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[TheGreatMightyPoo]

In all seriousness though that press announcement made it sound like they are fully using the attention afforded at E3 to unveil new games and experiences. I think it takes away some of the Internet excitement of E3 not to do a full press event but if they are still going to be using that time to show us new IP(which is what it sounds like) then I think it won't be that big a deal.

I personally like all the shit we hear about AFTER the presentations.

The trailers, the impressions, the details, etc...

Yeah, it won't be the razzle dazzle of Reggie saying live in front of a bunch of nerds "People have been asking what Retro has been up to...well, take a look ~Star Fox hits the huge monitor~ but it's all the same in the end.

Now if they weren't at E3 at all, that would be a very questionable decision.

 

[Camjo-Z]

nintendo has shot themselves in the foot, this literally makes me sick, dooooooomed, etc.

I think a lot of people are overreacting.

 

[Mihael Mello Keehl]

Hello? Anyone? Because both Iwata and that marketing guy from NOA's statements said that "they're looking at different ways to present it to our audience." It might be a Direct, it might be "Nintendo E3 Presentation 2013" that's prerecorded, it might be live events with press on hand (like those developer roundtables and 3DS showcases after last year's conference), it might be a mix of these things.

"Nintendo will air a Direct on their site" seems to be an assumption here.

This makes sense, but people will ignore

 

[Nibel]

You know what's funny

Microsoft announces their next generation console and there are two threads about it

Nintendo announces that they won't do a stage show and there are dozens of threads and even a special video by a well-known industry figure on the same day

They know how to polarize and will continue to do so since this is what makes people talk about them - there is no bad publicity, there is only publicity

 

[ii Stryker]

^^ this makes sense

I agree, but that was going to happen whether they attended or not.

Microsoft and Sony are launching successors to hardware that has sold over 140 million units (combined). There was very little chance that the Wii U would grab more headlines than PS4 and Nextbox announcements at E3.

I assume that's the reason Nintendo chose to step back from the main stage. They realize they simply cannot compete.

If Nintendo has the software titles everyone wants they won't be overlooked. Them skipping the traditional press briefing could just mean their thinking the traditional pre press events effectiveness is no longer effective. Allowing the games press hands on time during the same time frame as this new business meeting seems far more effective then everyone sitting passively watching an awkward presentation.

I give zero fucks about what their fiscal sell throughs and adoption rates are just show me games and system features...but mostly games.

 

[MYE]

Again, do we know how many countries broadcast E3?

 

[BlastProcessing]

Simple. But echo chamber is a better plan, Iwata. *thumbsup*

Agree.

Your avatar makes me wonder who would be the better kisser, Batman or Superman? I mean, Supes would have the superhuman reflexes and powerful, almost prehensile lips. On the other hand, I bet if Batman had time to prepare he could do a full psych evaluation and blow your mind with a perfectly tailored technique.

Man I am going to be thinking about this all day...

 

[Dr.Palutena]

These are not the only people. Non-Nintendo fans watch the E3 press conference. I'm doubtful they'll watch a prerecorded Nintendo Direct.

They do? This is all anecdotal, but I have yet to find someone I know, who knows what E3s are enough to watch the conferences, who also wasn't avid gamers who would know what Nintendo Direct is and watch those too or at least follow enthusiast sites that report on such things regardless.Yes, the conferences air on TV through G4 and Spike but those are pretty niche channels. I think the better argument is for how the press , particularly the mainstream press, is gonna cover what Nintendo does present at E3, in whatever form Nintendo chooses to present it. Right now we don't *really* know how all Nintendo is gonna do things at E3, except that they aren't doing one big press conference. Really right now I can't say if it's a particularly good or bad idea that they aren't having one.It all goes down to their execution of this new format, which frankly I'm not gonna trust them to do anything particularly better or out there.

 

[Freezie KO]

I know they'll do their best to get coverage at E3, but sometimes perception is reality. And the perception here is a negative one of throwing in the towel.

Remember when the Wii U was revealed and many people on the internet said, "Looks like the old Wii. People will be confused." Nintendo thought they knew best, and then went forward. By the time all the branding was done, Nintendo realized they were wrong, and many people saw it coming a million miles away.

I hope when E3 is done, we're not sitting around saying, "Well, we did tell them that they'd be hurting for press."

 

[Pie and Beans]

Regardless of if Nintendo Directs do suit their purpose more, and regardless of if my theory is they'll offer the E3 demos of WiiU stuff to home users as their "unique way of getting people at home involved", the problem with this choice is clear;

it sends a huge message of insecurity and weakness.

Stepping down off of that stage, suggesting nobody really has anything to say out loud on the world stage about their hardware and ethos.

All while their competitors are showing their new hardware, new games, and the new direction of where they think the games industry should be going.

 

[GrizzNKev]

A stage show has its benefits, but...

If they focus on the games they don't need a stage.
Because in the end its not about the box, thats we
already know about in Nintendo's case, its what games
the box can play.

And I think Nintendo's strategy to steal thunder from
MS and Sony, will be providing more games for people
to actually play on the show floor, than what MS or Sony
might be able to provide at the time.

They will want to harness the rapid way that people
in this day an age can post impressions on what they
have seen and played.

Nintendo execs and reps can also make better use of their time in
making deals with developers and publishers on the floor
rather than rehearsing for a stage show.

Was this a free verse poem?

 

[Salsa]

this is the problem with most of the arguments people are making here:

people are taking these conferences as some weird bubbles where the stuff that gets announced can only be known by the people who watches them

"how can Nintendo sell more WiiUs by spreading that info over Nintendo Direct"

Nintendo Direct gets picked up by game media in the same way E3 announcements get picked by the game media

specially if the announcement is big enough

non-gaming news outlets? they only pick up new consoles, and there's gonna be 2 in there. "New Super Smash Bros!" is not a headline on my newspaper.

I really dont wanna come off as some blind Nintendo supporter because im not: this does worry me

but dude some of the stuff im reading here is just what

 

[mclem]

How is it hard to grasp the difference? E3 gets a shit load more viewers and coverage in the press, therefore by keeping their stuff for Nintendo Directs they're depleting potential coverage and mindshare.

You're asserting the *effect*, but not the *cause*.

 

[Fourth Storm]

Journalists already getting salty. The plan is working

Did you watch the video? Sessler came off as extremely sincere to me. Is it considered "salty" to be concerned for the wellbeing of a company whose products you enjoy?

 

[RibMan]

Also yes, only Nintendo fans will tune-in to watch Nintendo Direct

problem with that argument? everything that gets announced on Nintendo Direct is all over every gaming news site that covers every console anyway

you didnt watch Nintendo Direct because you dont care and like Sony/MS? 2 minutes later you go to your favorite gaming site and you know there's a new Zelda coming out

how is that any different?

believe me this move is reason to be worried, but this thing brought up some weird notions of what apparently people consider E3 to be

It's different because websites, magazines, and every major news outlet with a tech section will be covering and reporting on the main E3 conferences. These very same outlets are not present at every single Nintendo Direct event/mini-conferences, because they simply do not have the resources to send their employees to every single gaming event that isn't the "big one".

This is the same reason why the 3 main conferences tend to have much higher audiences than EA, Ubisofts, and Konamis E3 conferences. Less people reporting = less awareness = low audiences.

I expect Nintendo to invite the big outlets to their E3 mini-conferences, but from a communications and visibility standpoint, a 'piece-by-piece' method of delivering information is always frowned upon. Fragmented information tends to lead to misinformation, so I hope Nintendo aren't relying on Twitter clarifications to get their points across.

 

[Meelow]

No, because the MS and Sony will still host huge conferences. Nintendo is actively shrinking Nintendo's market cap by strictly going YouTube videos with Nintendo Direct.

But this Nintendo Direct will be live, just like Nintendo E3 Conference, they aren't going to just upload the Nintendo Directs randomly in the night without people knowing, they will be airing the Direct Live like they always do, we don't even know what Nintendo full plans for this are yet.

It's very possible Nintendo will announce a date and time their E3 Direct will be very soon and not wait a day before it happens like they always do, if they hype up the Direct a month or so before it happens there will be no difference in between the Direct and the Conference, if people say "they watch Nintendo's E3 Conferences" but not Nintendo Directs than they will watch Nintendo E3 Direct because it's the same thing as their E3 Conference just without a stage.

If gamers really care so much about Reggie walking on a stage and being like "my body is ready" and walking around and taking long pauses than call Nintendo and complain, but this is really getting blown into something huge.

Edit: I mean look,this thread already has 7 pages for a Youtube video about one person's opinion on how they feel about this.

 

[TheGreatMightyPoo]

You know what's funny

Microsoft announces their next generation console and there are two threads about it

Nintendo announces that they won't do a stage show and there are dozens of threads and even a special video by a well-known industry figure on the same day

They know how to polarize and will continue to do so since this is what makes people talk about them - there is no bad publicity, there is only publicity

Thought about this almost exactly.

Nintendo is more relevant than ever(at least here) and they haven't even shown anything big or not much at all.

 

[Mpl90]

I repeat that IMHO, in the great scheme of things, E3's importance is overrated. 3DS was deemed as the dominator of everything at E3 2010. Dat awesome conference, dat coverage, dat amazing press reaction. But then, they launched with a few games and at a much higher price than they should've. This despite all the games announced for the platform. The reason is simple: mainstream customers don't care so much about E3s or other mainly gaming events. They care about what they see through television and web, what they read on Facebook / Twitter / any other social media when a product is launched. And THIS is the biggest recent failure of Nintendo: not having the right games, the right prices and above all the right advertising in launching their system, and also after they launched. I'm not saying E3 hasn't any importance, but it's not the deciding factor for the future. NDs are actually very viral: they got coverage from press due to the news announced in them and they trend pretty high on Twitter just after they happened, so the buzz is actually present. Still, the most important thing is how they promote their products outside of gaming events and outside of Directs, on television especially. And this is their biggest failure so far.

P.S.: Ah yeah, remember that Iwata & co. decided 3DS was worthy the 249.99 price due to E3's response to the platform (enthusiasts, general press, gaming press, etc.etc.).

 

[Mihael Mello Keehl]

Regardless of if Nintendo Directs do suit their purpose more, and regardless of if my theory is they'll offer the E3 demos of WiiU stuff to home users as their "unique way of getting people at home involved", the problem with this choice is clear;

it sends a huge message of insecurity and weakness.

Stepping down off of that stage, suggesting nobody really has anything to say out loud on the world stage about their hardware and ethos.

All while their competitors are showing their new hardware, new games, and the new direction of where they think the games industry should be going.

Would be funny if they aired a ND on tv lol

 

[Smiles and Cries]

Nintendo has shot themselves in the foot with this one. They should just check out altogether I don't think they even want to make games anymore

I have never seen you post otherwise about anything Nintendo does so what's new here?

What is this like the thousandth time Nintendo shot themselves in the foot?

 

[likeGdid]

this is the problem with most of the arguments people are making here:

people are taking these conferences as some weird bubbles where the stuff that gets announced can only be known by the people who watches them

"how can Nintendo sell more WiiUs by spreading that info over Nintendo Direct"

Nintendo Direct gets picked up by media in the same way E3 announcements get picked by the media

specially if the announcement is big enough

I really dont wanna come off as some blind Nintendo supporter because im not: this does worry me

but dude some of the stuff im reading here is just what

At the end of every Nintendo Direct, the viewer is asked to swear a blood oath to not reveal any of the information they have just seen

 

[TheGreatMightyPoo]

Regardless of if Nintendo Directs do suit their purpose more, and regardless of if my theory is they'll offer the E3 demos of WiiU stuff to home users as their "unique way of getting people at home involved", the problem with this choice is clear;

it sends a huge message of insecurity and weakness.

Stepping down off of that stage, suggesting nobody really has anything to say out loud on the world stage about their hardware and ethos.

If they have the best games, none of that intangible shit will matter.

 

[GoddyofAus]

You're asserting the *effect*, but not the *cause*.

This post perfectly sums up the sort of semantics that Nintendo fans are willing to deploy to be able to justify anything Nintendo does. Are you all so resistant to the idea of criticizing your favorite company for what is a painfully obvious short sighted decision?

In that perspective it's not. From my perspective it's a journalist who wanted to watch a press conference so be could spin it negativity or mock it and was pissed off Nintendo wasn't having one.

And here's some more. Apparently, every Journo is out to get Nintendo.

 

[speedpop]

I might be taking a pretty extreme view on this whole thing, but I think Nintendo have given up on the Wii U. Sessler is right; there is no way they'll move consoles by making announcements through such a focused medium like Direct. They already have the Core Nintendo fans on side; what can they possibly announce that will attract the rest of us enough to take our attention away from Sony and MS? That, coupled with all this love they're giving the 3DS.....

They've given up on the Wii U. That is the only conclusion you can come to.

You remind me of being that "end is nigh!" guy on the street during a solar eclipse.

 

[Salsa]

I have never seen you post otherwise about anything Nintendo does so what's new here?

What is this like the thousandth time Nintendo shot themselves in the foot?

BruceLeeRoy's just trolling there, he made a serious post afterward

it's not hard to discern who's being silly to have fun here

 

[JetBlackPanda]

I fucking hate the "big" stage shows that fail year after year anyways. Nintendo is going to go hard with software.

you guys keep saying mainstream and E3 in the same sentence but unless you are really into videogames you have no fucking clue what E3 is. The casual gamers get the news on new games and hardware from Ign and the likes.

 

[remnant]

I didn't know this until later but Kevin Pereira did the voice for Ratty.

Also:

"It's seems that they believe that Nintendo Direct are the best way to tell consumers their message. That is very disheartening to me. Yes, alot of people watch those Nintendo Directs but it's an echo chamber. They're Nintendo fans."

Couldn't have been said any better.

That is so stupid. How are they any more of an echo chamber than the regular Nintendo E3 shows.

What people aren't going to critique them? They will just do so right after the show like they do every year.

The only people this negatively affects is the gaming press. For consumers i don't see how this is anything but an advantage.

 

[10k]

Did you watch the video? Sessler came off as extremely sincere to me. Is it considered "salty" to be concerned for the wellbeing of a company whose products you enjoy?

In that perspective it's not. From my perspective it's a journalist who wanted to watch a press conference so be could spin it negativity or mock it and was pissed off Nintendo wasn't having one.

This in no way makes Nintendo doomed. It's a difference strategy, we will see if it pays off. E3 was never a mainstream event to me and the conferences have been terrible the last two years.

 

[TheGreatMightyPoo]

ou all so resistant to the idea of criticizing your favorite company for what is a painfully obvious short sighted decision?

Obvious to whom???

Armchair quarterbacks/messageboard posters???

 

[Coolwhip]

Thought about this almost exactly.

Nintendo is more relevant than ever(at least here) and they haven't even shown anything big or not much at all.

Again, on GAF yes. The people Nintendo needs to reach for Wii U to become a big hit arent the people that care wether or not Nintendo is being controversial. They need very good reasons to buy a Wii U. ND so far simply has too little reach to accomplish that.

 

[Mihael Mello Keehl]

I fucking hate the "big" stage shows that fail year after year anyways. Nintendo is going to go hard with software.

you guys keep saying mainstream and E3 in the same sentence but unless you are really into videogames you have no fucking clue what E3 is. The casual gamers get the news on new games and hardware from Ign and the likes.

Quoted for the truths

 

[DarkKyo]

I thought they said they were going to show us the first peak/trailer for Smash Bros 4 at this year's conference....


...

 

[Shaanyboi]

They're going to shun them because Nintendo has taken their toys back and will only let the press play with them on their terms - at E3 it's basically a press playground, undoubtedly sees more traffic in those few days than the rest of the year - Nintendo removes themselves from that circus so why should the press chase after them?

A) Because Nintendo is still a major player in the game industry
B) Because it's the press' damn job to cover this stuff?

 

[grimshawish]

Nintendo could also increase Direct viewership by making it their E3 conference and introducing new people to the format.

 

[Psycho_Mantis]

so how do you know this will not happen

ND have never been shown on TV. I don't know for sure if they plan to so I said "if".

The best solution would be to do both but Iwata.

 

[Salsa]

I thought they said they were going to show us the first peak/trailer for Smash Bros 4 at this year's conference....


...

they will, and you'll get to see it direct feed instead of people filming a stage

people will probably get to play it too

 

[Smiles and Cries]

I thought they said they were going to show us the first peak/trailer for Smash Bros 4 at this year's conference....


...

wait til SPACEWORLD

 

[Fourth Storm]

I fucking hate the "big" stage shows that fail year after year anyways. Nintendo is going to go hard with software.

you guys keep saying mainstream and E3 in the same sentence but unless you are really into videogames you have no fucking clue what E3 is. The casual gamers get the news on new games and hardware from Ign and the likes.

Nintendo had two bad years in a row, but do you remember E3 2010 with the 3DS unveil and sick Wii lineup? Nintendo has proven capable of delivering megaton pressers in the past.

 

[TheGreatMightyPoo]

Again, on GAF yes. The people Nintendo needs to reach for Wii U to become a big hit arent the people that care wether or not Nintendo is being controversial. They need very good reasons to buy a Wii U. ND so far simply has too little reach to accomplish that.

That's where they need to step up their advertising campaigns.

Hit Youtube with ads, etc...

Billboards, spend some money even if you didn't plan on it.

 

[krypt0nian]

Agree.

Your avatar makes me wonder who would be the better kisser, Batman or Superman? I mean, Supes would have the superhuman reflexes and powerful, almost prehensile lips. On the other hand, I bet if Batman had time to prepare he could do a full psych evaluation and blow your mind with a perfectly tailored technique.

Man I am going to be thinking about this all day...

This is the best thing I've read online all day!

 

[D-e-f-]

I thought they said they were going to show us the first peak/trailer for Smash Bros 4 at this year's conference....


...

Now you're gonna see it in a Nintendo Direct. What's the difference to you?

 

[BruceLeeRoy]

I personally like all the shit we hear about AFTER the presentations.

The trailers, the impressions, the details, etc...

Yeah, it won't be the razzle dazzle of Reggie saying live in front of a bunch of nerds "People have been asking what Retro has been up to...well, take a look ~Star Fox hits the huge monitor~ but it's all the same in the end.

Now if they weren't at E3 at all, that would be a very questionable decision.

Yeah I completely agree. Among my friends who are all gamers I am the only one that watches the conferences(they all think there boring). Most of them just go to IGN or Gametrailers after the announcements and just watch all the videos. This isn't going to have any impact IMO.

 

[Tuck]

Honestly he raises some good points.

 

[Mihael Mello Keehl]

Again, on GAF yes. The people Nintendo needs to reach for Wii U to become a big hit arent the people that care wether or not Nintendo is being controversial. They need very good reasons to buy a Wii U. ND so far simply has too little reach to accomplish that.

You guys are getting crazy about how much impact e3 actuall has. Was gamecube, ps1,n64, ps2,xbox, snes, genesis sold because they were broadcasting nerdy press conferences on live tv?

 

[Shaanyboi]

I thought they said they were going to show us the first peak/trailer for Smash Bros 4 at this year's conference....


...

Oh for fuck's sake...

THEY WILL STILL BE AT E3. That news about a new Mario, new Mario Kart, X, Bayonetta 2, Smash Bros, etc. will all still exist. They'll just be coming in the form of Nintendo Directs instead of Iwata or Reggie on a stage talking to a bunch of tired/disinterested press.

 

[Schnozberry]

Did you watch the video? Sessler came off as extremely sincere to me. Is it considered "salty" to be concerned for the wellbeing of a company whose products you enjoy?

Questioning his sincerity is silly. I disagree with his opinion because it seems rooted in the idea that the E3 Press Conference itself, and not the content held within it, is the key to Nintendo's future success. If they deliver the same content to the same journalists, business partners and consumers through smaller more targeted events, I don't see the big deal. Getting overly worried about the window dressing and not the view seems a bit puerile, and seems to indicate that Nintendo not only needs to pander, but they need to pander in the way we are all accustomed in order to make us feel better.

I will bet my last dollar that one week after E3 nobody will give a shit about this.

 

[Fourth Storm]

In that perspective it's not. From my perspective it's a journalist who wanted to watch a press conference so be could spin it negativity or mock it and was pissed off Nintendo wasn't having one.

This in no way makes Nintendo doomed. It's a difference strategy, we will see if it pays off. E3 was never a mainstream event to me and the conferences have been terrible the last two years.

Nah man, Sessler has never come off as anti-Nintendo in any segments I've seen him in. Morgan Webb is a whole different story, however.

 

[Majanew]

Only seems odd that of all the years to do it, is when MS and Sony will be full blast on their new systems.

 

[Salsa]

You guys are getting crazy about how much impact e3 actuall has.

dude my mom loves wiisports and how the heck is she gonna know that there's a new reason to buy a WiiU?

she's gonna be so bummed when she watches E3 on her TV while knitting

 

[remnant]

Honestly he raises some good points.

No he doesn't. That's the problem. Nothing he says is logical for someone who isn't in the press.