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

Because they've never had lackluster E3 conferences.

Even the confirmed games alone would be more than enough for a conference with the usual padding of shit we don't care about.

Hell, the first showings of MK, 3D Mario and Smash Bros. alone would warrant one.

Why are you assuming a dedicated press event and a dedicated consumer stream (and more things but I doubt anyone cares about the retailer event) are somehow less important than a single conference anyway?

Because thats is now how you attend E3 as a console maker, I'm sure Nintendo is doing all they can to reach their dedicated fanbase as much as possible, the direct feeds show this. But from afar it seems needlessly drastic to skip the BIG spectable. . Also Nintendo has had lackluster E3's, everyone has.
 
Actually happened with me during E3 2010. I'm watching the Sony presser which was horrible and out of nowhere some guys mention "hey did you hear about Nintendo? They are releasing Ocarina of Time 3D and Star Fox 64 3D for 3DS. First images were just shown". On my homeforum, everybody started talking about OoT 3D instead of Sony.


Bet they are also celebrating Weegee Month on your homeforum
 
Thay's why Nintendo quotes Kotaku about 3DS in their last investor meeting. Dude, try again with more sense, please.

They used them because the press means something to investors. You're delusional if you think Nintendo Directs don't exist to cut out the middle man. That's the whole point.
 
Why not just do a live Nintendo Direct? I kinda get they want to have seperate events (it will get less attention like that but ah well...) but why not just live?
 
Disappointing - but makes total sense. It's more obvious now that Nintendo has no huge games to announce (that haven't already been announced).
 
Disappointing - but makes total sense. It's more obvious now that Nintendo has no huge games to announce (that haven't already been announced).
Right, who cares about seeing (and the press playing) the games for the first time now that they've given us the SHOCKING NEWS that those big IP of theirs like Mario Kart and Smash Bros are getting WiiU sequels. Spoil'd.
 
Making big announcements outside of E3 is nothing new though. The PS3 Slim was announced at GamesCom.

If you mean announced outside of trade shows, again it's nothing new. Games are regularly announced standalone and through different avenues e.g. Uncharted 3 via Entertainment Weekly, Black Flag, Battlefield. Most of Sony's E3 unveilings are generally announced prior as well for example.

Did Nintendo never make big announcements outside of E3 prior to Nintendo Directs?

But having a presser at the event itself is still a good marketing and promotional tool.

tl;dr version, I don't really see why they can't do both, and don't really agree with this idea that E3 has become redundant/irrelevant.

Of course, I'm not implying it's a brand new concept, just that it's now almost guaranteed that those announcements won't be at e3 - putting more focus on whatever Nintendo directs get announced (or even private press events)

I agree that e3 is by no means irrelevant, just that the press conference isn't the most important part: getting the product in journalists/developers hands is. The press conferences have always just been a sort of journalist schmoozing pissing contest in my view ;) I enjoyed them, but I won't miss them.
 
Why not just do a live Nintendo Direct? I kinda get they want to have seperate events (it will get less attention like that but ah well...) but why not just live?

Why does it need to be live, though? They're going to relate the same information regardless, and it's going to be streaming for everyone simultaneously. Is having journalists applaud that much of a kicker for you?
 
Actually, now that I look at the wording from the briefing...

Iwata never actually says that they'll have a Direct at E3. He says that the Japanese audience will get a Direct around E3 time for Japan-oriented stuff, but that they're figuring out exactly what to do with America.
 
wow seems a lot of folks are going kinda crazy with conspiracy (Dave Meltzer), or trying to paint it as them not having anything to show, not wanting to compete, etc etc etc. But it seems they are forgetting one really big thing... Nintendo showed Wii games at prior E3s against PS3/360 games and didn't blink, they did the same and are doing the same with NDS/3DS against Vita.

There was a story a few years back about if the major, big conferences were even worth having, and people wondered when would they stop when you can get far more press out of your own events for your dollar spent versus some huge, giant stage show.

I am sure they have plenty to show, but simply won't be putting on a stage show.

Now this DOES present an issue though of really making it like MS and Sony exist in their own little world, which in reality is not the case, but we'll see how it plays out.
 
Right, who cares about seeing (and the press playing) the games for the first time now that they've given us the SHOCKING NEWS!!!! that those big IP of theirs like Mario Kart and Smash Bros are getting WiiU sequels... Spoil'd.

I dont think they're not SHOWING anything - just that most of the games have been announced and they don't have anything that justifies a 2 hour press conference. Add the fact that MS and Sony will have huge announcements, and I can see why they think it's not worth it.

Like they said - they are investigating new ways of demoing the games to the public during the press conference.


Holyshit this mindset is still going strong?

What's so mind blowing about this? If you dont agree, that's fine - but is it seriously that much of a stretch to theorize?
 
Why are people assuming that USAToday won't be able to write an article because there wasn't a main conference?

I don't see how this is bad for gamers. A few focused Nintendo Directs through the week are the best thing you could hope for. Just look at the last few we have got. Definitely better than their stage show the past few years. The Directs during E3 week were better than their stage show last year. This way of presenting could also potentially cut the casual crap we would be forced to watch, like a 20 minute Wii Fit U demo.

I'd guess that the closed press events will pick up that kinda thing for the media to focus on though. Along with the sales figures and pre-taped "I love my 3DS" segments that we all moan about every year.

Sure, it's bad news in that I won't have another conference to make fun of, but let's see how it plays out before we "LOL, they gave up" the whole thing.

It seems like a lot of people in this thread didn't read the OP... or even the thread title.
 
Reposting:

I think the logic here is that the conference was trying to appeal to 4 groups at once:

1. Gamers
2. The Press
3. Retailers
4. Investors

who all have very different expectations, needs, and wants about information. A gamer is less interested in sales charts than a retailer, for example.

So, rather than trying to cater to all four at once, they're splitting up the events in the hope of catering more directly to everyone.

1. Game information/announcements for Gamers via internet/NDs
2. Experiences & demos for the press, plus a specific closed event
3. Closed event for Retailers


Someone gets it. E3 conferences were always supposed to be for industry insiders, be it press, retailers, developers and investors. They just happened to start streaming the conferences so "us gamers" could see what was going on. How many people really want to see 30 minutes of charts of how <insert platform> is blowing away the competition? I don't but i expect retailers and investors might. So now they break it up and send the information straight to the target audience. This is one of the more sane things they've done the past years.
 
Could be good, could be bad.

Hosting smaller events every single day of the conference might keep them in the news more than a single traditional conference might, which may well have been buried and forgotten under Microsoft and Sony's heels. This sounds like a potentially interesting twist to tradition which is entirely dependant on Nintendo's ability to carry it out.
 
I dont think they're not SHOWING anything - just that most of the games have been announced and they don't have anything that justifies a 2 hour press conference.

Like they said - they are investigating new ways of demoing the games to the public during the press conference.
Are you saying Nintendo don't have a thing to reveal so they had to cancel??

Retro's game? Mario? Smash? Zelda? Bayonetta 2??? X????

What the what the?
 
They used them because the press means something to investors. You're delusional if you think Nintendo Directs don't exist to cut out the middle man. That's the whole point.
Of course it is. Aside from the "CRUSH THE MEDIA!" angle, it would be easier to emphasize to the customer to try the products on their own. Will Nintendo follow through with E3 demos for Wii U and 3DS? Videos maybe.

This was obvious in 2006 when the experience of playing Wii couldn't be delivered on stage. People need to play it and know that it works. They showed it off at several events before (GDC) and afterwords.

If we only had the press/stage conference to rely on after the botched Skyward Sword stage presentation, we wouldn't have known that the Motion+ controls DID work.
 
Holy shit, the reactions in this thread. Guys, Nintendo's still going to make announcements, have games, and generally do what they always do at E3. Except now it won't be with a barely-rehearsed, poorly paced, broad as possible, live show. The only difference to you and me how the background looks while Iwata is talking.
 
Man, to everyone saying that if Nintendo dropped a Smash Bros demo during the MS or Sony conference that everyone would stop watching, you guys are nuts. People are excited about what they don't know about. Not a 4th installment for a game that they can easily wait another 45 min and play just as well. I think you are also over estimating the hardcore Nintendo fan base. Just look at the NPDs. Nobody is interested right now and a niche fighting game isn't going to make them.
 
Why does it need to be live, though? They're going to relate the same information regardless, and it's going to be streaming for everyone simultaneously. Is having journalists applaud that much of a kicker for you?

Live vs prerecorded is a pretty simple arguement.
 
Are you saying Nintendo don't have a thing to reveal so they had to cancel??

Retro's game? Mario? Smash? Zelda? Bayonetta 2??? X????

What the what the?

NO - jesus. I'm saying they feel the games they are going to announce don't justify a 2 hour conference that's in competition with 2 next gen system conferences. They clearly have a better way to do that (we just don't know it yet).

Everybody remain calm.
 
USA Today will absolutely be able to write an article. The article will be about Nintendo canceling their conference, which will be tied to the existing narrative, "Nintendo in trouble".
 
Man, to everyone saying that if Nintendo dropped a Smash Bros demo during the MS or Sony conference that everyone would stop watching, you guys are nuts. People are excited about what they don't know about. Not a 4th installment for a game that they can easily wait another 45 min and play just as well. I think you are also over estimating the hardcore Nintendo fan base. Just look at the NPDs. Nobody is interested right now and a niche fighting game isn't going to make them.
Even nintendo fanboys need games to play. :/

And smash is a system seller. You must be insane if you believe it isn't
 
Man, to everyone saying that if Nintendo dropped a Smash Bros demo during the MS or Sony conference that everyone would stop watching, you guys are nuts. People are excited about what they don't know about. Not a 4th installment for a game that they can easily wait another 45 min and play just as well. I think you are also over estimating the hardcore Nintendo fan base. Just look at the NPDs. Nobody is interested right now and a niche fighting game isn't going to make them.

Smash Bros. a niche fighting game? Seriously?
 
Huh. In the end, games will carry or sink the system, but I can't shake the feeling this isn't a great idea.

We will see. Maybe we will get announcements even earlier through Nintendo Direct. That would be nice.
 
NO - jesus. I'm saying they feel the games they are going to announce don't justify a 2 hour conference that's in competition with 2 next gen system conferences. They clearly have a better way to do that (we just don't know it yet).

Everybody remain calm.
For the last 3 years they had less to reveal at their e3 conferences. Seriously.
 
Man, to everyone saying that if Nintendo dropped a Smash Bros demo during the MS or Sony conference that everyone would stop watching, you guys are nuts. People are excited about what they don't know about. Not a 4th installment for a game that they can easily wait another 45 min and play just as well. I think you are also over estimating the hardcore Nintendo fan base. Just look at the NPDs. Nobody is interested right now and a niche fighting game isn't going to make them.

it's ok to be excited for a 4th console installment but not a 4th game installment. i don't even know. hardware does not excite me personally. i didn't think closed-box hardware excited anyone that much.
 
Man, to everyone saying that if Nintendo dropped a Smash Bros demo during the MS or Sony conference that everyone would stop watching, you guys are nuts. People are excited about what they don't know about. Not a 4th installment for a game that they can easily wait another 45 min and play just as well. I think you are also over estimating the hardcore Nintendo fan base. Just look at the NPDs. Nobody is interested right now and a niche fighting game isn't going to make them.
Haha, oh wow.
 
Disappointing - but makes total sense. It's more obvious now that Nintendo has no huge games to announce (that haven't already been announced).
I'm still hoping they show Star Fox but I have the feeling it'll just be MARIO, TIRED ASS MARIO KART, SMASH BROS, and the game we've all been waiting for.... Wii Play U!!!
 
At the very least, I think this shows Nintendo has no title with wide mass appeal that they can unveil for Wii U. E3 presentations have been used by Nintendo lately to focus on their mainstream casual titles, or at least the ones they think have potential to appeal to those audiences, like Nintendo Land last year. The lack of a presentation means that they'll have nothing comparable this time and suggests a lack of faith in Wii Fit U.

I don't think this is necessarily fear about being overshadowed by other companies, especially because the lack of a presentation wouldn't help there. It'll just make sure they're irrelevant in mainstream coverage of the conferences, after all. It just suggests that they have nothing they believe will explode in a way similar to the Wii series.
 
At the very least, I think this shows Nintendo has no title with wide mass appeal that they can unveil for Wii U. E3 presentations have been used by Nintendo lately to focus on their mainstream casual titles, or at least the ones they think have potential to appeal to those audiences, like Nintendo Land last year. The lack of a presentation means that they'll have nothing comparable this time and suggests a lack of faith in Wii Fit U.

I don't think this is necessarily fear about being overshadowed by other companies, especially because the lack of a presentation wouldn't help there. It'll just make sure they're irrelevant in mainstream coverage of the conferences, after all. It just suggests that they have nothing they believe will explode in a way similar to the Wii series.

I think you might be on to something.
 
The mainstream press gets closed doors access to all things Nintendo before the conference anyway. This shit just effects the hardcore gamers. This really isn't a big deal.
 
Out of curiosity, I went back to see what unannounced games were revealed at Microsoft's E3 conference last year. Halo 4 was announced the previous year, Tomb Raider was announced on December 6th, 2010. Black Ops 2 was announced the April before E3, Forza Horizon the March before it. Fable: The Journey was alongside Kinect's release, and similarly, RE6, South Park, and Madden were all shown months before the conference. Which leaves Kinect Training, four XBLA games (of which only Wreckateer has ever been seen again), Dance Central 3, and Splinter Cell Blacklist as new game footage.

But you're right, I am sure Nintendo is cancelling because there are no new game reveals for either of their systems.
 
it's ok to be excited for a 4th console installment but not a 4th game installment. i don't even know. hardware does not excite me personally. i didn't think closed-box hardware excited anyone that much.

Because people are not specifically excited about plastic boxes, they are excited about the next generation systems, the features they bring, the improvements that have been made, the new applications added to enhance the experience and of course the next big leap in videogames.

They will represent the next 4-5 years in gaming, even PC gaming is affected by these new consoles and how far publishers can push their games

That is for many people more exciting to know about than any single game
 
At the very least, I think this shows Nintendo has no title with wide mass appeal that they can unveil for Wii U.
Mario Kart alone fits that bill, in theory.

And they're still having a presentation, it's just not gonna be live streamed for us, press only, while we get the Direct, with likely the same sort of information...
 
one you can definitely make fun of easier?

If Nintendo ends with another fireworks display, I don't think that being pre-recorded is going to make it any less distressing than it would be if it was live.

I mean, where's the benefit of having a live conference with how information gets doled out in the Directs? They're streaming, so it's not like you can skip ahead to the end before anyone else can get there. Nintendo is never going to be unprofessional enough to pull off anything like Konami's press conferences from back in the day, so what would anyone be waiting for in that instance?
 
Mario Kart alone fits that bill, in theory.

And they're still having a presentation, it's just not gonna be live streamed for us, press only, while we get the Direct, with likely the same sort of information...

Ending their conference with MarionKart would make them a laughing stock.
 
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