Pre-E3 blowout day five: Nintendo

The dark horse

Nintendo Virtual Console
Do you even remember that Wii will be able to download NES, Super NES, Nintendo 64, Sega Genesis and TurboGrafx games? Possibly not. Thousands of classic titles are up for grabs with a console list like that, and with some choice selections, this feature alone could propel Wii through the holiday shopping season - look, cheaper hardware that plays multiple generations' worth of video games!

There are still no concrete prices available for these retro games, but rumors suggest NES games would be $3.00 a pop, with the prices steadily rising with console power. The Xbox Live Arcade is exploding with awesome games, both old and new, so expect Nintendo to treat its beloved franchises in a similar way. And if there's a way to nail down downloadable versions of Final Fantasy IV, Chrono Trigger and Secret of Mana, Square Enix fans may need some chloroform to calm down.

There's always more...

If there's something everyone wants to see, it's Nintendo's next move. We all raised a concerned eyebrow at the DS two years ago, and now it's kicking all kinds of ass. Same thing goes for Wii. How much will Nintendo actually reveal? A new Smash Bros.? What about the confirmed Animal Crossing sequel? Any news on an improved Wi-Fi Connection once Wii hits retail?

And, of course, how will the crowded press conference crowd react the first time someone on stage says "Wii?" Surely everyone's gotten their jokes out of their system by now, right? With a revolutionary new controller, bizarre console name and radically different game plan, this will be Nintendo's biggest show ever.

Brett Elston

A fomer Executive Editor at GamesRadar, Brett also contributed content to many other Future gaming publications including Nintendo Power, PC Gamer and Official Xbox Magazine. Brett has worked at Capcom in several senior roles, is an experienced podcaster, and now works as a Senior Manager of Content Communications at PlayStation SIE.