[Update] A spokesperson for Nintendo has clarified these statements, adding that Nintendo will still have an E3 presence (although we did gather that from the first statement), but it will be two smaller events—one for business partners at the Nokia Theatre where the E3 Press Conference is normally held and another media-only event at the LA Convention Center where select media can go hands-on with new Wii U and 3DS games.
Despite the clarity, it seems we're not going to get the glamourous announcements on a big stage this year. It seems that announcements will be made slightly before E3 via Nintendo Direct, and then media can demo these new titles at the event. Still, it feels to me like a little something is missing by not having a full E3 Press Conference. But it's understandable that Nintendo would want to differentiate their presentations between business, and media, to better explain Nintendo's business strategy to analysts, retail partners, and investors.
[Original Story] In a year where Nintendo may have the most to prove amidst ferocious competition, the company may be skipping out on a massive E3 Press Conference, and instead may be sticking to Nintendo Direct or "smaller events" focused on software. That's according to a statement included in recent Financial Results posted on Nintendo's official website. The translated statement reads:
First, we decided not to host a large-scale presentation targeted at everyone in the international audience where we announce new information as we did in the past.
Instead, at the E3 show this year, we are planning to host a few smaller events that are specifically focused on our software lineup for the U.S. market. There will be one closed event for American distributors, and we will hold another closed hands-on experience event, for mainly the Western gaming media. Also, I did not speak at last year’s presentation, and I am not planning to speak at these events at the E3 show this year either. Apart from these exclusive events for visitors, we are continuing to investigate ways to deliver information about our games directly to our home audience around the time of E3. We will share more information about them once they have officially been decided.
During the E3 period, we will utilize our direct communication tools, such as Nintendo Direct, to deliver information to our Japanese audience, including those who are at this financial briefing, mainly focusing on the software that we are going to launch in Japan, and we will take the same approach outside Japan for the overseas fans as well.
This year, both Microsoft and Sony will have their new next gen consoles on display. Having no conference, will essentially leave Nintendo defenseless against the two other giants and their extravagant conferences. With the Wii U selling less in than the Wii in the first three months of 2013, things are looking decidedly grim for Nintendo's "next gen" console. Worse yet, Nintendo doesn't seem to be putting up much of a fight.
Could Nintendo be looking to save money by skipping out on the E3 Press Conference, and trying to show finanical responsibility to investors after major losses on their financial results? And isn't it a big mistake to do so in lieu of the massive media exposure gained by having an E3 Press Conference of their own?
One thing is for sure, this is unprecedented, and E3 will not be the same without Nintendo. What are your thoughts?
