Skipping E3 main conference last year was a huge strategic mistake from Nintendo in a time they needed to promote and advertise their machines, specially the WiiU. Their Direct only restriction sounded like a side presentantion, didn't had nowhere the same impact on the mainstream appeal like a big press conference like always was before could have done. They need to make a big presentation again. I know everyone loves the "WiiU is dead" meme here, but Nintendo can at least give an effort to improve it's performance. They can't no longer compete against PS4, the thing is selling constantly, but they can still manage to compete for the second place against the XBO, so it would be premature to raise the white flag yet. A strong WiiU focused presentation at E3 this year might give the impression that WiiU is alive and can compete. Third-party support, at this moment, is very hard to keep, given how awful they performed, but Nintendo now needs to do something similar to the N64, rely heavily into their first and second-party titles to keep it alive. Some exclusives from other companies might help, too, but that's gonna be a bit tough.
What they should do, IMO, at E3:
- Announce a remodelled WiiU now called Wii 2 and advertised it as the real successor to the Wii with Nintendogs built in and NSMBU/NSL bundle.
- Present a compilation with the best games so far made for WiiU with gameplay footage. This should include third-party games, too.
- Price drop it to 250$.
- Announce a "Platinum/Best Sellers" line-up for cheap including WiiU's best hits so far: NSMBU, ZombiU, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, Lego City, Pikmin 3, Wonderful 101, Rayman Legends, Wind Waker HD, New Super Luigi and SM3DW as part of the line-up. COD: Ghosts, Blacklist, ACIV, Origins and NFSMWU (this one unlikely because of Nintendo/EA relationship) should be part of it, too.
- Gameplay demonstration from Bayonetta 2, X, Zelda U, Smash Bros., Yoshi's New Island, Sonic Boom, Fire Emblem x Shin Megami Tensei, Hyrule Warriors
- Announce retail version of Wii Sports U.
- Reveal more games. First and second-party, more collaborations between Nintendo and third-parties. Where's Nintendo big guns for WiiU? Where's Animal Crossing? Pokémon? Metroid? Star Fox? Brain Training? 1080? ExciteBike/Truck/Bots? Wave Race? A sequel to Kid Icarus? They should diversify their line-up the best they can.
- Reveal release dates for their most games and announce a solid line-up for this holiday.
This is all useless if Iwata persists in keep it ND only as he did last years (and he probably will).
