Nintendo @ E3 2012 Live Blog: Still more of a Wii U preview than expected

Nintendo's official E3 media briefing begins in earnest after its big Sunday Special where company president Satoru Iwata gave us a taster of what to expect with the upcoming Wii U platform, as well as its own flavor of social networking.  The conference also marks the day E3 2012 kicks off for all the attendees waiting to try out all the games on the show floor!

We certainly hope the Wii U is what you were tuning in to see through the official streams: the new hardware will clearly be the focus of the show today, to the detriment of the 3DS unfortunately.  Keep an eye out for the #IwataSays tags on Twitter as well.  Let's see what the console giant has in store for us all today!

10:10 AM  And with the new credo of "Together. Better" and a one last look at NIntendoLand, the show is a wrap!

10:08 AM  Reggie sez, Wii U is the tool of together.

10:08 AM  NintendoLand confirmed as launch title for Wii U this holiday.

10:05 AM  Multiplayer is emphasized; can players cooperate against the all-seeing GamePad ghost player?

10:02 AM  Luigi's Ghost Mansion demonstration, capturing the feel of classic horror movies.

10:00 AM  Three objectives to designing NintendoLand: new level of gameplay using the GamePad, enjoyable either multiplayer or singleplayer, and Miiverse support.

9:59 AM  12 "attractions" in all, including ones based on the Zelda and Animal Crossing franchises.

9:56 AM  Now Reggie introduces NintendoLand as a Wii U title, Katsuya Eguchi and Jonathan Yeckley take the stage to better explain how this theme park.

9:56 AM  Pretty much the same Ubisoft showcase trailer as one in the publisher's show yesterday.

9:55 AM  Reggie looks goods as a zombie, and sounds good as one too.

9:54 AM  ZombiU is next.  The GamePad is your survival kit: inventory, scanner, sniping and hacking tool, and as your means to break free from the clutches of zombies.

9:53 AM  Reggie is one mean dancer taskmaster, or "puppet master."  Just like his day job at Nintendo.

9:51 AM  Xavier Poix, director of Ubisoft France, takes the stage to introduce Just Dance 4.  Yes, more dancers.  Unfortunately, Reggie is not one of them.  He is controlling with the GamePad.

9:50 AM  Guillemot agrees the Wii U is indeed innovative and thanks NIntendo, awwww.

9:49 AM  You can never escape Ubisoft.  Co-founder Yves Guillemot takes the stage to introduce his company's Wii U titles.

9:46 AM  LEGO City Undercover revealed for Wii U as an open-world exploration title featuring LEGO cops.  Starring Chase McCain, a legend who knows some of Mario's tricks.  Handheld version also coming.

9:45 AM  3rd party 3DS game showcase trailer includes Castlevania: Mirror of Fate, Disney's Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion, Scribblenauts: Unlimited, Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance.

9:42 AM  Luigi returns in new Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon for 3DS.  Not for the arachnophobic.  Eerier in 3D, this holiday season.

9:41 AM  Paper Mario Sticker Star is next, with STICKERS as a strategic element. They're your commands to kick ass and get around, man!  Also available as digital download this holiday season.

9:40 AM  New Super Mario Bros. 2 up first, launching Aug. 19th.

9:39 AM  1hr 3DS special tomorrow starting at 6:00 PM PST.

9:38 AM  Scott Moffit of NOA now takes the stage to remind us all of the 3DS.

9:37 AM  FreeStyleGames' SiNG (working title) confirmed as rhythm title for Wii U.  Now you can embrass yourself further while singing and dancing with Wii U GamePad.

9:34 AM  Wii Fit U trailer introduces new minigames for calorie burning, assuming your quads can take it.  Off-TV play also confirmed.

9:33 AM  Reggie's body was ready for Wii Fit then, especially now that 43 million units of titles have sold.  Wii Fit U confirmed.

9:31 AM  3rd party title trailer showcase includes Darksiders II, Mass Effect 3, Tank! Tank! Tank!, Tekken Tag Tournament 2, Trine 2: Director's Cut, Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge, and Aliens: Colonial Marines.

9:29 AM  Gameplay trailer confirms greater exploration elements.  Auto Mutt is a dastardly creation, but these can be shared.  New multiplayer mode.

9:28 AM  Scribblenauts Unlimited coming to Wii U! Jeremiah Slaczka of 5th Cell is on stage to introduce the franchise and new title.

9:27 AM  GamePad serves as a quick inventory.

9:26 AM  Remote controlled batarangs controlled by GamePad.

9:26 AM  B.A.T. mode new to Wii U version.

9:24 AM  Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition confirmed for Wii U.

9:23 AM  Martin Tremblay, president of WB Interactive takes the stage to introduce Batman: Arkham City

9:23 AM  Third-party game title support showcase.

9:22 AM  GamePad support for Boost Mode.

9:21 AM  New Super Mario Bros. U gameplay trailer.

9:20 AM  New Super Mario Bros. U confirmed, with Miiverse support as a "social window."

9:19 AM  Miiverse also displays recent screenshots and scores.  3DS, smartphone and PC support coming soon.

9:18 AM  Miis gather around "billboards" on your main street to reflect your tastes and trends.  Speech bubbles serve as messages.

9:17 AM  Miiverse is your main street, where Miis congregate and cause commotion.

9:16 AM  GamePad showcase.  Button layout and touchscreen explained, as well as built-in features like gyroscope and voice/video chat.  Headphone jack and volume control.

9:15 PM  Reggie confirms dual GamePad support.  Experiences coming soon.

9:14 AM  Reggie once again brings up asymmetric gameplay.

9:11 AM  Wii U changes three different things: changes gaming, how you interact with friends, and how you enjoy TV.

9:11 AM  20 Wii U titles to be showcased today.

9:10 AM  Reggie Fils-Aime takes the stage with an introduction track.  He feels like a Purple Pikmin, how nice.

9:10 AM  Miyamoto has a Pikmin in his pocket.

9:09 AM  Pikmin 3 is all about producing a deeper type of game in today's market, plus with more detailed graphics.

9:08 AM  Challenge Mode in Pikmin 3 is all about strategically gathering fruit in the limit.

9:08 AM  You can control up to four leaders in Pikmin 3.

9:07 AM  Pikmin 3 can be played using GamePad only.

9:07 AM  Wii U GamePad displays the map.

9:07 AM  More strategic aiming using controllers.

9:07 AM  New Rock Pikmin will help break harder objects on the field.

9:05 AM  Wii U hardware was well suited to bringing Pikmin to life graphically.

9:05 AM  Pikmin 3 first look at last!

9:05 AM  The benefits of the subscreen continue to be expounded.

9:04 AM  GamePad screen was intended to be the first thing you want to pick up when you fire up Wii U.

9:02 AM  It's a Pikmin invasion on the show floor.  The show begins with the Wii U, a GamePad is on stage in black.  Bill Trinen serves as translator.

9:01 AM  Senior director Shigeru Miyamoto is taking the stage in front of an enthusiast audience.

9:00 AM  Let's-a go!  Bang of gong, Nintendo's press conference is on!