Nintendo’s E3 2011 website is up and it is quite glorious. The games the company announced at its E3 2011 press conference didn’t even begin to cover what gamers can expect from the company in 2011 and 2012. If you take the time to peek over there, you can see there are 11 3DS, 4 DS and 8 Wii games to look forward to. It’s going to be a very good time for Nintendo fans.

If you stop by the site, you can treat yourself to E3 2011 trailers, initial screenshots and a snippet of information available on all 23 games made or published by Nintendo that will be at the show. Or, if you just want the basics, you can keep reading. I’ll separate the games into sections based on platform. You could even copy and paste to use it as a wishlist, so you know what to watch for over the next year.

The Japanese lucky cat has become a familiar figure worldwide. People buy statues for their homes, necklaces with the familiar charm and can even set one as their user icon when first setting up a Windows 7 computer. But many people aren’t really familiar with what this iconic cat means, or how prevalent its presence is in popular culture.

Gamers in particular may run across the familiar cat statue in popular games, without even realizing it. Even more interesting is the idea that the virtual lucky cats function the same way in games as they’re supposed to in real life.

So in this week’s Important Importables we’ll take a closer look at what the Maneki Neko is and some of its more popular video game appearances…

The 3DS will out in 2011, in February in Japan and March in North America and Europe, but that doesn’t do you much good if you don’t have any games for it! Nintendo’s working on that, and already has a lineup of nine first party games that will be available in early 2011, to coincide with the system’s launch. Yes, some are ports of existing points, but once you see the list I sincerely doubt you’ll be disappointed…

Mother’s Day is this Sunday (May 9, 2010), and there’s just enough time to get out there and pick something special up for your mother, grandmother or wife. While cards and flowers are nice, a game is just as thoughtful – especially since it’ll last longer. So in honor of the forthcoming special occasion, I’ve put together a brief list of games which might appeal to them and work well as gifts.

Now you’re probably asking how I would know a mother, or grandmother, would love these games. Well, I have done extensive research (I asked my mother and my mother’s friends – some of whom are grandmothers) what games they love. Yes, all mothers are unique and special with their own tastes, but there’s still a good chance that yours might have similar tastes…

You really should have finished your Christmas shopping by now. I mean, it’s already December 18, 2009. But some people like to keep pushing things back to the last minute. Perhaps it isn’t a bad idea, since lots of stores and sites seem to run last minute sales the weekend before Christmas. Anyways, if you need a last minute stocking stuffer for a Nintendo fan on your wishlist, you should check out Play-Asia’s Animal Crossing plush toy sale.

Play-Asia is currently running an Animal Crossing Plush Doll Special. Normally, an Animal Crossing 7 inch stuffed toy costs $21.90, but they’re now $11.90. That’s just about 50% off.

There is a catch though – you don’t know which plush toy you’ll get. There are five different varieties, Rosie the blue cat, Tom Nook the raccoon/tanuki, Bianca the white wolf, Margie the white elephant or Champ the monkey. Oh, and it’s a limited time promotion as well. So if you want one, you have to act quickly. If you choose one of the more expensive shipping options, you can probably get it before Christmas!

If you’re not interested in that, look up Tales of VS. for the PSP or The Idolm@ster: Dearly Stars for the DS…

Facebook has already become a viable gaming platform, filled with all sorts of casual, browser-based games players can add to their profile and account and play as they wish. But what happens when Facebook users become bored of the casual games they’re playing? The casual games on Facebook are quite entertaining and all, but after a while their simplicity can cause their users to become tired of following the same routine to succeed.

That’s where console, handheld and computer games can step up. Many of the Facebook casual games, like YoVille, Mafia Wars or FarmTown, are incredibly similar to existing major releases. Facebook users can easily transition to the game that corresponds to their favorite Facebook applications, and hopefully find something that will hold their interest and perhaps even help them find other games they may enjoy.

Gamertell is taking look at some of the most popular game applications on Facebook today, and pairing them up with comparable major releases, in the hopes of expanding the horizons of casual, Facebook gamers…

The North American and European Animal Crossing: CIty Folk free downloadable content famine is over! Nintendo has decided that the best way for AC:CF players to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day is to dole out free Shamrock Hats to all.

It’s incredibly easy to obtain your own Shamrock Hat. First, connect your Wii to the internet. It’s a fairly easy process – just have your WiFi connection’s security code handy and start the connection wizard under the internet section of the Wii Settings menu. Then, set WiiConnect24 to on for your system. Finally, log in as your character between March 17 and 30, 2009. Pete the mailman will be waiting your character’s front door with a very special letter from Nintendo!

There’s only one Shamrock Hat per character, so don’t expect Pete to come around multiple times with a freebie. It is catalog orderable – you can pick up a spare at your local Nook’s…

It’s no secret that people are cutting back. Unemployment, foreclosure and all sorts of other calamities are befalling families across the US, so it’s no surprise that for many people, entertainment is taking a backseat. Midway and EA are just two of the companies facing some serious losses.

Now is the time when companies have to rethink how they market games. Video game developers and publishers have to rely on casual and multiplayer games. While what TIME says holds true, that is that people will rely on forms of entertainment that will provide the best…

Didn’t have a good Valentine’s Day? Don’t worry. You’re not alone. After all, I’m sure quite a few of us spent the day doing commonplace, unromantic things. It happens.

No Valentine means no love-gone-wrong. That’s right – it isn’t all roses, hearts and puppies. Love hurts sometimes, and relationships can go sour. To help those who didn’t have someone special this year, Gamertell’s put together a list of nine failed video game couples. It’s better being single than having an ex like this. We’re going through the failed relationships starting with somewhat unpleasant aftershocks, leading up to heinous reactions…

I figured I’d at least have another good thirty or forty years before I’d start becoming obsessed about my lawn. Meticulously leaving out little “Keep off the grass” signs. Harassing the neighborhood kids. Telling them not to skateboard on the sidewalk, for fear they’ll land on my property.

But Animal Crossing: City Folk changed all that. It altered my plans (and possibly my thought processes), because now I’m contemplating putting up those very same signs in my virtual town. Well, either that or declare a free-for-all after Snowman building season is over and let any visitors who want to drop by destroy any remaining patches of green.

Until then, I’m trying to gradually rebuild Midgar (my town’s) vegetation. I’ve picked up a few tips and tricks that I’ve been implementing since the beginning of December (2008). A few are working for me, so perhaps you’ll find that they’ll work for you as well…