In a surprising move, Nintendo has altered its plans for E3 this year… by canceling them altogether.
During the company’s investor meeting today, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata stated that rather than holding a press conference as usual during this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo, the company is opting for alternate events. While Iwata’s full statement can be read here, he stated that the company will host several small events around the time of E3 to both announce and show off new games to the western market. (Update: Nintendo has since clarified that while it will not host a major press conference as in previous years, it will still attend E3 to allow press members to experience its upcoming games, which will be announced outside of E3 itself.) Meanwhile, the company will showcase these games to its Japanese audience by way of Nintendo Directs, which have been successful for the company in the past.
How do you feel about this shift in Nintendo’s plans? With the Wii U currently facing tough times, and several big games such as the next Super Smash Bros. originally set to be unveiled at E3, do you think Nintendo’s idea is good or bad? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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Honestly, they don’t really need E3 anymore. I think of all the consoles they have the best announcement system in place and they’ve always much preferred just randomly announcing things all throughout the year, from what I’ve noticed, rather than keeping things under wraps just for the sake of having something exciting to announce at an American conference.
It …sort of makes sense? Microsoft and Sony will be giving big details on their new hardware so they need the stage. Nintendo isn’t so they’ll just showcase the new software on the show floor. No Reggie though is a bit disappointing though.
To be honest, I’d be glad if Reggie just left the company. He’s done nothing but drive Nintendo of America into the ground.
How so? I see lots of people complaining about RPGs didn’t come overseas. (Might not even be what you’re talking about XD But that’s what came to mind) But, we did get some in the end. And that isn’t a new phenomenon. Bunches of jRPGs didn’t surface on the SNES over here.
Anyway, it’s sad because I like E3. Or at least the tradition of it. But really, there hasn’t been a point to it lately in the last few years. Constant online coverage and “leaks” defeats the purpose. And Nintendo has shown that regular contact with their end-users via Nintendo Direct is proving effective.
The trade show/press conference model is old news, really. Its good if you’re unveiling a new big tier product – so hardware (so, Sony and Microsoft will be conquering that front this year). It works for the phone industry because of how often they release new product. If you’re just showing off software, a padding two-hour trailer clipshow is boring and doesn’t get the message across. I think the Nintendo Direct approach is correct. They’re smaller and tailored and that’s what Nintendo said they’re going to do during E3 time – and to different audiences, including apparently specifically the west.
They will still be there on the show floor. Games will be announced. And we might still have the usual “behind closed doors” announcement a few days in.