E3'08: Nintendo Bangs The Drums For Wii Music News

Two years after he donned a penguin suit and conducted some Miis on stage at the Kodak Theatre in LA, Shigeru Miyamoto today revealed that Wii Music will be heading to the Wii platform this Holiday.

Opening with a drumming solo that used the balance board to activate the bass drums and the Wii-remote/nunchuk as sticks, the demo explained that Wii Music offered a 'slightly different experience' to the likes of Guitar Hero and Rock Band. Miyamoto-san confirmed that players won't have to follow a strict set of button presses to make beautiful music - this is Nintendo after all.

Over 50 different instruments will feature, including piano, guitar, saxophone (as demonstrated by Miyamoto), and a range of percussion, together with a separate mode that will teach gamers how to drum in a matter of weeks.

Several other modes are set to feature in the game, including the composer mode used to play the Legend of Zelda theme two years ago, a Handel choir, and the ability to record performances and edit them into makeshift music videos.

Multiplayer is also included, with up to four gamers capable of hooking up and forming a 'band' together; cue a performance of the Super Mario Bros. theme by Miyamoto and a few other Nintendo execs.

It's been a long time coming, but it certainly looks like Nintendo are onto another winner with Wii Music, following the likes of Wii Sport and Wii Fit.