And a live conference will change that because.....
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Nintendo can't possibly skip out on having an actual E3 press conference this year
- Thread starter dmr87
- Start date
And a live conference will change that because.....
I'm not sure if that's true. I may not remember much from 2015's event but I remember that Reggie, Iwata, and Miyamoto were muppets and they turned into space animals before the StarFox Zero reveal. If they were on stage, I dont' think I would have remembered a word they said before showing the game. There are many more possibilities inherent in a prepared video and Nintendo has done a pretty good job of making the actual presentation memorable even when they don't have much to show. (like last year).
Every single E3 press conference I've seen has, in retrospect, been cringe-worthy, even the ones that are generally considered "good".
Painfully stilted corporate speak, terribly unfunny jokes, vicariously embarrassing awkward silences, and "journalists" who abandon any pretense of impartiality by cheering at the top of their lungs to the various announcements.
I'm glad Nintendo stopped doing them and I wish the others would as well.
Directs can still be cringey, but at the very least there's no live audience and they tend to be much more succinct. And I much prefer the Treehouse-style live demos, where they actually get to spend some time with the game, get a little more in depth and interview the creators. Compared to some random nervous programmer standing in the middle of a huge stage under spotlights.
Painfully stilted corporate speak, terribly unfunny jokes, vicariously embarrassing awkward silences, and "journalists" who abandon any pretense of impartiality by cheering at the top of their lungs to the various announcements.
I'm glad Nintendo stopped doing them and I wish the others would as well.
Directs can still be cringey, but at the very least there's no live audience and they tend to be much more succinct. And I much prefer the Treehouse-style live demos, where they actually get to spend some time with the game, get a little more in depth and interview the creators. Compared to some random nervous programmer standing in the middle of a huge stage under spotlights.
Tom Nook Sawyer
Member
I vividly remember Shigeru brandishing a sword for Zelda at E3 2004, or him showcasing a purple Pikmin for Pikmin 3, or the video they played where Shigeru & Iwata got sucked into a 3DS during that system's unveiling.
Still giving me goosebumps.
Well, I didn't say that live press conferences CAN'T be memorable just that it's not necessarily the case that E3 digital events aren't memorable too. I'm sure many people also rememeber Nintendo robot chicken. As far as those of us at home are concerned, (the vast majority) we're just watching videos in either case.
Tom Nook Sawyer
Member
Of course they will have a conference. There's no question whatsoever IMHO. That said, I seriously hope somebody is cataloging all these dismissive posts so that when the conference does get announced and the same people flip out about how much bigger and more exciting it will be they can be slapped with their own words claiming otherwise. It's going to be GLORIOUS!
Thing is, in the history of E3, how many conferences have resulted in that sort of reaction?
Let's say an average of 5 conferences a year. E3 has been going for what, 20 years? So that's 100 conferences. How many of them have had this reaction? Like 5.
Chris Ticehurst
Member
What is important is the content. They need to bring the Wow factor in terms of software AND hardware again. If it's a another underpowered console than we can write it off.
Tom Nook Sawyer
Member
Are there even videos of all the E3 conferences from 20 years ago? Even if so, I suspect you haven't watched them all. The events also used to be a LOT smaller. The 2001 GameCube unveiling was in a relatively small hotel auditorium; nothing like we have now
Regardless, that was just the quintessential example; there are myriad others on a smaller--if not comparable--level. Sony last year seemed to be doing pretty well.
I think they'll have one too. Since thay haven't had one in a few years the mere mention of a Nintendo press conference would be an "event". However, I also think some people are overstating the case for one.
(If they have one I think they should incorporate many of the things they've done in directs. I could imagine something combining reggie live on stage with animated segments on a monitor).
Also, thinking back, E3 2015 didn't start out too badly either despite our poor current assessment of Nintendo's performance. The Nintendo World Championships were quite a hit and, IIRC, they had a pre-E3 direct with some smash news among other things. It's just that the digital event was anticlimactic (except for the muppets
). Their booth during the actual show was quite busy too.
Maybe they do it at, around E3 but not during. That way they have wider exposure to a broader audience than a direct would possibly attract (I watch E3 events but I haven't watched a Nintendo direct since the WiiU arrived) and as a potential NX customer I'm sure I'm not alone. So, if a gamer isn't bothered by a direct..what hope for that broader audience becoming informed? In my opinion E3 is important but their message and not repeating the WiiU confusion (assuming its not a traditional console) is just as important.
They're likely going to be showing a new console with a new Zelda game along with possibly other titles in their big IPs (Mario, Pikmin, Retro's new game, etc.). I'd say they have a good shot at generating a reaction like that again.
This is why I think the Directs were a good move for the last few years, but I lean towards a live conference being better for this specific year.
It is the absolute peak of reactions though. It should not be a standard to be held, but something to perhaps aim for
Panajev2001a
GAF's Pleasant Genius
It gives the impression that they are cheap, focuses on how to save money above all... Yes, other companies do it too, see Apple and their target of 50% profit margins, but the way they present themselves and their products to user does not scream "we could not be bothered to waste money on that". Song and Apple also smartly have conference dedicated to key segments of their supporting base... see the birth of PS Experience and WWDC (the devs are the big underpinning for their App Store which is a huge component of their whole iOS strategy).
Nintendo did admit that they focuses on Directs rather than big conferences because they are more cost effective.
Tom Nook Sawyer
Member
I'm pretty sure no one suggested it was an expected standard
Well people often use it as a standard as to why E3 conferences should happen.
The thing is, the actual stream we got didn't have 70% of the reaction. Most of it was muted.
Tom Nook Sawyer
Member
Pretty sure they use it as an example of what a press conference can achieve, not an expected standard year after year
Earthpainting
Member
I wouldn't mind either way, but the yearly plea for a live show is still a bit odd to me. It comes off as asking for TV shows with audience reaction tracks. I suppose tons of TV shows still do that, so I guess it's expected people want more of that. It does give an illusion of a social experience, and validates your own reactions, wich is pleasant to many.
I just hope they have proper software to show off. Launching in the middle of the gen is going to be really tricky. You'll be asking people to take a step back from eco systems they've already invested in quite recently, and convince them your thing is worth pumping money into instead.
I just hope they have proper software to show off. Launching in the middle of the gen is going to be really tricky. You'll be asking people to take a step back from eco systems they've already invested in quite recently, and convince them your thing is worth pumping money into instead.
Not nearly as much as many are understating the case for one. There are people in this thread straight up claiming live conferences are somehow now archaic and unnecessary. No sane person could come to that conclusion after the conferences that we've witnessed the past few years and the results/market penetration that have arisen from those conferences. A pre recorded video is less of an event that fans can feel a part and as a result garners far less attention and admiration from the market at large.
The only reason Nintendo switched to directs is because they have a fierce compulsion to be in control of anything and everything when it comes to their hardware and their software. They don't want to run the risk of having anything that could portray their products in a less than pristine light. Contrast this with the recent showings we saw if Uncharted 4 that had minor technical issues or the efforts of Dr. Richard Marks to show off PSVR. A live demonstration is infinitely more risky but also infinitely more impressive because it's irrefutable proof that what you see is what you get and consumers find that compelling.
If Nintendo can't dislodge themselves from their own asses long enough to see that and acknowledge the platform as essential for the launch of such a pivotal and monumental moment for their company then that basically just shows they've learned nothing from the backwards thinking/policies that put them in this situation to begin with. It would be a damn shame.
I'm not sure if having a couple of dozen booths for games on the verge of release (or already released) is comparable to a conference packed with new announcements and visions of the future, being presented on stage with a live audience of 21 million (according to Washington Post) or so people across the globe.
E3 is multi-faceted in its purpose, from in-depth media impressions all the way down to being a glimpse for "casuals" who are just interested in technology or want to see what all the hype and media coverage is about. These are your early adopters, the people who set the foundations of a consoles future. Just look at the views of the E3 Nintendo Directs, that there is why they need a proper stage presence.
You're twisting the concept of E3 and are bizarrely ignoring what E3 actually is.
Nintendo did have presentations. They were streamed by everyone who streamed the E3 conferences. They had the reach. There were press events for all the press. And E3 is a stage show and they had their booths. It's not an either/or situation. They had both. They were not no shows at all.
Yet they spend money on other events. Pre-E3 Nintendo World Championships and the Smash Invitational must cost something and I'm sure they have to pay Treehouse employees to do Treehouse live during E3 itself. However fans and potential customers are the intended audience for those events.
There's probably a philosophical reason behind their move away from Pre-E3 press conferences in addition to the cost savings. Directs are Iwatas brainchild and he's also the guy that started Iwata Asks to give customers insight into how the games they play are made. I can imagine him wondering why they're talking to the press while potential customers peer in instead of talking to customers "direct"ly.
@Rexnovis: I don't think an E3 press conference, specifically, is THAT important to reach customers. There are some benefits to having a live event in that it makes the whole affair seem more special to those who follow such things closely. That's probably about it.
JetSetRadio
Banned
Sure, if they have the content, imagine them on stage last year, it would have been even worse than the puppet direct.
After what happened with Skyward Sword, I'm not sure that I would blame Nintendo at this point. They still rent out the theater they used to do press conferences in for stuff like the Nintendo World Championship, so that also rules out the penny-pinching possibility brought up by Panajev. As for your "what you see is what you get" argument, that's what the Treehouse Live segments are for.
Good to see more folks thinking about the current presentation styles.
Anyway, it's a shame we never get total viewership ratings for conferences and Directs live. Personally I think the differences are minimal if you're going to compare. There is this idea within the group who prefers live conferences who think that those presentations attract a pretty big crowd. I think they're not entirely right. There are a lot of interested folks in PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo who prefer to wait for the announcement trailers rather than watching the show live. I think at the end of the day both presentations forms fall in the same category: only watched by people who are really invested in videogames like us the good people here on GAF.
Anyway, it's a shame we never get total viewership ratings for conferences and Directs live. Personally I think the differences are minimal if you're going to compare. There is this idea within the group who prefers live conferences who think that those presentations attract a pretty big crowd. I think they're not entirely right. There are a lot of interested folks in PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo who prefer to wait for the announcement trailers rather than watching the show live. I think at the end of the day both presentations forms fall in the same category: only watched by people who are really invested in videogames like us the good people here on GAF.
foxuzamaki
Doesn't read OPs, especially not his own
The digital event 2014 had iwata and reggie doing dragon ball z style fighting leading into the reveal of mii fighters and amiibo and the smash segment in general. It was one of the most memorable things in that entire E3 to people.
How many people that LA theatre sit, anyway? Is there where all the non-Nintendo fans that don't watch the Nintendo Directs will go to watch a Nintendo press conference?
What is the difference in between a live press conference and having a Direct with a hands on press event on the same day?
This grasping to straws arguments make no sense, specially because it isn't a single presentation that will determine the fate of Nintendo's next console/handheld. They should be more interested in having, at least, a more consistent third party support and/or funding more "2nd party" games through independent developers, as it is clear they lack the man-power to sustain two platforms alone (hence the reason why they want to unify the architecture of their future platforms).
One single press conference to announce a console isn't that important today where everyone has access to Internet, and the press will run with the news regardless if Nintendo decides to present it live or in a pre-recorded fashion as they have been doing (not to mention that looking at Wii U's reveal, I do wish they had done a Nintendo Direct instead, so they could avoid the MASSIVE confusion that followed afterwards; controlling the message is one big plus of having pre recorded Directs).
What is the difference in between a live press conference and having a Direct with a hands on press event on the same day?
This grasping to straws arguments make no sense, specially because it isn't a single presentation that will determine the fate of Nintendo's next console/handheld. They should be more interested in having, at least, a more consistent third party support and/or funding more "2nd party" games through independent developers, as it is clear they lack the man-power to sustain two platforms alone (hence the reason why they want to unify the architecture of their future platforms).
One single press conference to announce a console isn't that important today where everyone has access to Internet, and the press will run with the news regardless if Nintendo decides to present it live or in a pre-recorded fashion as they have been doing (not to mention that looking at Wii U's reveal, I do wish they had done a Nintendo Direct instead, so they could avoid the MASSIVE confusion that followed afterwards; controlling the message is one big plus of having pre recorded Directs).
So do you expect Sony to never do another live conference again after the PSX PSVR demonstration or the Uncharted 4 demos? Did you expect Microsoft to never do another live conference after their cringey Kinect demos or the Killer Instinct demo? Of course not. So why is Nintendo different?
Because Nintendo has since explored an alternative that, provided that they have actual content to show, works. You have your live demonstrations with Treehouse Live. You have your crowded hype presentation with the Nintendo World Championship. And you have your clear message in reveals with the Nintendo Digital Event. All of Nintendo's bases are covered, the likes of Twitch host the Digital Event like any other press conference, & the media covers the announcements after the Digital Event ends.
It's Reyn Time!
Member
I don't think enough has changed with the press for Nintendo to go back to live conferences for E3. Those Wii years the press were absolutely poisonous and I don't see why Nintendo would want their announcements filtered through that negativity before reaching the general public again.
Claude Augario
Member
The conferences are actually not an official part of E3. Those are hype machines for the enthusiasts.
"A couple dozen booths of games on the verge of release" is literally what E3 is about. That's why people go there.
That is also a good point.
That's actually a fair point, Reyn.
I get the impression that Nintendo's non-conformist nature just rubs some people the wrong way. Why don't they release a controller that's like everyone else's? Why don't they have a press conference like everyone else?
Heh, I must admit it's probably part of the reason I like them because I never know what I'm getting. I mean, are we even debating whether Sony or MS will have a press conference this E3? LOL. With Nintendo, the suspense is THAT deep.
BTW, I think I should clarify that I think they might have a live event for NX's pre-E3 reveal. I'm not sure if it will be a press conference per se. It could very well be something else that they create just for the purpose.
That would be a nice way to culminate their pre-E3 activity esp. if they have another tournament event of some sort like Smash invitiational or NWC. OTOH, I've heard rumblings of a new direct format so who knows.
Broadly speaking we have three camps:
The general population: They don't watch E3 so it doesn't matter what Nintendo does, because this lot will get their news from other sources. `Do you really think any news outlet won't print news about a new system reveal. I liked the guy in the IGN video claiming he won't care, 1. he will 2. it's his job so even if he doesn't, he'll be made to care. New gadgets are usually the safest bet for news when it comes to E3 so even newspapers will cover it.
The loyalist: The person who only watches the conferences/follows the news of what they own (no need to be ashamed, I'm sure we were all like this once). Doesn't matter what Nintendo does since they won't watch them if they don't already own a Nintendo item. But seeing as a new system is often the BIG NEWS of any E3 they'll probably get wind of it when they seek out other news.
Finally, the follower: They follow all of E3, at least the showings from the big three. Doesn't matter what Nintendo does since they'll be watching them anyway.
Honestly, I can't think of a situation where someone following all of E3 won't watch Nintendo's showing and the reveal (assuming it isn't shown before) of a new system. You're going to boycott the Direct out of principle or something?
Also Treehouse Live > The conferences
The general population: They don't watch E3 so it doesn't matter what Nintendo does, because this lot will get their news from other sources. `Do you really think any news outlet won't print news about a new system reveal. I liked the guy in the IGN video claiming he won't care, 1. he will 2. it's his job so even if he doesn't, he'll be made to care. New gadgets are usually the safest bet for news when it comes to E3 so even newspapers will cover it.
The loyalist: The person who only watches the conferences/follows the news of what they own (no need to be ashamed, I'm sure we were all like this once). Doesn't matter what Nintendo does since they won't watch them if they don't already own a Nintendo item. But seeing as a new system is often the BIG NEWS of any E3 they'll probably get wind of it when they seek out other news.
Finally, the follower: They follow all of E3, at least the showings from the big three. Doesn't matter what Nintendo does since they'll be watching them anyway.
Honestly, I can't think of a situation where someone following all of E3 won't watch Nintendo's showing and the reveal (assuming it isn't shown before) of a new system. You're going to boycott the Direct out of principle or something?
Also Treehouse Live > The conferences
So you're telling me that you think a "Nintendo Treehouse" is equivalent to a live press conference? You think a Treehouse is going to draw as much attention and coverage worldwide as an actual honest to God event? No way. That's absolutely mental. These directs and tree houses have only a fraction of the impact we've seen from the recent live events. No matter what you believe the numbers don't lie and they tell a different story.
I find it absolutely absurd how quickly people dole out exceptions and allowances to Nintendo for their bizarre behavior but taking a quaint thing like Nintendo Directs and claiming they are somehow visionary whilst simultaneously preaching that live events are somehow archaic just takes the cake for crazy bullshit to me. Yet you better believe the second Nintendo reveals a conference is happening these same exact people will be trumpeting how much better and more exciting it is than a direct. I don't even care that much about their plans with NX as Ive made a conscious decision not to support them
so long as they insist on region locking their platforms. I just take offense to the affront to logic and common sense that has run rampant throughout this thread.
When I talk about backwards thinking and policies I'm talking about things like their insistence on region locking, their policies on Let's Plays and game streaming, their decision to name the console the WiiU, and their ridiculous online systems (friend codes and level share videos etc etc). These sorts of things are not only counter cultural but also counter intuitive and counter productive.
And those numbers would be......? I don't follow the view counts of the other guys, but the Directs have garnered quite a bit of views on their own.
As for me, I'll be fine either way. I don't hate press conferences by any stretch of the imagination, but I know damn well that the Directs work when they have content to show. Same applies to a press conference. The only real difference is that it's on stage & you have the press in the audience, that's it. If I recall correctly, it's not exactly easy for the average joe to get into the audience of press conferences, anymore (in terms of buying tickets). It's mainly the narrative that only Nintendo fans watch the Direct that annoys me.
Bitch Pudding
Member
I'd like to see a proper press conference from Nintendo at E3. Just to show us that they are so convinced about their new product that they are ready to face the direct echo from the audience. A Sony E3'13-like response can result in a very important momentum for the new platform.
That said, if they only release a video, that'd show me that they are not THAT much convinced about their new product. So, why should I be convinced to buy it, especially after the WiiU failure??
That said, if they only release a video, that'd show me that they are not THAT much convinced about their new product. So, why should I be convinced to buy it, especially after the WiiU failure??
Even if they fill it to the brim with announcements? Press Conference or Digital Event, if they have the content, the hype will come along with the momentum. The means of Nintendo revealing the news is more-or-less irrelevant.
I think the need to just make sure nobody involved in the Wii U reveal video was involved. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4e3qaPg_keg
What a fucking mess:
-Doesn't clearly show the new product, leading to confusion to rather or not it was a new console at all. Like you can see it in the background, but you have to actively look for it.
-Starts off by showing a game (NSMBU) that looks very similar to previous games, to the point where even hardcore fans might not recognize that it's a new game.
-The first feature shown isn't something that enhances gameplay, but rather just a convenience feature (Off TV play)
-The second feature shown is a drawing app
-Third thing shown looks like a minigame
-Fourth thing shown looks like enhanced Wii Sports. Fifth thing looks like enhanced Wii Fit. Sixth thing looks like enhanced Wii Play. How are we supposed to know this is a new system playing new games?
-Seventh thing is the most new looking thing, but unfortunately, it still looks like a minigame. Why are they showing off apps, minigames, and the Wii series to the E3 crowd? Like, there's some overlap, but that's not what the majority of the audience wants to see.
-Eighth thing is another app, videochat.
-Ninth thing is internet, another app.
-Tenth is youtube, another app.
-Eleventh is finally a new game, Zelda. It's also the first thing to show off the enhanced graphics. Sadly, Zelda's a poor choice to show off powerful graphics with, because of the series history. It might seem smart-it's like their second biggest franchise and is absolutely beloved. But it's also famous for having a tech demo that looked nothing like what the final game was with Windwaker. You knew the second you saw this that this wasn't going to be a real game, and you were right.
-Also, the dialog and editting style. What the fuck was this? At no point was this style ever cool. At no point does it feel like Nintendo. It is just offputting and bad.
Overall, it was just a piss poor way to reveal a system. Lead with the console design, so people know what it is. Then show the controller design, so people know what they can do with it. Then show a graphically great game that actually might be real, so people know what they can expect. Shit like the internet, drawing, video chat-you can just imagine how that could be by being shown the controller features. The controller with a camera on it can video chat? You can use the touch screen to scroll on the internet? The thing with internet has youtube? I would've never guessed! That didn't need to be shown in the debut video. New major features like off tv play should be shown, but they're not leading material unless they directly impact gameplay. If they're just a more convenient way to do it, that's not leading material. Xbox One got a lot of shit for not focusing on games nearly enough in its debut, and Xbox is much more used for media playing than Nintendo systems ever will be. Finally, don't make most the games seem like enhanced versions of older titles, especially if they look so similar to their past entries that it's hard to tell if they're new games or not. Everyone loves Mario and Wii Sports. You don't need to sell people on it again.
Also, stylize in a way that seems like actual human beings use it instead of freak alien body snatchers speaking in sims language.
What a fucking mess:
-Doesn't clearly show the new product, leading to confusion to rather or not it was a new console at all. Like you can see it in the background, but you have to actively look for it.
-Starts off by showing a game (NSMBU) that looks very similar to previous games, to the point where even hardcore fans might not recognize that it's a new game.
-The first feature shown isn't something that enhances gameplay, but rather just a convenience feature (Off TV play)
-The second feature shown is a drawing app
-Third thing shown looks like a minigame
-Fourth thing shown looks like enhanced Wii Sports. Fifth thing looks like enhanced Wii Fit. Sixth thing looks like enhanced Wii Play. How are we supposed to know this is a new system playing new games?
-Seventh thing is the most new looking thing, but unfortunately, it still looks like a minigame. Why are they showing off apps, minigames, and the Wii series to the E3 crowd? Like, there's some overlap, but that's not what the majority of the audience wants to see.
-Eighth thing is another app, videochat.
-Ninth thing is internet, another app.
-Tenth is youtube, another app.
-Eleventh is finally a new game, Zelda. It's also the first thing to show off the enhanced graphics. Sadly, Zelda's a poor choice to show off powerful graphics with, because of the series history. It might seem smart-it's like their second biggest franchise and is absolutely beloved. But it's also famous for having a tech demo that looked nothing like what the final game was with Windwaker. You knew the second you saw this that this wasn't going to be a real game, and you were right.
-Also, the dialog and editting style. What the fuck was this? At no point was this style ever cool. At no point does it feel like Nintendo. It is just offputting and bad.
Overall, it was just a piss poor way to reveal a system. Lead with the console design, so people know what it is. Then show the controller design, so people know what they can do with it. Then show a graphically great game that actually might be real, so people know what they can expect. Shit like the internet, drawing, video chat-you can just imagine how that could be by being shown the controller features. The controller with a camera on it can video chat? You can use the touch screen to scroll on the internet? The thing with internet has youtube? I would've never guessed! That didn't need to be shown in the debut video. New major features like off tv play should be shown, but they're not leading material unless they directly impact gameplay. If they're just a more convenient way to do it, that's not leading material. Xbox One got a lot of shit for not focusing on games nearly enough in its debut, and Xbox is much more used for media playing than Nintendo systems ever will be. Finally, don't make most the games seem like enhanced versions of older titles, especially if they look so similar to their past entries that it's hard to tell if they're new games or not. Everyone loves Mario and Wii Sports. You don't need to sell people on it again.
Also, stylize in a way that seems like actual human beings use it instead of freak alien body snatchers speaking in sims language.
Since Nintendo said this year they will change the ND format, I'm curious how it'll look like. They could reveal NX on an extra live event/conference and then promote it with these remodeled NDs.
One option for the new format i'm thinking of, is a mix of videos (old ND) and live presentations (Treehouse).
One option for the new format i'm thinking of, is a mix of videos (old ND) and live presentations (Treehouse).
I don't think that the Directs would have live things in it. I think it's more how it's presented rather than just a man in front of a screen. I'm thinking something that is a mixture of that and how they did the Pokémon Direct in September 2013.