
Nintendo of America is continuing to up the ante with its Play Nintendo efforts, the rather decent website that offers activities for young gamers. The YouTube channel is seeing a little more life, and the subsidiary's Summer mall tour this year is going to have that branding - it'll be the Play Nintendo Tour.
As further evidence that Nintendo is putting most of its eggs in the 3DS basket this year, the press release for the tour doesn't mention the Wii U at all. It promises demos, activities and contests themed around the 3DS and some key releases, as follows.
- Yoshi's New Island
- Kirby: Planet Robobot
- Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D
- Mario Kart 7
- Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
- New Super Mario Bros. 2
- Yo-kai Watch
It's clearly not a line-up solely focused on the latest releases, but follows the agenda of the recent "There's No Play Like It" marketing campaign; Nintendo is promising that the "massive play area [will be] filled with Nintendo 3DS games and charming worlds themed around classic games and characters."
The locations and dates for this tour are below.
- June 17-19: Westfield Culver City – Los Angeles
- June 24-26: Arrowhead Towne Center – Glendale, Arizona
- July 1-3: FlatIron Crossing – Broomfield, Colorado
- July 8-10: Mall of America® – Bloomington, Minnesota
- July 15-17: Bite of Seattle – Seattle
- July 21-24: Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina – San Diego
- July 29-31: Memorial City Mall – Houston
- Aug. 5-7: Woodfield Mall – Schaumburg, Illinois
- Aug. 12-14: Roosevelt Field – Garden City, New York
- Aug. 19-21: South Shore Plaza – Braintree, Massachusetts
- Aug. 26-28: Tysons Corner Center – Tysons Corner, Virginia
- Sept. 2-5: North Point Mall – Alpharetta, Georgia
Are any of you in the US planning to go along to check out the Play Nintendo tour?
Comments 19
Sounds fun. No events in Michigan so I won't be attending though.
So one new game and the rest old games.
Ohio is one of the biggest states and its so important, the presidential candidates will spend more time here than anywhere else.
But apparently, Nintendo doesn't see that. Bang up job Nintendo.
Texas IS the biggest state and to only have 1 event in Houston kinda makes me a bit upset but then again there are like 3 million people in Houston so they can have fun, lol
My boys would probably enjoy it but closest one is farther then I'm willing to drive for it. Fun event for those who are close to the tour cities though.
@XCWarrior - nobody likes Ohio......says the guy from the state north of you
@Dak908 - Alaska is WAY bigger then Texas!
Beyond kidding though it would be nice to see a more well rounded tour. I wonder Nintendo requires space wise for their events and how they pick the venues
@Captain_Gonru Did you read the list of games? You weren't invited anyway.
3DS has some great games, I'm still tempted to get 1 even this late in the game, but that list is certainly kid oriented. And old like @ikki5 said. My kids traded in MK7 years ago.
I can see why they wouldn't put a lot of JRPG on the list, those are aimed more at teens and adults, and this list already has Pokemon and Yokai, but it still seems lame.
Kid Icarus: Uprising is one of the best games on 3DS
Luig's Mansion Dark Moon - isn't NX rumoured to be getting LM3?
No Zelda? ALBW is somewhat new. Or TriForce Heroes for kid multiplayer. Or HW Legends b/c it's new. How do you promote a Ntinedo handheld and leave out Link?
Animal Crossing HHD? They could give out free AC cards to the kids. Or New Leaf to promote HHD.
SSB for 3DS? THAT'S not on the list? How are you going to sell amiibo?
There is one near me, and we own three 3DS, and my 2 kids play some of those games, but still not sure it's worth it. We may go on Friday so get some free swag and trade some Pokemon, but we'd only be going for the crowd, not what's on offer.
Where's MP:FF the new 3DS multiplayer game? It's due out this summer. Are they that ashamed of it they wont' even promote it on tour?
I do understand them promoting 2DS over Wii U, that's understandable, but even for potential 2DS owning kids that games list leaves a lot to be desired.
Maybe next summer there will be an NX tour. That would be nice.
@XCWarrior Yea here in Ohio we always get screwed on things like this, and gaming tourneys/conventions. There's so many places that can house large crowds.
@Gerbwmu You live in Lake Erie? Or did you get a head start on the Trump Presidency and already move to Canada?
Just kidding, where going to Lake Michigan for summer vacation, my sister lives in Lansing. We were going to go to Michigan City in Indiana but I found that a little bit too confusing, and didn't want to die in an episode of the X-Files, so now we're going to Warren Dunes.
http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/mysterious-sinkholes-of-mt-baldy
@rjejr - The west side of Michigan is beautiful. Warren Dunes should be nice. St Joseph, not far from there, is a nice small tourist town on the water with, an awesome pier and light house.
Has your sister lived in Lansing long enough to be converted to an MSU fan?
@Gerbwmu She's almost lived there long enough to convert me to an MSU fan, though I went to UK so my basketball allegiance is decided.
Thanks for that St Joseph tip, I'm a sucker for carousel. Might be a good place to stop for an afternoon between Lansing and the Dunes.
Of course they skip Michigan 😛
@rjejr 'and didn't want to die in an episode of the X-Files, so now we're going to Warren Dunes'
Thanks, man: I just spit coffee all over my Fire. Just read thru the E3 thread. Lots of complaining about people complaining. Lots of buzzwords like entitlement, patience, etc. Some don't understand many of us have been to this dance many times, lol.
This place ain't much fun anymore, but you and a few of the guys still make me laugh so I keep hoping, lol.
I'm having a ball watching my 10 year old grandson play thru ALBW. Gonna have him play Return to PopoloQuois next. His joy is infectious. That list is pretty lame, E3 may very well suck, but he is where it's at.
Btw: the only sport that matters is the Penguins winning the Stanley Cup.
@k8sMum Sorry about the Fire, things always get weird when I go off topic.
I've been telling myself for months I should just lay off NL b/c there really isn't much going on, but there are 2 or 3 people I enjoy having conversations with, occasionally even on topic, and another half dozen I get along with pretty well. I think the rest have learned to ignore me. Honestly, I'd surely be done if it weren't for the Reply emails. I have a dozen ever morning. But sort of like you I'm also on here a lot more for my kids - no grandkids yet - both huge Pokemon fans, and videogame junkies in general. Yooka-Laylee was a pleasant surprise this morning, even with the delay, one of the few games I'm looking forward too.
I like this idea and they are showcasing some greatest looking games on the 3DS. It just seems like too few locations. Are they including a TV ad campaign for the New 3DS too?
I live about 20 miles from MOA so I'll be checking this out!
The closest one is nearly a four-hour drive from where I live, so I'll pass. Besides, I don't think any of my relatives will loan me some young cousins for that long. XD
@Captain_Gonru "Not that I'd be participating, of course."
No, you would be arrested on sight at that event, showing up a middle aged guy w/o any kids in tow.
Good point about the Select titles. They should have at least included OoT then. Needs more Zelda.
If we do go I'll hit ya up w/ some photos. When I went to the Christmas show in the Queens mall a few years back there were about 3 people there besides us. Roosevelt Field is always insanely crowded - soccer moms and old walkers. Oh man, it'll be crawling w/ teens in mid-August. Teens are worse than people.
right on they will be at comic-con
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