Latest Nintendo Direct Filled With...Not Much

It may not have been much in the way of announcements, but damn if Iwata wearing that goofy helmet didn't make my day.

I agree with IVofRussia, Patrick make the difference, always a limitless source of content. I like my WiiU but whatever...

@DJJoeJoe:

Video game news.

Damn you February 4th! Get here sooner!

The EU Direct was much better.

I'd buy a Wii U if it comes with that helmet.

@IVofRussia said:

I'm glad to hear that you like your Wii U, Patrick. That piece of information was highly relevant to this article. Giant Bomb has become a much better place since you turned it into your blog.

Because nothing about Giantbomb is about its editors injecting their own personality...

http://www.giantbomb.com/news/the-death-of-a-video-game-benchmark/4352/

It may not have been much in the way of announcements, but damn if Iwata wearing that goofy helmet didn't make my day.

So is Nintendo sending out helmets/cameras like that to sites to help them capture Gamepad footage?

I had low expectations and was still somewhat disappointed. At least we have a good idea of Nintendo's line-up for the next 6 months, but there are still a lot of questions.

That... is quite a helmet there, buddy.

Just tell us when Animal Crossing: New Leaf is coming out! Please, Nintendo!!

The Nintendo Direct promotions have proven a reliable source of interesting news from the Japanese company, and their frequency means they don’t have to include bombshells every time. The first one after the launch of your new console, which has largely received a mixed reaction? Bring your A game, man! Nintendo didn’t.

Instead, we have confirmation of games that were probably coming here and are now definitely are, vague new release dates for desired upcoming games that are actually delays, and looks at new features that do little than prompt you to scratch your head and wonder what Nintendo’s thinking (get excited for Google Maps?).

Here are your updated release dates for the next few months:

Wii U

• Lego City Undercover -- Early 2013
• Pikmin 3 -- Q2 2013 (delay)
• Game & Wario -- Early 2013
• Wii Fit U -- Early 2013
• Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge DLC (character, co-op, multiplayer) -- “Soon”
• Dragon Quest X -- Spring 2013 (Japan)
• Panoramic Videos -- Free preview “soon,” paid eShop release in 2013
• Google Maps -- Q1 2013

3DS

• Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon -- Spring 2013
• Brain Age Concentration Training -- February 10
• Fire Emblem: Awakening -- February 4
• Tokyo Crash Mobs (eShop) -- “Soon”
• Harmo Knight (eShop) -- “Soon”
• (2) New Super Mario Bros 2. DLC Packs -- Available today

Nothing about The Wonderful 101. Nothing about Bayonetta 2. Nothing about Virtual Console. No updates on the abysmally slow Wii U interface. No news on Nintendo Network coming to 3DS. No clarification on transferring accounts or data between machines in the future. There were a whole lotta opportunities to shore up support amongst people who have bought or will buy a machine, but instead, it felt like business as usual. Pretty strange.

I don’t mean to be so down, since I do really like my Wii U, but this was pretty disappointing.