When Nintendo announced its E3 plans, the Nintendo World Championships 2015 details were arguably the standout. Bringing back the iconic style of the 1990 equivalent, it certainly captured the imagination.
Some of the tangible details have now been confirmed and, we suspect, may not go down particularly well with a number of fans. Nintendo has announced just eight Best Buy locations for qualifiers on 30th May - these are below, with the events taking place from 10am to 7pm local time in these stores.
- 1717 Harrison St., San Francisco, CA
- 3675 Pacific Coast Highway, Torrance, CA
- 10760 NW 17th St., Miami, FL
- 900 E. Golf Road, Schaumburg, IL
- 12905 Elm Creek Blvd. N, Maple Grove, MN
- 5001 Northern Blvd., Long Island City, NY
- 9378 N. Central Expressway, Dallas, TX
- 2214 S. 48th St., Tacoma, WA
As for the game being used, it's not a clever tweak or special build of recent releases, but is actually the Championship mode from Ultimate NES Remix on 3DS; this has three score based challenges based on Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3 and Dr. Mario.
The final itself will only have 16 competitors, as explained below.
The top scorer from each of the eight regional competitions will move on to the final event in Los Angeles, which will be a multi-round competition with a variety of Nintendo games. An additional eight competitors selected by Nintendo will also compete in the Nintendo World Championships 2015. Nintendo will reveal these competitors in the near future.
It's good to hear that the final will feature a 'variety' of games, though our initial instinct is that the scale of this event - and the game being used in qualifying - could have been planned to have a greater impact.
Let us know what you think of these details in the comments below.
Comments 96
Wow, in some ways disappointing it's only the NES Remix mode. I guess at least you can practise getting it right beforehand, but then that can also be a negative point.
Also, why the 3DS version? It's the same mode on NES Remix II isn't it?!
Man... that is a small number of stores to be "World Championships".
@Baker1000 yeah, I agree with you there with the 3DS, i was hoping it would be something more. Though hopefully for the main event, we'll see something a bit more and hopefully a surprise (I just think of the movie "Wizard")
Kind of a let down for the World Championships. I hope the actual finals will at least be exciting.
I thought World Championship was a silly name for a U.S. only Tournanent anyway, but wow. What's baffling is they run far bigger tournaments all the time with that Pokemon one recently.
Torrance? Really?
Well, I guess they at least picked strategic locations to try and accommodate as many gamers as possible. There really isn't one near where I live so I won't be going. The New York location is possible but not for something like this at a Best Buy. I feel bad for the obvious left out locations like Hawaii & Alaska and the other states that are located 8+ hours from the nearest location. Oh well, I hope the actual E3 event is still a success.
You just know one of the BestBuy managers is going to rig the scores for their son to win.
Two hours from Torrence. Should I do it?
They lost me at "3DS".
I was actually considering going - not entering, just to take my kids for the crowd and the event - but not for a 3DS game, and a compilation at that.
They should have at least picked Codename STEAM, it could use the exposure. Or SSB again as it's only been on a ahdnheld for less than a year. Or MH4, see who could slay the beast the quickest w/ the same start up gear and items. Nothing says 2015 "seize the spotlight" like NES.
The whole thing is starting to look like a lame publicity stunt much more so than any real "tournament". Emphasis on "lame".
Why not an actual Splatoon tournament, an online game based on rankings and leaderboards and releases THE DAY BEFORE THESE QUALIFIERS.
For Nintendo I don't think this is the 25 year anniversary of TWC, it's really 1991 and this is just the 2nd year. Maybe by the 50th anniversary they'll get a clue.
Wow, this is kind of terrible.
Wow.
That game choice is a huge missed opportunity. Why not create a special demo disc than will start selling for thousands online next year and, in doing so, continue to create brand awareness for modern Nintendo titles. A set of quickfire challenges from Smash, Mario Kart 8 and Splatoon would be easy and special, or have it represent Nintendo history. Challenges from Donkey Kong, Ocarina of Time, Wii Sports, and finally one of the three Wii U titles I mentioned above, would test skill with a broad range of Nintendo eras.
This just seems like a cop out. Like an executive decided to bring back the Nintendo World Championships and the guy responsible for designing the challenges forgot until the day it was due.
Assuming the location winners are getting a trip to E3, I really didnt expect much more then this. I do hope what ever build they use at the actual E3 event gets a place on the eShop.
Given my scores on NES Remix I would be about 20th place at whatever Best Buy I went too and I'll be on family vacation during E3 anyway so not worth my time.
Still fun for those who get to participate. For all those who are mad about the US only World Championship.......I'm willing to bet that multiple finalists will be from a country other then USA
Leave it up to Nintendo to completely mess up a good idea. 8 locations is ridiculous. I mean at least have a location In each state.
Lame..all of it.
I have a location in my state. I can see the line going out the door.
Sure, 2 locations on the east coast. They're only 5 and 16hrs away from me. Woulda been smarter to do locations all up and down east/west coast. one in each state. just a thought.
Schaumburg is only a couple hours away from me. I'd go just to watch if I weren't out of town then. I think it'd be fun to witness.
@JusticeColde hahaha
Yeah. This is less than mediocre. What were the world championships like back in 1990? I was just a fetus then
This is surprisingly very very weak... How is this going to help Wii U exposure? Drive for hours to come play a 3DS bonus game? This will not even be remotely fun to spectate... I no longer have any interest.
@Captain_Gonru Hmmm, maybe they don't want later contestants to copy any tricks from people who played before them?
@bro2dragons
Agreed... some classic Mario Bros can be included, or NSMB... but the lineup should definitely include some modern stuff too, like MK8, Star Fox remix, maybe even Smash... something to remind people of nostalgic and modern awesomeness.
This is basically set up as a very quick way to have lots of people attempt to qualify... set up a bunch of tethered 3DS units... line em up... done.
Maybe the smaller E3 event will have better games for the qualifiers?
Aaaaaand none of these are where I live. Great. Seriously, only 8 locations!? I love you, Nintendo, but sometimes you just do stuff that's really stupid.
Its obvious some people are never satisfied. They cant be everywhere at once so its understandable they would try to chose the places where they are likely to get the most people. You also seem to forget that the WC was baasically a series of short rapid fire challenges so its not that hard to understand why they would go with NES remix
Welp, you do enjoy shooting yourselves in the foot and bring disappointment to your fans and supporters, huh, NOA?
Let's see if your E3 presentation can eventually redeem yourself from this disappointment. It'd better be just as good as, if not better than, last year's performance.
Small Town America - you lost!
10760 NW 17th St., Miami, FL That's not so bad 20 - 30 mins from my house. Darn I have to get the 3ds version. I'm in it to win it. Only have the first WiiU one.
Wow, the Dallas location is really close to me. But I'll be at work that day.
Leave it to Nintendo to mess a good idea up, they're the masters of it.
I understand if they had a small number of qualifiers in the early 90's, but it's 2015 now. Surely you can at least provide 10?
At least there's one in my general state. Idk if I'd even go anymore though, I really don't care for NES remix.
Long Island City?! I gotta go to Queens?! Such a weird location to choose.
Well good luck to those that can make these locations!
Yeah, go ahead Nintendo, don't put a location in Austin. Nevermind the fact that you have a subsidiary located in Austin. -_-
I was disappointed in the game situation at first, but I think it's okay. This is to narrow things down to really good players and using a mode that people can practice on will really keep the "lucky" people out and we'll end up with a better group for the main event.
That said, 3DS I don't totally get. Probably because there are 40+ million more out there, I suppose, and they don't know what the response will be.
The limited locations is a mistake. I guess it's so they can just choose a winner and get the 8 needed in one go.
Anyway, the key event is going to be the one covered at E3 and it would be pretty sweet to give them something they've never played before as part of the event. My bet is that it's going to be a custom stage from Mario Maker, my hope is that it would be something no one has even seen before.
@DarthNocturnal
The quote "a variety of Nintendo games" certainly suggests something different and I can't see them blowing up 3DS screens for NES games for the whole championship. Would be a major missed opportunity. Major.
3DS? Really? Sounds incredibly lame. I have some better suggestions for you: Mario Kart 8, Super Smash Bros Wii U and Splatoon!
DONE!
This is like when some backwood Tennessee wrestling promotion calls their championship a world title.
Really Nintendo? NES Remix? This is 2015, not 1989.
So, US only, 8 locations and NES Remix.
Wow, this is disappointing.
Probably the worst 'world wide' championship competition idea conceived this millennium. A Japanese company holding the event in a limited selection of us states whilst ignoring the rest of the world is frankly cringe worthy......Epic fail Nintendo!!
I work in Tacoma. Should I do it? I don't know. I'm not really confident in my ability to do decently but I might kick myself for not participating....
I figured they'd avoid WV like the plague again, but wow. That's bad. Now every time they try to hype it, it's like them saying "LOOK AT WHAT YIU CAN'T BE A PART OF DESPITE BEING A FAM FOR OVER 20 YEARS!"
I really don't care much to watch strangers compete in these games. I never was into keeping up with the "Melee experts" either for that matter, even with really liking the game.itself.
Of course nothing happens in Michigan...
Dang I was just in San Fran...
That's weak. Seems like they came up with the idea quickly without a lot of time prior to E3 to flesh it out. Hopefully the finals will be something more exciting.
All you people complaining seem to ignore two things
1. This is only the qualifying round
2. They did mention there will be a variety of games for the finals
There are some other issues with the game you think they should be showing
Smash Bros had a tournament last year so that would be pretty redundant
Splatoon is still a new and unproven IP plus there would be the hassle of organizing teams
Bayonetta 2 isnt popular enough plus it requires a relatively high amount of skill
Yeesh I swear some of the people in this site can be so dense at times
Pretty lame overall. Not many locations for the "World Championships". I'd barely call it the "National Championships". I don't think I'll be driving 1,000 miles to play NES Remix.
Seems really lacklustre, oh well it wasn't even a World Championships to begin with now it hardly seems national.
Would be nice of them to have a downloaded version of this with a set of 3 different mixed games.
Really disappointed as well. I think nintendo failed to capitalize on this opportunity. I thought it would be a small new special game just like in 1990 that they would have exclusively at these events or even a special download available only at those nintendo zones. It'll be unfair for those who don't have the game/system. It'll be more like the "I-lived-close-enough-to-one-of-the-best-buy-locations-and-already-had-nes-remix-2" championships.
Oh well. Hopefully their presentation won't be as disappointing as this news.
Maybe I'll be there for the 2040 "world" championships.
To the naysayers: what were you expecting? Do you think you could coordinate the logistics? In this short window of time? ...really? Guess again.
Why is it that New England always gets ripped off in things like these? We are one of the more densely populated regions of United States, but Nintendo seems to forget we exist. There's absolutely no way I'm driving into the hellhole that is New York City to play a couple minigames on 3DS. This could've been something amazing, but they've severely dropped the ball, both in their choice of game and severely limited locations.
@thesilverbrick you'd think they would have chosen Connecticut, at least it would have been a little more convenient/accommodating for the NY and NE people.
@thesilverbrick Absolutely agree. We are crammed with people here and always lumped in with NY. I expected them to select a location in Boston at least. Personally I would not drive there myself but alot of yanks from the six state region would.
@uhhhhhhhh
That's exactly the point. Instead of planning out a truly special event. They just threw together this half-assed event at the last minute.
If they're going to do it, they should do it right. They need a qualifying event in each of the most populous 20-25 major metropolitan areas, as just a start. With just 8 qualifying events, making it accessible to maybe 10% of the US population, this loses all credibility as a World Championship.
So wait, not even Nintendo World?? And like with everyone else, makes no sense to use 3DS and not just play NES Remix II's challenge mode that's the same
Welp. That'll teach me to get my hopes up...
Seriously, they're going to play old NES games?!?! This is 2015, Nintendo. Promote the Wii U games.
Nintendo World Championship seems to only mean America...
Dear Nintendo of America,
Seriously, I thought this was going to be all over the states, and was really looking forward to it since my Best Buy usually holds the E3 events. I would have loved to give it a shot, but I'm not driving all the way to New York just to try something I'd probably lose anyways... And why are they only using the 3DS NES Remix? That seems like a weird decision. Plus, if that's all they're using for qualifying, why on earth are they only doing 8 locations?! It can't be hard to send a 3DS or two to 100 or 200 different locations... Oh well...
Really, Nintendo?
http://imgur.com/xFFuCgD
Calling it now, the finals will be playing SNES Remix, which will be available to everyone at the end of the competition.
And to think people was actually excited for this. NES remix on 3DS in 8 locations in the entire US? I swear to god man these folks over at Nintendo NA are either stupid or just doesn't care.
I'm sure this was the least-expensive way of doing it.
I knew it! Not a real competition at all.
"An additional eight competitors selected by Nintendo will also compete in the Nintendo World Championships 2015. Nintendo will reveal these competitors in the near future."
Wow, great! Nothing near Kentucky at all once again. The closest one to me is 7 hours away (without factoring in traffic), and being a high school student who can't yet drive out of state, there is absolutely no chance I could make it like many others. Very nice.
They easily could've done this so much better. NES Remix Championship Mode is a single player mode where you have to get the best possible score in a consistent allotted time- there is no between-others competition involved. Why, then, aren't there more locations? You literally only need the game and a few representatives to keep the event organized, since the primaries can be done by having one attempt at it and sending the best scores digitally back to Nintendo for comparison nationwide. And some people just get in by default? Seriously?
At least I'm not missing much given that there's no special builds like the old championships had, and it's all a single not-very-varied NES game mode already released- on 3DS only no less, when they easily could've done the Wii U version and kept it on a proper console like the old championships at least. Way to completely ruin the excitement, Nintendo...
Y'all complaining too much. ;p
Yes, I agree, it is quite underwhelming, so criticism is well placed. But I'm sure it'll be fun none the less!
That is actually 2/3 the lineup of the lesser-known 1991 championship.
They probably didn't want to include the last game, Pin-bot, because it's more obscure and also Rare.
Oh look at that, none close to where I live at all. Looks like I won't be able to complete
@SchamMan89 That's a good call
This was cool back in the day with Tetris, but Dr. Mario is a kind of weak Tetris wannabe that's just hard to get as hyped up about.
Only 8 locations is super weak, but I guess they wanted to narrow the field before the E3 event.
Already it's starting to sound a bit small
@Danrenfroe2016 If these additional eight were aware of the final competition and will be practicing days on end until E3 then yes, it is a shame. But if they are a mix of celebrities who come into this blind then I think it will be good publicity. I seriously believe that one of these eight will be Fred Savage.
I think the range of stores is a little small, but perhaps it is to have one winner per store. Depending on turnout, some rural stores or those without a lot of participation may have less turnout and advance someone not as talented. If I'm not mistaken in 1990 it was a little better with several age ranges of I believe 4-7, 8-17, and an 18 and over group and ultimately one winner was chosen from each group.
Not that I would stand a chance nationally, well maybe I would, but because the nearest store to me is 705 miles (10 hrs) away, I won't be going. If they did have one in my state I would love to watch and participate.
No Los Angeles? The second largest city in the country!
@Omarzy You do have one in Los Angeles... Torrence, CA. It's near the coast about 40 minutes from the Staples Center in Downtown Los Angeles.
It should be called USA Championship not World.
@Danrenfroe2016 They should have called it an "invitational event" then. That's pretty weak on NoA's part.
@ikki5 That's a small number of countries (read: one) to be "World Championship" either way, so it all fits.
Nearest place is 3 and a half states away. No thanks.
@Nico07 I will definitely try, but I think that the professionals should have to go to best buy as well. I may stand a chance at doing well, but I dout first place. If I do top 50% I will be happy.
That's a disapointing amount of locations for a World Championship
Torrence eh? I can make it to that one. I'm surprised they're not doing it at that Culver City Best Buy like they always do. Tbh HELLO!? WE'VE GOT ONE IN BURBANK AND GLENDALE HELLO THERE ARE 2.1 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE VALLEY WHO'D GO THERE.
So it's basically just a hilarious gimmick to try to gain attention.
I live in Seattle, so I guess it works out there's one in Tacoma...but still weird why they wouldn't put it in the biggest city here. Not sure how all the decisions worked out, but something must have been behind it.
Definitely a disappointing list though.
Closest one to me is about 7 hours away.....I guess Fred Savage had to go cross country on foot, so I shouldn't complain.
It's in Texas?! Wow! (Yes, we DO have electronics on Texas--we don't ride horses everywhere and we don't talk like Cowboys) Not that I'll be driving THAT far just to play an NES Remix mode.
I might as well go to my own Best Buy, play the mode there, and pretend I'm going to the finals.
Sucks to suck
The closest to me is 1,000 miles (1,600 km) away. Seriously?
And here I am in crappy Mississippi, first it was Smash, but at least Nintendo held it out our twin state, but this crap just makes me mad.
Schaumburg? lolwtf.
Given that 16 is divisible by 4, that means that the championships could involve Splatoon.
It's unfortunate that the only way for anybody in the "World" to enter the World Championships from outside of the United States is to get one of the 8 mysterious invites. Also, if they were going to have 8 locations in America, they shouldn't have held two of them in California (which is also where the finals are being held), and they shouldn't have held one of them in Miami, which is literally the most out of the way city in the contiguous United States.
I knew Nintendo would have a hard time topping the Smash Invitational from last year, but man, this is nowhere near them trying.
"World Championships"...
More like USA Championships
"World Championships"
Because eight locations in one country clearly covers the whole world.
The first time Anything has happened in Minnesota. I'm glad about though out of only 8 places in the US maple grove is a weird place to have it.
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