Even in this day and age of internet scoops, Nintendo managed to surprise us with a few announcements at the publisher’s E3 press conference this year.

At the top of the list was the Wii U, Nintendo’s next home console and the successor to the Wii. The tablet-like controller for the Wii U has a touchscreen, dual analogue circle pads, motion controls, speakers, a microphone and a camera. The controller screen can be used instead of or along with HDTV.

During the press event Nintendo highlighted third party support for the Wii U, announcing that top current generation games were coming to the Wii U as launch titles when the console releases next year. These include Batman: Arkham City, Darksiders II, DiRT, Metro: Last Light, Aliens: Colonial Marines, Tekken, Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge, Assassin’s Creed, Ghost Recon: Online and LEGO City Stories.

Nintendo showcased five 5 3DS games at their press conference. One was Kid Icarus: Uprising, a game that features the return of Medusa and her Underworld Army, and its up to Pit, the guy with Icarus wings, to save the world. The publisher also highlighted Paper Mario 3DS, and although details were scarce you can enjoy the trailer and screenshots right here.

Super Mario will also be coming to the 3DS, with new level designs and challenges. You’ll be able to judge your jumps more accurately thanks to the 3D visuals, while the Circle Pad gives you control to easily navigate Mario through the environments. Super Mario will be out this holiday season.

But remember, Mario’s not the only famous plumber in the Mushroom Kingdom, so you can look forward to Luigi’s Mansion 2 coming to the 3DS in 2012. Luigi’s Mansion was a launch title for the GameCube in 2001, but now Mario’s brother will set out to capture a bunch of pesky ghosts from spooky mansions in 3D.

Star Fox 64 3D will also be coming to the 3DS, that’s right folks, aerial combat of the Nintendo 64 version of the game with 3D visuals, this September. You’ll take on the role of Fox McCloud as he and his squadron of fighters take to the skies (and space) to destroy the evil forces of Andross. Star Fox 64 3D uses both screens of the 3DS, but you’ll be able to play the game with its original Nintendo 64 controls, or use the new ‘Nintendo 3DS Mode’ to control your fighter with motion controls and the Gyro Sensor.

You can also look forward to more Mario Kart racing action, except this time round it will be in 3D! Mario Kart will include new courses (even racing in the skies and underwater), strategic new abilities and customisable karts. Mario Kart will be available for the 3DS this holiday season.

The publisher also took the opportunity to release new trailers and screenshots for a few titles that will be hitting shelves in the next few weeks. Many gamers are eagerly waiting to step into the world of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time in 3D. The 3DS re-mastered version of this 10 year old game will include enhanced 3D visuals, touch screen interface additions, motion control support, new challenges, Master Quest with revamped puzzles and a new hint system. It will be out on the 17th of June in Europe and on the 19th of June in North America.

Next up was Wii Play: Motion, the follow-up to Nintendo’s popular Wii Play, which comprises 12 mini-games, designed to take advantage of the enhanced motion capabilities of the Wii Remote Plus. You’ll be able to play these games in single player mode or with up to four people in a fun multiplayer experience. Wii Play: Motion is already out in North America but look out for it on the 24th of June if you live in Europe.

Kirby fans will be able to enjoy two titles before the year’s end. First up is Kirby Wii, a new adventure that will be out before the end of the year. Kirby Wii will feature drop-in/drop-out multiplayer with up to three players joining the quest as Meta Knight, King Dedede and Waddle Dee. Kirby’s signature Copy Ability returns, allowing him to inhale, spit and transform as he encounters enemies, but he’ll also be able to use new Super Abilities too when the game launches this fall.

Kirby: Mass Attack will be coming to the DS this September. This side-scrolling real-time strategy game promises to deliver a “new twist on a pink hero.” After Kirby is split into 10 pieces by the holder of a magical cane, he sets out on a journey to return to his original form, giving players the chance to use the stylus on the touch screen to control a swarm of up to 10 Kirby characters at once to defeat enemies and find treasure.

Another title revealed during the week was Rhythm Heaven for the Wii. This spiritual successor to the DS version will help to teach you rhythm then test your skills with fun musical challenges. You’ll need to tap the buttons on the Wii Remote in time to the music during mini-games that include stabbing a rolling pea with a fork and playing a game of aerial badminton.

Another new title to be revealed was Mario Party 9, a collection of wacky mini-games that will see players competing in a series of mini-games as they navigate around a virtual game board. You’ll still use the Wii Remote in weird and wonderful ways, as you’ll witness in the new trailer and screenshots.

Other exciting news was that Nintendo would be bringing Itadaki Street to the West as Fortune Street for the Wii, an English version of a Monopoly-style board game where you race around a board buying, selling and trading properties. In Fortune Street you will be able to play as Dragon Quest characters or as Mario or other Mushroom Kingdom characters. Up to four players can play on one Wii console, and the game features 15 different boards to play on. Fortune Street will be out in the US this year.

Another game coming to North American shores is Professor Layton and the Last Specter, the fourth instalment in the popular adventure/puzzle game series. The title has been out in Japan for a while now, they’re actually already enjoying the firth Layton game for the 3DS. No release date was announced yet and there’s been no confirmation on whether the game will be available in Europe too.

You can also look forward to playing Tetris in 3D this October. The game will feature over 20 modes, some old and some new, as well as Augmented Reality game modes and local multiplayer game modes for up to eight players.

Other interesting Nintendo things that happened last week, included the Nintendo 3DS eshop going live in Europe with two free games. And we also learnt through Nintendo’s Developer Roundtable that Pikmin would be coming to the Wii-U.