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We are just about ready to present the Nintendo E3 press event from the Kodak Theater in LA. You can expect to hear more about the new name Wii, more revolutionary detail, playable games, controller accessories, a price, launch date, DS details (including DS lite), and more.

Read on to check out the live blog of the press event.

9:30AM PST: Here Wii go...we are live. A man is on stage directing a symphony with the Wii controller in his hand. Now someone else is playing a racing game by twisting and turning his body to move with the controller. Another guy is using the Wii-chuck to act lie a sword. There is a speaker in the Wiimote

9:39AM PST: Reggie takes the stage, “What you see from Nintendo is not just next, it is just new.” Nintendo is about everyone, not about just a few. Now a video about Playing=Believing with with iiiii’s from Wii. People of all ages and types are playing the drums, guitar, tennis, golf, controlling a symphony, driving, playing Mario (the first to look slightly awkward), flying a plane (looks awkward as well), sword flights, baseball, shooting a gun, ...with the stick controller. The controller is held differently for different games.

9:45AM PST: Reggie claims that they will have answers with questions but not all. They will jolt the right brain with inspiration. Do you know anyone that never watched TV, read a book, seen a movie...what about a video game?

Nintendo’s way is to challenge standard thinking. Nintendo set forth to make games that are entirely new. The date and price is not going to be set yet but they confirmed that it will cost less than others and will be available in the forth quarter on 2006.

Wii, we, is all about inclusion. A giant lead for gaming, everyone around the world.

9:51AM PST: Video with clips from Sonic, Zelda, Metroid Prime 3, Dragon Quest Swords, Disaster: Day of Crisis, Fire Emblem, Sponge Bob Square Pants, Cars, Super Mario Galaxy, SD Gundamn G Breaker, Tony Hawk Downhill Jam, Sudoku Action, Excite Truck, Elebits, Red Steel, Rayman 4, Super Swing Gold Pangya, Sonic, Project H.A.M.M.E.R., Finalfurlong Revolution, Madden, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles, Twilight Princessand others (Graphics don’t look amazing but good enough for the new style of gaming. The games certainly are set to include everyone from your grandmother to your little brother.)

9:55AM PST: The Legend of Zelda, available on launch day. The nicest they ever made. Nate and Bill are presenting the world premier of “The Legend of Zelda: The Twilight Princes” on Wii. Movement is the nun-chuck. The sword is the B button on the remote. The bow is aimed using the pointer on the Wiimote. You can hear the string and arrow go from the remote (with the built in speaker) to the TV. You can feel the impact of fighting with the built in rumble pack. Nunchuck has it’s own motion sensor, to allow tons of freedom.

This E3 version is stripped down in difficulty level as well as boards and levels. “With the bow, the Wii remote adds depth of sound. Built-in to the Wii remote is a speaker. You’ll hear the bowstring draw taught and you’ll hear the bow sound draw to the screen as the arrow is shot. A quick jab with the Wii remote and shield shove. You’ll feel the impact with the built-in rumble.” Using pointer to launch boomerang. Classic Zelda chime heard on Wii remote speaker. You can pick up crates with the A button and then chuck them with a quick motion.

10:03AM PST: Zelda will launch on Gamecube and Wii on the same day. Mario will be brand new with new features. Excite Truck will be brand new, but now you hold the steering wheel of a truck. Project H.A.M.M.E.R. allows you to swing the nun-chuck. Disaster allows you to use the controller as well. 3rd Party: Sega will launch Sonic again, Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles for Wii, Madden ‘07, Tony Hawk, Rayman, SpongeBob...27 games available on the show floor. Does not include the games available from the virtual console.

10:03AM PST: RedSteel demo. The remote leans back and forth and leans like the gun. The nunchuck is utilized as well. The graphics look like Xbox 1, PS2, Gamecube. Ememies can each smart depending on the situation, you will never play the same exact game.

10:13AM PST: George Harrison is going to talk about Nintendo DS. DS has sold more than 16 million units in 18 months. Nintendogs sold 6 million. Wi-Fi connection has 1.3 million users thus far in less than 6 months. Touch Generations: Brain Age, Big Brain, Club House, Soduko and others all about touch.

Nintendo DS lite is smaller, brighter, and lighter. Mario will be back but wireless functionality as well as the touch screen. Pokemon will be available too on September 18th. Yoshi Island 2, Starfox DS, Diddy Cong, Final Fantasy III, Tony Hawk (play other Wi-Fi gamers, and talk over VoIP), Legend of Zelda for DS too (with a sword), Mario Hoops 3 on 3, will all be available.

10:22AM PST: Iwata, President of Nintendo, reinforces expanding the total number of people who play games. Target people with low interest and ones that have never played before. The logical solution is too reinvent the interaction between games and the people, but make sure that core-gamers are happy too. Claims the controller is comfortable. The virtual console allows people to play games they used to play years ago (Tetris).

The loading times are way to long. DS spoiled him because you can just open and close the cover to start and stop play. The Wii can power up virtual console games and other features (web browser) in just a few seconds.

The machine can provide services even when it is “turned off.” Wii connect 24 keeps it on all the time without the fan, using the power of min-light bulb, allowing new features, weapons, etc to be pushed to you via the internet even while you are sleeping. Aiming for a system that is new everyday.

10:32AM PST: Wii sports will be available on launch day. Includes golf, baseball, and tennis. Miyamoto is on stage explaining how to play tennis. You can twist the remote to add top spin and back spins. Scott Dyer is the first ‘real person’ to pay the game up on stage. It’s Reggie vs. Iwata and Scott in tennis. He seemed to pick it up right away with no learning curve.

10:42AM PST: Reggie closed it all up saying how important it is to include everyone and that they have taken risks ever since the company’s inception, over 20 years ago. The DS Lite and Wii are risks once again but they expect the machine to fair out very well. “Bottom line of every E3 is what’s hot and what’s not. What’s hot is the next step ... What’s hot is if its disruptive ... We know that the future is right here. Wii and the DS represent that same thing: risk. Change is good. We were the disrupter 20 years ago ... Wii will come next. Playing is believing. Thank you all, we look forward to seeing you on our show floor tomorrow”

Wii would have liked to learn the tech specs of the machine, price, release date, number of release games, etc but wii’ll all have to wait a bit longer. The games look enjoyable even if the graphics are not top rate, I’m actually interested in trying them out (prior to this I was not too thrilled). 

As Nintendo puts the finishing touches on their gigantic E3 booth, they’ve got us waiting in suspense for their new Wii.  If you’re not down with the lingo yet, the Wii is the new name for the Revolution game console.  Get ready for some exciting Nintendo coverage starting tomorrow with their pre-show press conference at 9:30 AM PST.

Via [Kotaku]

Gearlog is reporting that Nintendo “Revolution” is being renamed Wii. 1up has posted Nintendo’s explanation as seen here:

“Introducing ... Wii.

As in “we.”

While the code-name Revolution expressed our direction, Wii represents the answer.

Wii will break down that wall that separates video game players from everybody else.

Wii will put people more in touch with their games ... and each other. But you’re probably asking: What does the name mean?

Wii sounds like “we,” which emphasizes this console is for everyone. Wii can easily be remembered by people around the world, no matter what language they speak. No confusion. No need to abbreviate. Just Wii.

Wii has a distinctive “ii” spelling that symbolizes both the unique controllers and the image of people gathering to play.

And Wii, as a name and a console, brings something revolutionary to the world of video games that sets it apart from the crowd.

So that’s Wii. But now Nintendo needs you.

Because, it s really not about you or me.

It’s about Wii.

And together, Wii will change everything.”

When it ships in 2006, most likely around the holidays, Wii is meant to be a virtual console, “capable of downloading 20 years of Nintendo content,” including games created for the NES, Super NES and N64, but not the GameBoy or DS according to a PCMag.com article. Wii is said to include a DVD drive that will play the small GameCube optical games, DVDs and CD music, along with Revolution-specific games; the console will be no bigger than three stacked DVD cases.

Wow we can’t wait for E3!

Via [Gear Log]