Quick Update: Click here and check out some new screens of EA’s Boogie!

Quick Update: Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo, Ubisoft, Electronic Arts, Take 2, Konami, Eidos, Sega, Vivendi, and Disney have all signed on as exhibitors at this year’s newly expanded show, I just thought you guys would like to know it’s going to be pretty big this year.

Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime kicked off the company’s media summit here in Seattle this morning with a speech that ran down the company’s successes with Wii and DS in 2007 thus far.

“How are you guys doing? I’m doin’ great,” he began. Since this is the first major address that Nintendo has made to the assembled press since Wii’s success, there was a lot for him to be happy about. He began by pointing out that in the history of video games in the US, only one company has ever been the #1 manufacturer of game hardware, portables, software, and the owner of the most popular game, and that was Nintendo in the 1980’s — and now they’ve done it again.

Some interesting facts, figures, and quotes after the jump.

In Japan, more than half of all games sold were for Nintendo DS.

Typically, about half of home consoles in Japan are placed in the living room — with Wii that figure is 75%.

In France, 15 of the top 15 games recently were Nintendo.

In the US, Fils-Aime says they are seeing “early signs of significant market change.”

The number of female purchasers of hardware are up 42%.

The number of people over age of 30 purchasing Nintendo DS is up 127%.

Tighten that age range to people over 35, and the number is up 212#.

40% of Wii owners have connected to the internet.

3.3 million plus Virtual Console downloads.

Nintendogs has been in the Top 25 games in the US for the 21 months since its launch. Brain Age is showing similar “legs.” = top 25 for 21+ months

“Games that appeal to a wider audience can stay on best seller lists indefinitely,” says Fils-Aime.

They are seeing a “change in the perennial post-holiday time period. Everyone knows that more than half of our revenues are generated in November and December, and software sales go in the doldrums in the next quarter after the holidays.”

“We believe that as the market widens we shouldn’t be so dependent on the holidays,” Fils-Aime says.

For the last two Christmas seasons, sales of Nintendo DS in the three months after the holidays have been 35% of holiday sales. But this year, it’s at 49% — “and that’s with DS being essentially out of stock in January,” said Fils-Aime.

“We don’t consider Sony and Microsoft as our only competitors. We’re competing with other leisure time entertainment. If people stay at home and play wii bowling instead of going to the movies, we win.”

“We’re not for one group or the other — we’re for the expanded audience and the core. It’s difficult when you launch a stellar game to differentiate between the two.”

Third party development is “moving enthusiastically towards Wii.” Third parties have sold more Wii games than Nintendo, “contrary to popular belief.”

Metroid Prime 3 Corruption “will reinvent the control scheme for a first person shooter. It’s the closest you can get to PC control in a [console] game.”

Source

Word is flying around that Nintendo has put a lot of their media summit information under embargo. If this statement is true, Nintendo has officially broken my heart. Below is a post from an official IGN team member over at their Wii boards?

It seems that there are more embargoes around this event than we previously thought. As soon as we are allowed to report something to you guys, we will. Don?t worry about that. - Dash-IGN

Wow. All I can say is that I hope this is not true…..More as it develops.

Check out what the good guys voer at GoNintendo had to say about Ubi-softs Rayman Raving Rabbids 2!

While we are all waiting for info from Nintendo?s event, Ubisoft held their own summit in Paris. One of the games they showed off in video form was Rayman Raving Rabbids 2. Apparently the trailer was a spoof of the upcoming Transformers movie, but I don?t know anymore than that. Word has it that the first screens and trailer will be made available tomorrow, but I wouldn?t be surprised if some leaks popped up later today. Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 is set to release on the Wii and DS by the end of the 2007.

I love the direction of these titles and I really think Ubisoft has found its niche with Rayman. Look for more info later today/tomorrow.

Metroid Prime? 3 Corruption
Format: Wii?
Launch Date: 08/20/07
ESRB: RP (Rating Pending)
Game Type: First-Person Adventure
Accessories: Wii Remote and Nunchuk? controllers
Players: 1
Developer: Retro Studios
Website:
Game Information

KEY INFORMATION
If you think you knew what it felt like to be the bounty hunter behind the visor, think again. Take aim at evil with Nintendo?s revolutionary controller.

* Players control Samus by moving with the Nunchuk controller and aiming with the pointer, allowing for a level of immersion unlike anything they have ever experienced. Through the eyes of Samus, players experience a quantum leap in first-person control as they wield the Wii Remote controller, the ultimate device for the first-person shooter genre.

* Samus will employ well-known power-ups like the Grapple Beam and Morph Ball, as well as a bunch of new surprises, to help her survive her coming trials.

Game storyline: Six months have passed since the events on the planet Aether. The Galactic Federation?s network computer, Aurora Unit, is suddenly and completely corrupted with something like a virus. The Federation believes Space Pirates may be behind the problem and, beginning with Samus, starts to contact bounty hunters. As they explain the situation to the assembled hunters, the Federation is attacked by the pirates. Samus and the other hunters leap to the defense of the Federation capital, only to find that the enemy the hunters face is the presumed-dead Dark Samus. Dark Samus is armed with immense power that no one can withstand. It soon becomes obvious that the forces controlling Dark Samus and the terror of the contaminated Phazon are a dire threat that could corrupt the entire universe.

Characters: Samus, Dark Samus, the Galactic Federation and new bounty hunters.

How to progress through the game: The war initiated by Dark Samus and the Space Pirates rages across many planets as they attempt to corrupt each with Phazon seeds. Players use the Wii Remote and Nunchuk? controllers to explore alien landscapes, hunt for weapons and information, and destroy the seeds. Saving the planets from corruption isn?t enough, though. Eventually, players must take down Samus? mortal enemy, Dark Samus.

Special powers/weapons/moves/features: Using the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers, players will be able to grasp and pull things by using actual arm movements, as well as execute amazing feats like aiming and blasting in midair or at a full run. The game also incorporates a new system involving Phazon. If you fill Samus? Phazon supply to a certain level, Samus will temporarily go into hyper mode, a state in which she can pull off incredible feats; on the flip side, if she exceeds the maximum Phazon level, she?ll perish. Also, for the first time in the Metroid series, Samus? ship will be used in active game play.

OK all you loyal fans.? The webpage has been updated with a new?feed to reflect any new news coming from the Smash Bros. Page.?? Keep checking back here as we will know when the page is updated within minutes of its updates.? Look to the right under the Calendar for your updates.

**Make sure you check out our podcasts. That should help pass some time! I will be here all day, so keep it locked.**

Today should be a HUGE day for Nintendo fans. From what I?ve read around the internet, Nintendo?s media summit is supposed to start at 9 a.m. Pacific time. After last night, I really hope Nintendo delivers. What are you guys doing to pass the time gamers?

**Make sure you check out our podcasts. That should help pass some time! I will be here all day, so keep it locked.**