Nintendo lays out first-party 3DS lineup

LOS ANGELES--At its E3 media briefing this morning, Nintendo stressed that the new 3DS system would launch with ample third-party support. That's not to suggest the company is slacking on first-party development, as Nintendo has already announced a lineup for the system that will see many of its biggest franchises given the 3D treatment.

Leading the charge will be Kid Icarus: Uprising, the first new game in the angelic action series since 1991's Game Boy sequel Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters. Another dormant Nintendo franchise will be receiving a revamp, as the company confirmed it is working on PilotWings Resort, a flying sim that will see the series featured for the first time since 1996's PilotWings 64 for the Nintendo 64.

Speaking of games from Nintendo's last cartridge-based console, StarFox 64 will be making its way to the 3DS, as will Paper Mario. New installments of Animal Crossing, and Mario Kart are in the works as well, and Nintendo is making a new version of its best-selling DS pet sim with Nintendogs + Cats. For those wanting something entirely new, the company has Steel Diver, a "submarine-navigation game" in development for the 3DS. (A Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle game was also announced for the 3DS, though Nintendo considered it part of its third-party software lineup.)

Even though the 3DS commanded the focus of Nintendo's press conference, the company hasn't forgotten its soon-to-be legacy handheld platform. In addition to Golden Sun: Dark Dawn--which was featured in the media briefing--Nintendo confirmed new installments in a trio of its franchises for the original dual-screened portable. Pokemon Ranger: Guardian Signs will launch in North America this fall, followed in the holiday season by Professor Layton and the Unwound Future and Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Miniland Mayhem.