This week brings the huge gaming expo called E3. This is THE place for every big announcement, showcase, surprise and celebration of the world of video gaming every year.

It’s a weird year for me as a gamer - I’m finding myself less interested in the main consoles and becoming more and more of an iOS gamer.  However, I still find diamonds in the rough, having enjoyed Skyrim, Batman: Arkham City, Rayman Origins and the most recent Zelda titles, for example. (And yes, I know there are many XBLA titles that I need to check out).

That said, this looks like it could be a grand year to watch the console makers. We’re towards the end of the current generation, which means that the most polished titles for each current system will be released and we’ll start to see the beginning of what comes next.

One console maker, Nintendo started the push towards the next console generation at E3 2011 with the reveal of their next system, the Wii U, and this year we should be seeing the full reveal of the system, including a release date and (I would assume) pricing.

In advance of the official start tomorrow, Nintendo decided to have an online video reveal, showcasing a few elements of the new system in advance of their full press conference this week. Here’s what was showcased.

-Meet the new controller, not quite the same as the old controller.

Nintendo showcased the updated Wii U controller, now called the “Wii U Gamepad”.  It still has a big touch screen as shown last year, but the thumb sliders have been replaced with full analog sticks (which feature a button when pressed in), NFC controls have been added to the touchscreen (think something similar to the base for all those Skylander toys), new handgrips have been added, and the controller can now also double as a TV remote.

-Hardcore Gamers Get A Controller of Their Own!

As many Smash Bros players can attest, the traditional Wii controller really didn’t work great for well, any title that wasn’t designed specifically for the Wii. That’s why the Classic Controller was released. The Wii U will have a similar controller for third party titles, fighters, and well, any game that would do better with more traditional controls. No word on pricing or release date, but wouldn’t it be sweet if this got packed in with the system? At the least, I hope you don’t need to tether it to the Wii U Gamepad how the Wii Classic Controller had to be attached to a WiiMote.

-Nintendo FINALLY Understands Online Integration with “MiiVerse”

After taking it to the chin, and rightfully so, with their meager online integration on the Wii, the Wii U will allow players a full featured online environment called the MiiVerse. With the Mii’s we’ve come to know and love, you can chat with your friends, arrange games, and even expand out to a full universe of other Wii U players, allowing you to ask for help on game forums, look up related news, even draw little sketches to each other (which I’m sure won’t be abused with cocks).  They even promise iOS and Android apps for the MiiVerse! We’ll see if this costs on a monthly basis or is free every month, but again, that’ll probably be discussed in the full press conference this week.

All and all, I think Nintendo is really starting to address their critics, but as always, it will come down to the games and the game play. Hopefully we’ll see how those work out this week.

Here’s the schedule for the big 3 press conferences, which I’ll try to write up on here with my own perspective of someone who isn’t really enamored with the current world of gaming. In other words, a new Call of Duty isn’t going to impress me.

• Microsoft Press Conference - Monday, June 4th, 12:30pm Eastern
• Sony Press Conference - Monday, June 4th, 9:00pm Eastern
• Nintendo Press Conference - Tuesday, June 5th, 12:00pm Eastern