Play Nintendo - Announcing Nintendo @ E3 2014

[Carbo]

 

PLAY NINTENDO: NEW GAMES, NEW EVENTS AND LIVE, NONSTOP PROGRAMMING ON TAP FOR E3 2014

Super Smash Bros. Tournament Highlights Nintendo’s E3 Approach

REDMOND, Wash., April 29, 2014 – Over the last few years, Nintendo has repeatedly reinvented its approach to E3 by creating unique ways to break news and get fans at home involved in the fun, while also offering great experiences for on-site attendees. That mission continues in 2014 as Nintendo offers a series of new channels to communicate news directly to its key audiences, including fans, media, analysts, investors and business partners. This includes a new format for unveiling news: the Nintendo Digital Event; a Super Smash Bros. tournament; a full slate of live, in-depth game demos from the Nintendo booth; and an opportunity for fans to play Super Smash Bros. for Wii U for the first time at their local Best Buy.

"We demonstrated last year that we are never afraid to reinvent a proven tactic or to break completely new ground if we believe it will provide the best experience for our fans, followers and partners," said Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America's president and chief operating officer. "So, whether you're attending E3 in person or joining online, there's an amazing lineup of games, experiences and events coming your way."

At E3 2014, Nintendo will offer four unique experiences, all under the unifying banner of "Play Nintendo."



Super Smash Bros. Invitational
2014 will see the arrival of not one, but two new Super Smash Bros. games: Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. To commemorate this occasion, Nintendo is inviting 16 highly skilled Super Smash Bros. players to the NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles to compete in a Super Smash Bros. for Wii U tournament. Thousands of fans in the audience and countless more watching a live stream online will see new Super Smash Bros. characters clash with existing favorites in action for the first time. More important than declaring a winner, however, this event is a celebration of all things Super Smash Bros., and a great way for new and veteran fans to take part in a tribute to this legendary franchise. More information about the 16 invited participants in the tournament, the identity of the announcers, and how fans of the franchise can view the tournament in person and via webcast, will be communicated shortly.



Nintendo Digital Event
Every year, Nintendo looks for the best way to show its games and share its news with fans, media and other key audiences. In 2013, Nintendo decided to forgo a traditional press conference and use a video – in that case a Nintendo Direct – to share its news from E3. The company is building on that approach at E3 2014 with the "Nintendo Digital Event," a new kind of video program that will reveal and provide further detail about the gaming experiences on the way for Nintendo platforms in 2014 and beyond. The Nintendo Digital Event will air at 9 a.m. PT on Tuesday, June 10.



Nintendo Treehouse: Live @ E3
This year, Nintendo will offer fans a deeper look at Nintendo's biggest games of E3, with information directly from the source. The "Treehouse," the Product Development department at Nintendo of America, will provide in-depth game demos live and unscripted from Nintendo's booth. This new program will be live streamed during all hours of the E3 show. Fans can get settled in, open their browsers and experience the Nintendo games at E3 like never before.



Super Smash Bros. Smash Fest @ Best Buy
In 2013, Nintendo broke new ground by expanding its E3 activities outside of the walls of the Los Angeles Convention Center and letting fans play some of the games being played on the show floor at participating Best Buy stores. The partnership between Nintendo and Best Buy continues in 2014 and will mark the first time around the world that fans have had the opportunity to get their hands on Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.

More details about each event, including dates, times, locations and game content will be revealed shortly. To follow all of Nintendo's E3 activities, keep an eye on Nintendo's Facebook page, Twitter feed and YouTube channel. Or visit http://e3.nintendo.com.

[Sami]

I don't think it's smart to punk out on an actual conference again, but that video is too hilarious for me to be upset at. They really should have done a real conference, but eh. I laughed.

[Brad]

I don't have any words for that video

 

But I think they should have done a conference this year, hopefully the Digital Event isn't just another Direct

[Carbo]

I appreciate this approach so far, if only because Nintendo has confirmed that they're going above and beyond to provide a platform to turn E3 into their own special event from the looks of it.

It's not a press conference, but that never stopped their E3 presence from being void. Last year's E3 still provided one of the more crowded booths of that year, and with that reception in hand it has me think that the last year was mostly proving grounds for what they are providing this year. It might seem misplaced when considering last year was providing the more expected stuff but that this can be provided now well passed the 3D Marios and the Karts is a genuine surprise.

For one thing, this isn't advertised as a Direct. This is being marketed as something entirely different while simultaneously providing the promise of Treehouse insight, which alone is an exciting prospect. It's more of an audience based excursion and I can't wait to see what that has in store. I don't think the Direct last year was as good as it could have been, but a streamlined publicized approach that can have things gravitate towards something completely new as an idea is there, and if anything the last year would probably have taught Nintendo a lot of "don't" lessons. For one thing, in the recent Smash Direct, they added a bunch of more streaming options other than UStream, including YouTube and Twitch, meaning that the spread here will be much more palatable.

The biggest surprise is the Smash Bros. Tournament, and if anything it's the biggest concession that Nintendo finally gets how much audience influence matters, and that they actually do listen. This is a major win for the community and should prove to be a massive hype drive for the game. With EVO being around the corner as well during the time, it seems like they're finally starting to take the steps to push the audience in the forefront here.

Lack of exclusive journalism treatment be damned, this one seems to be for the players, and what will be shown will be known. The sheer confidence that's at display right now easily trumps the haphazard approach of last year, and that has me convinced that Nintendo are definitely having some big guns in store. "This is the one you've been waiting for" is not something Nintendo has ever bothered building up when advertising their shows, and to hear that now is a very intriguing prospect. Either way it goes, it definitely ought to be a good show.

[MegasonicZX]

Can nintendo really afford to not do a conference this year? I know it isn't outright stated anywhere I hope they change their mind and do it this time.

 

Also, that video was hilarious.

[Indigo Rush]

Aren't they still doing an actual conference, though? I thought this was just complimenting that.

 

Funny stuff, btw.

[Mauro Fonseca]

I'm blanking here. Honestly, can anyone tell me what Nintendo loses on not doing an actual conference? All the info is still presented to the public, and I imagine they'll still have a booth to present stuff to people that actually matter in the industry. Only people losing are the reporters and at this point, fuck the gaming press.

[Gabz Girl]

I sure as hell hope they're still doing an on stage conference as well as this digital one. I can understand not doing one last year, but right now Nintendo needs all the attention it can get with what seems to be an amazing amount of games coming to the Wii U. I wanna hear the reaction from the crowd!

Also, while the Direct last year was pretty good, I felt it would've been so much more effective had it been on stage. Just imagine what the crowd's reaction would have been like when Megaman appeared in SSB4!

[Sami]

Aren't they still doing an actual conference, though? I thought this was just complimenting that.

 

Funny stuff, btw.

Direct like last year, or something akin to that. It won't be an actual conference.

[Indigo Rush]

Oh well

 

[MegasonicZX]

I'm blanking here. Honestly, can anyone tell me what Nintendo loses on not doing an actual conference? All the info is still presented to the public, and I imagine they'll still have a booth to present stuff to people that actually matter in the industry. Only people losing are the reporters and at this point, fuck the gaming press.

Good point, I guess its just so they don't end up not getting enough attention cause they weren't front and center last time.

[Candescence]

Well, this'll be interesting. If they can up their game with the livestreams, I don't mind them going for another livestream conference. They do need to make sure damn well everyone knows about it, though.

 

And, yeah, the video was hilarious. MECHA-REGGIE.

[Willsy]

That video was golden. I don't think they should forego the conference again, but still, this sounds very ambitious and interesting.

[Dizcrybe]

Please let this happen at my local Best Buy please let this happen at my local Best Buy

[PSI Wind]

I don't think it's smart to punk out on an actual conference again, but that video is too hilarious for me to be upset at. They really should have done a real conference, but eh. I laughed.

I'll take a Direct over having to slog through an hour/hour and 30 minutes of boring shit (Sony 2013) or truly embarrassing moments (Microsoft recently, Nintendo 2008).

[Sami]

I'll take a Direct over having to slog through an hour/hour and 30 minutes of boring shit (Sony 2013) or truly embarrassing moments (Microsoft recently, Nintendo 2008).

Good for you. What's your point?

[PSI Wind]

My point is that conferences have exciting stuff, yes, but you have to watch the boring stuff as well. As much as I loved Sony's last year, their first hour was ABYSSMALLY boring. I don't fucking care about sales and partnerships with entertainment businesses or your own business that ISN'T related to gaming. I just want games (Sony Motion Pictures, Music). Announce that other stuff quickly there or during the private conferences.

[Indigo Rush]

Honestly it sounds like you're trying to defend Nintendo on every point possible, even when it doesn't need defending. There isn't any reason to be Nintendo's apologist for this issue.

 

You're being silly.

[PSI Wind]

Honestly it sounds like you're trying to defend Nintendo on every point possible, even when it doesn't need defending. There isn't any reason to be Nintendo's apologist for this issue.

 

You're being silly.

I'm not defending them. I would've LOVED a conference for reactions, but we all know how boring and plain bad they've been the last few years. Their Direct last year wasn't even my favorite conference overall.

[Chaos Warp]

I'm bitter over the fact that Nintendo seems to hate actual conferences now, but I'm optimistic with how they're pushing this as not a Nintendo Direct, but something bigger. And I'm also very happy at the reveal of a Nintendo-hosted Smash tourney,  I love that they're actually reaching out too the competitive side of the Smash community that they outright shat in the faces of before with tripping, and it also gives me hope that they're putting more effort into making Smash 4 more competitive and possibly more balanced then Brawl. Also the Nintendo Treehouse sounds cool.

Really I just miss live reactions. I mean, look at this. 

 

 

Imagine what the live reactions would have been like for Mega Man! I miss that sort of hype and spectacle, but I can deal if this new digital method can deliver an equal amount of announcements. 

 

Oh yeah, and the video with Mecha-Reggie was golden. 

 

Surely this E3's gonna be interesting....

[Candescence]

The online stream format does have its benefits, the Direct last year had a much nicer and controlled presentation than a stage conference, meaning zero chances for fuckups and none of the boring fluff. It gave gamers exactly the sort of content they watched conferences for, no more, no less.

 

Executed with the right content, Nintendo could easily make their competitors' showings look like crap, but that depends on how they execute it.

[Indigo Rush]

I'm not defending them. I would've LOVED a conference for reactions, but we all know how boring and plain bad they've been the last few years. Their Direct last year wasn't even my favorite conference overall.

 

Yes, but you're acting on the defensive here. "Yeah well I'd rather have an exciting digital presentation event then an ABYSMAL press conference"   ...like, really? Where did that come from?

 

Who here was actually making a case against what Nintendo's doing right now? Seriously? Why did it even matter? The only thing I can think of is that you're somehow trying to do pre-emptive damage control or something. You're like this in the other Nintendo threads, too. I'm just... curious.

[Sami]

The online stream format does have its benefits, the Direct last year had a much nicer and controlled presentation than a stage conference, meaning zero chances for fuckups and none of the boring fluff. It gave gamers exactly the sort of content they watched conferences for, no more, no less.

Executed with the right content, Nintendo could easily make their competitors' showings look like crap, but that depends on how they execute it.

Honestly, I feel like it gives the whole presentation a less genuine sort of vibe. For better or worse, I like the idea of gathering hundreds of people in a room with tons of cameras and doing a big live event for the whole world. It's a lot more exciting than a pre-prepared live-streamed YouTube video, and makes the big surprises and reveals a lot more exciting, like with Twilight Princess, Kid Icarus, Donkey Kong, no DRM on PS4, Kingdom Hearts 3, Halo 3, and so on and so forth.

There's also the same problem as last year - they need as much attention as they can get, and yet the narrative they've created for themselves is that they're off doing their own little thing while the companies that matter are actually there. We may know this isn't necessarily true, but judging from how often you hear "Nintendo wasn't at E3 last year", it's definitely a problem for them.

[Chooch]

Smash Bros. being at Best Buy during E3 is going to be a fucking nightmare for people who work at Best Buy.

 

Man..

[PSI Wind]

Yes, but you're acting on the defensive here. "Yeah well I'd rather have an exciting digital presentation event then an ABYSMAL press conference"   ...like, really? Where did that come from?

 

Who here was actually making a case against what Nintendo's doing right now? Seriously? Why did it even matter? The only thing I can think of is that you're somehow trying to do pre-emptive damage control or something. You're like this in the other Nintendo threads, too. I'm just... curious.

No one was making a case against them. I was giving my point on the benefits of no press conference and instead doing one digitally. The positives would be like Sony's epic smack down and the reactions from the crowd last year. What I want to see is press conferences get rid of the boring stuff and instead maybe have two conferences. One that is shown to the public online or televised, and a private one for investors and the press with Q&As and sales. And if they NEED to show the boring stuff, keep it at a minimum or fast. I'm not an investor, and neither is half of the viewers online.