Nintendo’s E3 press conference was this morning. My co-worker and I got the opportunity to watch it over our lunch break. And let me tell you, I want that hour back. Here’s a list of what they announced (plus my quick thoughts on each in bold).

• New Animal Crossing for the Wii. No.
• We Speak microphone for online chat to be introduced along with Animal Crossing. Has potential (but it all depends on whether or not they actually use it in more than just this one game).
• Wii Sports Resort (otherwise known as Wii Sports 2). Minigames. Sigh; I suppose.
• Wii MotionPlus add-on to be packaged with Wii Sports Resort. Has potential (but once again, it all depends on whether or not they actually utilize it in more than one game).
• Recipe cookbook? No.
• Grand Theft Auto for DS? No.
• Guitar Hero on Tour for DS? Plus a sequel already? Double no.
• Wii Music. Heavens above, NO.

The alleged announcement that Nintendo promised would make us core gamers happy never arrived. Kid Icarus? The next Zelda? Another Metroid title, but in a different style? No. None of the above.

Oh, wait! What’s that Reggie? You know what the core gamer should be excited about coming from Nintendo? Please, we’re all ears!

As I wrapped my chat with Miyamoto, I ran into Reggie Fils-Aime, president of Nintendo of America and asked him: “What games should the hardcore fans be playing later this year?”

Reggie quickly replied: “‘Grand Theft Auto‘ on the DS and ‘Animal Crossing‘ on the Wii.”

Let me repeat that: Reggie thinks Animal Crossing is a hardcore gamer title. Really, Reggie? Do you actually think that? Could it have gotten lost while being translated to English from the nebulous language of marketing bullet-point sheet? No? Hmm.

Luckily there’s still some hope that some third party publishers will be pushing out some quality content this year, because it’s painfully obvious from today’s press conference that Nintendo doesn’t care about its core anymore. They want more of that sweet casual money that has launched them back to the top.