Topic: Nintendo Press conference

[Savior]

Reading the gameinformer article on Next box on MTV it seems Nintendo tried to one-up Sony by making their Press Conference  before Sonys.... This caused a domino effect because Sony moved theirs up to Monday before Xbox and now Microsoft is using the MTV thing to show their console first.

Like it matters Interesting still  

[TheYoungerPlumber]

You know, I'm rather amazed the folks at Game Informer would make it sound like this is a competition to be first.  The company in the last time slot is always in the best position to one-up the others.

[Mario]

I agree with TYP, I've been hoping Nintendo would be last again since last E3, this is great news, I hope they kick ass again like last year.

[Spak-Spang]

Well there is risk in both.

Being first then you get to really WOW the entire press first.  They set the benchmark for the show.  

Being last allows you to one up the others if you have a product that can diminish that original WOW factor.  However, if your product is more of the same, or doesn't stand out then the press will be bored because they already saw that yesterday.

The only way Nintendo can make being last beneficial to them is if they have multiple speechs planned.  They can go with one, but if they see Sony's and Microsoft's speech and decide they need to show more Revolution then they can go with Speech 2.  Or if they decide Sony and Microsoft are lacking in demos and game announcements then perhaps Speech 3 would be best.  

I just really don't think you plan for big press conferences in that manner though, because it is so costly to put on.  

[Ian Sane]

"The company in the last time slot is always in the best position to one-up the others."

I remember back in 1995 when Sega went first and announced the big news that the Saturn's release date was moved up so that it was in stores at that very moment.  Sony then countered by starting their speech off with the Playstation price.  I forget what it was but it was $100 cheaper than the Saturn.  That alone pretty much killed Sega for good.

Nintendo going last is great if they have something to show off.  Remember the year where their E3 speech focused around Pac-Man Vs?  If they do something like that then being last won't help them.  In fact it will probably screw them over.  So there's a lot of pressure to deliver.  Realistically though I think regardless of when they were going to debut Nintendo is under a lot of pressure to show something.  The Cube didn't really turn out as well as people hoped and after two "failures" people are starting to count Nintendo out.  This E3 is their last chance to impress.  The Rev has to give people the impression that Nintendo's back and that this time things are going to improve.  If the Rev fails to give a really good first impression I don't think people are going to pay enough attention to give the Rev a second chance.  The Rev can't be seen as Gamecube 2 or N64 3.

Microsoft's plan seems to be to get the word out to the mainstream first.  By debuting on MTV they don't have to wait for the mainstream to pick things up from the internet or magazines.  They're skipping the middle man.  I think however this will have a negative effect.  Looking around on other forums and other sites it seems that a fair bit of hardcore gamers and the gaming press are pissed off that MS is "screwing them" out of the Xbox 2 debut.  Picking MTV over the industry trade show to debut a new console?  I can see why someone would be pissed off about that.  If you made a huge effort to go to E3 because of the Xbox 2 debut and then found out that you could have watched it on MTV for free you would be pretty upset.  I wonder if some of the gaming media will take it personally that MS picked MTV over them and will spread negative bias as a result.  With this MTV thing and that whole speech about the HDTV era and stuff I think MS is really turning off some of the hardcore gamers that bought an Xbox.  They're being quite blatant in their favouritism of the mainstream and they used to market the Xbox as a hardcore gamer's system.

[Bill Aurion]

Being last definitely helped Ninty last year, and it'll help them again this year...

[Spak-Spang]

Ian I totally agree.  It really depends on what you have and how you can compete.  Sega did a great move by announcing their system is even out right now with the Saturn.  The problem was that Sony had a better counter move.  

Those counter moves can't happen if you don't have anything truly special to show or something big enough to counter.  It is a risk.  No matter where you start there is some sort of positioning to gain.

Microsoft debuting on MTV may make the industry upset, but who cares.  Its like the President going to the alternative media instead of the mainstream press to deliver his message.  The mainstream press is whining and complaining, but in truth it benefited the President to do it that way.  Microsoft skipping the middle man means its name is out not just to hardcore gamers, but anyone that watches MTV.  Its a big deal, and something they can market and fill with even more celebrity praise.  Microsoft needs this because they are going to be the first to launch and they need to start the hype machine now.

Sony is in an easier position.  As it is in first place right now, and from all reports they have the most powerful next generation system.  All they have to do is present their vision and the power of the system, and explain why its worth it.  They don't have to defend their first place position.  Afterall, Sony believes they deserved it.  They earned it.  Going first on Monday at the trade show benefits Sony by taking the wind out of Microsoft.  If the two systems are really similar then Sony's more powerful system could overshadow Microsoft.

Now, here comes Nintendo in last place.  They have the most to prove.  Specially with all the hype and comments on the Revolution.  Basically Nintendo has stated:  "Graphics are nice, but if its all the same then why bother.  We have something truly special.  It is beyond just a graphics upgrade...its a Revolution."

Being last helps Nintendo with this.  They can have that You've seen what the others have, let us show you the best.  However, Nintendo really has to deliver.  Nintendo can't just deliver at the press conference, they also have to deliver on the showroom floor.  Because, as Ian said.  They have 2 strikes against them in the public eye.  It doesn't hurt them that much yet, but with the PSP out there too, if Nintendo loses the portable market then they lose their money maker.  

So question is what can Nintendo show to truly wow at their press conference?

1)Video clips from their new animation projects could be cool.
2)Revolution Video, and Concept explaination, perhaps even a demo.
3)Gameboy Next.  Tell people its a year away, but let them see it...take some of that thunder away from the PSP.
4)Present a new image for Nintendo.  Don't change that all age classic Nintendo entertainment, just repackage it.
5)Last, show some of the final Gamecube games, but let the showroom present those gems...instead focus purely on the future of Nintendo.  Make it bright and shiny.

[Ian Sane]

"So question is what can Nintendo show to truly wow at their press conference?"

I don't think it's as much what they show but what they have.  They need a concept for the Rev that truly is groundbreaking, gets people's attention, doesn't break existing game design, appeals to existing gamers, and is seen as superior to what we have now.  That's going to be pretty hard but if you're going to hype something up as industry changing then you better deliver.

Of course merely having a good idea isn't good enough.  They do have to show it off well.  Having someone demonstrate with a real game in development is the best way to do it.  I think it's a little early to have playable games on the floor but they need more than tech demos to show things off.  They also have the DS debut as a reference point.  With the DS they only had tech demos and they haven't really proved that the DS concept is worthwhile yet.  If the Rev just has shallow tech demos on display then the press might assume that it's the DS again where they had a concept but nothing to show it off with.  They need to show something real and not just a theoretical concept.

Though Nintendo's big problem is that if they don't have something to show off the Rev or the Rev concept is lame they're kinda screwed.  They demonstrated Pac-Man Vs well.  That wasn't a bad presentation.  It was just what they were presenting was lame.  So in many ways how they'll do at E3 has largely already been set in motion.  They need a good showing of a good product.  The product realistically is already set in stone so the "product" part of the equation can't be changed.  It's kind of scary that way since they can't just change the Revolution concept or bust out a new game at the last minute.

[Bill Aurion]

With the DS they only had tech demos and they haven't really proved that the DS concept is worthwhile yet.

Um, yes they have...Stop saying that...

[Ian Sane]

"Um, yes they have...Stop saying that..."

Well tell that to the gaming press that rag on the DS' slim lineup every chance they get.  You might feel different but there's a lot of negative press about the DS being a gimmick system.  The Rev can't have that kind of press or that kind of mixed reception.  People have constantly debated if the DS concept is worthwhile.  The Rev can't survive with that kind of debate.  There needs to be a unversal "yes this is a worthwhile concept" attitude.

[Pale]

Well I think any gimmick arguments for the DS will go away if this No-Line concept is all its cracked up to be.  If the Rev _launches_ with a similar concept I don't think it will be an issue.  I really hope that Nintendo's online plan involves statistics, records, etc. beyond just plain match making.  If this plan is static throughout both of the systems then I really think they will have something revolutionary.  (Even if that revolution is building off of something MS has already done.)  Think about picking up your DS at an airport, seeing your far-away friend on your friend's list is playing a Rev title, sending them an in-game message asking if they would rather play Mario Kart DS... etc. etc.  Maybe connectivity isn't a failure, just ahead of its time by a couple years.

But that's what I want announced at E3.  Nintendo can make online fun even for people that don't like to play games online.  Mario-net can be something that has infinite appeal beyond match making...  I dunno.

[BlackNMild2k1]

Quote
Originally posted by: TheYoungerPlumber
You know, I'm rather amazed the folks at Game Informer would make it sound like this is a competition to be first.  The company in the last time slot is always in the best position to one-up the others.

Goldman Sachs seems to think otherwise

Quote

Microsoft will provide a sneak peek of the Xbox 2 console on a television special on May 12 on MTV in North America and on May 13 internationally. "We had expected Xbox 2 to shown for the first time at the E3 videogaming conference in Los Angeles (May 17-20, 2005)," Goldman said. "This appears to be a tactical effort to show Xbox 2 before Sony (nyse: SNE - news - people ) demonstrates the PS3 [PlayStation 3 videogame console] at E3."

source: Forbes.com

[Spak-Spang]

IAN SANE:  Actually if you remember E3 with the DS the press was pretty positive.  Everybody loved what they saw, and was excited to see what Nintendo will deliver on launch and beyond.  The problem is that Nintendo hasn't delivered many games that completely show off the DS yet.  

The have some really good games, but no killer app.  It wasn't the E3 with the tech demos that are currently fueling the bad press.

Actually, I think the DS E3 model would be perfect for this new revolution.  Have demos that prove this new concept is better than the competition.  It doesn't have to be graphically superior, if the concept is truly about control.

[Ian Sane]

"Actually if you remember E3 with the DS the press was pretty positive. Everybody loved what they saw, and was excited to see what Nintendo will deliver on launch and beyond. The problem is that Nintendo hasn't delivered many games that completely show off the DS yet."

I know.  At the time things were a little more optimistic.  But now that there's perspective so if the press sees something like the DS' first E3 showing they might come to the conclusion that the Rev is on the same path.  The attitude might be "hey the Rev has some neat tech demos but so did the DS and it hasn't really blown my socks off yet so this probably won't be that great either".

[Spak-Spang]

Ian:  People usually do not think like that unless they are totally pestimestic.  If you show someone a vision then they are going to start to dream with you.  Yeah, Nintendo hasn't fully given us our dreams with the DS, but it is a seperate issue than the revolution.

If Nintendo gives us demos and shows us its Revolution, we will dream with them yet again.  Unless, Nintendo's revolution is centered around a touchscreen...then we might have doubt.  But, we know Revoultion's controller is not touchscreen based.  

This E3 is important most likely there won't be another E3 before the systems are out.  Microsoft will supposedly have the Xbox2 out this year, and Sony supposedly early next year.  

Nintendo needs to show all its cards, and they need to hype it up.  They need to get consumers excited about Nintendo again, and then they need to make the competition worry.  

[couchmonkey]

Here's the question: Will Nintendo show Revolution at all?  Okay, yes, we know they're going to show something, and say something, but Nintendo is notoriously secretive, and with the launch probably more than a year away, the company may not want to show it yet.  Heck, it might be a BAD idea to show it, if all they have are half-complete games.

I think it would be better just to say, "There's way more in store for you, but for now...yes, we'll have the graphics." and show off a swanky demo reel than to show incomplete demos that don't do the new concept justice.  If Nintendo can do the new concept justice, then by all means, show it.

Of course, how does Nintendo compete with Microsoft and Sony if it doesn't have much to show from Revolution?  Run the show with Zelda and DS Online as the key points.  Do the best job possible to underline the fact that this is the year of the DS.  Don't talk about Gameboy Next unless it's coming out before next E3.  I think any talk of a new Gameboy will only undermine the DS.  End the show with a nice Revolution trailer and reveal some key points that will make people happy without giving away the concept (controller will play normal games, online on launch day, has these franchises in development...stuff like that).

[Ian Sane]

The problem with Nintendo not showing the Rev is that if they don't they're the last ones out of the gate and they lose out to all the hype the other consoles will get.  Remember how Nintendo stated they didn't want to be the last console released this time and give the competition a head start?  Well it applies here too.  MS is going to reveal pretty much everything.  That's a given.  Sony is probably going to reveal a whole lot too and if they don't it's no big deal.  This is the f*cking Playstation 3.  Sony could show 1 image of concept art and they would create insane hype.  Just the idea that the PS3 will exist creates hype.

So if MS shows off everything and Sony shows anything and Nintendo only has a little video of Mario or whatever they might as well launch in 2010 because their momentum would be totally killed.  It's not just about when to launch or when to release killer games it's also about when to get the buzz going.  Nintendo is fighting apathy with the Revolution.  Already the next generation is being referred to as "MS vs Sony" as if Nintendo isn't even making a console.  They have to show some serious stuff at E3 or people won't even be looking when they do reveal the Rev.  And if they don't have enough to show then the Rev then they already blew it.  People are looking for excuses to ignore Nintendo.  Nothing short of blowing people away will attract attention to the Rev regardless of how great the concept is or how great the games are.  From here on out it's perfection or bust.  

[Berto2K]

Quote
Originally posted by: Spak-Spang

2)Revolution Video, and Concept explaination, perhaps even a demo.
3)Gameboy Next.  Tell people its a year away, but let them see it...take some of that thunder away from the PSP.

I'm sticking to what Reggie told me face to face at GDC...nothing on next gameboy at e3, and revolution stuff such as demo video or tech demos could be shown to "select media" behind closed doors at e3.

*prays has become a member of their "select media"*

[Djunknown]

Quote
Already the next generation is being referred to as "MS vs Sony" as if Nintendo isn't even making a console.

Its not just the gaming press, but developers/publishers too. When I see developer/publisher interviews at various sites and mags, Nintendo isn't even into the equation.  Its sad that even speaking in public that they proverbially turn off the Nintendo valve.

Maybe they should let do the press conference? Out of all the talking heads from NOA, he's the one that seems to grab everyone by the proverbial balls.  Let Harrison spin the facts, let Miyamoto/Anouma talk about the new Zelda, and let Iwata do his philosophical stump speech about there needing a 'paradigm shift'.

[Mario]

Quote
Maybe they should let do the press conference? Out of all the talking heads from NOA, he's the one that seems to grab everyone by the proverbial balls. Let Harrison spin the facts, let Miyamoto/Anouma talk about the new Zelda, and let Iwata do his philosophical stump speech about there needing a 'paradigm shift'.

You just described last years one.

[RABicle]

Me and Mario have been discussing it further.

Ok so it'll start with the whole room doused in a red light ok? And then a silluette of Che Geuvara's face will appear on the wall. Slowly that face with morph into Mario's in a similar pose. And then there will be a loud call "Join the Revolution"
BAM!
Lights come out, rocking music starts and out comes Reggie, FIST in the air, to the cheers of the weak journalists below him. As he steps into center stage they'll notice that his fist contains a PSP. He'll then SLAM the PSP into the floor. As it lays in 400 pieces on the ground Reggie will boom "If the PS3 wasn't vapourware then I would've smashed that!"

Then out of no where some cock dressed in one of those Master Cheif suits comes out and Reggie starts fighting him and of course it's no contest, Reggie wins.

And then they get down to business and Iwata comes out with a revolution and they glorify it and show a huge demo reel that leaves at least four journos passed out and another two having to leave because they've soiled themselves. The demo real will end with Mario 128 footage that looks 100% fistworthy.

The conference will be how about how much fist DS and Revolution which will be revealed as the offical name will earn and they will never mention Zelda once so everyone will be like "Where is Zelda?" And then the next day on the show floor Zelda will be playable everywhere. So good will it be that 5 people will be arrested for masturbating in public.

[dack25]

I can actually see why MS would decide to show the Xbox 2 on MTV. If some of the rumors of no backwards comp and no hard drive are true then they are probably going to lose some of the support from Xbox anyway so why not just try and lure in the causal gaming market that really seems to rule the industry. For Nintendo they need to really capitalize on their press conference, they can't mess this up, like Ian said it really screwed Sega over.  

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

Quote
Originally posted by: RABicle
Me and Mario have been discussing it further.

Ok so it'll start with the whole room doused in a red light ok? And then a silluette of Che Geuvara's face will appear on the wall. Slowly that face with morph into Mario's in a similar pose. And then there will be a loud call "Join the Revolution"
BAM!
Lights come out, rocking music starts and out comes Reggie, FIST in the air, to the cheers of the weak journalists below him. As he steps into center stage they'll notice that his fist contains a PSP. He'll then SLAM the PSP into the floor. As it lays in 400 pieces on the ground Reggie will boom "If the PS3 wasn't vapourware then I would've smashed that!"

Then out of no where some cock dressed in one of those Master Cheif suits comes out and Reggie starts fighting him and of course it's no contest, Reggie wins.

And then they get down to business and Iwata comes out with a revolution and they glorify it and show a huge demo reel that leaves at least four journos passed out and another two having to leave because they've soiled themselves. The demo real will end with Mario 128 footage that looks 100% fistworthy.

The conference will be how about how much fist DS and Revolution which will be revealed as the offical name will earn and they will never mention Zelda once so everyone will be like "Where is Zelda?" And then the next day on the show floor Zelda will be playable everywhere. So good will it be that 5 people will be arrested for masturbating in public.

AHAAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAAHAHAAHA  the FIST is strong in this one.

WWE events and the Star Wars epIII release can't compete with this.

[ThePerm]

ah nevermind