Nintendo ditches main E3 conference, still there with games, press events, N-Direct

There's gonna be like 15 minutes of Pikmin 3 you can bet. Maybe I'm alone, but I have had enough of watching that game. I want to play it now.
 
The way I see them doing this is a separate direct/presentation for each game. The biggest problem with their demos is that they show really poorly during a 1 hr press event. When there aren't explosions and the like to wow the crowd it can be difficult to get the message across.
 
I think this will get a really poor reaction from websites. Sure there are all the little floor things and appointments but the conference info dump is what E3 is to most people. If your CEO won't be there now, and you'll just be showing little directs, what kind of message is that giving consumers? I get Nintendo doesn't want to try and compete conference vs conference with Sony and Microsoft this year but they really must not have much in the hopper right now.
 
Plinko said:
Several of us were predicting this about a week or two ago.

With Nintendo Direct, E3 is somewhat pointless for Nintendo now.
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E3 is a big deal to people who like games in general. They get wind that E3 is going on and then flutter about to try and find what people are talking about, what's making waves, what's new, and most importantly looking for things that interest them specifically. Everyone who wants to gain some attention, ie consumers, takes a swing at E3 in hopes that what they're showing grabs people's attention.

Nintendo risks squandering this to instead continue to just bottle-feed their zealot fanbase, which is a big part of the overall problem at Nintendo, which is only getting worse now it seems. They don't need an E3 conference to sell people who already love Nintendo. They need it to take advantage of people who like games. Nintendo needs to take advantage of the podium, and go "here's what we got, and why it's rad."

That they're not doing that strikes me as a big mistake.
 
Man, this is such a bummer announcement. Seeing Iwata walk onstage in real-time and seeing GAF comment on his suit or hair style, knowing the shit going down that moment was really happening that moment, seeing Reggie come out and size up an audience full of journos with that lovable smug-ass shit-eating grin... It's just not the same if it's a prerecorded ND production. I want dat electric live-from-the-Kodak sizzle. :(
 
I'm fine with this, but it does make me wonder if Nintendo is making this change due to lack of new software/announcements. Guess we'll find out in June.
 
Well thats unexpected.

It's ok to have online conferences, but c'mon Nintendo, it's E3. Biggest event in your area. You should be there strong.
 
TheWesker said:
Yes. Lots and lots of people have no idea that E3 is not just conferences. Lots of companies are there that don't have any conferences. WHOA!!!
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IntelliHeath said:
I got confused by people's reactions so I thought I misread the OP but it ended up that people was overreacted.
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Only thing that changed is that now we won't get to hear on video of people going "OMG!!!" and "OH WOW!!!" When Nintendo shows the big games, that's the only really sad thing about this.

But than again we will have videos on Youtube reacting to the news and the people that go to E3 aren't like the people that went to E3 2004.

HardRojo said:
What this means for me is no Smash Bros. nor Metroid announcement at E3 :(
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...We'll see Smash Bros in June like always intended.
 
Sandfox said:
And that's what the press at E3 is going to cover.
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If Nintendo is dependent entirely on the Western media that has torn their public image to shreds over the past two years to GROW their customer base beyond its existing Nintendo Direct-watching faithful, they're in for a world of hurt.

I think they're banking on strong word of mouth more than anything right now.
 
Translation: We have nothing new to show, we acknowledge that we can't compete with Sony and MS, so we're just going to let the press play Pikmin 3, Bayonetta 2, and Windwaker HD and hope they write something positive.
 
TheWesker said:
Yes. Lots and lots of people have no idea that E3 is not just conferences. Lots of companies are there that don't have any conferences. WHOA!!!
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And, until recently, all the companies who were manufacturing consoles had conferences because it was important to maintain a presence and reach mainstream media in the one event of the year they write gaming articles about, instead of preaching to their fan choir. WHOA!!!
 
UberTag said:
To communicate to the media and retailers. NOT to gamers.
And gamers that aren't already Nintendo customers won't be watching Nintendo Directs.

Which means the only way Nintendo grows its customer base is through winning commercials like The Vanorsbys visit Nintendo HQ and "disinterested" media coverage.

It's effectively a case of diminishing returns without the possibility for any growth.
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I tend to agree about the diminshing returns effect of Nintendo Direct. If you're watching, you're already sold.
 
airmangataosenai said:
The issue is the lack of press coverage. Who watches Nintendo Direct besides people who don't own or have access to a Wii U or 3DS already? It's for existing customers and that's a problem when your customer base is limited.
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Eh, We don't have the data for that really. But anecdotally the press coverage and people who "aren't in the know who watch it/are aware of it" surrounding an event like E3 is far less than I think you are giving credit. Once again anecdotally,I can count the people in my sphere of influence who know what an E3 is and isn't an avid game of which the diminishing returns statement doesn't apply to with...no hands there are none, these people aren't likely to watch a conference anymore than a direct in their current form. When advertised and handled right, an event like the one Sony held for the PS4 had 3 million (unique?) views and reached far more people than E3 ever does in views and audience (iirc) and it's not like a Nintendo Direct and other events held by Nintendo during E3 period won't garner press coverage (and this year such coverage would go more towards sony and microsoft anyways).
 
I was hoping Nintendo would present more games for the 3DS that would appeal to me than what they showed in the latest Directs but this dampens my mood. Just a little clarification for those who thought I was having a meltdown earlier.
 
Tookay said:
And, until recently, all the companies who were manufacturing consoles had conferences because it was important to maintain a presence and reach mainstream media in the one event of the year they write gaming articles about, instead of preaching to their fan choir. WHOA!!!
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I agree? Did you mean to reply to me?
 
It won't have the same thrill as the live presentation, but damn I love Nintendo Directs. Sounds good to me! Give me a few surprise VC releases and a few demos and we are gold.
 
Duffyside said:
E3 is a big deal to people who like games in general. They get wind that E3 is going on and then flutter about to try and find what people are talking about, what's making waves, what's new, and most importantly looking for things that interest them specifically. Everyone who wants to gain some attention, ie consumers, takes a swing at E3 in hopes that what they're showing grabs people's attention.

Nintendo risks squandering this to instead continue to just bottle-feed their zealot fanbase, which is a big part of the overall problem at Nintendo, which is only getting worse now it seems. They don't need an E3 conference to sell people who already love Nintendo. They need it to take advantage of people who like games. Nintendo needs to take advantage of the podium, and go "here's what we got, and why it's rad."

That they're not doing that strikes me as a big mistake.
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a large part of E3 is not the actual live watching but the fall-out. journalists writing articles, etc. nintendo could still be a part of that wave if they do this right. they could potentially do it in a way where journalists are left some scraps so that they could make a huge story on their own. for example - showing Smash Bros screenshots and an opening trailer in the Nintendo Direct but then afterwards letting journalists play it themselves (unrecorded footage even). that's a good hit driver.
 
Completely agree about the diminishing returns on Nintendo Direct. I obviously don't have market data to back it up, but the way Nintendo handles them sometimes is quite baffling. I have no reason to believe people who do not own are Wii U are, in droves, watching Wii U related Nintendo Directs to see if they want the system. They already don't care. The people who watch already own the platform, and are interested in the games.

Granted, the reasoning behind Nintendo Directs could be that they're just a fancy pants version of a press release. Yes, they appeal almost exclusively to platform owners, but people will still report the news, tell others, post threads, and so on. They might be thinking of Nintendo Direct as a viral kind of thing.

And honestly, as long as they're holding press related events at E3 (which it seems they are), I guess they're filling the purpose of the single conference incrementally.
 
This sounds good to me. I don't want to sit through large swaths of conference that don't interest me to get to the stuff that does, and then STILL have to shop around for coverage from the show floor. Let them pump out a bunch of smaller Directs at once covering the games, give the media their smaller conference so they can report on stuff (A wider audience will still see this stuff like always, people.), serve up your news a la carte. Let people see what they are interested in.
 
EatChildren said:
Completely agree about the diminishing returns on Nintendo Direct. I obviously don't have market data to back it up, but the way Nintendo handles them sometimes is quite baffling. I have no reason to believe people who do not own are Wii U are, in droves, watching Wii U related Nintendo Directs to see if they want the system. They already don't care. The people who watch already own the platform, and are interested in the games.

Granted, the reasoning behind Nintendo Directs could be that they're just a fancy pants version of a press release. Yes, they appeal almost exclusively to platform owners, but people will still report the news, tell others, post threads, and so on. They might be thinking of Nintendo Direct as a viral kind of thing.

And honestly, as long as they're holding press related events at E3 (which it seems they are), I guess they're filling the purpose of the single conference incrementally.
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I don't see why someone who is not watching Nintendo Direct would instead watch Nintendo's E3 conference, drawn out as those things tend to be with all the not-actual-games things they have had to discuss.

Otherwise Nintendo Directs seem like things that will be covered by all the same relevant media outlets. They still will have press events, that the press will then report on/from and the games they get to play after that, and every site or whatever will most likely still post about the Nintendo Directs and all the information/media that comes out of them, and so on. I'm sure there are diminishing returns to a degree as you say but I'm also not sure it's more diminishing than a traditional E3 presence. Of course that depends on how they actually handle the change. But from what we know it doesn't seem bad.

If they have good things to show people will see them, if they're boring they'll get a bad rep like they get with every bad E3.
 
Alextended said:
I don't see why someone who is not watching Nintendo Direct would instead watch Nintendo's E3 conference, drawn out as those things tend to be with all the not-actual-games things they have to discuss.
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My brother has no idea what Nintendo Direct is, he watches E3 every year.
 
UberTag said:
If Nintendo is dependent entirely on the Western media that has torn their public image to shreds over the past two years to GROW their customer base beyond its existing Nintendo Direct-watching faithful, they're in for a world of hurt.

I think they're banking on strong word of mouth more than anything right now.
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I was really just talking about E3 because their software will more than likely get the same amount of coverage it usually gets from the press. The only thing we lose out is the conference and we don't know how that exactly is going to be handled.

It going to be interesting to see how it turns out either way.
 
My answer in the other topic

nekomix said:
Getting rid of the huge fair that is E3 isn't a so current trend. Do you remember of 2006, when nearly every publisher wanted to scale down E3 and even tried to get more and more independent of E3 by organizing little conferences (hotels in 2007, remember? :-( ) ? We're in 2013 and some seem to finally find out solutions to use E3 in a different, more "singular" way.

Let's see how they manage it, looks interesting...
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And LOL at the people misunderstanding what's going on. They WILL be at E3, they WILL have announcements at E3, they just won't do an usual all-in-one conference with number wanking, promises towards developers, retailers, gamers.
 
Although it will be sad to not have the big conference, I think this is smart.

1 - Nintendo maintains a better tone and message through its directs than during the E3 conference. They are less cringe worthy and more Nintendo-y. Also, less awkward stage presentations.
2 - They can just focus on game information and ignore analysts and distributors

The Wii U just needs lots of great games to pick up. That, and only that, can change the situation. I do love miiverse being available on the web.

Will be interesting to see...
 
DragonSworne said:
Aren't Hanukkah gifts worse than Christmas gifts?
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To stretch this labored analogy beyond all reason, the last few Christmases were terrible and those random Hanukkahs during non-holiday periods were pretty good.

Yeah, this doesn't work, mostly because Hanukkah is shit compared to Christmas, the best holiday. No disrespect to Hanukkah; everything is shit compared to Christmas.

Let me try again.

At Christmas you get your presents all at once and they look very impressive all in a pile under the tree. So you sit there, staring at them for a couple of weeks, filled with anticipation. And then the big day comes and you sit down to open them. You madly tear open the boxes because you're a greedy little fuck who doesn't appreciate anything beyond rampant consumerism, but then you stop and look at the results. You've gotten some cool new toys and a bunch of cash from your confused grandparents who don't even bother trying to figure out what to get you anymore, but those wonders are dwarfed by the piles of socks, itchy sweaters, and other general unpleasant things like fruit. So it's all very bittersweet and disappointing; the actual gifts couldn't possibly live up to the gleaming tower of presents.

But Hanukkah, oh Hanukkah. Eight days with eight presents. After all of the candles and top spinning, your parents just thrust a gift in your hand without any buildup. What could it be? you wonder for three seconds before tearing the paper off. Oh, it's a thing! Maybe it's cool? Maybe your parents are just supremely lazy and wheeled a bike out. It doesn't even have a bow on it, but you wanted it anyway. And then you eat pancakes.

I hope you understand what I'm getting at because I don't.
 
This seems kinda....sad. Like Nintendo has officially given up or something.

The big 3 presentations were always the highlights of E3. Those presentations are important I think.
 
People have been saying in this thread that this strategy will make Nintendo have less impact at E3, I'm confused as to why people think that. The main (possibly only come this year) way to watch press conferences is through gaming sites, and IGN, Kotaku, ect will undoubtedly host links to the presentations when they begin. This is combined with Nintendo's own hosting like what they've done the past few years, just with live presentations instead of directs.

What about gaming sites posting news on Nintendo's presentation? That will happen too. It's happened for every Nintendo Direct thus far, with the news going up on big gaming sites as soon as it comes out, I doubt the Direct(s) relating to the biggest Gaming expo will get any less attention.

What about exclusive demos and such? What about Journalists having hands on with the games? Nintendo has already said that they will have an event specifically for that.

Nintendo does not seem like they're going to somehow fly under the radar here. They aren't going to have a little tiny conference that everyone ignores. The only thing that isn't clear is if we'll have the New York Times talk about the announcements, and I think Nintendo will arrange to have such national publications to get that news anyway. So what's missing here? What is everyone so concerned about? That they don't have a staged conference in a theater? From everything I can tell it seems information is going to get out to most people as it has in previous years. I'm honestly curious if I missed something here, because some of the response to this seems way blown out of proportion from what I know so far.

Also, how does several customized presentations as opposed to a big conference mean they won't have big games to show? They very well may not, but what exactly was last year then? The press release itself seems to mention the focus on software drove them them to try and customize the conference to specific demographics. I don't get why they would make a gamer-centered conference without games.
 
nckillthegrimace said:
To stretch this labored analogy beyond all reason, the last few Christmases were terrible and those random Hanukkahs during non-holiday periods were pretty good.

Yeah, this doesn't work, mostly because Hanukkah is shit compared to Christmas, the best holiday. No disrespect to Hanukkah; everything is shit compared to Christmas.

Let me try again.

At Christmas you get your presents all at once and they look very impressive all in a pile under the tree. So you sit there, staring at them for a couple of weeks, filled with anticipation. And then the big day comes and you sit down to open them. You madly tear open the boxes because you're a greedy little fuck who doesn't appreciate anything beyond rampant consumerism, but then you stop and look at the results. You've gotten some cool new toys and a bunch of cash from your confused grandparents who don't even bother trying to figure out what to get you anymore, but those wonders are dwarfed by the piles of socks, itchy sweaters, and other general unpleasant things like fruit. So it's all very bittersweet and disappointing; the actual gifts couldn't possibly live up to the gleaming tower of presents.

But Hanukkah, oh Hanukkah. Eight days with eight presents. After all of the candles and top spinning, your parents just thrust a gift in your hand without any buildup. What could it be? you wonder for three seconds before tearing the paper off. Oh, it's a thing! Maybe it's cool? Maybe your parents are just supremely lazy and wheeled a bike out. It doesn't even have a bow on it, but you wanted it anyway. And then you eat pancakes.

I hope you understand what I'm getting at because I don't.
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This is an amazing analogy, lol. I'm not sure if I think it's apt to the current situation, but I enjoyed the read. Cheers! :)
 
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