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maxnyc on 12 June 2012
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richardhutnik said:
maxnyc said:

It's kind of strange that there's a Nintendo Gamer article floating around about Black Ops 2 coming for Wii U in November, making it a launch window game. There was also some rumors that Madden will be a launch game as well. So my question to everyone is- why in the hell would Nintendo be holding this info back at their e3 conference? Controlling drone strikes or drawing up plays, with the wii U gamepad, that would have been prime footage for an e3 sizzle reel at least. Those are 2 franchises which could actually have a major impact on the wii u launch, so why hold back that info?

The reason i'm wondering is because Nintendo even had COD & Madden for the wii launch if i'm not mistaken; so what the hell changed with the wii U, why wouldn't Nintendo have these games lined up? There are 2 main possibilities i can think of- number 1; maybe Nintendo is holding their cards close for now, deciding that e3 doesn't really mean anything for 90% of the population (also not revealing too much to sony & micro until the last minute), and they will release more info & more titles as we approach the launch. Or number 2; Nintendo actually doesn't have these games lined up, or there are problems with development, which could mean that Nintendo just doesn't have their shit together for launch, or they may even have a major problem getting the online and/or tablet working appropriately with certain games. Can anyone think of anything else? or have any thoughts on this curious situation? Is Nintendo possibly holding back info, or am i just tripping?

Several reasons to explain:

* The universe does NOT center around E3.  Companies still are able to do business with or without E3.  Core gamers, and other folks, do watch E3, to get a pulse, but companies don't need E3 to do business.  If there are other reasons to not reveal things at E3, those override E3.  With the Internet bein what it is, and sufficient media about to cover things, companies can skip E3 for news.  PAX is another place companies can do things.  They can also call their own media events to get people to cover, and everyone covers, and this site reports.  Nintendo also used other events, besides the main media event around E3 to get more news out, including a second one just for 3DS.  They also took some time to have Iwata do even more on the WiiU going into E3. 

* Announcing titles coming out for it, that have release dates for it, ends up hinting when a system will be coming out.  Nintendo didn't announce price point either.  E3 was a second get familiar with the WiiU system, and not the main one to get all information out.  OBVIOUSLY Nintendo held back info, if they didn't announce price or release date for the WIiU.  If they do have another event planned, it makes sense to show the full release schedule when the price point is announced and have Activision and others come out then and show their games on the WiiU.

* E3 ended up, as stated before, more of an intro to the WiiU, to show its final shape, and ideas on what it can do.  It is the set up for the launch campaign, and a bit of a teaser.  The idea is to focus on the controller, and how it differentiates from Microsoft and Sony.  Then you will get more info when they decide to announce it.

Regarding the franchises, it matters far more Nintendo actually HAS them, than announces they have them.

Your logic & argument make sense to me. I guess e3 has changed quite a bit over the years. It certainly was interesting that Nintendo didn't even hint at some key titles in their sizzle real, like just throwing a few names or short clips in there. It's a weird strategy decision, normally you think a company wants to get people really excited by telling them most things. I remember years ago Sony would play pre-rendered CG at e3, and pretend it was real gameplay footage. Or Nintendo would tell us titles that still may have been years away. Different world now i guess.