Speaking to Kotaku, Shigeru Miyamoto apologised for the lack of Pikmin 3 info at E309, but said that the game was still in development. Originally confirmed at E308, there have been few details released regarding Pikmin 3 since, and that continues...

Miyamoto:

I'm sorry [...] Unfortunately we haven't been able to expand the team size very much, because we've been working on so many different games that we've shown off at the show. So the team is working very hard, but it's a bit of a small team. [...] Of course [...] The basic work that they've been doing quite nicely.

"Yeah, and my basic idea is that the sense of the depth of the game and the simplicity of the control will all be there"

Doubt they're spread too thin. On what games? All the BIG productions we actually know of are handled by 2nd or third partie it seems. Then Nintendo only works on Zelda, Pikmin, Mario, and the like, and the new casual brands Wii ___. It doesn't sound like your issues with MK have anything to do with that.

I bet there are a ton of projects they are working on that nobody has any idea about.

Mario Kart was clearly given to a second string team at Nintendo, for a game like MK, a one time AAA title to have to endure that indignity , it must of been because the bigger teams were working on better things, one thing being this game.

Oh yeah, instead we got New Super Mario Bros. Wii and Mario Galaxy 2 (let's not forget it's the first in years we see a sequel for mario).

HOORAH!

 ONM is at the BAFTAs! Miyamoto just told us Pikmin 3 development is "well under way".

Well, that's something at least.

I think Pikmin 3 was just a thing Miyamoto said to damage control all the unexpected hate from the conference. He probably had it in his mind, but I bet it was at that very moment he decided to make it.

" I think Pikmin 3 was just a thing Miyamoto said to damage control all the unexpected hate from the conference. He probably had it in his mind, but I bet it was at that very moment he decided to make it. "