"It's the sound of inclusion" is how Reggie Fils-Aime defended the Wii. It is a name that has drawn much criticism, from this writer included. But after this encouraging E3 from Nintendo, who cares?

New Generation

Nintendo's E3 conference began with Shigeru Miyamoto conducting a virtual orchestra with the Wii controller, showing off the wand's potential. Then Reggie kicked off proceedings, claiming "you're in the wrong place" for the next generation � for Nintendo, "it's what's absolutely new". And Nintendo has new ideas.

"I've been dreaming about something like this for years." Significant as it is, you won't find this comment anywhere in E3 coverage. That's because it is a quote from my dad, who is a gamer and who for years has tried to interact with games in ways as yet impossible. Many gamer dads have tried to peer round corners or make Mario leap by jumping themselves. But now the Wii controller has the potential to break down this interactive barrier. Nintendo's revolution will appeal to traditionally non-gamers through making the interface more straightforward and enjoyable.

Bells and Whistles

Super Mario Galaxy looks tremendous: freeing the famous plumber from sitting on the sidelines in sports games, and returning him to the abstract platforming genius of Super Mario 64. No water-pack this time: now Mario can fly through space and run around comets. The nunchuck controller moves Mario, while the wand can be used to spin jump or interact with the game world � the trailer shows 3 bells that can be rung in this way for a 1-Up. It has been nearly a decade since Mario 64: could this be as huge a shift in gaming as the N64 classic?

As for Twilight Princess, the new Zelda game will take advantage of the Wii controller to aim the hookshot and boomerang. Also, the controller can be used to aim Link's bow, and the built-in speaker whistles as an arrow is fired. Metroid Prime 3: Corruption uses the wand in a similar way, allowing the player to target Samus' arm cannon. Super Smash Bros. Brawl looks suitably chaotic. Wii Sports demonstrates the controller's versatility. The list goes on, but Nintendo made their point, and the Wii wand may be the leap forward in videogames that we have been waiting for: the old adage about a minute to learn, a lifetime to master.

Awful name aside, the Wii is shaping up well. Concerns? The retro controller seems slightly awkward and the positioning of the analogue sticks appears a bit off � but it is impossible to say for certain without handling it. And the Wii does not represent a massive technical leap forward from the GameCube. But then, it's not about the graphics.

DS Like

As for the DS, New Super Mario Bros. is a long-overdue retro treat � classic 2D platforming with added 3D goodness. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass has the player outlining the arc of a boomerang with the stylus, before Link lets fly and the weapon follows its path. This sketching is used in StarFox, as routes through different levels can be pencilled in (speaking of pencils, hopefully the new DS game will erase memories of the dire StarFox Assault).

The Beginning of the End

As for Sony and Microsoft, the two giants could not have had more different experiences of E3. PlayStation 3 has little to show for the last year of development � features missing, and now with a wince inducing price-point. Compounding Sony's problems were Microsoft's grand larceny of Grand Theft Auto 4, and the subdued response to the new controller. Ubisoft's Clint Hocking asked "How much more "me too" can Sony be?", while Nintendo fanboys were not slow in crying "rip off". Yet the tilt sensors in the new PS3 pad do not feature half the functionality of the Wii wand: this was knee-jerk Sony. And, at $600 for the high-end PS3, Sony have it all to do.

Smelling blood, Microsoft's Peter Moore questions the high price tag and claims "They're [gamers] going to buy an Xbox and they're going to buy a Wii for the price of one PS3. People will always gravitate toward a competitively priced product, like what I believe Wii will be, with innovative new designs and great intellectual property like Mario, Zelda and Metroid." For this, Moore wins the Darth Sidious Award for Most Calculated Manoeuvre � piling pressure on Sony from both sides. In response, Sony Computer Entertainment boss Ken Kutaragi goes home with the GameSpy Forums Award for Inept Counter-argument, claiming "This is the PS3 price. Expensive, cheap � we don't want you to think of it in terms of game machines. Because the PS3 is like nothing else� It's a question of what you can do with that game machine. If you can have an amazing experience, we believe price is not a problem." Well, it might be a problem for the consumers. Nonetheless, Sony's line-up was sound, with Metal Gear Solid 4, Final Fantasy XIII and a new Gran Turismo.

Mercifully, Microsoft toned down the rhetoric from last year. No more "Zen of gaming": rather, Microsoft showcased big names such as Fable 2, Gears of War and (briefly) Halo 3. Bill Gates himself was on hand to ramble on about Windows, mobiles, Vista and all the other stuff that doesn't matter. Overall, Grand Theft Auto 4 gives Xbox 360 a huge advantage over PS3, but it remains to be seen how this will play out.

Wii Can't Wait

The controller is the key. It will open up gaming for new gamers, and provide greater depth for veterans. Nintendo had an excellent E3, with Super Mario Galaxy, new Metroid and Zelda titles, and continued DS excellence. Now all we're waiting for is the release date...

Nick Bennett
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