All great controllers, and I'm looking forward to the Wiiu controller too. Looks great.

The d-pad on the N64 was sidelined because they actually didn't want to include it at all.

The Gamecube controller is great but has a couple oddities. 1. They dropped the memory card slot. Considering how thin the gc cards were, and how they put big emphasis on 4-players, and going to your buddies and uploading your memory card-keeping the mc slot on the controller just made sense. Too bad, that was an innovation on the N64 controller they should have kept.
And 2. the "Z" button was almost redundant seeing as the "L" trigger was now the "Z" trigger.
And 3. the unfortunately tiny D-pad shows once again Nintendo didn't really want to include it at all.

Still, great controllers all, and all "connected" with great memories!

@Ryno comment #40

I agree with everything you said there. Nobody, Nintendo or third-parties, need super specs to be profitable. And high spec games cost the world to make. And yet many want the high specs.

There seems to be at least two camps of third-parties...camp one is the simple-social games camp, and camp two are the "graphics > gameplay" camp.
Nintendo wants better relationships with third-parties so they support the WiiU(3DS), so they must give both camps want they want (or as close as they possibly can) .
Because lets face it, if WiiU can't run "FPS 2014" what's the outcome? Third-parties will once again move on to Sony and MS and maybe WiiU will get "poor-cousin" versions of big games...maybe.

Example: Dead Rising on Wii. Everyone was up in arms that it featured only "500" zombies on screen instead of "10,000". Did the game need to have 10,000 onscreen zombies to feature it's gameplay? No, but because it didn't feature an unappreciable number of characters on screen it's the junk version.

Side-point: Higher specs aren't just needed for graphics, but for all the latest programming tricks, and visual/non-visual elements.

On the other hand, I think a valid question is; SHOULD third-parties get want they want all the time? Just because you want to, or your new engine can render 50 million sweat drops, does it mean we should? All that added expense for something only one sweaty game will take advantage of?

Oh well, I guess we'll see what happens on and after E3.

@Uncle_Optimus
From the trailer it looks like you'll never be piloting a "VS" in ground combat. The trailer focuses on infantry combat and a glimpse of some suspect Voltron-like space fight.

Yeah,...pink hair...sigh, Japan...it's not funny anymore! What's wrong with natural colours?

Notice also that in ground combat you never see the hero in a VS, "Vital Suit", (Lost Planet talk for mech-suit).

@Ryno
No I don't, read my whole paragraph. Third-parties want high-specs. If nintendo wants third-parties, then they need high specs. It's the nature of the third-party 'monster" that has arisen to bite Nintendo in the rear-end.

I don't hate him. Why should anybody; did he kill your cat or something?

Anyway, he's spot on in this article, especially about specs. If Nintendo doesn't punch up it's game here, third-parties will abandon them again after the initial wave. Third parties want "bleeding edge". Nintendo may not need bleeding edge, but if they want 3rd-parties like they claim they do, then they need to up the ante on the specs (perhaps the specs are there already I don't know). Otherwise Nintendo and Nintendo fans will have no excuse to complain when third parties drop them, back off, cancel support, or provide 1 game a year that nobody wanted while providing the glut of popular games to sony and microsoft; all under the pretext of "creating Wii U games that fit the system, not simple ports.".

Lost Planet is not Gundam, it's not evangelion, it's not Zone of the Enders. There are a lot of bad choices shown in this trailer imo. Overall I'm not happy with this.

The 3D jumps from panel to panel are interesting though.

This must be Capcoms way of getting revenge on Lost Planet creator Keiji Inafune for all the things he's said about Capcom and the Japanese gaming industry as a whole.

@zenarium

That's a video of the PC version of the first Lost Planet game (PC/Xbox360/PS3).

Let me guess, you'll play a generic looking anime hero, and his school chums will be a beautiful girl who is unsure of herself and always clutches her textbooks close to herself, and a senior who wears glasses, and he's always pushing them back up on his nose? The hero will learn to believe in himself and his wacky group of friends while they continually give eachother single-solemn-head-nods?

I like Lost Planet, especially when it's in the snow, and fighting akrid, I don't care much for fighting snow pirates. The premise of this new game sounds a bit silly, but we'll see.

@20
Agreed! All the Zelda projects should get the green light for consideration, so LEGO can release a good sized series.

Just prep it for launch on Wii U e-shop as a launch title.

@aaronsullivan
I think that since Mario's look got locked in (artwork and games) Nintendo has been afraid to tamper with it, because they see Mario as their Mickey Mouse, and tampering with Mickey Mouse is a no-no, apparently.
Recently seeing new artwork and this vintage Mario artwork is great and just opens up the imagination for what type of 2D games he could feature in.

Here is one from a new artist. Just one example of a different style.
http://www.supermariobrosartworks.com/drawings/steamboat-mario

Yes, Paper Mario seems to be as far as Nintendo themselves are willing to go.

Nanoline (#28) is right. Isn't it possible for this guys ideas to get shoe-horned in too if one Zelda project gets greenlit? He's doing quality work. If one project gets greenlit his should be up for acceptance too...LEGO could use his ideas to continue the Zelda LEGO product line. Give it a longer life span.

I like seeing old classic artwork for Mario. I like his official artwork, but seeing the different styles by different artists of old is fun. Seems like anything was possible back then. Nintendo should take those old styles and create new 2D platformers, and single screen style Mario games with them. There's even some current artists takes on Mario that would lead to fun.

And the SNES Drive-In ad was and is epic. Good times!!!

If there's this much life left in Wii VC, is it too much to hope for Namco to release StarBlade and Solvalu in NA? What about the Turbo DUO version of Double Dragon II aswell as the NES version? Hey, why not Seiken Densetsu 3 too?

Great news! I really hope this happens. It goes perfect with LEGO's medievil series of LEGO. Zelda features that creative exploration/discovery/adventure aspect that LEGO is all about.

This isn't about the creation of a LEGO Zelda videogame, nor should that ever come into the equation. This is about Zelda LEGO sets.

He's going to move the series from 2D movement to 3D movement and it will be somewhat like Kid Icarus's multiplayer.

The NA NES style carts are big enough to allow room for Super FX style chips to be included so, I don't see why Angry Birds couldn't work properly on the NES. Maybe there's more to it though.

I'd like one with traditional Nintendo two-tone grey with tiny red detailing. Harking back to the NA NES.

Strictly Nintendo:

Star Tropics
Ice Climbers
What happened to the 1080 series? Balance board/motion controls say hello!
Kirby's Dreamcourse has so much sequel potential.
Pilotwings

And personally I'd like to see it revealed that Waluigi is actually Stanley from DK3.

Actually as far as I've understood, "NES" is pronounced exactly the same way whether there's an "a" or an "an" in front of it. I refer you to Stardust's post (16)but make sure you pronounce NES the same way in both examples. That is as "N.E.S."

I want a N.E.S.!
I want an NES!

The preceding word dictates whether you are refering to the acronym N.E.S. or the "nickname" N-E-S. Weird but true! At least that's how it's been in my world...

On topic: now someone needs to put real-world sounds/music to an old 8-Bit war game!

I applaud Keiji Inafune! Eastern dev/pubs need a kick in the rear end, not to make "western" games, but to make GOOD games.

It's not really about eastern games, or western games, it's about GOOD games. Thats where you get your globalization, and universal appeal. East-west it's not really about culture, it's about having the brains and the courage to create a genuinely good, fun, game!

I believe he's calling out to the industry for GOOD games. Creativity, innovation, and down right good gameplay- that's where you get the global appeal and bottom line out of the red.

(side note: Where is it written that eastern devs aren't allowed to make FPS?)

Now we need to find someone to kick western devs in their rear ends about their issues. The details are different but once you boil it down it's the same result. The call to make good games.

I'm gonna try and buy two copies of Fez when it comes out!

His statement was abrupt, rude, and too broad, but I agree with the sentiment. Eastern games are becoming "crud" games. See what I did there? Japanese used to insult games just based on where they were made too!

But anyway, there are still creative eastern devs, but a huge amount for various reasons have fallen into stagnation and fear. I agree with Inafunes statement aswell. For the most part, unless there are huge changes, Japan is over.

The west is not without its troubles through. A lot of western devs seem to suffer from the inability to create anything third-person, and anything without guns. Darkness, blood, gore, boobs, beer, and swears are the order of the day.

Crud eastern games, crud western games. Fortunately, there are a few creative devs on both sides, but as a whole the industry is suffering. It's just that the east is plagued with a few more problems then the west. Like the fear to change, grow, learn, and innovate.

I've begun to feel that devs are just in a circle of hell creating the same game over and over again. Indies are the future of creativity and gaming,..the proof is in all the indies who've been published with great success on consoles/portables. Big companies seek them out. So eventually these guys, whether new, or old company guys gone independant, are the next generation of developers. And most make games with such fresh creativity and such voracity that it mimics the old days of the first generation of devs, and their creativity. There weren't genres and defined pigeon holes to maginalize games into, stopping creativity. And now with indies and certain devs in big companies east/west breaking the molds, gaming could potentially return to what it should be.

Virtual Boy failed as a Nintendo console, but succeeded as a Nintendo novelty "toy". And Nintendo has made a few toys aswell.

Gamecube wasn't a failure either. It featured two great Zelda games, two great Metroid games, The very popular Smash Bros. Star Fox games, The Pikmin series, and it did bring third-parties back to Nintendo.

GC/GBA connectivity imo wasn't a failure, just difficult to execute, and it lead to all the great connectivity we haave today with systems, plus looks to be an ingredient in the idea of the Wii U. Pac-man VS. was great and Four Swords Adventure was brilliant...the difficulty was the wires...Nintendo should have gone wireless then, but everything needs to start somewhere. It's kinda like saying the NES failed because it wasn't the SNES.

@theBlackDragon
Sorry, that's what I was meaning. Thanks for clarifing my point.

As for "censorship", Nintendo owes no consumer or developer to release any and every game on their systems. Heaven help us if companies should try, even poorly, to have some shadow of principle or standard other then making money or appealing to the lowest common denominator.

For everyones information, Nintendo hasn't "censored" crud game Binding of Isaac. They refused it. This isn't censorship, this is a company exercising its right to allow/disallow anything they want. Just because they don't "censor" anymore doesn't mean they are bound to open the floodgates to any and all garbage that wants in.

Regarding censorship this article plays the same old cliches. "Nintendo isn't cool because they took away my strippers! They changed Holy to Pearl!" I'm sorry it's just very sad. They have every right to say, you want on our systems then you conform to these rules, don't like it, then go somewhere else! And guess what, NES and SNES and GB won the 8bit and 16bit wars. Sega is practically dead and oh look, Nintendo is still around.

The Sony/Philips debacle was bad, but guess what. With the contract Sony was trying to get with Nintendo, Nintendo wouldn't exist anymore! It was a stranglehold Nintendo had to get out of or be wholey consumed by Sony.

Why does this article have the need to make fun of "family friendly", and the elderly? This comes from the same immaturity that thinks blood, boobs, beer, and swears make a good game.

I don't see any "colossal foul-ups". Mistakes, yes a couple. Business tactics to get their head out of a few nooses? Yes. But you want colossal mistakes look at Sega.

Is this Brain Training 3DS? Either way having him appear as a devil is needlessly stupid.

No company is being forced to do this...it's simple greed. If a game is being bought second-hand that means it was bought new somewhere else the game company has made their money, need to shut up and keep their hands out of everyones pockets. To insist on making money on your product once it's been sold is insane. You're paying for internet, and likely paying for Xbox Live(true PSN is free, and Nintendo Network likely is too, but you understand.). It's corporate greed plain and simple. Companies need to be allowed to fail, not be propped up continually. This is the whole "bail-out" mentality...nothing can be allowed to fail, even if they are mismanaged, corrupt, or made bad choices.

Just say NO to Project $10!!!

"What is incredible is that Rare still exists." I think that's a very appropriate statement. While new Rare hasdone well, they hardly compare to old Rare. I like the Avatars they are quite well done and Sports looks fun, but I haven't played it yet. I think that they may have outdone Nintendo in regards to avatars. Nuts & Bolts is fun, and well done. I like the graphical style of Viva Pinata even though I don't play them.

One thing about Rares depature from Nintendo. It seems that everyone who made Rare Rare left before the MS buyout, so there really was no reason for Nintendo to hold onto them just for the name.

On the other hand it seems (this is by no means the truth), that Nintendo started slapping them in the face. Pasting StarFox into DP as an example. And I get a sense of abandonment. Rare had essentially kept Nintendo afloat during the hard 64bit days, and then the GC came out, eastern devs initially flocked back promising Nintendo the moon, and Nintendo dumps Rare as fast as they can.

Anyway, Nintendo doesn't need rare back because rare isn't the Rare we all remember, they still do good work, but they aren't the same company.

Oh dear...with Bomberman on the streets he's liable to become a danger to himself and others. He won't endanger the Konami offices will he?
I know, since Konami isn't doing anything these days, why don't they dissolve into Hudson Soft?

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" (to quote Darth Vader.)

Zelda is NOT Pokemon! Fire Red, Leaf Green, etc., etc., etc., etc..
insert Marakuto's avatar here see post 53.

@34 Glad I've had a much different and better experience with Zelda games then that. Anyway...

Retro working on Zelda is only a good thing! Nintendo make it happen!

This statement from Miyamoto brings up a few questions.

1. Retro had been rumoured to be doing preliminary work on a Zelda game before, and Nintendo shut it down.

2. Miyamoto has stated he wants to be more involved in Zelda HD.

3. Eiji Aonuma stated he wants to make Zelda his own now that the reins are in his hands.

Is there a polite Zelda power struggle going on at Nintendo? Are tea tables about to be upended all over the place?

About Retro and StarFox...that's a very good combo too, but let me add some more quality to the mix. Yoji Shinkawa (Metal Gear Solid) should be in charge of the designs/mechanical designs. I can imagine how cool his ARwings would look -not "redesigned", just "Shinkawa'd". And Hajime Hirasawa (composer on SNES StarFox) should get the music job again.

This is a great move by Nintendo. Now if they would just release Tingle's Balloon Fight...

If I can make it out of my igloo, I'll probably order a copy.

I am a sad...
Good for Nintendo , but they really need to push this to support four controllers.
Nintendo also needs to push the idea of asymetrical gaming AND symetrical gaming on WiiU. Both types offer loads of creativity and innovation. Good job on pushing it to two at least.

Wow! That attractive family is having lots of attractive fun with those attractive games...er except for those ugly little blue trolls.

There's no use crying over spilled milk, but Nintendo should never have released the 3DS so early. The DSi was still very strong. The 3DS should have been released this Christmas 2011 season. This would have allowed them a super launch line-up; OoT/ Starfox/ Super Mario 3D Land/ etc. The eshop would have been up and running day one, and this analog stick +buttons attatchment would have been incorporated into the 3DS proper from the get go. The extra time in their own hands and in the hands of 3rd parties would have generated this "need" feedback before release. Positioning the 3DS as an extra WiiU controller, and posturing it as full competion to the PSV, right from the start.

I'm glad I haven't bought a 3DS yet. I'll wait for a consolidated version.

Nintendo has to do this. The lull in 3DS sales scared them, so now when third-parties say jump, Nintendo is at least going to lift one foot off the ground. It's been said already that they want to de-emphasize the 3D aspect, and perhaps they want to de-emphasize the other "unorthodox" mechanics. If gyros are considered "unorthodox" these days. Having two sticks is comfortable and normal these days.

So I think at E3 2012 you will see a new 3DS iteration that has all the extra stuff of the attatchment built-in beautifully.

And Nintendo also has to do this to position the 3DS as an extra controller for the WiiU. Notice how with the attatchment the 3DS almost fully compares to the abilities of the WiiU controller? Touch screen, two sticks, four shoulder buttons, various connectivity, gyros and sensors, camera. Though I guess the 3DS doesn't have the magnetic sensors I've read the WiiU controller has.

I see Jet Force Gemini as a very good base to build a Metroid 64 on. A third-person shooter/adventure, plus incorporate the cinimatic qualities of MGS (PS1).
Or they should have gone 2D/3D Klonoa (PS1) style. That gives you nice 2D gameplay with beautiful and extravagant 3D levels/gfx.
Oh well, the past can not be changed.
Maybe they should have made a FPP one for Virtual Boy.

Here is some new news.
http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/02/nicalis-nightsky-coming-to-windows-on-january-6/
There seems to be hope still, but I'm wondering what happened? Why did the WiiWare release become so troubled?

Nothing but foolish, dangerous, garbage, and a complete waste of time and money. Avoid like the plague. We don't need this type of junk on Wii.

Where is NightSky and Machinarium? I don't see them on the list here.
I hope they get a December release.

Yes, Nicalis, if this is delayed, and you're finished with Cave Story, please release NightSky! I've been waiting!

Great start for December with Fluidity, but Nintendo, XGen, Nicalis; Machinarium, and NightSky this month pretty please!!! Seriously!

It's nice to see some love for the VC Arcade, but when will we get Namcot's arcade offerings -Solvalu (sp?) and StarBlade? Japan has had them for ages.

Nicalis is practically finished with Cave Story, and La Mulana has been rated by the ESRB, so hopefully, NightSky will come out now. Please Nicalis+Nintendo, release it this month!!

Karnov was a firebreathing Russian muscleman (picture the German airfield mechanic in Raiders), not a fat asian.

I'm not interested in either game,(not a fan of the vs. series) but I'd gladly choose TvsC anyday, because for some reason MvsC3 looks like garbage to me. The style just doesn't seem to work the way it did for SFIV. TvsC looks gorgeous.

Now that Nicalis is done with Cave Story, hopefully they'll release Night Sky sometime soon in December!
I can hardly wait for Fluidity, Night Sky, and Machinarium!