From a new press release:



Super Smash Bros. Tournament Highlights Nintendo's E3 Approach E3 Expo 2014

REDMOND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- 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.

More details about each event, including dates, times, locations and game content will be revealed shortly. To follow all of Nintendo's E3 activities, keep an eye on Nintendo's Facebook page, Twitter feed and YouTube channel. Or visit http://e3.nintendo.com.

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Secret_Tunnel said:

This is the age of TwitchPlaysPokemon; streaming a Smash Bros. tournament instead of a press conference could be very smart. Seriously, who ISN'T going to watch that tournament?

Most people? Smash isn't the general draw it used to be, and Smash tournaments get shat on by everyone except the people playing in them. An E3 conference with some spectacle and pomp undoubtedly gets more exposure to potential converts than a Nintendo Direct and a tournament of a "party game."

That said, I'm not a non-Nintendo fan, so I'm totally fine with just a video. The Treehouse in-depth demo videos could be nice too, as Nintendo's games on the show floor often get ignored.

Posted by

nate38

on: 04/30/14, 03:14

Edited:

04/30/14, 03:17

@nate38

Uh, didn't Smash being at EVO2013 shatter viewer records? Which I think was broken shortly after... This is around E3 and it will draw in viewers who expect announcements to be made. Nintendo knows this and they'd be stupid to not take advantage of it in a time when Wii U needs that attention.

Posted by

VofEscaflowne

on: 04/30/14, 03:17

@VofEscaflowne True, it was a big hit at Evo (and hopefully will continue to get that attention now that it's no longer the new girl from out of town), but the Evo crowd is still relatively tiny in the grander gaming spectrum. A 16-man Smash tournament will draw some interest, but there's no way it'll get anywhere near the exposure a big E3 conference would. I'd love to be proven wrong, though.

Posted by

nate38

on: 04/30/14, 03:21

Edited:

04/30/14, 03:22

I think it's very smart for Nintendo to be trying to send the message to the hardcore Smash players that Melee just won't cut it anymore. The addition of the new Final Destination levels and For Glory mode, assuming it works, seem to be part of the same message. That isn't to say that those hardcore players will buy in, but if they do it will sell some Wii Us that might not otherwise be sold.

Posted by

Jargon

on: 04/30/14, 03:25

@Jargon Yeah that's all great stuff, I know a number of stubborn Melee guys who are excited for Smash 4. But ultimately the game's success in the fighting game community will depend on post-release support more than pre-release buzz. Street Fighter 4 is a very good fighting game, but it never would have supplanted the longtime favorite SF3: Third Strike as the top draw if it weren't for regular balance tweaks and aggressive support of the tournament scene from Capcom. A Smash tournament at E3 is a good start, but it's only a start.

Posted by

nate38

on: 04/30/14, 03:32

Edited:

04/30/14, 03:35

First of all, I love the video Mega64 put together. It's fun to see Nintendo employees acting silly.

While I'll miss the traditional stage presentation, I don't mind seeing new game announcements this way. Last year was kind of a mess since the video feed lagged so much, but I'm guessing things will be smoother this year. The Smash Bros. tournament and the Treehouse stream are cool ideas too. Consider me hyped!

Posted by

Octorockin

on: 04/30/14, 03:41

Edited:

04/30/14, 03:52

I feel this will be relevant come June.

Posted by

Pokefreak911

on: 04/30/14, 06:57

Nintendo's press release with the Mega64 staff was great. As long as the direct feed is good and I don't have to wait for it to be uploaded to Youtube or one of Nintendo's outlets, like the eshop, ect is fine wih me. The whole E3 press conference thing is getting stale anyways. I watched both Sony's & MS's last year. MS's was like meh. Sony's was ok, overall both were stale. Of course, since I'm not really a fan of either, and just wished MS would die already, that is probably the main reason I never get excited for either one.

Posted by

gamewizard65

on: 04/30/14, 09:20