axisofweevils
Holy crap! Today's real megaton is that more than two people can have the same first name.
Hype for the Nintendo Direct E3 special. It will almost certainly be more exciting than what they did last year.
Nintendo ditches main E3 conference, still there with games, press events, N-Direct
- Thread starter Hobby
- Start date
Hype for the Nintendo Direct E3 special. It will almost certainly be more exciting than what they did last year.
Silent_Ocarina
Member
Except you will literally get the same exact information from these smaller events as you would in a main one. Plus, you won't have to wade through things like sales figures.
I don't see a difference. Instead of seeing something highly scripted on stage in the E3 streams this summer, I'll see highly scripted ND's in the streams instead. It's not like they're going to do them at 5 am EST, so besides the lack of stage, I don't see the big deal. In fact, letting the media get very hands on with the games right away could work very much in their favour. The gamers still see the stuff, the media get more of a hands on and I don't have to sit through sales wankery for 5-10 minuets.
I think they only hosted the conference at the Kodak theater two or so times, they've been moving towards smaller venues for the past few years (Nokia theatre iirc).
BurnOutBrighter
Banned
So... no press conference GIFs 
So... no press conference GIFs
Nintendo Direct gets plenty of GIFS.
One of the best things to come from a Nintendo E3 conference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FWqG7AUntM
Davey Cakes
Member
It's pathetic that Nintendo is swapping out the over-glorified conference for an approach that better suits them?
A user said this in another thread, but I think the pre-E3 conferences simply communicate the marketing and messaging strategy for the coming year.
But you can do that, and everything you discussed, without renting out the Nokia Theater. And I think this starts to paint a huge picture about how Nintendo wants to market going forward. It's not the complete picture, of course. We'll have to wait until June to see that.
Never forget.
Haha that's exactly the one I was thinking of when I read that.
D.Lo
Member
"Fuck you gaming press.
You ignored us when we were completely dominating everyone else in the industry with the TWO top platforms, and now we've curated a forum of direct contact with he public, getting them the same PR content without your immaturity, dissmissiveness, and sponsored Microsoft ads all over the page".
You ignored us when we were completely dominating everyone else in the industry with the TWO top platforms, and now we've curated a forum of direct contact with he public, getting them the same PR content without your immaturity, dissmissiveness, and sponsored Microsoft ads all over the page".
BigJonsson
Member
I guess this way they can avoid doing it live and do several takes until whatever news doesn't come off as flat as last year
But it's still a horrible decision
But it's still a horrible decision
Chie Satonaka
Member
First, they aren't giving up any ground. They're changing the presentation. Neither you or I know what that entails in the long run, but looking at it logically, the people this matters to won't be impacted at all.
Secondly, I don't know what your comparison has to do with anything at all. Why even bother with E3 then? It would make the most sense to just spend that E3 money on advertisements and getting the WiiU on every talk show imaginable.
shinra-bansho
Member
Why are people assuming that because Sony and Microsoft held or are holding separate announcement events that E3 isn't still a pivotal part of their announcement and unveiling strategies?
They will hold some cards to reveal there as they gradually try and define the narrative around their product launches. As they will for GamesCom and TGS, well the latter maybe only for Sony.
Schnozberry
Member
Seems like they have a lot of software to show off. An hour full of sizzle reels and trailers probably isn't worth renting out a gigantic theater. Small events will get similar media coverage and get you an intimate audience with people you need to impress.
This is really anti climatic, the one year they have games to show (and this is, at the end of the day, all about games) they chose not to?
Having Mario Kart, SSB, Zelda, Mario 3D and others finally up on stage would have been great way to change the perception of the Wii U to something more positive.
Having Mario Kart, SSB, Zelda, Mario 3D and others finally up on stage would have been great way to change the perception of the Wii U to something more positive.
Mihael Mello Keehl
Banned
I dont know about you but Imma be getting mine regardlessWhy not both? That way hardcore Nintendo fans get their yearly shot of hype. I need it
You can still get hyped for Nintendo E3 Direct, even though it lacks the pre-scripted clapping.Why not both? That way hardcore Nintendo fans get their yearly shot of hype. I need it
It'll be weird not having a Nintendo conference, but it'll be interesting to see how this goes.
E3 conferences have been pretty dull of late anyway. Though, I suppose it could be said that watching a press conference for entertainment is a bit silly.
Aw man, did they ever. Remember the 3DS reveal? Beauty and class all the way.
E3 conferences have been pretty dull of late anyway. Though, I suppose it could be said that watching a press conference for entertainment is a bit silly.
The real victims cause Nintendo always got classy but hot ones
Aw man, did they ever. Remember the 3DS reveal? Beauty and class all the way.
3rdDimension
Member
In pretty typical fashion, looks like gamers don't like change!
This is a bold cost effective and smart move given the success of the nintendo directs. It is beyond me as to why people are viewing this as a fail.
They have solid data to back up that doing directly targeted video presentations will be just as if not more effective than the traditional conferences.
People always talk about these conferences as if they ultimately determine the success of a console.
The only things these conferences contributed to was the egos of fanboys. Just look at the whole silly thing of "rating" conferences. It's all pointless at the end of the day.
This is a bold cost effective and smart move given the success of the nintendo directs. It is beyond me as to why people are viewing this as a fail.
They have solid data to back up that doing directly targeted video presentations will be just as if not more effective than the traditional conferences.
People always talk about these conferences as if they ultimately determine the success of a console.
The only things these conferences contributed to was the egos of fanboys. Just look at the whole silly thing of "rating" conferences. It's all pointless at the end of the day.
Davey Cakes
Member
And the only way to satisfy your hype is to have a 1-hour conference? What's wrong with a 1-hour Nintendo Direct? (Though I'm not sure if that's what they'll use instead)Why not both? That way hardcore Nintendo fans get their yearly shot of hype. I need it
Nintendo's conferences haven't been above average lately anyway. The last decent ones were 2009 and 2010. I'm glad they're trying something different; a more intimate approach.
Elwood Blues
Member
Nintendo directs are the reason nobody is buying a WiiU; this is a fact. If they announce the same information in a press conference the WiiU will magically start selling way better; this is also a fact. Just look at how Sony announced the PS3: in a press conference, and people bought it in droves. Because E3 press conferences and their perception are what drive the video game industry. Just look at the conference where Microsoft revealed Kinect and how gamers laughed and laughed at how stupid it was, and nobody bought Kinect and it was a huge failure.
megamerican
Member
It's basically a retreat when they really desperately need to come out swinging.
AHA-Lambda
Member
No conference? D:
This seems like a really bad idea, stand up and be counted for Nintendo! I'm sure this will really help in generating mindshare for the WiiU against PS4/NextBox -_-
This seems like a really bad idea, stand up and be counted for Nintendo! I'm sure this will really help in generating mindshare for the WiiU against PS4/NextBox -_-
they will be showing games. they are having smaller events all throughout E3 instead of one big conference.
Meesh
Member
It would be hilarious if they made it an animated epic like the stop motion animated Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.
A live event is 10 times more exciting imo.
Captain Smoker
Member
Well, we get the same information.
Press conferences are great because of the lulz, but the important part are the games/information which we'll get anyway, so I'm fine.
Press conferences are great because of the lulz, but the important part are the games/information which we'll get anyway, so I'm fine.
It feeds in to the narrative that the next two consoles are the real next-gen.
TheShampion
Member
Honestly, I fell like the press has been shitting on Nintendo for so long that Nintendo just decided to forego it this time. I don't think it is Nintendo admitting defeat, I just think that they rather do it their own way.
Same thing with Microsoft not coming out with info with the new Xbox yet.
Same thing with Sony getting out in front and showing the PS4 off.
Same thing with Microsoft not coming out with info with the new Xbox yet.
Same thing with Sony getting out in front and showing the PS4 off.
Petrae
Member
I can see both sides of the coin here. You have to think that Nintendo looked into the pros and cons of this decision before making it. I thought Nintendo would head this way after Nintendo Directs upstaged what was delivered to those of us sitting in the Nokia Theater last year. All those announcements we were waiting for? Those came later, on Nintendo's own terms.
If Directs are going to be Nintendo's main communication vehicle, that's great for them. I do have doubts about press outside of the gaming sector taking any interest in them-- or much interest in what Nintendo will deliver in a more subdued and intimate fashion-- but many believe that mainstream media simply isn't vital to potential success for Nintendo.
I know that if I was Satoru Iwata, I would have held the event anyway and used it to re-roll the Wii U and cement the idea that 3DS is making proper strides forward. But I don't run a company worth billions. He knows the risks and potential rewards with this bold strategy. All we can do is see what effect it has on sales over the next 8-12 months.
If Directs are going to be Nintendo's main communication vehicle, that's great for them. I do have doubts about press outside of the gaming sector taking any interest in them-- or much interest in what Nintendo will deliver in a more subdued and intimate fashion-- but many believe that mainstream media simply isn't vital to potential success for Nintendo.
I know that if I was Satoru Iwata, I would have held the event anyway and used it to re-roll the Wii U and cement the idea that 3DS is making proper strides forward. But I don't run a company worth billions. He knows the risks and potential rewards with this bold strategy. All we can do is see what effect it has on sales over the next 8-12 months.
If Nintendo has the same amount of space on that they normally have, journalist aren't going to care. And if they have software to announce, gamers aren't going to care.
It probably won't really matter. It's a new marketing strategy when they desperately need new marketing strategies, so we'll see if it pays off.
It IS a reactionary move though. It's just not a reaction only due to new consoles but also their past missteps at E3. If they felt they were successful at E3 they would have kept doing it. I mean let's face it, NDs are aimed specifically at Nintendo gamers. Events like E3/GC/TGS are great opportunities to reach out to different audiences outside of the Nintendo core as these events will have a lot of media attention on them. Given the wiiu situation a kick ass E3 would have been great. But new hardware almost always have the most attention on them..and this year we have two
Not sure if the venom remark was aimed at me or not tbh since I am actually saying this is a good move. Their last two E3s were pretty weak and their NDs have been met with a lot of success. No need to be so defensive
I do think they should come to E3 again next year. It'll be a wasted opportunity if they didn't
Not sure if serious....
Why not both? That way hardcore Nintendo fans get their yearly shot of hype. I need it
remember last year's shot of hype
and the year before's
Detecting sarcasm in text is a bitch ;-)
shinra-bansho
Member
Which seems odd, considering those new ads, for example, and some of the comments from the investor briefing, would suggest Nintendo is doubling down on targeting families and/or expanded audiences to try and turn the Wii U around.
There are little things that have struck me as odd with the approach to Wii U from a marketing perspective, e.g. why wasn't the Wii U among Ellen's give-aways at Christmas? Instead it was all Kinect, Move and Vita.
clay_ghost
Member
Nintendo continues to surprise me.what's next?
T
thepotatoman
Unconfirmed Member
E3 press conferences are advertisements and marketing. It's just the type where people don't really look at it as an advertisement and are actually interested in what's going on.