pssst... Nintendo?.. psssst..

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

demos can go there too...

Nintendo?..

...

Nintendo?..

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.

But Nintendo isn't going to E3...

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

Yeah, I said that.

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

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.

@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.

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.

@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.

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.

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.

this is his last day... i think

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

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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...

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..

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.

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.

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

And in a perfect world, the staunch Nintendo defenders here would realize that millions upon millions of potential Wii U customers either (a) won't live near enough to one of the selected 100 Best Buy stores with demos for this promotion to matter, or (b) aren't able/old enough to drive themselves at will to one of these mythical demo stores anyway.


It's a great idea for Nintendo to make demos available to the public.  But covering 100 stores across two nations, all from a single retailer, just isn't enough given the current state of Wii U.  Seriously: Wii is outselling it's successor, and all meaningful support for that system was pulled years ago.  I'm not a doomsayer and I fully believe Nintendo can turn things around... but the outlook for Wii U really isn't very good right now.

Maybe while I am at Best Buy, I will pickup a new television!

Just as planned.

I don't care about having to go to Best Buy to play these  , but the Wii U at Best buy doesn't work. The Wii U demo units are pretty bad, either they don't work or don't show off any games that are worthwhile to play and see what highlights Wii U features.

I am sure they will have a special E3 section on the eShop with playable demos.

I'm really curious about just how raw these demos will be. If it's just the Pikmin, Wonderful 101, etc. stuff, then there shouldn't be a problem releasing to the eShop. But an early Mario Kart or Mario platformer build? You'd think they'd be pretty damn nervous about that code getting hacked if it was released to the public at large, even on a time limited basis.

Good idea, though I wonder if either of the 2 Best Buy store in my area will do this. I won't have the money to get a Wii U before E3, so it wouldn't help me if they were only on the eShop.

Yeah, cuz there are like, 50 provinces now, right?


::)


(+1)

According to Best Buy, they own 1,128 stores in the US and Canada (not counting stuff like Best Buy Mobile, Future Shop, etc.) So I wonder why only 8% of their stores will do this? This makes me worry that neither of mine will do it.

You forgot Mexico too...

Well, there is the fact that this is specifically just for Best Buy stores in the US and Canada.

and another +1 for you, sir!

It'll be like winning the lottery, except the prize isn't very exciting...

So the store locations have been (mostly) revealed on the Best Buy website.  Not sure there are any huge surprises... not sure I care that much.  By my count there are only 89 US locations confirmed at this point, so Canada is probably getting roughly a dozen stores across the country.

Oh, and there is this brilliant tidbit:

To play, visit a participating store:
• June 12 from 4 p.m.–8 p.m.
• June 15 from 1 p.m.–5 p.m.
Check back on June 11 for the list of games.

So yeah. Eight hours total spread across two days assuming you are anywhere near one of the select locations.  Good luck getting to try the demos.

There's somewhere between 11 and 21 Canadian locations. They said 100+ Best Buys, so it has to be at least 11 in Canada, and I believe some sources are reporting 21.

As long as one of them is in the Halifax Regional Monstrosity, I'll take it.

Hm.  2 1/2 hours away.

Except on the 12th, I'll be on business.  I'll actually be closer though (1:45 away).  Probably won't be able to go that day.

*might* be able to swing the 15th.  I wonder what the StreetPass scene will be like.

Hmmm...about an hour away for me in Memphis is the closest I'll get. Their E3 showing better be fairly spectacular for me to want to drive an hour away just to play some demos. If Smash is playable, then sure. I'm there.

They must be sending out the Nintendo vans with reps to the best Buys. What was the program called during the Gamecube era? Nintendo Cheer Force or something?

Crap! Only Lynnwood? That's a 4 and half hour drive. :(

edit: It may still be worth depending on the demoes. Although I'm guessing there will be huge line.

Or the Cube  Clubs which I might have ran into Dr.Metts without knowing.

The closest to me is an hour drive, and I don't have a car (so I would need to get a ride). Even if I did, I am not driving that far just to play some demos.

RUMOR

Apparently Nintendo of Canada accidentally posted this list of cities that will get the demo stations. The post was deleted but was preserved on the NeoGAF.

That last one is relevant to my interests.

The Best Buy 5 minutes from my house is getting them, so I may have to check it out.

Not a rumor anymore. I can see that exact list on the Wii U facebook page.

The closest BB that has them is 70 miles away. :(

Aren't you going to E3 anyways? So you will get to play these demos at E3.

No, I'm not going this year, sadly. Too many other things going on.

Can I take your spot?

i feel like if it was more like 250 stores in total with at least 3 in each state we'd be good...

Do you mean 250 stores in every state, or a total of 250 stores with each state getting at least 1? Because the former is impossible since they only have about 1,100 stores total in the US and Canada.