E3 06: Zelda Wii sword fighting, next-gen WarioWare confirmed

This week's issue of Time partially pulls back Nintendo's veil of secrecy; Wii tennis game confirmed.

LOS ANGELES--At its press conference on Tuesday, Nintendo will officially unveil its next-generation console, the Wii. It is expected that executives will demonstrate the console's full set of functionalities, which is known to include the now-famous "nunchaku" motion-sensing controller. The company will also likely reveal the official titles of previously announced first-party games, such as Super Smash Bros. and Metroid Prime 3, as well as possibly revealing some new Wii titles.

Today, though, some of Nintendo's press-conference thunder was stolen when the first copies of Time arrived on newsstands. The May 15 issue of the magazine has a lengthy article on the Wii, titled "A Game for All Ages," by technology correspondent Lev Grossman.

Grossman traveled to Nintendo's headquarters in Kyoto, Japan and was shown the Wii by legendary game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. The reporter was especially impressed with the Wii's controller. "It's part laser pointer and part motion sensor, so it knows where you're aiming it, when and how fast you move it, and how far it is from the TV screen," he said. "There's a strong whiff of voodoo about it."

More importantly for Nintendo fans, the Time article revealed several key pieces of information about Wii games. First, Grossman described playing The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess on the Wii. "Now I'm Errol Flynn, sword fighting with the controller, then aiming a bow and arrow, then using it as a fishing rod, reeling in a stubborn virtual fish," he said. While Nintendo confirmed the much-anticipated GameCube title would have some Wii functionality, this is the first official description of what that functionality is.

Time also revealed the existence of not one, but two previously unknown Wii games. First up was the first next-generation installment in the popular WarioWare series. While he didn't give a title for the game, Grossman did describe its gameplay in detail. "In one hot minute, I use the controller to swat a fly, do squat-thrusts as a weight lifter, turn a key in a lock, catch a fish, drive a car, sauté some vegetables, balance a broom on my outstretched hand, color in a circle, and fence with a foil," said Grossman. "And yes, dance the hula."

Besides discussing how the next Madden NFL game will play on the Wii, the reporter also describes playing an unnamed tennis game. "The controller becomes a racket, and I'm smacking forehands and stroking backhands," he said. "The sensors are fine enough that you can scoop under the ball to lob it, or slice it for spin. At the end, I don't so much put the controller down as have it pried from my hands."

271 Comments

  • gigabrowser12

    Posted Feb 18, 2007 6:43 am PT

    Yay last post!!!

  • 69Flexion69

    Posted Jun 25, 2006 4:27 pm PT

    At fist i wasn't that exited about the shape of the Wii. but oh my god, what it all can do, it's very cool. really exited now, i wanna play (^_^)

  • mjwickstrom1

    Posted Jun 13, 2006 12:52 pm PT

    AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • pixiedust35147

    Posted May 18, 2006 3:45 pm PT

    Wow! I cant wait!

  • nintendorocks

    Posted May 8, 2006 10:00 pm PT

    Wario Ware Wii is almost a no-brainer. I can't wait!

  • James_Bond47

    Posted May 8, 2006 5:55 pm PT

    Super COOL!!!! Nintendo's gonna rock my world!!! Wii will ROCK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • -o-o-o-o-o-o-ox

    Posted May 8, 2006 5:21 pm PT

    Wii is gonna 9wn!!!

  • Beesond

    Posted May 8, 2006 4:52 pm PT

    Apparently, there was speculation as to the PS3 controller doing these functions also, that would be awesome! It would be real lame if PS3 sapped the idea from Nintendo, but the larger the range of games doing this, the better I beleive. Regardless I am gonna get all three Next Gen systems someday. Cant wait for the next Smash Bros.!

  • marc_man3001

    Posted May 8, 2006 4:43 pm PT

    Wow now that I have some solid info on the functionality of the Wii controller, I am officially excited.

  • Shingo

    Posted May 8, 2006 4:12 pm PT

    SWEEET! But these game companies like Nintendo and MS should stop giving away things to Time so early

  • WolfeMasters

    Posted May 8, 2006 3:52 pm PT

    Looks like I will never get to play this great hit on Nintendo's latest system. Since the name Wii is apparently going to stick, I will never purchase the new system. As for the uses for the new controller in the new Zelda game, this is awesome. But I stand by my blog entry and I will never purchase a system that sounds like what someone has to do in the bathroom.

  • Ryza82

    Posted May 8, 2006 3:41 pm PT

    Sounds too good to be true

  • WolfSkill5544

    Posted May 8, 2006 3:15 pm PT

    sounds good

  • rafaelszpo

    Posted May 8, 2006 2:46 pm PT

    Seems they are packing some good surprises there, but still I am skeptic. I'll believe all this when I have it in my hands, and see it working. Up until then it´s just a bunch of beautifull words.

    Yeah, I got some serious trouble believing this all will work out just so fine...

  • the_deathstar

    Posted May 8, 2006 2:38 pm PT

    i think i will play against myself in tennis

  • PeTer__GriFFin

    Posted May 8, 2006 2:32 pm PT

    If any of you guys remember the video of the revolution last year, the soun deffects that went with it exactly define the minigames of what that guy described in the magazine, im thinking the demo video was of the new warioware game.

  • Seraphim_24

    Posted May 8, 2006 2:25 pm PT

    Stupid name, great controler. I can't wait to get mine, even if I refuse to acknowledge the name change. I'll be putting a sticker that reads "Revolution" over the "Wii" logo. ^-^

  • miguel_collazo

    Posted May 8, 2006 1:12 pm PT

    BEST......NEWS.....EVER

  • pat360xb

    Posted May 8, 2006 12:47 pm PT

    ahhhhhh lets hope it comes out soon!!

  • G_W_X

    Posted May 8, 2006 12:19 pm PT

    Wii is good.

  • marito12

    Posted May 8, 2006 12:11 pm PT

    nintendo ftw

  • NioZero

    Posted May 8, 2006 11:59 am PT

    yeah....
    Wario Ware Wii...

    I'm waiting...

  • i_love_my_ds

    Posted May 8, 2006 11:48 am PT

    I.......WANT..........WII......

  • sabru8

    Posted May 8, 2006 11:44 am PT

    this will be so cool.

  • DevJin

    Posted May 8, 2006 11:24 am PT

    kids.

  • joshua784512

    Posted May 8, 2006 11:13 am PT

    AWESOME!!!! Can't wait for it to come out! Wonder what other games are going to come out for Wii...

  • grnidbandit

    Posted May 8, 2006 11:12 am PT

    Uually I stick with owning one system at a time, but if this is all true., count on me getting a wii on launch

  • Razoroo

    Posted May 8, 2006 11:09 am PT

    I am happy about the info but I really wish Mr Grossman didn't spoil the surprises; it would have been great to hear the crowd at E3 applaud at the news. But now they know what to expect!

  • supercrap1

    Posted May 8, 2006 11:07 am PT

    A Wii Warioware seems like a given....but still welcome news.

  • thechosenone827

    Posted May 8, 2006 10:44 am PT

    I can't wait till the wii is released, the controller sounds awesome.

  • elpuertorican

    Posted May 8, 2006 10:42 am PT

    Sounds cool, i still have hopes that the wii will win the next\gen console war

  • Gamespotvic

    Posted May 8, 2006 10:35 am PT

    YES!!! I KNEW there was gonna be a Wario Ware game for the Wii!

  • animemog

    Posted May 8, 2006 10:27 am PT

    So. Excited. *-*

  • ale666

    Posted May 8, 2006 10:21 am PT

    Well, the best way to judge the system(controller) is to actually play it ourselves..Having said that TIME MAG is a very well respected publication and i trust its content. I'm 32 years old and was born with videogames but this is probably the most excited ive been since the hey days. Gaming does indeed need a revolution...

  • SoralinkGS

    Posted May 8, 2006 10:21 am PT

    still amazing

  • cube-gage

    Posted May 8, 2006 10:14 am PT

    this sort of excitement make me need a Wii!

  • jimmikr

    Posted May 8, 2006 10:06 am PT

    like on the screen i mean

  • jimmikr

    Posted May 8, 2006 10:04 am PT

    That starwars comment is so true like have you ever just wanted to leave the real world and twirl around a lightsaber and slaughter darth vader/maul etc. (or be them and kill anyone you see).I hope if they make one they'll use the controller so if you point it at the screen and press b it'll shoot lightning

  • Ryze

    Posted May 8, 2006 10:00 am PT

    OK, so where are the lightsabers?!?!??!?!?! Come on Nintendo - I'm counting on you (and Lucasarts)!

  • kaziechameleon

    Posted May 8, 2006 9:58 am PT

    i think i just wet myself, i'm going to preorder the system right now.

  • jimmikr

    Posted May 8, 2006 9:57 am PT

    Ya i think wiis gonna be cool and all but in the end really its just gonna be a mini game . Like no real gameplay just (flick th stick chop the veggie . The only the too really be ecxited about zelda beacause zelda games are THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • SMASHgaming

    Posted May 8, 2006 9:56 am PT

    Can any say Star War game. Talk about holding a lightsaber. This will be the best system and kill all others. Nintendo did it with the DS and now with the Wii.

  • squashy

    Posted May 8, 2006 9:46 am PT

    IMSOEXCITED!! i really need a wii now! still a bit iffy about the name though, why didn't they call it the Nintendo Nunchaku? that would have been a cool name... has ring to it actually

  • dillon_o4

    Posted May 8, 2006 9:46 am PT

    ooooo its goin to be fun laughing at the people swinging their controller around, and getting hardcore physical into it lol. But it does sound really cool

  • Spartan-999

    Posted May 8, 2006 9:42 am PT

    sounds pretty cool

  • james_n

    Posted May 8, 2006 9:41 am PT

    axia_777 complains about "grammer" but he can't even spell the damned word. It's spelled "grammar." Just a little helper so you don't look stupid when you critique others.

  • LordBraz

    Posted May 8, 2006 9:41 am PT

    Pepper needs new shorts!

  • bond2003

    Posted May 8, 2006 9:39 am PT

    Nintendo Ready To Reclaim The #1 Position, Can't Wait For The Wii
    GO NINTENDO!!!!

  • Zanoh

    Posted May 8, 2006 9:37 am PT

    WoW! THIS IS GOOD NEWS AND AWESOME!

  • davidbabylon

    Posted May 8, 2006 9:26 am PT

    Zelda funcionality will be worth the price of admission alone.

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