Topic: E3 Demos Playable at Best Buy

[King Bowser Koopa]

"This year, we're making E3 for the people."

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/34226

In a partnership with Best Buy, Nintendo will allow fans the chance to play demos from the E3 showfloor across the United States and Canada. The news comes as part of an address by Reggie Fils-Aime added to the end of the American Nintendo Direct presentation.

Unreleased Wii U games will be playable at over 100 stores across USA and Canada during the week of E3.

More details on this unprecedented E3 tactic will be released by Nintendo in the coming weeks, including which games will be playable and at which stores they can be trialled.

We'll keep you up to date as soon as we know more.

[azeke]

pssst... Nintendo?.. psssst..

you ever heard of that thing... it's called eShop...

demos can go there too...

Nintendo?..

...

Nintendo?..

[Fatty The Hutt]

I suppose it's a good idea to throw a bone to retailers but I was hoping the E3 demos would be playable (for a limited time) as downloads through the e-Shop.

[ShyGuy]

But Nintendo isn't going to E3...

[Fatty The Hutt]

But Nintendo isn't going to E3...

I wish Spyke was here to jump all over this post.

I wish Spyke was here

Yeah, I said that.

[Caterkiller]

Man I could potentially play as Ridley in less than a month.

[Ian Sane]

This would be have been insanely cool ten years ago.  Now it's still pretty cool but, yeah, there is an online way to do this that is available to every Wii U owner.

Though since I don't own an Wii U this is pretty good for me.  Maybe's that Nintendo's approach.  The Wii U isn't selling well so the priority is to get potential customers playing it, instead of preaching to the choir.  But they could always offer both options.

Hopefully they have a list of the stores so I know if the demo in my area and I don't drive around to the different Best Buys in my area for no reason.

[Fatty The Hutt]

@Ian, the article mentioned they'll have a list of which stores have demos and which game demos are available at each store, so I wouldn't worry. They had very clear info on which Best Buys had Wii U demo stations prior to the launch, so should be good this time too.

[Evan_B]

Has anyone considered the idea that people will have to get off their asses to go play these things? As in, thge vast majority of people who DON'T own Wii U consoles?

It's like this is a revelation for all of you, which is funny, because I hear an awful lot about how the Wii U isn't selling well. What better way to get all those people who don't own one yet to go out and try them? They're catering to a much larger audience if they don't keep it eShop exclusive.

[Jet Pilot]

@Evan_B

Nintendo should also show some appreciation to the early adopters by putting this content on the eShop.  If it wasn't for the early adopters the Wii U would be a total disaster.  Ignoring them with the hopes of luring potential new customers doesn't sit very well.
 

[GrabMyBoomstick]

While I agree that there should definitely be demos made available on the eShop, I think this is a smart move by Nintendo to try and reign in new potential buyers who will be shopping/browsing at Best Buy stores throughout the week of E3.

[SonofMrPeanut]

Despite the complaints I expected people to have ("Just make it downloadable," "I don't live near a Best Buy!"), I'm glad Nintendo is continuing the trend 360 set back in 2006 with outside-of-E3 demos.  I suppose they could have done both, seeing as the Best Buy option would allow non-owners to try, but as is I'll definitely make my trip to the participating store come June.

[pokepal148]

But Nintendo isn't going to E3...

I wish Spyke was here to jump all over this post.

I wish Spyke was here

Yeah, I said that.

this is his last day... i think

[paleselan]

Wow, 100 stores in the US and Canada. That's about 1 store per state! Wow, Nintendo, what dedication! Ever heard of the eShop?

[Fjurbanski]

Yes, you goofballs, it would be nice if they put the demos up on the eShop. They may even still do that, we don't know.


But it no way is it good for them to put demos on the eShop and not put them in Best Buys. Hell, they should be in Best Buys and Wal-Marts and everywhere else.

[broodwars]

Well, I have 2 Best Buys near me, but I'm not driving out there to play demos for Wii U games I'm largely not interested in (and in a setting I don't like playing games in).  Just another missed Wii U opportunity from Nintendo, so I guess that means it's business as usual.

[ejamer]

Putting demos in 100 stores across the continent is a nice gesture... but nowhere near enough given the current state of Wii U.  Consumers don't want to buy the system. Developers don't want to support the system. Media and industry analysts consider it irrelevant already - if they stop to consider it at all.


Nintendo needs to think bigger and make it so that people everywhere experience and enjoy Wii U if they want anything to change.  That means putting demos in more locations, in a variety of environments, and on the eShop so that gamers who have invested in the system get engaged again and (hopefully) have a reason to talk about the Wii U in a positive light for a while.

[Spak-Spang]

Wow,


People are really getting offended about the lack of eshop.  Guess what...that can come later.  Right now, throw a bone to a powerful retailer...and in the process get people who haven't bought a Wii U a chance to play some games.  You know...like the 100s or 1000s of shoppers that are going to go to these Best Buys and see the Wii U and think hey I will tinker with this system see what its about.


This is not a bad idea.  In fact it is a great idea...that needs to be in as many stores are possible.  The retail idea is fantastic...and later Nintendo can provide demos of games about to come out. 

[Razorkid]

I think they'll end up doing both, release demos during the week of E3 at Best Buy and on the eShop. There really is no incentive for them NOT to do both, especially given the fact that it they are already offering show floor games to be played outside E3 by the public. Posting the games to the eShop should be the more simpler and logical next step.

Looking forward to E3

[pokepal148]

I think they'll end up doing both, release demos during the week of E3 at Best Buy and on the eShop. There really is no incentive for them NOT to do both, especially given the fact that it they are already offering show floor games to be played outside E3 by the public. Posting the games to the eShop should be the more simpler and logical next step.

Looking forward to E3

perhaps bestbuy would get the demos early but still...

[EasyCure]

can I just say I think there should be more playable demos in stores in general? I frequent a few different targets, walmarts, and bestbuys both in my hometown and where I work (an entirely different county) and most of the Wii U demos I see are video only units..

[Mop it up]

This is pretty neat, though it sounds like a small number of stores. If there happens to be one around here, I might go check it out, depending on what the games are on offer. I haven't tried out a Wii U yet.

[King Bowser Koopa]

In a perfect world, everyone whinging that they have to get off their arse to drive to a Best Buy to play some demos that, until now, were exclusive to the press during every other E3 in history, would consider the hundreds of millions of players who live in Europe or Asia or Australia or the Middle East (you know, the majority of the world) where there are no Best Buy stores at all, and be thankful for this unique opportunity.

[broodwars]

In a perfect world, everyone whinging that they have to get off their arse to drive to a Best Buy to play some demos that, until now, were exclusive to the press during every other E3 in history, would consider the hundreds of millions of players who live in Europe or Asia or Australia or the Middle East (you know, the majority of the world) where there are no Best Buy stores at all, and be thankful for this unique opportunity.

Or people could remember that these demos will mostly be for games that should have been out several months ago (Pikmin 3, Wonderful 101, Game & Wario, Wii Fit U), so it's probably not that big a deal in the first place. Any really notable demos for unannounced software won't be in this Best Buy lineup because the builds won't be sufficiently bug-free.

And yeah, the gas and time I'd spend going to Best Buy (a store I avoid shopping at if I can help it, and apparently everyone else in my area does as well) are probably worth more than the experience of playing the Wii U demos that will likely be there.

[TeaHee]

Of course they have to be at Best Buy and not on the e shop.  You have to get people who don't own a Wii U excited to buy a Wii U, so put the demos into the hands of the public at large not those of us who have already bought one.  Plus this keeps one of the major retailers happy by driving some people to their store, and the Wii U needs all the good will it can get