1) Price?
$299; new UPads are more like $70-80, Wiimote Pluses stay at the same price.
2) Release date?
I'm tempted to say November 25, but they probably want the console on shelves before Black Friday, so November 18 is more likely. That's NA release date, anyway; I couldn't hazard a guess as to their plans for Japan or Europe.
3) Bullshit xbox360-based Multiplier Equivalent?
Who cares×
4) Nintendo conference surprise(s)?
Nintendo begins to announce
Wii Music 2, to collective groans from the audience, when, in the middle of the video, it glitches out, and is replaced by a camera on Starship Mario... featuring "Wiitley". He talks non-stop about how some bloke dressed in red saved him from his ignoble fate to join him on his quest to save some royal fruit, or something. Anyway, he's here to announce Valve is supporting Wii U, starting with ports of the
Portal games...
(Yes, yes, I know,
"We are not announcing anything at E3." I can dream, can't I?)
5) Predict Miyamoto's role/costume/appearance context in this year's show.
He's dressed as he ever is, and comes on stage to demo
Pikmin 3. He'll also show off
New Super Mario Bros. 2 (since it won't be out for another month or two), and probably whatever the Wii U
Mario game ends up being,
NSMB or 3D or sequel to
Mario is Missing! or whatever.
6) Any special MS or Sony predictions?
MS will show off Kinect stuff and do a
Halo 4 blowout. Sony will tout Vita exclusves as hard as they possibly can. Both will show off new IPs, but they won't especially appeal to me.
7) You know we're going to hear some, umm, interesting excuses from third parties. So.. what'll be your favorite?
"Wii U? Pfft, not powerful enough. *goes back to developing game exclusively for the less-powerful 360/PS3*"
8) Any special E3 plans/arrangements of your own? Taking off from work? Dkipping [sic] a final exam?
I'll probably read a liveblog of Microsoft's at work, watch Sony's at home, and try to watch Nintendo's at work (since it's only an hour) and make up for it by leaving an hour later.
9) Your favorite bullshit gaming media critique of Nintendo's performance at E3 this year?
"Why are they even bothering? Apple owned all video gaming the instant the iPhone existed. Nintendo should call it a day and start making iOS games. It's the only way to stay solvent."
10) Your own predicted complaint/peeve/angering issue regarding Nintendo's E3 performance this year?
Their online strategy will still likely be horribly impotent compared to MS, Sony or even Valve, and I don't think E3 will fix this.