It's all about the games for Nintendo.
Instead
of a typical flashy presentation at the Electronic Entertainment Expo,
the Japanese gaming giant opted to showcase several games for its Wii U
system during a brief presentation at its booth on the show floor of the
gaming industry's annual trade show.
"Today
is different," Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime told those
gathered inside the behemoth white structure. "It's the reason you're
gathered here inside of our booth - standing instead of sitting -
because it was our decision to minimize the time from when we said 'good
morning' and you getting to play the game."
Nintendo
showed off the cartoony strategy game Pikmin 3, anti-gravity racer
Mario Kart 8, 2D platformer Donkey Kong Country Returns: Tropical
Freeze, 3D platformer Super Mario 3D World, slick action sequel
Bayonetta 2 and a speedier rendition of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind
Waker for the Wii U. For gamers who couldn't make it to E3, the titles
will be on display at more than 100 Best Buy stores in North America
this week.
The company also flaunted - but
didn't allow attendees to play - a new installment in the fighting
series Super Smash Bros. The new edition will feature such characters as
Mario, Mega Man and the female yoga trainer from Wii Fit.
The
company has struggled since November with the launch of the Wii U,
which features an innovative tablet-like controller yet graphics on par
with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo said it
sold just 3.45 million units by the end of March, well below the
company's expectations.
"We feel very good
about this E3, and that's because consumers buy hardware to play games,
and we're got a fantastic lineup of games that we're showcasing,"
Fils-Aime said after the event.
During showy
Monday presentations, competitors Microsoft and Sony hyped their
respective next-generation consoles. Microsoft touted new games for the
Xbox One, which it said will cost $499, while Sony unveiled its boxy
$399 console, the PlayStation 4. Both consoles feature richer graphics
and deeper social networking capabilities.
"Our
competition is going to do what best serves their needs," said
Fils-Aime. "We're a different type of company, utilizing our first-party
titles to drive our install base. We've done that very effectively for
over 30 years. We're a video game company. We make great games. That's
what we focus on."
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