No Nintendo E3 conference.

This seems to have really riled up a lot of the internet.

For me, I've had the feeling that Nintendo didn't really care about E3 for some time now.
In fact, look at this from last June - the signs were already there.

http://uk.ign.com/articles/2012/06/22/why-nintendo-held-3ds-xl-smash-bros-from-e3

Well, I've thought and thought about this one and I feel that you have to consider it a missed opportunity. Don't get me wrong - I am not a fan of the hype train associated with E3 at all, but it's the number one chance for Nintendo to big themselves up when people are paying attention... and they're not going to, not quite.

Frankly I'm satisfied with the Nintendo Directs: less hype, less disappointment, and arguably more software. Maybe not the best way to demonstrate to the wider world, but who cares about them? Still hoping for first sightings of Mario and Mario Kart for the Wii U around the time, though.

I suppose Nintendo Direct covers the role the E3 conference plays, but you can't disregard the level of hype that comes with E3. It's watched by a huge amount of gamers - I've watched all three big conferences live for the past few years, and I'm not the only one. Somewhat of a missed opportunity here for Ninty.

I've found the Directs to be a condensed version of the best bits in the E3 press conference: just games no business guff. Namely, the WiiU one and the recent 3DS one have been really exciting! Content-wise I think they're better.

That said, I'll miss the style of the big Ninty conference this year. No-one else will have a thunderous Reggie declaring how Ready his Body is (tm), an orchestra pit full of beautiful Zelda symphony sounds, or a slightly bonkers Miyamoto pretending to throw Pikmin plushes at a nervous crowd. Perhaps if they do the E3 Direct's live with a smaller budget and audience it might be a lovely union of the two...*dreams*

I love E3 and I don't care much for Nintendo Direct so this is a bit of a bummer to me. E3 is an exciting time, all those conferences, all that news, it's great. With Nintendo Direct the world is out of sync with individual regions getting announcements in a different order, there's too much recapping on what we already know (buy Fire Emblem this friday guys! Please!). I think it's a shame.

Honestly I think this is more a sign Nintendo does not consider itself a part of the overall competition with the other systems more than anything. Nintendo has basically just been doing its own thing as of recently and I think this is just the natural evolution of it. I don't for example think that whether they show up at E3 or not will change the Wii U's fate, what the Wii U actually needs in my opinion is some strong ad campaigns where the average consumer will be alerted to it in a large way and some large games, I don't think them turning up at E3 will for a conference will change anything at all.

I also think the gaming media has an inflated idea as to how important E3 actually is. The last few years E3 has been absolute pants, and as far as I can tell it has been more an event designed to impress the gaming media and shareholders rather than the consumers for a while now, so I don't think Nintendo skipping the conference will matter one way or the other.

Athrun888 wrote:

Honestly I think this is more a sign Nintendo does not consider itself a part of the overall competition with the other systems more than anything. Nintendo has basically just been doing its own thing as of recently and I think this is just the natural evolution of it.

This is very true. Microsoft and Sony are putting out very similar products whilst Nintendo are aiming towards something very different. I can understand that thought process.

I'm fine with this. The Nintendo Direct in September and the Wii U and 3DS ones earlier this year were a huge improvement over their disappointing E3 last year. Looking at E3 as a whole the companies aren't making it as exciting even with new hardware. I wouldn't be surprised if that PS4 reveal in February is perceived to be better then Sony's E3 by the Playstation community.

I think what they should do is Nintendo Directs with E3 style announcements and put up timed demos on E-Shop for games people sample at E3.

My Vulcan half can see the logic in this. However, I booked E3 week off work especially, so I am somewhat dissapointed. As long as we get a big juicy Nintendo Direct or two during the week, and lots of coverage, I'll be satisfied.

@Athrun888 You've probably got Nintendo's thinking down there. If they do it right, they can come across a lot better than the other two.

@Sentinator I would love E3 demos! It'd be better than the videos we got last time.

I'm starting to think E3's outstayed its welcome. Shareholders don't get games and therefore don't care about that half of the presentation' gamers don't care about market shares (although a lot of people on the internet pretend they do). All people did last year was complain about who has the worst presentation. Whereas, every time there's a Nintendo Direct, everyone gets great news about games. I think Nintendo have realised this first.

Only downside: Less Reggie.

E3 as it is has definitely become but crap. But I like e3 as an ideal, as something more than a show. A legend, Mr Wayne.

Wait, what was I saying? I like the idea of having one week where the games companies show their wares every year. It's like gaming's national holiday. But Jimbob is right, the method needs to change. A couple of great Nintendo Direct videos and s bit of coverage elsewhere could be just what the doctor ordered.

Yeah, I'm the same. Regardless of how far it may have strayed from the point of the show, I still like the idea of it being gaming's World Cup, Superbowl, Wrestlemania, whatever. I get wrapped up in hype, what can I say?

So do I. That's why I don't like it so much.

No Nintendo Direct will ever be as magical as Nintendo's 2010 E3 presentation. I know we'll still get announcements and the rest, but I'll miss Nintendo's E3 conferences.

The 3DS shining brightly, Skyward Sword before it was actually released... That was a good one, but one I'd forgotten about after the disappointment of 2012. And who can forget Cammie Dunnaway?

Good look back here - wish they'd included the original Twilight Princess trailer in the video, that announcement was huge.

You just know there's still going to be one or two Nintendo Directs taking place E3 week right? Or maybe the week after when everyone has forgotten about Sony and Microsoft.

I'd be surprised if there wasn't some attempt to get in on the thunder.

Does... does that sentence even make any sense? I can't really tell.

There's going to be a thunderstorm?

JayMoyles wrote:

Good look back here -

That was great, apart from reminding me that Cammie Dunaway existed.

shanks wrote:

There's going to be a thunderstorm?

Yes- his name is Iwata.

I think if anyone is going to bring the thunder, it'll be this guy.

(Don't click enlarge this image, for the love of god)

The day before E3 starts, Nintendo are bound to have a 10 minute Nintendo Direct. The first 9 minutes are Smash Bros.; the last is Iwata impersonating the king from the cdI Zeldas. Thus Nintendo win E3..

I was gonna go for a Reggie pic, actually, but I was under the impression issues had taken over as US CEO.