Nintendo has delivered its main E3 presentation at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles. The hour long event was packed with announcements, including the unveiling of the 3DS handheld and the next instalment in the Legend of Zelda franchise.

3DS

New Hardware, Kid Icarus, PilotWings Resort, Resident Evil: Revelations and more!

Similar in appearance to its immediate predecessor, the clamshell style Nintendo 3DS delivers a customisable 3D experience that doesn’t require players to don special eyewear. The unit features an analogue depth slider which enables users to adjust the intensity of the 3D effect, or even remove it entirely. Another notable addition is an analogue thumb stick, which is certain to please dedicated gamers.

As expected, the system includes two displays. The upper screen is slightly broader than the lower, which is touch sensitive. A motion sensor and gyro sensor provide additional control options. The 3DS features three cameras, including two external lenses that enable users to capture their own 3D photographs. Finally, the system is configured to automatically share data such as high scores and extra levels with other 3DS users within a certain range.

The most prominent title revealed for the 3DS thus far is Kid Icarus: Uprising, the first instalment in the series in almost 20 years. Armed with bow and sword, series protagonist Pit will need to survive both land and air based skirmishes. Visually, the game is impressive, ably demonstrating the increased processing power of the system.

Though Kid Icarus was the only 3DS title explored in any depth during the presentation, Nintendo has revealed some of games slated for release on the handheld. Let’s begin with the first party offerings. If you were hoping for a new IP from Nintendo, the announcement of Nintendogs + Cats is certain to put you on edge, as will the revelation that new iterations of Animal Crossing, Mario Kart and Paper Mario are in the works. The high flying PilotWings Resort will revive a series unseen since the mid 90s while StarFox 64 is a 3D remake of the N64 original. The submarine themed Steel Diver is, we believe, the only original property unveiled by Nintendo thus far.

The third party line-up also includes a raft of returning favourites. Capcom is set to be an earlier supporter of the system, announcing Resident Evil: Revelations, an entirely new chapter in the long running survival horror series. Capcom is also bringing Super Street Fighter IV to the handheld.

Puzzle enthusiasts will be thrilled by the announcement of Level 5’s Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle, while porn enthusiasts should be equally pleased to hear that Tecmo Koei is working on Dead or Alive 3D. Also expect a new Samurai Warriors game from Tecmo Koei.

Namco Bandai will be bringing its signature Ridge Racer series to the system, while Square Enix will offer up new Kingdom Hearts and Chocobo titles. It seems there will be no shortage of ‘cute’ on the 3DS.

EA is taking the opportunity to port The Sims 3 to yet another platform, while Activision’s DJ Hero 3D just might be a good fit for the system.

Konami is working with Kojima Productions to produce (deep breath) Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D. If the screenshots are any guide, the game could establish an early benchmark for the 3DS in terms of graphical fidelity.

The lone original IP among the third party offerings is Ubisoft’s Hollywood 61, which appears to be a point-and-click style adventure game. The French publisher is also set to deliver a remake of Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory and a new Ghost Recon title. Surprisingly, the latter appears to be a strategy game. Ubisoft has also promised to new versions of Assassin’s Creed and Battle of Giants.

Wii

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Kirby’s Epic Yarn, Goldeneye remake and more!

As many had predicted, Nintendo revealed the first concrete details regarding The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. The game’s art style recalls The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, but as a standard bearer for Wii MotionPlus, it boasts an entirely new control scheme. The Wii remote acts as your sword while the Nunchuck represents your shield. Defeating certain enemies relies heavily on the angle at which you hold or swing these key items. Other equipment is no longer assigned to buttons, but rather obtained from a pop-up selection wheel. While the game itself looks stunning, the live demonstration of the game was an unmitigated disaster. The bow and slingshot were seemingly almost impossible to aim with any accuracy. Although Nintendo legend Shigeru Miyamoto attributed the issue to wireless interference, it does provide unwanted ammunition to the system’s sceptics. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword will ship in 2011.

Nintendo unveiled several more first party Wii titles, all of them continuations of long running franchises. Kirby’s Epic Yarn is a 2D platformer with a charming needlework aesthetic. We also discovered what Retro Studios has been up to since the Metroid Prime series came to an end and it’s something of a surprise. The Texan developer is working on Donkey Kong Country Returns. Series veterans should enjoy seeing their favourite ape in glorious 2.5D.

As the title implies Mario Sports Mix sees the Nintendo’s main man take on a range of sports, including basketball, volleyball and ice hockey. Mario’s friends and enemies will naturally be along for the ride and events will take place throughout the Mushroom Kingdom.

Now for the one you’ve all been waiting for. Wii Party will feature more than 70 mini games across 13 modes of play. On the off chance that you haven’t had your fill of mini games, PokePark Wii: Pikachu’s Adventure has your back.

The theme of sequels, remakes and retreads was encapsulated by the announcement of Goldeneye 007. It will be interesting to see if the N64’s most celebrated shooter finds an audience amongst modern gamers.

Nintendo also rolled out new footage of previously announced titles Metroid: Other M and Disney’s Epic Mickey. Both look to be shaping up nicely.

DS

Golden Sun: Dark Dawn and more!

While the DS is soon to be overshadowed by its 3D successor, Nintendo has revealed a handful of new titles for its six year old handheld. Sequels are again the order of the day. Mario will once again attempt to outsmart a gorilla in the puzzle centric Mario vs Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem.

Pokemon Ranger: Guardian Signs once again challenges players to safeguard the wellbeing of Nintendo’s adorable little money spinners.

The main presentation also included the first vision of Golden Sun: Dark Dawn, which will be the first game in the series to feature polygonal graphics.

There you have it, a veritable deluge of promising software for Nintendo’s existing and forthcoming hardware and nary a new IP in sight.

The most anticipated event on the gaming calendar is finally underway at Los Angeles Convention Centre. Microsoft’s main E3 briefing has just concluded and as you’d expect, it included a raft of announcements, the most significant of which involved hardware.

New Xbox 360

New console, Project Kingdoms, Halo Reach and more!

Smaller and quieter than the existing model, the creatively named New Xbox 360 console boasts a 250 GB hard drive and built in Wi-Fi. Believe it or not, the new model is set to arrive in US stores this week. Microsoft has advised that Australia will receive the system on Thursday 1 July 2010.

Project Kingdoms is an Xbox 360 exclusive action game from German developer Crytek. Though very little was shown of the game, it appears to be a sword and sandal epic, likely set during the blood soaked era of the Roman Empire.

We had our first glimpse of the Halo: Reach single player campaign. Just as we were beginning to appreciate the game’s subtle colour palette and impressive landscapes, Bungie threw a curveball. In a first for the interstellar series, Halo: Reach will feature Star Fox style ship to ship combat.

Kojima Productions showed off the core gameplay of Metal Gear Solid Rising for the first time. As cybernetic anti-hero Raiden, players will be armed with a razor sharp samurai sword. If the new trailer is any guide, players will have complete control over the angle of each thrust and parry.

Microsoft also unveiled new footage of Xbox 360 exclusive sequels Gears of War 3 and Fable 3.

Kinect

Final peripheral, Kinect Joy Ride, Kinectimals and more!

New details also emerged regarding Kinect, the gesture based input device formerly known as Project Natal. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the first wave of games for the system appear to be targeted at the casual market currently dominated by Nintendo.

Dance Central is a pop music rhythm game from Harmonix in which players attempt to match the increasingly energetic performances of their on screen counterparts. Unlike other dance titles, it doesn’t require the use of a pressure pad. Just like other dance titles, it makes you look like a moron.

Kinect Joy Ride is Big Park’s Avatar compatible kart racer. Each player grasps and rotates an imaginary steering wheel in order to propel their vehicle across environment reminiscent of classic Warner Bros. animation. Joyride had previously been announced as an Xbox Live Arcade title with standard controls. The question is, will Kinect make it a better game?

Kinect Adventures challenges players to compete in 20+ outdoor activities, including rafting through perilous white water rapids. This is seemingly achieved by leaning from side to side and jumping up and down. The game also encourages you to photographs of yourself during play and upload them to Facebook. Seriously.

Kinectimals invites its young players to adopt and train some of the deadliest predators on earth, including the big cats of the Africa and Asia. That sound like a great idea. Actually, it sounds like Nintendogs.

Kinect Sports is the game that had to happen. With Sony on the verge of delivering Sports Champions, Microsoft have decided to crash the party. We’ve only seen one event in motion, a hurdling game involving running and jumping on the spot. Boxing, bowling and table tennis will also be included, along with some events not already featured in Nintendo’s ubiquitous Wii Sport series.

Other titles revealed either at the briefing or in the hours that followed include Sega’s Sonic Freeriders, Ubisoft’s Your Shape: Fitness Evolved, Majesco’s Zumba Fitness and an untitled Star Wars project from LucasArts. Microsoft anticipates that there will be approximately 15 titles available at launch.

Microsoft also unveiled the Kinect Hub, a new interface that enables users to access and control social networks, movies and music using simple gestures and/or voice commands.

Kinect will launch worldwide in Q4 2010.

Games of 2010 is a sneak peak at some of the titles The Black Panel is likely to cover over the next 12 months.

Infinite Undiscovery confirmed SEGA and Tri-Ace as the masters of clumsy titles and the tradition is set to continue in 2010 with their latest collaboration, RESONANCE OF FATE. A fast paced action RPG with an emphasis on gunplay, the game is set on a dying world in which life is sustained by mysterious steam punk technology. Resonance of Fate is scheduled for release on 360 and PS3 in March 2010.

While the real time strategy genre isn’t exactly synonymous with console gaming, Ubisoft and Eugen Systems are confident R.U.S.E. will challenge this perception. The game is set in Europe during the dark days of World War II. As the title implies, there will be a strong focus on the art of deception, with armchair generals encouraged to use decoys and camouflage to wrong-foot their opponents. R.U.S.E. is due for release on 360, PS3 and PC in Q1 2010.

Building on the success of 2008 quad bike racer Pure, Black Rock Studio is preparing to unleash SPLIT SECOND, a high speed excursion into the world of reality television. Cars race through the purpose-built streets of a city rigged with all manner of explosive obstacles, some of which can be triggered by the drivers themselves. Imagine, for example, being crushed by a collapsing building as you attempt to overtake a rival. It sounds almost as bad as the Western Ring Road. Publisher Disney Interactive has revealed that Split Second will arrive on 360 and PS3 in May 2010.

In a market awash with first person shooters, Activision and Raven Software are preparing to deliver yet another. Fortunately, SINGULARITY has something in its favour. As you explore a seemingly abandoned Soviet research instillation, you’ll stumble upon a time manipulation device that, among other things, enables you to switch between the present day and 1950, when the base was populated by (you guessed it) mad scientists. Originally announced for a 2009 release, Singularity will now arrive on 360, PS3 in Q1 2010.

More than a year after Japanese gamers hacked and slashed their way through the game, Australia is finally poised to receive the PlayStation 3 exclusive WHITE KNIGHT CHRONICLES. The latest RPG from Dragon Quest IX developer Level 5 has impressed with its sense of scale, with some enemies towering over city skylines. Sony has listed White Knight Chronicles for a Q1 2010 release.

Thus ends The Black Panel’s weeklong preview of the year ahead. Our regular news updates will resume on Monday. See you then!

Games of 2010 PART 1 l PART 2 l PART 3 l PART 4 l PART 5

Games of 2010 is a sneak peak at some of the titles The Black Panel is likely to cover over the next 12 months.

People who complain about Melbourne’s public transport system clearly haven’t attempted to catch a train in Russia recently. As revealed in METRO 2033, all services have been suspended indefinitely as the last remnants of humanity battle for survival in the tunnels beneath a post nuclear Moscow. As protagonist Artyom, you’ll square off against horrific mutants and brave the irradiated atmosphere of the surface world. This jet black first person shooter from THQ and Ukrainian developer 4A Games is due for release on PC and 360 in 2010.

For better or worse, kart racing games are back in the spotlight. One of the more promising entries in this much maligned sub-genre is MODNATION RACERS from United Front Games. You’ll be invited to create custom avatars, vehicles and tracks and share them with the game’s online community. Rumour has it that there will also be a race of some kind, so let’s hope the driving model receives as much attention as the customisation options. Publisher Sony is yet to nail down a release date for this family friendly PS3 exclusive.

With Final Fantasy XIII on the horizon, it would be all too easy to overlook another forthcoming Square Enix fantasy epic. More an action adventure than an RPG, NIER is set in an alternate world beset by a deadly virus known as the Black Scrawl. When the titular protagonist discovers his daughter has been infected, he decides to aid her recovery the only way he knows how, by butchering people with a gargantuan sword. Hey, it’s the Square Enix way. Look for Nier on 360 and PS3 in autumn 2010.

Gamers who grew up in the 90s will be intrigued by the promise of an entirely new first person shooter id Software. The Texan studio responsible for Wolfenstein, Doom and Quake is hard a work on RAGE. Set in the now obligatory post apocalyptic wasteland, the game appears to offer a blend of traditional first person action with high speed combat racing. Though the game was announced in 2007, publisher Bethesda Softworks is yet to commit to a 2010 launch for this highly anticipated PC, 360 and PS3 release.

After years of paying the bills with Nicktoons spinoffs, Halfbrick is beginning to spread its wings. Puzzle platformer RASKULLS is among 2010’s most promising XBLA originals. According to the Queensland developer, the game’s cute but cadaverous cast will be featured in both solo and online multiplayer modes. You should probably know in advance that one of the Raskulls is dressed as a Koala.

Games of 2010 PART 1 l PART 2 l PART 3 l PART 4 l PART 5