Don't you just love it when you long for a really, cool, hip, special present for Christmas- but when the day comes, you don't get that particular present- but you get an unexpected, original surprise which makes your day that little bit more christmassy? I know I do, and that's how this year's ECTS felt like for me. Every year, after the big events, people tend to ask; "Was this a good (gameshow) for Nintendo?" I found myself asking myself this very question as I pondered the images of the booth babes that were present at this year's ECTS. I wondered to myself, was this show worthwhile for Nintendo? Was It a Success?

I'd answer yes to both those questions. Nintendo shone through at Earls Court. True, they didn't show off the successor to GameCube, nor did they showcase the new Zelda or Mario. But what they did do is show why they are the choice for the hardcore across the world. Even though they weren't making breakthrough announcements- they provided an original, innovative and downright enjoyable experience for all that visited. Many people- including myself- argue that Nintendo's advertising campaign is less than satisfactory; ECTS 2003 was the perfect example of how the Japanese giants make up for their mistakes.

They could have constructed your ordinary Identikit booth- complete with swooping logo, naturally- and shoved numerous monotonous pods inside it. Minimum effort- journos happy- sorted. No, Nintendo leave that to other companies. Even though ECTS isn't taken very seriously- and is often disregarded as a invaluable gameshow which lives under E3's shadow- Nintendo still through their weight behind it. They didn't need to hire pop singers to lure gamers to their stands. They let their sleek, inviting and innovative presentation- and most importantly the games- do that.

As I mentioned earlier- visitors weren't greeted with new titles and announcements- they were given the chance to play the games which were present at E3 in Los Angeles- albeit, in some cases, in bigger, better, smoother and more improved builds. Every year, ECTS shows us what we can expect to be playing in the following year- and if the games we played are anything to go by- what a year that's going to be. Nintendo showcased an impressive, polished portfolio of titles at the show, with their famous franchises taking centre stage. Mario Kart was the Japanese companies' star of the show- appearing in the form of a LAN multiplayer demo much like the E3 build. However, this time the gripes regarding Double Dash speed weren't anywhere to be found- Nintendo have listened to the fans and have added that extra umph which will make or break MK:DD!!. The latter is more appropriate, methinks.

Mario Kart wasn't the only quality title Nintendo were showing off. 1080 Avalanche made a notable appearance; the build was a lot smoother and polished, and the handling has been improved. Another sign of Nintendo's new policy of listening to their fans; a trend that is silencing the E3 critics. The U.S version of F-Zero was present and playable- and judging by the onslaught of woops and cheers coming from the pods where the game was located; it went down a storm. Pikmin 2 also pleased visitors- the lack of a time limit and the new 2-player mode hint towards Pikmin 2 being the game the original Pikmin should have been. Rogue Leader was looking as beautiful as ever thanks to the code-ninjas at LucasArts, WrestleMania looks to set please 'cube-owning WWE fans across the world- Pac-Man impressed much like it did at E3 and Four Swords looks to provide an enjoyable experience of the calibre of the GBA version. Metal Gear Solid is also shaping up well and looks set to have earned itself a place in the MG saga, thanks to the partnership between Konami and Silicon Knights.

Nintendo weren't the only company showing off top quality titles for the GameCube. Ubi Soft had a brilliant show- an award winning show- and XIII is shaping up to challenge TimeSplitters 2 for its crown. Rebellion's Judge Dredd title also turned heads and our staff came back from London anticipating the title a whole lot more. Capcom set pulses racing with Viewtiful Joe and Rogue Ops is shaping up nicely to boot. EA also deserve a mention- they had an impressive portfolio at ECTS � including the broomstick-filled Quidditch World Cup, which looks set to please Harry Potter fans no end. An impressive display from the third parties- a display which displayed how much support the GameCube really has.

Ultimately, Nintendo showed the critics that they are still in this console race. They proved that their games are still the best in the world- and that they still have their special touch. Trust me, when we sent our boys down to London they weren't expecting anything special in terms of presentation. They were there for the games. I'm sure it was like all their Christmases coming at once.

By Ben Havercroft
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