Editor's note: We used Cover It Live for this event, so if you missed the live blog, you can still replay it in the embedded component below. Replaying the event will give you all the live updates along with commentary from our readers and CNET editors Daniel Terdiman and Josh Lowensohn. For those of you who just want the updates, we've included them in regular text here.
Welcome to CNET's live coverage of Nintendo's E3 2010 press conference.
We're live in Los Angeles, where the 3D version of the Nintendo DS is expected to be among the company's key announcements. (See our full list of predictions here.)
In addition to the live video feed (above), Daniel Terdiman and I will be providing play-by-play coverage using Cover It Live (below).
9:01 a.m. PDT: Annnd here we go!
9:02 a.m.: Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo's president, is coming on stage now.
9:03 a.m.: "For gamers, this is the best week of the year. You can just feel the buzz in the air." Fils-Aime mentioning 3D, HD, motion controls, and saying he's going to help adjust those expectations.
"Technology is only a tool--the end product, the thing that does matter is the experience. And the best experiences only come when technology and game technology are perfectly matched."
9:03 a.m.: Now showing a video of Zelda--through the years it seems, and now onto gameplay footage of Skyward Sword, which is a Wii exclusive.
9:06 a.m.: Now Mario and Zelda creator Shigeru Miyamoto is up on video (but not on stage) talking about creating new control methods for games over the years. Saying the Wii remote and nunchuck will be used like a sword and shield in the new title.
9:07 a.m.: Now we're getting a demo of how Zelda works with Wii MotionPlus and the nunchuck. And Miyamoto just literally burst on stage to show us how to do it.
9:08 a.m.: "Just imagine that you're holding a sword and a shield yourself. And the only buttons you use are what's on the controller--everything else is just normal actions."
9:09 a.m.: So yesterday's Microsoft demo had players cutting through watermelons, whereas Nintendo's conference has switched it up with giant mushrooms being sliced up.
9:09 a.m.: Players can charge their swords by holding their arms up in the air for a couple of seconds. This should make a lot of kids happy, as it did to Miyamoto on stage. Miyamoto also just showed off how to open a door in the game by waving his sword to confuse the enemy.
9:12 a.m.: Players can now cut trees, as well as grass with their swords.
Miyamoto then demoed how to use the controller like a drinking glass to drink up some in-game healing potion.
9:14 a.m.: The inventory control system uses a new radial dial menu where you just move around the analog stick to pick something.
The on-screen demo of how to target things with the in-game slingshot just went very badly. Miyamoto switched over to a sword to finish the job.
9:15 a.m.: Miyamoto is demoing how to toss and roll bombs, the latter of which can be sent on their way to a target by doing the same rolling motion used in Wii Sports bowling.
Steve Jobs being made fun of now by Miyamoto's translator, "we're getting some interference up here...you guys need to turn off your wireless devices."
9:17 a.m.: New weapon: A beetle that you shoot, then control with the Wii remote. Can be used to pick up items as well as attack enemies. Think of it like a homing missile, but harder to control from the looks of the demo.
9:18 a.m.: Another new weapon: A whip, that you can use to attack enemies from afar. Also works on grass apparently.
9:18 a.m. (from reader Aaron): The whole Zelda demo seems to be going very poorly. Very unresponsive controls.
9:19 a.m.: @Aaron: Yes, though to be fair there are a ton of wireless devices in here.
9:19 a.m.: Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is being released next year, Miyamoto says.
9:20 a.m.: Seeing a promo video of the game now. Lots of jungle locales, and lava of course.
9:21 a.m.: Fils-Aime back up now, saying, "Today we want to first introduce you to titles that are based on this goal of universal appeal. Let's start with the wide world of sports where developers can go for realism, or over-the-top fun."
9:22 a.m.: Fils-Aime says we'll be seeing an exclusive version of NBA Jam on the show floor. But, more importantly, Mario is in another sports game, folks.
9:24 a.m.: Seeing a bunch of Nintendo characters--Mario, Peach, Bowser, Luigi, Yoshi--playing hockey, volleyball, what appears to be handball, and basketball.
Game will be called Mario Sports Mix, will be out "next year."
9:26 a.m.: "Last year you heard people say Wii momentum was starting to wane. But last December, we set an all-time record for game system sales of any kind of any month."
Last year, you heard we weren't selling as many games, but more games have sold for Wii in 43 months on Wii than any platform ever in the same launch period.
Studies say people spend longer playing Wii, and more people intend to buy the Wii in the next six months. Fils-Aime says the secret is "bridge titles," or games that are easily accessible to all.
9:27 a.m.: New game called Wii Party, coming this holiday. Demo reel made it look like you'll need four controllers to play it.
9:28 a.m.: A demo reel of Ubisoft's Just Dance 2 is rolling now. Will let up to eight people play at once.
9:30 a.m.: Fils-Aime says, "At last year's E3, a lot of you got jazzed hearing about a new DS title, Golden Sun, which is now being retitled 'Dark Dawn.'"
We're getting a demo reel of that now.
9:31 a.m.: Fils-Aime says the Golden Sun sequel arrives this holiday season.
9:31 a.m.: Nintendo showing a video about N64 classic, Goldeneye.
9:32 a.m.: This November, Nintendo is releasing a new Goldeneye title. It will be a Wii exclusive and will have online multiplayer. Looks to feature the new Bond, and not Brosnan. Interesting.
9:33 a.m.: Fils-Aime: "I remember it. You remember it. But there are people watching now that haven't experienced it." Game will be developed by Activision.
9:35 a.m.: Fils-Aime is talking about Mickey Mouse now (without much of a segue). Disney is doing a new game called Epic Mickey, which will be a Wii exclusive.
Warren Spencer and Adam Creighton are up now giving us a look at Epic Mickey. Game is third-person.
9:38 a.m.: The game has cartoon-like cut-scenes, and characters from various Disney properties. Creighton is doing a live demo, showing off various platforming bits.
Gamers can "draw and erase" things around the game environment with Mickey's magic paintbrush. Players can change the game world for good or bad depending on whether they use paint, or thinner. "At the end of the day, we want each player to feel like they've crafted a unique experience based on those decisions," Spencer says.
9:40 a.m.: "Travel Zones" take you from one part of the world to the other. They're "inspired by" Disney classic cartoons, and use platform mechanics with some very pretty looking 2.5D visuals.
9:41 a.m.: This is the interview I did with Warren Spector about Epic Mickey a few months ago: https://salezone.website/8301-13772_3-10390179-52.html%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3E%3Cb%3E9:43 a.m.: Fils-Aime is back now, saying, "Keeping popular franchises fresh takes a lot of developers inside of Nintendo." He's talking about how Kirby has worked his way into the hearts of gamers, but hasn't really gotten a new game in more than 7 years.
9:45 a.m.: Slated for release this fall, Fils-Aime says.
9:47 a.m.: We're now getting some video footage of Metroid.
9:49 a.m.: Metroid: Other M, a Wii exclusive, will be in stores August 31.
9:51 a.m.: It's called "Donkey Kong Country Returns."
The game will be out "this holiday."
9:53 a.m.: Fils-Aime says that the glasses have been a barrier: "Man, those glasses."
The 3DS is now being raised on a foggy platform.
9:55 a.m.: Satoru Iwata, the president of Nintendo, is now up.
9:58 a.m.: I think he meant that in terms of not making the top screen touch sensitive as well.
9:59 a.m.: Iwata calls the analog stick a "slide button."
To which we just saw a preview of Kid Icarus: Uprising, which Nintendo says is "coming soon."
10:11 a.m.: @Wildcat84: We'll find out at the booth and let you know.
Who just came back out onto the stage in a shredded blazer.
They're all wearing the same thing--this is insanely creepy.
10:18 a.m.: Wii demo booths are rising from the floor of the stage with Zelda now.
10:18 a.m.: All right, folks, it's all over. Thanks for joining us.
Editors' note: The original, barebones version of this post was initially published Monday at 9 a.m.