As the Nintendo Wii and DS continue to steadily outsell competing consoles from Sony and Microsoft, gamers anxiously awaited the Nintendo E3 press conference, where a number of announcements were expected.

Nintendo started the conference off with Reggie Fils-Aime giving a brief introduction on the current status of the video game industry in Japan and the United States.  Even though the numbers have changed, the President of Nintendo America enthusiastically presented data that media and analysts expected.  For example, in the United States -- the biggest and most competitive game market -- the industry was up nearly 50% over the same time frame in 2006, Fils-Aime said.  

The Wii Zapper, a gun shell designed to be used with the Wii, was brought onto the stage.  The Zapper will be packaged alongside some new video games and will have a retail price of $19.99.  Games such as Medal of Honor and Resident Evil Umbrella Chronicles will make use of the Zapper.  Nintendo is currently creating what can be considered a top-secret title which will feature the Zapper, with no details disclosed during this morning's conference.

Understanding that wireless gameplay is something that gamers utilize, Fils-Aime spoke about Nintendo online for a few minutes during the conference.  A short video montage highlighted that more than 5 million people are using the wireless online capability of their DS handheld console.

Fils-Aime also spoke about a number of new video games Wii owners can look forward to in the future.  Brain Age 2 was featured during the press conference and users can expect it to be available in North America on August 20.  Super Mario Galaxy will be available "November 12, this year," said Fils-Aime.  EA's MySims will be available for the DS and Wii, though release information wasn't announced.  Wii gamers can also look forward to Metroid Prime 3: Corruption along with the rest of the titles announced.

"I can announce today that Smash Bros. Brawl will launch in the Americas on December 3," he said.

The WiiWare game development technology will officially begin service next year, according to Nintendo.  The Nintendo press release promotes WiiWare as a service which "provides game creators a simple method by which they can get their games to the public."  

Nintendo remains dedicated to the development of video games that cater to both casual gamers and more experienced video game players.

Shigeru Miyamoto presented Wii Fit, a new game designed to be entertaining and beneficial for game players.  Players balance, hop, kick, and perform other exercise on top of a unique floor mat called the Wii balance board.  Over time, the game will monitor a player's Mii, also keeping track of a player's body mass index (BMI).  Wii Fit will feature more than 40 different activities for players.

Nintendo is happy, but won't be happy until the company is able to "steal more of that (leisure) time," Fils-Aime warned at the end of the show.