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E3

E3 2012: Five unanswered questions about Wii U

LOS ANGELES--Nintendo showed off nearly two dozen games for the Wii U at its E3 2012 press conference. That's a deep software bench, but with all the emphasis on games, many important questions about the Wii U hardware and user experience have been left unanswered.

How will streaming media work? Nintendo says Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, Hulu, and other video sources will be available, but there were no further details. Is Nintendo going to have its own video store? Unlikely, but will there be any significant exclusive video content that other consoles don't have? How about live TV, the new holy grail of consoles?

How will two-tablet gameplay work? Even though it was not confirmed until today, everyone knew the Wii U would have to eventually support dual GamePad tablets. But, the company says only single-tablet gameplay is ready to show at E3. This adds to the mix of different ways you can play, combining GamePads, the Xbox-like Wii U controller, and Wii wands.… Read more

Is Nintendo following its own advice?

LOS ANGELES--Nintendo's Wii has always stood apart from the other major consoles of this generation of game machines. It was pitched as, and found great success by, being the game console for nongamers.

The controls were deceptively simple. A magic wand to wave in the air, with a couple of buttons that many games ignored. There was an add-on with extra inputs for games that required it, but many of the best Wii experiences concentrated on that kinetic action of hand-on-wand.

That simplicity was the secret to how Nintendo sold so many Wiis. And while motion and gesture control … Read more

NintendoLand aims to become Wii Sports of Wii U

To help players understand the functionality of Wii U's dual-screen initiative, Nintendo unveiled NintendoLand today at E3.

Similar to Wii Sports on the Wii when that product launched, NintendoLand will include gameplay designed to showcase the many features the console offers. However, NintendoLand, which is based around the idea of a theme park, combines a host of the company's "classic" franchises, including Legend of Zelda, Animal Crossing, and others.

To add a bit more flavor to NintendoLand, the game company says it will be tied in with Miiverse, though further details were not divulged.

All told, … Read more

Wii Fit U announced at Nintendo's E3 keynote

Nintendo's Wii Fit and Wii Fit Plus have performed exceptionally well over the years, hitting 43 million unit sales since the first iteration's launch. And now, Nintendo is trying to improve its success with a new entry into the franchise.

The company at its E3 keynote today unveiled a new title in the franchise called Wii Fit U. As one might expect, the game takes advantage of the Wii U's GamePad. For example, when one person wants to exercise with Wii U and other does not, they can play the game from the GamePad. In addition, the … Read more

Nintendo: Wii U will support dual gamepads

Nintendo's Wii U will support two Gamepads, the company announced today.

When the Wii U was first announced last year, Nintendo vaguely indicated that its console could support only one Gamepad. However, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime said today at his company's E3 keynote that it'll actually support two Gamepads.

The Wii U Gamepad, which Nintendo showed off earlier this week, will ship with a 6.2-inch touchscreen and a stylus for additional input options. In addition, the Gamepad boasts an infrared transceiver, gyroscope, and accelerometer. A rumble feature, now a near-necessity in any game controller, … Read more

E3 2012: A closer look at Xbox SmartGlass

LOS ANGELES--Xbox SmartGlass was one of the lone new technologies unveiled by Microsoft at this year's E3, but its potential as a second screen -- using your own smartphone or tablet running Windows 8, Android, or iOS -- is fascinating.

Xbox SmartGlass was demonstrated in more detail in a breakout session this evening, showing off video, gaming, and remote control possibilities as well as running through future concepts. I got as close as I could and took a few photos.… Read more

Why Sony's Beyond may be one of the most important games of E3 2012

LOS ANGELES--At Sony's 2012 E3 press conference, one of the high notes of the entire show turned up during the opening minutes. Beyond: Two Souls, a new game from designer David Cage and his company, Quantic Dream, showed a lengthy, if noninteractive, trailer. In one sense, it's a new game from a quirky cult favorite who shies away from mainstream gaming conventions. In another sense, it's Sony, the only console maker that also runs a major movie studio, embracing the true cinematic potential of games.

To fully understand why I think this is one of the under-the-radar highlights of E3, we should look back at why Cage (the nom de game of French designer David De Gruttola) is up there with Miyamoto or any of the other handful of name-brand game designers, by taking a look his unique genre-bending projects over the past 14 years. … Read more

Sony sneaks out PlayStation Move racing wheel

Hidden among the other Sony announcements at E3 2012, the PlayStation blog detailed an upcoming $39.99 PlayStation Move racing wheel accessory set for debut for the PlayStation 3 this fall.

While the wheel looks somewhat unusual, it actually boasts a few not so obvious features that make it worth looking at. For starters,… Read more

Sony lets games do the talking during press conference

LOS ANGELES--At the company's E3 2012 press conference, Sony let a collection of exclusive software and features do all the talking. Spread across the PlayStation 3 and Vita platforms, there was certainly an impressive display of thrilling -- and most importantly exclusive games that are only available on Sony's machines.

Getting things started was David Cage, the head of developer Quantic Dream, the house behind the PS3 story-driven success, Heavy Rain. Cage announced Beyond: Two Souls, the next title in the genre-redefining resume of games his studio has produced. Adding some star power to Beyond is actress Ellen Page, who plays the lead character in the new title. … Read more