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[SlickShoesRUCrazy]

They need a conference before hand that is heavily advertised before hand and accessible to watch in every way possible so they can get as many eyes as possible.

At E3 itself, if the NX is launching this year, they do need to have a very very strong physical presence, but I think they could get away with a direct in terms of games announcements.


They should be getting as many people as possible to go hands on with the NX at E3.

 

[God Dayumm]

Depends. If the console is going to be good then they don't really need a conference. If it is another gimmick machine then they better do as much marketing as possible before it releases

 

[Ardenyal]

You realize Nintendo still has their own press conference for them even if they do a Direct for us, right?

From 2013, clarification about the shift away from a live conference:

Main stream media (actual media not games journalists) wants spectacle not some kiddie table offering.

 

[Silvawuff]

A roaring crowd during a big, live reveal can be heard farther than the confines of the room, and make just as lasting an impact.

Nintendo will do whatever sooooo, yup!

 

[phanphare]

Main stream media (actual media not games journalists) wants spectacle not some kiddie table offering.

mainstream media or you personally?

 

[ScientificPizza]

Yeah, Sony really suffered from theirs in 2013.

So no, if you do it right they are great for publicity.

yeah, the CAN be, but that doesn't mean that that's the only way to do it

 

[Sacul64GC]

They need a conference before hand that is heavily advertised before hand and accessible to watch in every way possible so they can get as many eyes as possible.

At E3 itself, if the NX is launching this year, they do need to have a very very strong physical presence, but I think they could get away with a direct in terms of games announcements.


They should be getting as many people as possible to go hands on with the NX at E3.

They always have a strong floor presence where people go hands on that has nothing to do with the conference that is press only vs a direct.

 

[Shaanyboi]

It changes if Nintendo gets off its ass and brings an interesting product and does a good job of marketing. Are conferences panacea? Of course not, just look at the MS Xbone reveal one or Wii/Wii-U ones. Can conference help generate conversation, talk, hype, journalists posting articles, core gamer interest? Absolutely they can.

What a lot of defenders of current direct strategy are missing here is that direct kind of works for Wii-U/3DS since its a defensive strategy designed to hold what little market they have (3DS sold decently but low compared to its predecessor). If Nintendo is looking to grab NEW fans, they need to market, they need people to look, they need to generate conversation. Conference is just one of many tools but its a good one if Nintendo can manage it properly. Direct is preaching to the choir. Its fine if Nintendo gave up and is going to go only after its base.

If they're still promoting the same products, you still haven't told me what changes. If you, sitting in a chair at home, are watching E3 coverage, what is the difference between watching a conference and watching a Direct?

 

[Sacul64GC]

Well yeah, that's what I meant-- live press conference.

E3 2015 was watched by 21 million people. And that's only on Twitch. It's a huge number. It would be foolish to not reveal NX there.

Like are people trying to be ignorant here? They streamed the Nintendo Direct on the Twitch stream that they are talking about in your link. Twitch Streamed it EXACTLY as they would a Live Conference.

http://www.twitch.tv/event/e3

Press Events Schedule (all PDT):

June 15:
9:30am Xbox
1:00pm EA
3:00pm Ubisoft
6:00pm PlayStation

June 16:
9:00am Nintendo
10:00am Square Enix
5:00pm PC Gaming Show (exclusively on Twitch)

But no keep acting like only Nintendo Streams the Direct and not all of the same places that Stream other E3 stuff.

 

[fernoca]

Some people just want the applauses, screams, live reactions and "OMG" to use across threads later as reasons "they won". Look at Sony's E3 announcements. Games that might be released by 2017, but "Sony won E3 2015".

In this case, some Nintendo fans just miss the days of people crying at the Twilight Princess reveal or the audience cheering at the Melee reveal. So they want that to post on gifs and in YouTube links for years to come.

A Direct will do the exact same. Is a presentation without an audience streamed online, with the press members having access to play the games after. It's streamed at the same places. Now for live TV, they need to speak to the likes of Spike TV or MTV or whoever wants to.

If anything, at least the Nintendo World Championships will return this year, so like last year that will be a nice start. Some are so focused on the "bad E3 Direct", but forget or just ignored the World Championships, Earthbound Beginnings and Ryu for Smash released that weekend...and the Treehouse Live videos through the following days.

 

[SalvaPot]

Some people just want the applauses, screams, live reactions and "OMG" to use across threads later as reasons "they won". Look at Sony's E3 announcements. Games that might be released by 2017, but "Sony won E3 2015".

In this case, some Nintendo fans just miss the days of people crying at the Twilight Princess reveal or the audience cheering at the Melee reveal. So they want that to post on gifs and in YouTube links for years to come.

A Direct will do the exact same. Is a presentation without an audience streamed online, with the press members having access to play the games after. It's streamed at the same places. Now for live TV, they need to speak to the likes of Spike TV or MTV or whoever wants to.

If anything, at least the Nintendo World Championships will return this year, so like last year that will be a nice start. Some are so focused on the "bad E3 Direct", but forget or just ignored the World Championships, Earthbound Beginnings and Ryu for Smash released that weekend...and the Treehouse Live videos through the following days.

Speaking of the NWC, why don't they do their Direct at the same time as the NWC? Maybe just after it, for example. They can use the crowd they gather there and its going to be 100% Nintendo fans and kickstart their E3 this way,

 

[Neoxon]

Well yeah, that's what I meant-- live press conference.

E3 2015 was watched by 21 million people. And that's only on Twitch. It's a huge number. It would be foolish to not reveal NX there.

Regardless, doing the first reveal for the NX Platform at E3 would be cutting it a bit too close. I wouldn't be shocked if we got the reveal a few months in advance, with their E3 showing being mostly about the games.

 

[Snakeyes]

Then why does Google, perhaps the quintessential "internet era" company, still host press conferences for big events?

Still waiting for one of the Direct defenders to answer this. If anything, stage shows have become increasingly more common after the smartphone boom. Even Spotify and Netflix hold live press conferences, and they don't have much of a retail presence beyond gift cards.

 

[atbigelow]

The big press conferences are pretty ho-hum and boring now. I like having the prerecorded Directs and then having the live events after it. Treehouse Live is great. I wish they would expand that part and have more dev interviews and such.

Still waiting for one of the Direct defenders to answer this.

Google tends to have big developer conferences. Different beast.

 

[captain_skyhawk]

Listening to that first guy talk was so painful. He's so adamant that he knows what Nintendo should do it's hilarious.

 

[ZehDon]

Regardless, doing the first reveal for the NX Platform at E3 would be cutting it a bit too close. I wouldn't be shocked if we got the reveal a few months in advance, with their E3 showing being mostly about the games.

This. Microsoft and Sony did it that way for a reason.

 

[Mik317]

Regardless, doing the first reveal for the NX Platform at E3 would be cutting it a bit too close. I wouldn't be shocked if we got the reveal a few months in advance, with their E3 showing being mostly about the games.

and this may be the funniest thing lol.

They kinda have to announce it before E3 anyway

 

[funkystudent]

Honestly I think sticking to a Direct would be best.

Nintendos big stage E3's have been awkward a lot more then they have been good.

Stick to the Directs. It really works for them.

 

[-Horizon-]

I mean, if they can get Usher to show up at their press conference, they'd pretty much win.

 

[ZombiePlatypus]

Do people think the press is only capable of covering Nintendo if they have a regular E3 presence? Like Directs exist in some unreachable vacuum or something?

 

[Neoxon]

Do people think the press is only capable of covering Nintendo if they have a regular E3 presence? Like Directs exist in some unreachable vacuum or something?

That seems to be the notion going on with a few of the people in this thread. Obviously not all, but a few.

 

[AcademicSaucer]

Direct + World Championship would be great. Maybe do a conference in March to show the hardware and some games, so you can focus on the software at E3.

 

[Tom Nook Sawyer]

That seems to be the notion going on with a few of the people in this thread. Obviously not all, but a few.

Not at all; arguing that Item A is better than Item B doesn't invalidate everything about Item A. It's a ridiculous simplification of the argument.

It's like some posters are unable to tell there's a middleground between the two extremes...

 

[BowieZ]

Do people think the press is only capable of covering Nintendo if they have a regular E3 presence? Like Directs exist in some unreachable vacuum or something?

Of course they're capable.

And it will be covered. Like it has for the last 3 E3s.

But less emphatically, and less positively framed, than the other major companies, even if subtly so.

Nintendo right now needs all the help it can get.

 

[digdug2k]

The big press conferences are pretty ho-hum and boring now. I like having the prerecorded Directs and then having the live events after it. Treehouse Live is great. I wish they would expand that part and have more dev interviews and such.

Google tends to have big developer conferences. Different beast.

It is interesting that they've all moved to it. I'd guess its just more spectacle. Google also had someone parachute into their conference once wearing Google Glass, right? It was a hell of a lot of spectacle. I don't really expect Nintendo or Sony or Apple to do that either. Nintendo's just decided they don't need as much spectacle. If I had to guess why, its because they're a Japanese company that's still in 2015 trying to force themselves to care about western audiences.

I don't think the press actually cares about this stuff... the real press at least. The 2rd tier gaming blogs probably feel a little shunted by Nintendo's move. I have a feeling the normal press is kinda happy they don't have to go sit through an hour of bullshit "this is resolutionary magic!" talk (and they all still get their free trips/hotels/food for the week).

 

[jackal27]

I've enjoyed Nintendo's Directs more than all of their conferences with the exception of 1. And even that one had its veeeeery awkward moments.

 

[CharminUltra]

I prefer Directs.

Edit: not saying that I wouldn't take a conference, but it wouldn't be my first choice.

 

[BowieZ]

Google also had someone parachute into their conference once wearing Google Glass, right? It was a hell of a lot of spectacle.

frysquinting.jpg

 

[Mushroomer25]

Still waiting for one of the Direct defenders to answer this. If anything, stage shows have become increasingly more common after the smartphone boom. Even Spotify and Netflix hold live press conferences, and they don't have much of a retail presence beyond gift cards.

There's still a massive difference between a basic stage presentation done by a smartphone company, and the elaborate awards-show-esque presentations put on by gaming companies. You don't see Apple renting out the Kodak to show off a new phone, or expecting an audience of 21 million to tune in live. It's a different scale, entirely. Most of those shows are done at the company's offices, and give reporters a chance to immediately go hands-on with the hardware. Which makes sense, since those aren't typically scheduled around pre-existing conferences.

Nintendo's E3 presentation doesn't need that. The reporters are at the show. They'll get the news from the staff themselves, in a format that is actually closer to one of those smaller presentations. Then they can go hands on.

The elaborate E3 show is a tradition that only the gaming world still upholds, and for increasingly arbitrary reasons. They're fun, without a doubt. But economically sound business, they are not.

 

[Ansatz]

Main stream media (actual media not games journalists) wants spectacle not some kiddie table offering.

Do you think Nintendo can provide this spectacle if

- NX is underpowered / affordable,
- Nintendo fails to provide a convincing plan to bring back 3rd parties,
- The event focuses on the NX handheld, console is merely teased

These are likely to occur imo, and if so they'd just embarrass themselves. As in, the press will say "they invited us to a conference for ..this?" At best we'll see a teaser trailer for Retro's console NX game, ending with a 2017 logo and something akin to FF7 Remake port as the big WTF announcement, but ultimately the general feeling will be "so it's just a first-party box, /care"

The only way the NX unveiling event can match expectations is if they position it as a special Direct broadcast.

 

[Anth0ny]

Still waiting for one of the Direct defenders to answer this. If anything, stage shows have become increasingly more common after the smartphone boom. Even Spotify and Netflix hold live press conferences, and they don't have much of a retail presence beyond gift cards.

Apparently the Direct defenders say "what works for other companies doesn't necessarily work for Nintendo."

I don't really know what to say to that. I guess Nintendo is a unique butterfly that can do no wrong. They're not wrong, they're just different!

 

[Night Angel]

That seems to be the notion going on with a few of the people in this thread. Obviously not all, but a few.

No it isn't. People are arguing that the press will give it MORE coverage, and based on the relative levels of hype and media coverage between Sony/MS and Nintendo in the last years, it isn't a crazy assertion. The fact that you have to misrepresent people to try to make a point says a lot.

 

[Spyder_Monkey]

Man the road leading up to this E3 is going to be a nightmare.

 

[Nosgotham]

what?? no! why??

directs flow so much better and you get meat and potatos without the crap. id rather see a direct with a clear directed message than a stale presser

 

[Anth0ny]

what?? no! why??

directs flow so much better and you get meat and potatos without the crap. id rather see a direct with a clear directed message than a stale presser

directs still have plenty of crap. it's not without its flaws.

a press conference can still be fantastic and exciting, as sony showed last E3.

 

[Sagittal]

Nintendo needs every chance they can get to show of their next system. Looking at the sales of the Wii U, it is clear that they can't just rely on their own fan base, they urgently need to poach back what they have lost to Sony throughout the years. If they show any sign of complacency with their unveiling they will be in trouble. An E3 presence is important for consumers to gauge Nintendo's commitment to actually being competitive as well as the public's initial reactions. They have lost a good deal faith from consumers as of late, if they want to remain relevant in the console market they can no longer live in their own bubble.

A direct will mostly serve to affirm the purchases of Nintendo enthusiasts, rather than the disillusioned mass market who probably already own a current gen console, and should be used as a tool to reiterate and clarify the unveiling rather than showcase it.

 

[we.are.the.armada]

Yeah I think they'll have both

Direct with in depth talk ab the new control scheme

And a huge live event with girls attached by power cords to the NX gamepad kinda like that one time

Followed by a live game tournament on NX of Splatwo-oon

 

[Neoxon]

directs still have plenty of crap. it's not without its flaws.

a press conference can still be fantastic and exciting, as sony showed last E3.

We're not saying that there isn't crap, but you get much less of it. The least interesting thing shown in the best of Directs are indie game compilations, which can be interesting for those who are hardcore into the indie scene.

 

[ShockingAlberto]

Who else here plans on attending

 

[Neoxon]

Nintendo needs every chance they can get to show of their next system. Looking at the sales of the Wii U, it is clear that they can't just rely on their own fan base, they urgently need to poach back what they have lost to Sony throughout the years. If they show any sign of complacency with their unveiling they will be in trouble. An E3 presence is important for consumers to gauge Nintendo's commitment to actually being competitive as well as the public's initial reactions. They have lost a good deal faith from consumers as of late, if they want to remain relevant in the console market they can no longer live in their own bubble.

A direct will mostly serve to affirm the purchases of Nintendo enthusiasts, rather than the disillusioned mass market who probably already own a current gen console, and should be used as a tool to reiterate and clarify the unveiling rather than showcase it.

Too bad that bubble is now made of vibranium. And again, it's not like the news of Nintendo Directs isn't reported on. If it's big news, people will come.

Who else here plans on attending

I wish I could. But on top of expenses & scheduling, I don't even know how to go.

 

[Auto_aim1]

Those numbers include the Nintendo conference on Twitch, so uh... yeah.

The point is, there's a massive audience so why not do an actual press conference to reveal a new console. They don't have to do it every year. It's about making a big impact, coming out all guns blazing. If done right, and I mean not like X1 and Wii U reveals, they can really generate a lot of momentum and possibly capitalize on it like Sony has done with the PS4. I know some people prefer Directs-- it's fine, I like it too, but for a new console reveal I think a live press conference is the best way to go.

Or they can do both and they should.

 

[Sagittal]

Yeah I think they'll have both

Direct with in depth talk ab the new control scheme

And a huge live event with girls attached by power cords to the NX gamepad kinda like that one time

Followed by a live game tournament on NX of Splatwo-oon

They absolutely need both, 2016 has to be an apology of sorts, they NEED hype and clarity or they will end up with a whole lot of people waiting on the sidelines for the NX to prove itself which could be years.

 

[GamerJM]

We're not saying that there isn't crap, but you get much less of it. The least interesting thing shown in the best of Directs are indie game compilations, which can be interesting for those who are hardcore into the indie scene.

The worst part was the Federation Force trailer

 

[Terrell]

I'll never understand the "Directs don't reach a wider audience" argument. I hate to remind people, but no one watching the Sony press conference in full is a casual consumer of video games, the prospect of that isn't even on the radar of Joe Blow consumer. And the casual consumer watching the snippets of the conference on the news or the highlight reels in the internet press doesn't give a shit about how many fans are screaming in the background. Directs get that same press exposure.

So as many have said, the Directs aren't the reason Nintendo isn't getting attention, it's that people aren't interested in the offer on the table. A press conference doesn't change that. It certainly hasn't for the tail end of the Wii era, and definitely didn't do the Wii U launch any magical favours. A press conference is not a silver bullet that will kill ambivalence to Nintendo products, and a Direct is not some super-obscure fandom exclusive irrelevance.

You want to talk to the press and stuff, showing them some stuff behind the doors etc.

I always laugh about people entering this discussion without actually knowing anything about what goes on behind the consumer-facing Directs. Seriously, it's not some closely-guarded secret that the press have their own events in tandem with the Directs at E3 at least. Heck, the press events have even been host to press-exclusive information reported after the Direct has hit the internet.

Then why does Google, perhaps the quintessential "internet era" company, still host press conferences for big events?

Because they do both? They do high-gloss production videos for the consumer and the press events for the press, the most hardcore of Google fans and (something that Nintendo doesn't have as much to worry about) investors and shareholders at home across America that still need to be addressed in a less high-gloss way.

 

[Hermii]

Why are the kind of funny people saying its a hybrid when it's been confirmed multiple that times that NX is not a hybrid. Why won't the hybrid theory die?

 

[The Giant]

Why are the kind of funny people saying its a hybrid when it's been confirmed multiple that times that NX is not a hybrid. Why won't the hybrid theory die?

These people are not so smart.

 

[Pokemaniac]

Why are the kind of funny people saying its a hybrid when it's been confirmed multiple that times that NX is not a hybrid. Why won't the hybrid theory die?

Because what it probably actually is is kinda close to the hybrid theory. There's a few key differences, such as it not actually being a hybrid, but most of the rest of it is largely the same.

 

[tiredheadcrab]

They can be successful either way. But Colin is right. They cant say they are not competing with Sony and MS and all the while say they are apart of the industry. Thats what is hurting them a bit. I mean Sony lapped them in sales twice, MS is about to or already did. Both those system released a year after Wii U. 3rd party support is depressing. Online infrastructure is lacking way behind even PSN! Thats saying a lot. I mean it took Sony a good while to build a decent alternative to XBL and i like where its at right now.

For the love of fuck do not end the stream or conference with "Fireworks in Nintendo Land!!!"

 

[Sagittal]

Too bad that bubble is now made of vibranium. And again, it's not like the news of Nintendo Directs isn't reported on. If it's big news, people will come.

If Nintendo wants to continue being its own worst enemy, this will likely be its last home console, things will change for better or worse, they have no other choice. Of course Nintendo Directs will be reported on, however there needs to be a large audience reaction akin to the PS4 unveiling for it to perceived as significant and tide-turning to some who have moved on, an event that is tangible and exciting. Scattered impressions, whilst important, just don't have the same initial impact as an E3 audience exploding. The NX needs to be in everybody's face from the unveiling through to launch and beyond. Directs have their purpose, though this launch is way too significant for a "we will leave this here and they will come" approach.

 

[Visualante2]

I remember the time they showed the 3DS off strapped to a hundred women. Hubba Hubba what a show.