I think the bigger problem was that all of the games looked like watered down 360/ps3 games, I thought this was supposed to be a new console? Where are the unique launch games at?!?

edit: except their first party stuff of course, which is mostly all rehashed concepts that they have done time and time again.

So when do you think they will announce the disc format?

I think one other thing that might add to the confusion is that they called it the "Wii U" and talked about how "Wii == We" and "U = You" as in tailored to "You". Based on the name alone that sounds like an add-on for a Wii.

@oasisbeyond: I'd love to see a Zelda reboot. Make the game darker. They could just run a parallel series. Zelda X (or something) for adults with a more dark story line and then straight up Zelda for the family to keep the tradition of re-releasing Ocarina of Time alive :)

The confusion is very obvious, this was a terrible press event because it doesn't give enough information.  They mention WiiU and go on for 30 minutes about the controller without ever mentioning anything about the console, at all, and giving it a name that could easily mean JUST THE TABLET controller.  The majority of the games shown on the controller are all Wii games, including Wii sports.  They didn't show a live tech demo at all, never showed the console itself, and seemed to be very elusive about what the fuck they were talking about the whole time.   Only at the end did they show off some mediocre looking HD games looking about like 360 games from a few years ago.  Color me less interested than before.  I'll be more interested to see if Sony or MS pick up this Tablet Controller idea and make something of it, instead of the shovelware minigame collections we'll be seeing that use the "REAL RAW POWER of the WiiU controller (oh and theres a new console with it too, did we forget to show that?)".  

I was only half-watching but I came away pretty confused, too.  Date? Price? Ports of games already coming out for other systems before this one launches?
 
I felt like I came away from that with no actual information.

Well I was going to make a comment about how dense the G4 hosts were for not understanding what they just saw, but it seems a portion of this community is in the same place.  

@FateOfNever: I don't need specs or anything. Just open with "Here is our new console the Wii U" *Picture of console comes up* "It supports Full HD gaming, Online multiplayer, And most importantly of all a brand new controller" Then go into what he did.

But all he said was "Here is our new companion in gaming the Wii U Controller". It was really badly presented as whole I think. It was the most fruitful, but the worst presented of the 3 press conferences this year.

I think the bigger problem was that all of the games looked like watered down 360/ps3 games, I thought this was supposed to be a new console? Where are the unique launch games at?!?

edit: except their first party stuff of course, which is mostly all rehashed concepts that they have done time and time again.

@shadystx: Some very good points. Your experience with the Wii mirrors my own. I'm with you on wanting to see Nintendo's first-party games in HD. I think their art style could really benefit from it. I remeber watching the Futurama movies on Bluray for the first time and thinking how amazing animation looks in HD.

Are you sure you want voice acting in Zelda? They tried that once. Heh. I guess that was more voice then acting.

@Doctorchimp: What's wow about what I said? It's simple presentation skills. Say, then show. Go watch some Apple Press Conferences, or the Microsoft and Sony ones from this year. Perfect executions of it. Nintendo just dived into the controller stuff without presenting context about when the console would be out, what the console would be capable of etc.

Another great example of this exact thing done right instead of wrong is the initial Wii announcement. Go watch it. It focuses on the controller too, but it is presented well, unlike this year which was terrible.

@Wrighteous86 said:

I don't know how you're all so confused about this. They just didn't show the box. There are pictures out there, check Kotaku. They emphasized the part of the console they wanted to emphasize: the controller. They also didn't say anything about storage or the internet (aside from one mention by EA). They must not have any form of storage or internet! NINTENDO IS DOOMED!

Keep in mind this is Nintendo we're talking about. They aren't afraid to do crazy shit. There was a brief period there during the conference where I actually thought the controller might have also been the new console. Both built in together. I think not being confused by the conference means your mind was thinking too traditionally. Of course, everyone now knows that there is in fact a new console, but my point is that Nintendo did an absolutely terrible job explaining that.

@Doctorchimp: I understand what you're saying. I think last time Nintendo launched a console they focused on the important part, the controller. Look how that turned out for a large portion of Nintendo's non-casual/shovel-ware hating customer base. I'm guessing some of us were just hoping for something different. Something more like a Sony or Microsoft console announcement where it's all about the box under the TV.

@GS_Dan said:

@ApolloBob said:

Seriously, it's some variation on a rectangular object with rounded corners - even they might not know the final design. I am literally amazed by people who think that if they didn't show an actual box, there must not be one at all. The controller is supposed to be the new thing, but no I guess everyone needs to see where the discs go so they can sleep at night.

At first all they showed were existing Wii games and peripherals and the WiiU controller just looked like another of these. There was also a rumour for a long time that this could simply be a streaming device. When you don't highlight the fact that you have a new box under the TV people will be understandably confused. Why show a tech demo and not talk about the console? Why give an interview with Miyamoto in video format WHEN HE'S ON THE STAGE? It was horribly organised and thought through.

How well the show was organized is a different matter - try to imagine that maybe they're at a point in the development cycle where they don't have every single detail nailed down, but they have enough to talk about that it would be foolhardy to skip this E3 and wait for the next one (especially if it's far enough along to release before then). If they show a box that's not the final design, everyone will report on it as if it is and then make a big deal out of it when it changes. Yes, I know, they could show a box and then say "oh this might change", but that's not what these big press events are about - details like that can come out later. When you want to generate buzz and interest you focus on what you know, not what you don't. It's marketing and business strategy, which I'm sorry to tell you is more important to them than individual gamer peace of mind. Even though these shows are available for public view, E3 is a press event and everything they do is tailored towards that fact. It is possible that it was a bad move and will cause more confusion than they wanted, but as to whether or not it will affect their bottom line by the time the console is released (when all the details are known) remains to be seen.

@shadystx: Some very good points. Your experience with the Wii mirrors my own. I'm with you on wanting to see Nintendo's first-party games in HD. I think their art style could really benefit from it. I remeber watching the Futurama movies on Bluray for the first time and thinking how amazing animation looks in HD.

Are you sure you want voice acting in Zelda? They tried that once. Heh. I guess that was more voice then acting.

@PeasantAbuse said:

@Twitchey said:

It's a new console that uses the old Wii controllers and the new tablet controller.   I might buy this. They have some great third party games.

That montage of third party games was extremely disappointing.  They should have rolled out a major first party title, like a new Mario or that Super Smash Bros. game they mentioned, not a bunch of games the 360 and PS3 have been able to play for years.

Holy crap! WHEN DID ARKHAM CITY COME OUT? How did I miss it? 

@kingzetta said:

Looks like a original Xbox 360 and the Wii had a baby.