More pointedly, Nintendo sales and marketing executive Cammie Dunaway has pointed to upcoming first-person shooter The Conduit and stylised third-person action title Madworld as just two examples likely to appease gathering needs.

“I think that next year you’re going to see the tide turn a little bit, in terms of people realizing that the Wii can have something of interest for everybody. I feel there are titles that should make [the hardcore] stand up and pay attention next year,” said Dunaway to MTV Multiplayer.

“If you look at something like The Conduit, that’s really pushing the edge of graphic capabilities on the Wii and doing things that people didn’t think were possible,” she added.

Beyond pushing titles such as The Conduit and Madworld – already saddled with controversy regarding its bloody content – Dunaway also said Nintendo has recently focused on hardcore desires through titles such as Punch-Out and Sin & Punishment, the latter of which she announced a sequel for.

Despite Dunaway's claims, Wii owners will likely be disappointed to learn that she made no mention of any fresh Mario and Zelda franchise entrants.

It would appear that Nintendo still has work to do if it hopes to remove the shadow hanging over it since its flat E3 2008 press conference, which saw the Japanese gaming giant drawing criticism for centring its focus on casual software.