Zack tells you to calm down and be realistic.
E3 comes but once a year; it can be the most magical time to be a gamer, but it can also blow Donkey Kong chunks (I don’t know what that means, I just like saying it). Last year I learned a valuable lesson in hype when I looked forward to the surprises I have come to expect at Nintendo press conferences and got Nintendo Land. Sure it ended up being a fantabulous game, but not much of a surprise compared to previous year’s surprises like then titled Luigi’s Mansion 2 and Kid Icarus: Uprising.
So, E3 can sometimes be a big letdown. The key is to set expectations low…really low. For example, what I want Nintendo to show during their Nintendo Direct is many previously unannounced 3rd party games for Wii U. What I am going to expect is more footage of Rayman Legends.
See how easy that was? I was able to be realistic so I don’t have to cry myself to sleep. I have come to realize how dangerous hype can be. For example, everyone (read some people) were really excited for the Xbox One reveal, but many were left disappointed. I would argue that it was because of it being hyped too much. Sure there weren’t many games shown, but should people really have expected Microsoft to focus on games with their current press conference track record?
Going back to Nintendo, what can we really expect from them this year? I believe we will see many previously announced games like Super Smash Bros. and Mario Kart, along with a focus on the few big (Ubisoft) 3rd party games coming to the Wii U, like Watch Dogs. When it comes to 3DS, don’t expect any big surprises. Maybe we will find out when Miiverse is coming to the system, or they will actually announce a solid date for when Hulu Plus is heading to the system, which is something that was supposed to happen a long time ago.
E3 in the past few years has focused on big spectacular press conferences to get people excited. Companies like Nintendo are realizing as fun as they might be, it is not very cost effective. E3 is big for game journalists, but in no way is it made for anyone who reads or works on Nintendo World Report or any other gaming site. E3 is a Trade Fair. Its secondary function is to be a media event, and the most important media to game companies are not gaming sites, but places like USA Today. Expect Nintendo to focus on Mario games. They sell very well which pleases retailers and the earlier buzz starts for the game the better.
After reading this you probably think I am a somewhat negative person, it’s not called being a cynic, it is being realistic. So heed my warning, or be prepared to go “FUUUUU-“ after the “big” E3 Nintendo Direct.
Did you like reading this? It is a part of my semi-not regular
blog series Just Being Mii, where I open my mouth hole, then close it since I
actually write it. Leave a comment if you liked it, and if you didn’t that’s
fine *walks with head down to Charlie Brown music*.
