Counterpoint – Metroid Prime 3 Preview Channel

Recently, blogger Tux mentioned how he thought Nintendo’s Prime 3 preview channel was too little, too late, and misdirected. I can’t help but disagree with him.

Welcome to Counterpoint.

I understand that Nintendo is trying to drum up some hype about MP3, but I don’t think the channel did anything for the sales of the game.

I think it’s honestly way too early to make any kind of assertions in the way of how this channel “did” or didn’t do anything for the sales of the game. For one, the game isn’t on sale yet. How can we know?

Not to mention, Nintendo didn’t just release a channel with some videos. They’ve also strategically planned the release of Metroid and Super Metroid to lead up to Corruption. This was a great move by Nintendo. Recently playing through these classics will have gamers begging for more, and that “more” will be delivered in the form of Corruption a week after Super Metroid hits the Virtual Console.

I think that anyone who has a wii and wasn’t going to buy MP3 did not download the channel and for anyone who is it wasn’t much.

I’ve actually seen several comments around the internet that certain people who weren’t interested in Corruption before seeing channe; are now. Also, I don’t see why anyone wouldn’t be willing to check out content on an up-and-coming game that has a good portion of the gaming community excited. It’s not hard to do, and I think most are excited to download anything that’s free on the Wii. As for the videos…we’ll get there.

The videos weren’t a big deal, although I do give them credit for trying. The videos weren’t that great. I liked seeing them because I havent heard much about the game since E3, but I would have liked to see real live gameplay instead of just a teaser trailer. The bridge scene didn’t show much other than some constant shooting. I would have liked to see some big info on the game or maybe a cut scene with some intense dialouge.

Yes, the videos weren’t the be-all, end-all of game videos, but they were pretty great. The first video had an epic feel to it. I thought it was pieced together exceptionally well. For those that don’t know much about the game, I think it would at least give them a vague idea of what’s going on. From learning the basic plotline to seeing the introduction of other, new, bounty hunters; I thought it did what it set out to do.

The bridge scene was an intense battle. What were you looking for? I feel like if it had involved Samus scanning everything, you’d have said, “the video was soooo boring.” I think most people looking for an incentive to buy a game would rather see a battle over the games other main element, exploration.

Why would it make sense for Nintendo to give out huge info, the day they put the channel up, when there intention is to regularly update it leading up to Corruption’s release? It wouldn’t. And even if the videos released today don’t blow your mind, so what? Maybe you’ll just have to wait until the game’s released.

Back to marketing, they would have been better off putting this on their homepage or sending the footage to IGN. The only place the game was mentioned was on the Nintendo forums and a little sidenote on IGN.

Why? The videos were destined to end up on the internet, and I personally think a unique, dedicated channel was a great approach. It wasn’t conventional, and reached many who don’t regularly check videogame sites. There are plenty of Wii (console) owners out there who don’t, why not deliver it to them directly?

They should try to market the game to the people who don’t have wiis. They are the people that need convincing. I’m hoping that tomorrows new videos will showcase the game better. Also maybe sometime we could also see commercial, but I wouldn’t hold my breath.

They should, but I don’t agree that those that don’t own Wiis need to be convinced. Why not work on the 10 million people that already own your $250 platform, instead of trying to get those yet unconvinced to fork over $300? Not to mention, to declare this channel as the only means by which Corruption will be promoted, seems hasty. You shouldn’t, again, speak so quickly. It seems premature ranting got someone in trouble already.

Whether you’re right or I’m wrong, at the end of the day, they’re just differing opinions. Thanks for reading Counterpoint

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