Keep checking here for updates.

12:42 AM EST: Nintendo press conference is about to start…tension building

12:47: Satoru Iwata takes the stage and immediately announces the Nintendo DSi, the new version of the DS

12:49: Iwata says: At the pace the Nintendo DS has been selling, you might think that the market has been saturated. But we believe we can still expand it.

12:53: The size of the unit has been reduced by 12% and 2.6 millimeters — and the Game Boy Advance cartridge slot is gone. Sad face.

12:55: First screen!!

12:59: More from Gemaga. As the rumors indicated, the DSi has a larger screen, 3.25 inches. There’s a camera, and an audio-playing function. The camera is… goodness. 300,000 pixels? Is that 3 megapixels? You can apparently edit pictures using the touch screen. When playing back sounds, you can adjust the pitch and the playback speed.

1:00: 17% bigger screens, looks to have 2 cameras, one when flipped open, one on the back when closed

1:01: There’s an SD memory card slot so you can dump your pictures right to Wii’s photo channel, for example

1:03: Whoa, there’s onboard memory apparently, so you can load it up with software… like games. You can download games. With Wii Points. Holy cow. Wii Points will be renamed “Nintendo Points.”

1:04: 2 Touch screens — not confirmed CONFIRMED by IGN

1:05: DS Browser built-in, DS Virtual Console!!, DS Ware!!

1:06: From the “Nintendo DS Shop,” you can download “Nintendo DS Ware.” Software will be split into four categories: Free, 200, 500, Premium (800). And until March 2010, you’ll get a free 1000 points (1000 yen or $10) when you buy a DSi.

1:10: The “DS Station” download kiosks in Japanese stores will enter their “second phase.” A new service called “Nintendo Zone” will be started, which you can also use at McDonald’s. (This must be the “strengthened internet communication” that early reports from Nikkei discussed.)

1:11: Nintendo DSi will be released in white and black color variations, and launch on November 1 for 18900 yen (about $180).

1:13: New DS Pic:

1:17: Gemaga says that they’ve just shown a demo reel of DS games that will be out before the end of the year. Also, as I predicted, they’re now going to do a demo of Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time, the new DS slash Wii game.

1:21: Now they’re showing an “image anime” trailer for Dragon Quest IX.

1:25:　That’s all for DS announcements. From here on is the Wii. Regarding the lack of internal memory, Wii software will be able to be downloaded to SD memory cards. Also, Wii software will be able to be easily copied to internal memory from the SD card. This will be available in Spring 2009.

1:29: They’re going to start including a three-and-a-half minute demo movie called “Things You Can Do With Wii” with new Wii hardware, to get more people using the Internet features of Wii. They’re releasing a (new?) Wii Wi-Fi Adapter. And if you, a Wii owner, help another Wii owner get connected with the Internet, they’ll give you both a free 500 Wii Points in a new campaign.

1:30: DS Lite vs. DSi

1:32: SD Card slot

1:33: Talking about Animal Crossing for Wii. You’ll be able to transfer your data from the DS version and use Miis. The Wii Speak will also be released in Japan, of course, packaged with Animal Crossing for 7800 yen on November 20.  —just what we heard from E3, get to the good stuff Nintendo

1:34: Animal Crossing Wii: Can utilize data from the DS version. Miis are also supported.

1:35: Now they’re talking about Wii Sports Resort and the Wii Motion Plus, Motion Plus included with Wii Sports Resort

1:37: New strange music player screenshot maybe?

1:39: IGN – A new series of software is coming out called “Let’s Tap.” It’s games like Pikmin that were released on GameCube, adapted for play on Wii. Hopefully this is not the Pikmin 3 Miyamoto referenced at E3 2008. If so, we will hang ourselves.

Wired – New Wii game that I am pretty sure is from Yuji Naka’s new studio, called “Let’s Tap.” Nintendo is re-releasing a series of famous GameCube games like Pikmin under the banner “Wii de Asobu Selection” (Games You Can Play on Wii Selection). Economical!

1:43: Demo reel of new Wii games!! they announced Punch-Out!!

1:44: Wired – And Another Code (aka Trace Memory, the DS adventure game). And Sin and Punishment 2. They couldn’t have shown these at, oh, I don’t know, E3?

IGN – Punch Out and Sin & Punishment 2 announced for Wii. Another Code (Trace Memory on DS) announced for Wii. That’s what we’re talking ’bout!

1:47: Sengoku Musou 3 (Samurai Warriors 3) will release on Wii.  Another installment in the “Tales Of” series is coming to Wii. Monster Hunter 3 will also release for the system.

1:51: Iwata leaves the stage, and Miyamoto comes up to talk about Wii Music.

1:54: IGN does not expect Kid Icarus to be announced or shown at this venue or tomorrow’s in America. However, do look forward to playable versions of The Conduit and MadWorld from NOA’s event in the morning — which, by the way, we’ll be blogging, too. (We presume most of the info will be the same.)

1:57: I made Wii Music with the idea of being able to enjoy playing musical instruments in a jam session. (Miyamoto)

2:06: Watch videos from Nintendo’s Japan site here.

2:15: That’s it!  Well, Nintendo came out with all their guns!  Be sure to check out those videos at Nintendo’s site for some footage of the new Punch-Out and many, many more games!

2:16: Endless Ocean 2 Confirmed in videos

Watch all the video coverage here