Nintendo has the curtain closed at their E3 booth.

As you can see in the pic above, Nintendo officially has the curtain up and closed at their E3 booth. The curtain is set to open the moment their conference is over. I bet you already know what's behind it...

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RUMOR - Project Cafe to be called simply 'Nintendo'

It seems that the team over at Game Informer has been hearing recent reports from within the industry that claim Nintendo's upcoming console, codenamed 'Project Cafe', may in fact be called simply 'Nintendo'. This would tie in with rumors of the console supposedly resembling a modern day SNES, as back in those days everyone and their mom referred to almost every game system as simply 'the nintendo'.

Personally, I kinda like it. It's strong, yet modest, and it really does bring me back. I mean, in my opinion Nintendo's most badass sounding console name to this day was the 'Nintendo Entertainment System'. It just doesn't sound like something you'd wanna mess with, and likewise calling it simply 'Nintendo' would make it sound all encompassing.

As always, take this with a grain of salt. We're not even two days away from finding out the truth, so enjoy these final moments of speculation while they last.

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RUMOR - Massive Project Cafe Rumor Overload

Lately news has been sooo slow. This is what I call the calm before the storm, folks. Everything is quiet, but we know it's coming. Here's a collection of "supposed" Cafe rumors which, to me, mostly seem entirely fake. The only one's that seem to make any sense are the ones that are common sense, but I'm posting it up due to the drought we're having.

Check out all the rumors here

RUMOR - Project Cafe won't be 'another Dreamcast' in terms of power

This information here supposedly comes from a close 3rd party contact...

“Nintendo’s new machine is powerful and though I hate to bash, it won’t be another Dreamcast. This will be the PS2 of its generation.”

Let's hope this is nothing but the truth, as if it were the Dreamcast of the generation it would mean essentially being forgotten and left behind once Sony and Microsoft release their new consoles...

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Wii's successor not to be named Stream?

David over at thenintendostream.com has done a little detective work recently, and contacted Corbie, the owner of the nintendostream.com domain name in an attempt to see if Nintendo themselves had made any intentions of purchasing it. It seems Nintendo has not made any such attempts. This, coupled with the fact that it's unlikely they'll do so within the next few days has left many speculating that Stream may not be the consoles final name after all.

You never know, maybe Nintendo doesn't even have a final name for the console yet, although personally I think they do.

Most Recent Project Cafe Controller Mockup

I don't really care for this mockup, to be honest. It would be way too top heavy and just plain uncomfortable. A controller needs to coalesce with a gamer's hands. This is the complete opposite of that.

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GameStop release lists show 3DS release dates, Super Mario for 'Wii 2'

You know how it is with these lists. Sometimes they can be spot on, and other times they couldn't be farther from the truth. Personally I think it's one of three things. 1- It's a complete error, 2- it really is for the rumored upcoming and inevitable Mario game for the Cafe, or 3- it's a last hooray New Super Mario Bros. 2 game for the Wii

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Project Cafe rumor - Major third party announcements at Nintendo's press conference

The following comes straight from Shane Satterfield...

“I have kind of heard some things through the grapevine... there are going to be some big third-party announcements for Nintendo’s new console at the show, there’s no doubt about that.”

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Capcom does not regret their Wii support, 'more news to come' on Project Cafe support, pleased with Mega Man 9/10 sales, Mega Man Legends 3 talk

Part of an IGN interview with Christian Svensson...

IGN: Since Nintendo announced a new console for release in 2012, I thought we should take a look back at Capcom's output for the Wii. The company so far has put out about 14 titles in North America, nearly half of which were ports of some sort. If I had told you in 2006 the Wii would sell nearly 80 million units you'd be ecstatic and want to make sure Capcom had tons of software ready. In reality, the company put out very few titles.

Svensson: It's not about necessarily the number of releases, but I would argue we have probably three or four in the top 20 on Metacritic. As a percentage of our share of the top 20 Metacritic games out of the number of Wii titles released to date, we certainly over-performed. Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition, Zack and Wiki, Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars, Monster Hunter Tri, and Okami are all probably up there.

IGN: Any regrets with the Wii?

Svensson: I think like much of the industry, I wish I knew what it was going to be a year before it actually became apparent what it was going to be, in terms of market acceptance. I don't know that there's any publisher you could speak to going into that window that would have said "It's going to be that." Maybe Ubisoft did, they're the only ones that bet really heavily out of the gate on it. But I'm not sure if they capitalized on it any better than we did in the end.
There are certain things I wish we would have done, but the problem is the windows of opportunities closed. When it became apparent we should have done something, the chance had already passed us by from a business or development standpoint. But other than that, it was not terrible. We've had some major successes. The Wii helped us grow the Monster Hunter brand in the West. Our most successful Monster Hunter in the West was Tri in both North America and Europe. I think Zack and Wiki was an interesting experiment; very creative in its approach and reinforced that Capcom innovation is alive and well here. We brought Tatsunoko vs. Capcom to the West when everyone said it wouldn't come. We proved them wrong and it was modestly successful. I'm not disappointed with our Wii output at all.

IGN: For Nintendo's next console, will you be a bit more on top of the ball?

Svensson: I'm going to have to hold those cards closer to the vest. We're a multiplatform publisher, and I think anytime we have new hardware coming to the market that can be a canvas that our creators can create on and help them execute their visions, we're supportive of that. There's more news to come on that front in the future.

IGN: For Mega Man 9 and Mega Man 10, I don't recall Capcom ever talking about whether or not those were successful titles given the budget for those two games. Were you pleased with the results?

Svensson: Yes, we were pleased with the results. Let me also say don't let the 8-bit nature of those games make you think that they didn't cost much to make because they were not inexpensive. They were efforts, in many cases, larger than most of our other digital efforts in terms of budget. They are not small. We are modestly pleased with how 9 and 10 did. Mega Man 9 especially, I think, was particularly innovative for the time to look back and give classic fans some love. We haven't done anything like this. No one's done a classic throwback quite like that and it was one of the first this generation to do it.

IGN: I wanted to touch on Mega Man Legends 3. There was talk earlier that despite being announced it's not actually green lit for development. Can you clarify the status of this title?

Svensson: It's still not. It's green lit for prototype, it has not been green lit for production. The distinction is an important one in that the prototype green light allows the team to spec out what they're going to build and put together a prototype, a playable version of the game to show internally. In this case we're sharing the prototype publicly with everyone to collect feedback to then go back into the production cycle. Production would imply more headcount put against it and the other part is the full plan for what are we building the final product.

Part of that was supposed to be a collaborative effort between the development room and the fans in a very public, transparent display of what goes on behind the scenes. Part of that transparency is, and making clear to fans, is that we're not in production. The pins and needles feeling that the team has every day of, "Is this game ever going to come out?" is in some ways shared by the fans who've put their blood, sweat, and tears into this thing, too. It's an ambitious experiment in many ways and that community outreach and transparency is something I've been pushing more and more for years. When the team came forward with the approach they wanted to take with this title, I was extremely supportive of providing that level of visibility and input. It's listening to the market in ways that a lot of Japanese developers don't do.

The challenge with this of course is that you're opening the kimono very early on and sharing details on a game we hope comes to market. All of our games start this way. It's rare when something enters production that it doesn't come out at that point.

Full interview here

GameTrailers holding live-streaming interview with Reggie two hours after Nintendo's press conference

Looks like GT wants to get in on the Know...

11:00AM PDT 
Reggie, Zelda, NGP and More
Streaming Live on GameTrailers.com
The big man Reggie Fils-Aime meets up with Geoff – and this time it’s live! You don’t want to miss this interview. Plus, the first ever demo of THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: SKYWARD SWORD

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Nikkei supposedly confirms Project Cafe rumors - touch screen, camera, built-in battery and more

The following details come from Nikkei...

- Includes a touch screen
- allows for tablet-like controls for games
- tap the touch screen to control the characters on your television
- can also be used as a portable game machine
- six inch screen
- built in rechargeable battery
- includes a camera
- camera can be used for a variety of play opportunities, for example, a player making an avatar of himself for use in a game
- due out in the later have of 2012

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RUMOR - Nintendo to show off new Mario title for Cafe at E3

This is coming from CVG's part two of their E3 2011 rumors round-up...

Rumour: Nintendo has a new console... and a new Mario.
...we've also heard another little whisper from our Ninty sources - that Super Mario 3DS won't be the only new Mario title to be shown off in Los Angeles. Could we be looking at a Super Mario Galaxy for the next, next generation?

We all know a Mario gaming is gonna hit Cafe eventually, we only have to ask when. While I honestly don't know if there will be Mario shown off for Cafe at E3, I will say this... If an actual new Mario title is shown off, and not just a tech demo, there's no reason why said Mario game wouldn't be a launch title for Cafe...

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RUMOR - Project Cafe to be on-hand at Australia's EB Expo

Inside sources are claiming that Nintendo will be bringing Project Cafe to Australia's EB Expo event.This rumor most likely stems from the fact that Nintendo is booking a lot of space at the show. Remember, all this is just rumors for now, but if Cafe were to see an early 2012 launch, this expo being in late 2011 would make a lot of sense...


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Adam Sessler makes Project Cafe predictions, talks Wii's fate

Part of a Community Voices interview with Adam Sessler...

CV: So this E3 should be pretty substantial. We already have the announcement of Project Café from Nintendo and a ton of new software. What’s at the top of the list of things you’d like to see this E3?

AS: I think the new Nintendo Console, just to satisfy my curiosity. I’ve been pontificating on what they’re going to do with it and I definitely believe that this is not a successor to the Wii. It’s probably closer to a successor to the GameCube, to kind of get to that core audience that Nintendo kind of lost with the Wii. I’m assuming it’s going to be a system with a more traditional interface and a more traditional controller. A lot of developers are trying to make games with a little more complexity. Nintendo can make games. If they do go in that direction, that’s kind of a first; the idea that you can have two parallel consoles in one cycle, because I don’t think it’s there to replace the Wii. I think it’s yet another pillar in Nintendo’s arsenal.

CV: So you think the Wii is going to stick around?

AS: It’s a good question. You’re not seeing a ton of support coming form Nintendo right now, but it does have that casual appeal

Full interview here

OmniVision supplying camera to console maker

Coming from an Electronista report...

Console plans were also unusually singled out during the call. The company (OmniVision) said it had obtained a "significant design win" to supply cameras for a game console that would be ready in the next several months.

You think this could have something to do with Cafe? The timing would certainly be right, and many rumors claim that there's gonna be a camera built into the controller. I'd say if it's not Cafe related it must be NGP

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Project Cafe Rumors - Emily Rogers' Latest Batch

Here are the latest batch of rumors from Emily Rogers. As always, take them with a grain of salt...

- There will be over twenty playable Project Café titles on the show floor.
- Pikmin 3 is guaranteed to be there and playable on the new home console.
- Soul Calibur 5 is a launch title.
- Ubisoft is planning three launch titles.
- Nintendo wants to launch with a big first person shooter title.
- Smash Bros. is in development, but by a different team of people.
- Rockstar is working on something for the system, but it might not be at E3.
- There will not be a hard drive.
- Nintendo has improved their online system significantly.

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Game journalists predict Nintendo's E3 2011 press conference focus, one says Project Cafe codename abandoned

40 percent to the 3DS, 40 percent to how Nintendo is going to sustain the Wii market for the next year (i.e., updates on Nintendo Selects, maybe a new system color/bundle, possibly a “remember this?” Vitality Sensor reveal). Then move into the new Nintendo strategy of getting gamers back on the couch and socializing. And then show off Cafe. Don’t expect a huge focus – remember when Revolution was revealed on-stage, it was a “look how tiny this thing is!” announcement. Café (a project name I’m told has already been internally abandoned for another) will be similar. “Here’s our controller idea, or at least most of it. Tune in next year. Now talk amongst yourselves.” - Craig Harris, former IGN staffer

Sorry Craig, but I respectfully disagree. I think we'll see 45% 3DS, 35% Cafe, and 20% Wii. Although I do agree, the Cafe name will be no more.

Check out more predictions here

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Amazon Germany puts up Project Cafe listing

It's good to see that even Amazon wants to join in on the fun.

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Pachter's predictions for Nintendo's E3 - Project Cafe launch speculation and more

Here are some predictions from everyone's favorite analyst, Michael Pachter...

- Hardware and a bunch of titles at E3
- Many games since Nintendo hasn’t shown much this year
- Date for Kid Icarus: Uprising
- Last showing for Zelda: Skyward Sword
- Nintendo will probably say that they’ll have a Mario title at Project Cafe launch
- Pachter believes the Vitality Sensor is dead
- Pachter echoes IGN’s report of Foxconn beginning production in October
- believes Nintendo could produce one million consoles per month
- Japanese launch for Project Cafe in April
- Nintendo could stockpile systems and launch simultaneously in September

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IGN - Nintendo E3 2011 press event checklist

IGN has put together what they call an E3 2011 Press Event Predictions Checklist. I, on the other hand, call it wishful thinking at best...

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