Breath a sigh of relief, readers, for Nintendo have announced a brand new Wii installment in the relaxing Animal Crossing series.

Japanese release lists knew it. ONM knew it. NGamer Magazine knew it. We all knew it. Hot from Nintendo's E3 2008 press conference comes news that the latest instalment of Animal Crossing will be heading to Wii. What we didn't know is that it would have voice chat!

This time around players will be able to leave their towns for the big city, which will feature more shops and services, including an auction house, the Happy Room Academy to find out about other players, a fashion designers, and Harriet's beauty salon to change your hairstyle or to put on a mask and look like your Mii.

The online aspects were detailed, with emphasis on Wi-Fi sharing and multiplayer, as well as customisation (as always), and picture attachments for mailing to other players, to the Wii message board, or even PCs and mobiles.

Oh, and there's a microphone function, called WiiSpeak (more on that here) allowing for voice chat with your fellow players! It was shown off during the conference as a group of players went fishing together, and sounded pretty good.

Animal Crossing is slated to appear by the end of the year in at least Japan and America. We'll let you know an European date when we hear it.

Here's the full press release:

If life were an endless vacation, what would you do? Go fishing, collect shells or watch fireworks with friends? Build a snowman, exchange presents with family or decorate your house for the holidays? Take a trip to the city, go on a shopping spree or visit friends from all over the globe? In Animal Crossing: City Folk, life moves at a relaxed pace, but the world brims with endless possibilities.

There's always something new to do. In the living, breathing world of Animal Crossing: City Folk, days and seasons pass in real time, so there's always something to discover. Catch fireflies in the summer, go trick-or-treating on Halloween or hunt for eggs on Bunny Day. If you're in the mood for something a little faster paced, take a bus to a new urban city area that's unique to Animal Crossing: City Folk. There you can catch a show at the theatre or check out the sales at Gracie's boutique. But if you don't show your face back home for too long, your neighbours will miss you.

Up to four people from your household can live and work together to build the perfect town. Design clothes and patterns, write letters and post messages on the bulletin board for each other, or invite up to three friends to visit your town using Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. With the new WiiSpeak microphone, it's like you're all in the same room. The microphone sits atop the sensor bar and picks up the conversation of everyone in the room to encourage a more inclusive experience.

Get to know your neighbours. The heart of Animal Crossing: City Folk is building relationships with the animals in your town as well as with other players. Befriend your animal neighbours by exchanging letters, gifts and favours. Animals can also move from town to town, bringing their memories and stories from their old towns with them. And since animals are notoriously loose-lipped, they spill all the juicy details.

Express your personal style. Customize your town, your house and yourself by collecting bugs, fish, fossils, art, furniture, clothes and accessories. You can also go to the salon in the city to change your hairstyle and get a Mii makeover. Plus, if you design clothes in the tailor's shop, animals will wear them and maybe even bring them to other towns.

For screens, click here!