Last year, when Nintendo ditched the standard press conference for the E3 Expo, the world was a little shocked. Now, for the second year in a row, they’re doing it again.
Nintendo have announced that for E3 2014, there will be no standard pre-E3 conference. Instead, Nintendo will be doing a series of “digital” events, including tournaments and live shows that fans around the world, as well as attendees at the show, can enjoy. Nintendo are calling the whole thing “Play Nintendo”.
Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America’s president and chief operating officer, had the following to say: –
“We demonstrated last year that we are never afraid to reinvent a proven tactic or to break completely new ground if we believe it will provide the best experience for our fans, followers and partners. So, whether you’re attending E3 in person or joining online, there’s an amazing lineup of games, experiences and events coming your way.”
The first “event” will be different to a Nintendo Direct, which will presumably stand in place for a traditional press conference. Nintendo says this new kind of video program will “reveal and provide further detail about eh gaming experiences on the way for Nintendo platforms in 2014 and beyond”. Known as Nintendo Digital Event, it will be airing at 9AM Pacific Standard Time on June 10th. Like usual, this puts the event in the early hours of June 11th for Australians. You can find out when by following this link.
In a different move for the publisher, Nintendo will also be holding a Super Smash Bros. tournament at the Nokia Theatre, broadcasting live from Los Angeles. Players will play the Wii U version of Super Smash Bros. and the event will be live streamed. Nintendo says that more information about the 16 invited brawlers will be revealed shortly. The entire event, Nintendo says, is not only a tournament but “a celebration of all things Super Smash Bros. – a great way for new and veteran fans to take part in a tribute to this legendary franchise”.
But wait there’s more!
Nintendo will have yet another live event called “Nintendo Treehouse: Live @ E3”. This show will be livestreamed during all hours of the E3 show. There will be live demos and unscripted interviews from the Nintendo booth. Nintendo says it will be like being at the show, though we’d guess without the pungent body odour permeating the halls (trust us, we’ve been there, twice).
Lastly, those living in America will be lucky enough to get their hands on Super Smash Bros. for the Wii U at Best Buy stores around the country.
Hopefully we in Australia won’t be waiting to long for something similar.
Well then, what do you think about Nintendo’s E3 plans for this year? We’ve included the original, full announcement below.
Let us know what you think of the “Play Nintendo” family of events in the comments.
[quote]PLAY NINTENDO: NEW GAMES, NEW EVENTS AND LIVE, NONSTOP PROGRAMMING ON TAP FOR E3 2014
Super Smash Bros. Tournament Highlights Nintendo’s E3 Approach
REDMOND, Wash., April 29, 2014 – Over the last few years, Nintendo has repeatedly reinvented its approach to E3 by creating unique ways to break news and get fans at home involved in the fun, while also offering great experiences for on-site attendees. That mission continues in 2014 as Nintendo offers a series of new channels to communicate news directly to its key audiences, including fans, media, analysts, investors and business partners. This includes a new format for unveiling news: the Nintendo Digital Event; a Super Smash Bros. tournament; a full slate of live, in-depth game demos from the Nintendo booth; and an opportunity for fans to play Super Smash Bros. for Wii U for the first time at their local Best Buy.
“We demonstrated last year that we are never afraid to reinvent a proven tactic or to break completely new ground if we believe it will provide the best experience for our fans, followers and partners,” said Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America’s president and chief operating officer. “So, whether you’re attending E3 in person or joining online, there’s an amazing lineup of games, experiences and events coming your way.”
At E3 2014, Nintendo will offer four unique experiences, all under the unifying banner of “Play Nintendo.”
Super Smash Bros. Invitational
2014 will see the arrival of not one, but two new Super Smash Bros. games: Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. To commemorate this occasion, Nintendo is inviting 16 highly skilled Super Smash Bros. players to the NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles to compete in a Super Smash Bros. for Wii U tournament. Thousands of fans in the audience and countless more watching a live stream online will see new Super Smash Bros. characters clash with existing favorites in action for the first time. More important than declaring a winner, however, this event is a celebration of all things Super Smash Bros., and a great way for new and veteran fans to take part in a tribute to this legendary franchise. More information about the 16 invited participants in the tournament, the identity of the announcers, and how fans of the franchise can view the tournament in person and via webcast, will be communicated shortly.
Nintendo Digital Event
Every year, Nintendo looks for the best way to show its games and share its news with fans, media and other key audiences. In 2013, Nintendo decided to forgo a traditional press conference and use a video – in that case a Nintendo Direct – to share its news from E3. The company is building on that approach at E3 2014 with the “Nintendo Digital Event,” a new kind of video program that will reveal and provide further detail about the gaming experiences on the way for Nintendo platforms in 2014 and beyond. The Nintendo Digital Event will air at 9 a.m. PT on Tuesday, June 10.
Nintendo Treehouse: Live @ E3
This year, Nintendo will offer fans a deeper look at Nintendo’s biggest games of E3, with information directly from the source. The “Treehouse,” the Product Development department at Nintendo of America, will provide in-depth game demos live and unscripted from Nintendo’s booth. This new program will be live streamed during all hours of the E3 show. Fans can get settled in, open their browsers and experience the Nintendo games at E3 like never before.
Super Smash Bros. Smash Fest @ Best Buy
In 2013, Nintendo broke new ground by expanding its E3 activities outside of the walls of the Los Angeles Convention Center and letting fans play some of the games being played on the show floor at participating Best Buy stores. The partnership between Nintendo and Best Buy continues in 2014 and will mark the first time around the world that fans have had the opportunity to get their hands on Super Smash Bros. for Wii U.[/quote]
See how much you did, or didn't play things.