Ok, on to the Nintendo press conference.  My thoughts…

Paradigm shifting… can’t argue that Nintendo has done some of that this gem.  Speech is a little dry.

Animal Crossing: City Folk.  I loved the original Animal Crossing, so I’m glad this is finally official.  New big city, auction house…  The style is very much like the previous one.

WiiSpeak community microphone… it’s good to see Nintendo finally bring voice chat to the Wii.  Don’t know how well a whole room microphone will work in a busy house full of kids, though.  Fits the Nintendo philosophy where parents can monitor online chat.

Wii software sales and total library in the first 19 months of console life, compared to 360, PS3, PS2, is leading the pack.  I thought there was nothing to play on the Wii??

Star Wars: The Clone Wars looks good.  Holiday 2008.  Doesn’t use the new motion thingy.

Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party…. uses the Balance Board for some things.  They show some young kids playing it, and I bet mine would probably like it.

Call of Duty: World at War.  Looks decent.  Obviously won’t have the graphics of other systems, but it seems pretty good.  It will support the Wii Zapper too.

Guitar Hero On Tour Decades for DS.  Song share between versions.  I’m enjoying the original, so I’m sure I’ll like that.

Spore Creatures. Meh. Looks a little Pokemon-ish to me.  Announced awhile ago.

Speaking of… Poekmon Ranger for DS.  Meh.  Not my thing.

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars.  I think I’d like that.  No screenshots though.  Could look like ass if they don’t do it right, but I’m not a graphics whore if the gameplay is good.

Wii MotionPlus.  Announced a couple of days ago.  Should quell the bitching of waggle-hater crowd.

Wii Sports Resort.  Bet they’ll sell a ton.  Packaged with Wii MotionPlus and a new jacket.  “That’s why they call me The Reginator.”  Heh.  Not launched until next Spring 2009.

Wii Music.  It finally arrives, after being talked about since 2005.  Certainly a different take on the music genre.  50 instruments.  Another use of the Balance Board too.  The kids are going to go totally nuts over this!  They get really frustrated that they can’t play Guitar Hero or Rock Band yet because the control schemes are too hard.

That’s it.  No rumored Kid Icarus.  No storage solution.  Overall I think it’s a steady pace for Nintendo.  Nothing mind-blowing, but then Wii and DS have been selling like crazy, so why change what isn’t broken.  I don’t think they needed to hit one out of the park this year (Sony does!) , and they didn’t, but it was pretty solid I’d say.  I’m sure the “hardcore gamers” will say they are disappointed again though.