Nintendo did a pre-recorded "Digital Event" instead of a traditional press conference, and it was actually quite good. Lots of executive humor, and some great Robot Chicken-styled stop motion scenes. They even made fun of the gaming press for nagging them about Mother 3 which was both funny and mean. Now Microsoft is the only major hardware manufacture that didn't taunt its fans about wanting a super niche title at E3.

In terms of games, Nintendo didn't skimp. The company showed first footage of Zelda Wii U, announced the brand new online "ink" shooter Splatoon, and revealed a couple other new games: Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker (a spinoff from those levels in Mario 3D World), Kirby and the Rainbow Curse (Wii U sequel to Canvas Curse), Mario Party 10, Mario Maker (make your own 2D Mario levels), and a new Mario Vs. Donkey Kong for Wii U. Additionally, further details and trailers were revealed for Xenoblade Chronicles X, Yoshi's Wooly World (formerly Yarn Yoshi), both Smash Bros. games, Bayonetta 2 (now includes a port of the original game), Hyrule Warriors, and the latest Pokemon remakes. After the conference, Level 5's Fantasy Life and Professor Layton Vs. Ace Attorney were finally announced for the U.S. A new 3DS game will be announced tomorrow night, and rumors are pointing towards Metroid, but we shall see.

Nintendo also showed Amiibo, the final name for the Nintendo Figure Platform, the company's line of Skylanders-esque NFC toys. The figures will be compatible with a number of Wii U and 3DS games and allow players to basically level up customized AI versions of the figures and use them in games both at home and at friends' houses. So far, they showed around a dozen Smash Bros. character figures of the most popular characters. The idea has promise, but I doubt it will help sales of the struggling console.

Lastly, Miyamoto showed three prototypes of game concepts that use the Wii U gamepad in conjunction with the TV in ways not seen since the system's launch. One of these prototypes is the beginning of a new Star Fox game, so we'll see how that turns out.

I think Nintendo had a very good showing overall, but sadly it didn't show anything that will help the Wii U expand beyond core Nintendo fans.

I'm still very skeptical of the Amiibo platform. I don't want them to be arbitrary (perform functions that can and have been done without them), but I don't want them shoe-horned into necessity in games that functioned perfectly fine without them, like Smash. So I feel a bit conflicted about their implementation in Smash; customizing and leveling up a character sounds nice (kind of like Steet Fighter Alpha 3's World Tour mode), but what's the point of a customized character if you can't actually use it? But then, being able to utilize a customized character would really change Smash at its core, which I don't want either. I'd really rather see them in games built around their usage--which I'd likely ignore out of lack of interest--than wedged into games that don't need them--which I'd likely ignore out of spite.

All that said, those Smash Trophies... the instinct to catch 'em all is deep-seated.

I haven't had a chance to look at all the games in detail yet, but most of what I've is met with lukewarm response. If Mario Maker's being touted as a fun (and inexpensive) app, fine, but if it's supposed to be a fully-realized, full-price game, I don't see this having much momentum. I certainly don't have the talent to create brilliant levels, and I don't think enough fans do to make the prospect of a treasure trove of user-created levels is all that enticing. I envision lots of clumsy level design and lots of Xtreme-ly impossible level design. For some, I didn't care for their predessors (Rainbow Curse, Mario Vs. Donkey Kong), and for others, there's just not enough revealed to get me truly excited (Zelda)... but at least, the kid in me is glad to see Toad have a starring role in something besides Wario's Woods. The majority of the games have very interesting (and diverse) looks to them.

Overall, I feel a little underwhelmed, mainly because the most exciting news to me personally (Ruby/Sapphire remakes and Layton V Wright) I was already aware of prior to E3. If rumors hold true, a 2D 3DS Metroid would turn that right around, though.

All the rumors about a new Metroid or a Majora's Mask 3D being announced tonight were wrong. Nintendo announced a new Strategy/RPG with action elements (think Valkyria Chronicles) from Intelligent Systems called Codename STEAM. I hate the art style, but Intelligent Systems always makes good strategy games, so at least the gameplay will probably be good. Here's the info:

http://www.polygon.com/2014/6/11/580217 … u-miyamoto

http://a.pomf.se/geoqkf.webm
The greatest moment of E3

I'd love to see a new Metroid (as long as it doesn't play like Prime Hunters which I cannot get use to) but every time the rumors of a game come up I just know in my gut there is no game. Nintendo knows they did some hardcore damage with the last game so they're not going to but something out there unless they know they have gold.