Today, it was Nintendo’s turn at the E3 Expo, coming live from Los Angeles. As well as adding more detail to the already announced MotionPlus, a few big new releases were unveiled, with Wii Resort, Wii Music, and Wii Speak the biggest.

First we have Wii Resort, which is the direct sequel to Wii Sports, and Wii Play. As the title suggests, the game revolves around activities played at a holiday resort. The game is the first to utilise the new MotionPlus add-on for the Wii Remote, giving gamers more control over each of the variety of activities. And will come bundled with the accessory when it is released in the Spring of 2009

According to VideoGamer, demonstrated on stage were a Frisbee title called Disc Dog, and a Wave Race-style Mii game. There’s also a fencing competition, which seems a weird choice of sports for a compilation of this nature.

Then we saw Wii Music, which will unbelievably allow gamers to play 60 different instruments, including the drums, saxophone, piano, violin, guitar, marimba and many others. The problem is that unlike the Guitar Hero and Rock Band games, Wii Music players don’t seem to need any sense of rhythm.

Gamers will use a combination of the Wii Remote, the Nunchuck and the Balance Board. According to the Kris Abel Blog, the game is designed to be non-competitive, and non-judgemental. Instead of matching buttons with notes to score points, the music produced will be interpreted by hand movements and button presses.

Last, and very probably least, is Wii Speak, which according to Gamespot, is basically a microphone for the Wii allowing voice chat. The peripheral will ship with the new Animal Crossing game, and allow one or more people to chat online with other players around the world. The game, and peripheral, also available separately, will be available by Christmas 2008.

Nintendo seem to be following the same strategy that it has already established, with some fun, and innovative games providing fun for the whole family. And who can blame Nintendo, when it has proved as successful as it has done, with the Wii beating the PS3 and Xbox 360 month on month in hardware sales.

Related:

E3 2008 failed: very few big announcements for PS3, Xbox 360 & Wii

The problem with Wii Music - there’s no chance of losing

Shigeru Miyamoto talks Wii, E3 & casual gamers vs hardcore gamers

Breaking E3 News: Nintendo Wii Animal Crossing, DS exclusive GTA Chinatown Wars

Miyamoto defends Wii Music against Guitar Hero and Rock Band

Entry was posted on Tuesday, July 15th, 2008 at 3:13 pm under Games, Nintendo, Opinion, Wii.

Read more entries by Dave Parrack.
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