Prepare for bad numbers in NPD guys. Nintendo did Earthbound today and a mini direct for a reason.

[TK14]

Eh, I think they did a mini direct because it's been over a month since E3 and in a couple weeks their next 2 major first-party releases come out for Wii U and 3DS (Pikmin 3, Mario & Luigi). It was time for an update and Earthbound for many is kinda like a nice reward. It's like they're saying, "You've waited all this time...the drought is almost over...here, this should tide you over for the last two weeks."

My only concern stemming from this Mini Direct is that Wii Fit U and Mario & Sonic at the Olympics weren't mentioned as Wii U titles coming this year...even though at/around E3 BOTH were on Nintendo's investor slides as titles coming in November (Olympics) and December (Wii Fit U). I realize both are "casual" titles...but I personally am definitely getting Wii Fit U and am considering the Olympic game since its now in HD AND they're using MotionPlus. I was hoping both were still coming this year, but I wonder if their absence means they won't be released until early 2014? The Olympics would probably make sense for like February...cause the Olympics will be going on around that time...but I think they'd be missing out on Holiday sales and so it wouldn't be that great from a business standpoint. Wii Fit U I would still think they'd wanna get out before Christmas as its a title that will appeal to a completely different consumer than almost ANY of the other games. Plus that way it'd be out before everyone makes their New Year's Resolutions. Guess maybe it depends on whether anything other than Mario Kart 8 will be ready for the Spring. If Yarn Yoshi, Bayonetta 2, X, and Smash Bros. all wind up being 2nd half 2014 titles, then they probably would NEED to move a couple titles like Wii Fit U and the Olympics into the 1st half of 2014 just to avoid any more multiple month droughts. Guess we'll have to wait and see.