For exactly 60 minutes, it appeared that Nintendo had come to E3 virtually empty-handed and with a few silly excuses why Microsoft’s and Sony’s hardware battle makes no sense at all. Then, Nintendo showed the 3DS handheld console, which does not need any glasses. However, it does need guides and chains.

Nintendo’s presentation was about as bland as it can be. Almost 20 minutes of gameplay demonstration of the upcoming Zelda – Skyward Sword, which is due in 2011, followed by demos of Mario Sporst Mix (also due in 2011.) The Nintendo U.S. man in charge, Reggie Fils-Aime, worked his through a few more games, mostly Wii titles (Just Dance 2, Golden Eye, Disney Epic Mickey, Wii Party, Donkey Kong Country Returns and Kirby as well as the occasional DS title (noteworthy: Golden Sun Dark Dawn), but it took 50 minutes until some excite was sparked (Donkey Kong.) Game demos just don’t cut it anymore, even if Fils-Aime said that technology is just a tool and it is the experience that counts in the end.

The experience of the Nintendo keynote was not that great. For a long time, Nintendo was just a shadow of if former self. Luckily, Nintendo had something else to show – the new 3DS, sort of. The company claims users do not need glasses to get the 3D experience on this new console.  The 3DS has two screens, a touch screen on the bottom and a 3.5” 3D (non-touch) widescreen on top, because fingerprints do not work well on a 3D screen, Nintendo boss Satoru Iwata said.

There is a slider that can enhance or entirely remove the 3D experience. Plus, the 3DS has two cameras on the front – to take 3D pictures that can be viewed on the devices. The 3DS can also play back Hollywood 3D movies, such as How to train your dragon or Tangled. Nintendo highlighted 3D game support, which includes Madden NFL, FIFA Soccer, Resident Evil or Assassin’s Creed. There’s also a new title designed for 3D from the ground up – Kid Icarus Uprising.

Fils-Aime apologized to the audience that the 3D experience cannot be conveyed on a regular screen. So the company sent out female guides to accompany keynote attendees for the time of E3. They carry 3DS devises with them on what appeared to be chains, which suggests that Nintendo has learned from the Apple iPhone 4 incidents. Shameless bribery seems to be the motto of this year’s E3. Microsoft handed out Xbox 360s, Nintendo provides personal female conference guides. I am wondering what Sony comes up with to top that.

What remained a mystery was the 3DS’ availability as well as price. So we assume that the 3DS, while it was available in many prototypes, will not be released in Q4 of this year. Perhaps at E3 2011?

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