually be able to get cool shit, just like Japanese consumers. Will debut in North America by the end of the year.