Code Name: S.T.E.A.M.

Nintendo of America registered a trademark on April 2 of this year for Code Name S.T.E.A.M. Strike Team Eliminating the Alien Menace. While there is no real identifying information in the filing, nor concrete information regarding development of such a product, one can’t help but wonder if this could be the name of an upcoming first-party game.

Speculation on this topic has run rampant, including conjecture that this could be a new IP meant to accompany the launch of NFP. In reality, virtually anything could happen with this name, including nothing at all. However, with E3 around the corner, it might pay to keep your ears peeled for a revelation regarding this moniker, since it has the potential to be the branding for a new Nintendo series.

GameCube Controller Adaptor for Wii U

A GameCube Controller Adapter has been confirmed by Nintendo for use with the upcoming Smash Bros. game on Wii U. Since the game will be played at the Smash Bros. tournament in Los Angeles, it’s almost a lock we’ll get some sort of new information on the adapter as time goes by. Will a release date and price be announced? Will other games work with the controller adapter via a patch? Nothing’s confirmed yet, but more news regarding the adapter should materialize in the upcoming weeks.

Nintendo Figure Platform Toys

Nintendo has been dropping hints about the Nintendo Figurine Platform for months now. At E3, we will finally see the games. With that said, we want to see the figures too! A Mario figure is a given, but who knows what other characters the Big N will release at first. Will they focus solely on mainstream titles like Mario and Pokémon? Or will Nintendo dig deeper into their rich portfolio full of Intellectual Properties? Hopefully at E3, we will know a lot more.

Quality of Life

Earlier this year, Nintendo’s President Satoru Iwata briefly discussed that the company will be expanding its business in a new area by making some sort of non-wearable device aimed at improving users Quality of Life. This device doesn’t seem to be aimed at the same target audience as its traditional games division, and many “casual” games (Wii Fit, Brain Age, Personal Trainer Cooking) Nintendo has published in the past were seen on a slide referencing this product.

Many have stated that this is some sort of exit strategy from the games business for Nintendo, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. In Nintendo’s long history they have tried many businesses strategies, so this can be seen as a return to form for the company.

While E3 may not be the place we hear about this new endeavor, there is still a chance we will learn something, which is why it made this list.

Smash Bros. Classic Controller for Wii/Wii U

Nintendo announced on May 21 that they would be teaming with Performance Designed Products (PDP) to bring a new Classic Controller to the Wii/Wii U, one whose design is inspired by the GameCube controller. Like other Wii compatible Classic Controllers, this new pad will plug into the Wii Remote. Many saw this as their best hope for playing Smash Bros. with a Melee-style control setup, but mere days later Nintendo revealed plans to bring to market an adapter for Wii U which will allow fans to play with wired GameCube controllers. While this latter news somewhat undercuts the importance of the PDP-designed Classic Controller, there’s much we’ve yet to learn regarding this product’s design. Expect it to be one of the many control options for Super Smash Bros. on Wii U to be highlighted in more detail at E3.

Smash Bros. Themed GameCube Controller

During the announcement for the GameCube Controller Adaptor for Wii U, a Smash Bros. GameCube controller was shown with the Smash Bros. logo seen in the middle. Not much information has been released for the controller, but it is probably coming. Perhaps there will be more details on when we’ll be seeing the controller at the event, because Nintendo would probably be throwing money away by not re-releasing this accessory along side the new adaptor.