Annual E3 topic (Since 2017)

I don't know much about Smash Bros., but I always had the impression it was more in the vein of games like Power Stone or Outfoxies - closer to a party game than a competitive one. The stage gimmicks and items are as important as the characters movesets, while in a fighting game the scenery is usually just a background. Of course, any two-player versus game can be competitive if you want to, but I mean that in the sense that proper balance and technical intricacies aren't the final target: it's intended for casual play and centered around fan service, even more than, let's say, Marvel vs. Capcom 2 (in which, being a fighting game, matches are still focused just on the characters' movesets).

That said, Melee's more technical side must've been almost an accident to Nintendo. If they pursue this competitive, technical and complicated side, they risk alienating the casual fanbase, which was always the intended target: it's a series made to fans of the characters, not to fans of fighting games. They probably don't want to get into a Street Fighter 3 or bullet-hell shooters situation, in which the technicalities become so overwhelming that only very dedicated fans get it and it becomes a niche thing.

The tripping thing in Brawl, as I understand, is more or less like the blue shells and other random, unfair items in Mario Kart: it doesn't matter how good you get at Mario Kart, other players can still tackle you on a random basis. This is something central in party games: using randomness as a way to level the playfield, since the focus isn't on competition but on making very different people have fun together (both people who have been playing that game for awhile and beginners). Smash is only a "serious" fighting game as much as Mario Kart is a serious racing game (for a more serious alternative to Mario Kart, compare it to Sonic and Sega All-Stars, in which randomness is toned down and a good player can always avoid enemy attacks).

I don't like party games much, but I definitely see where Nintendo is coming from.

That's fine. Good for you. I don't have a problem with that opinion. But I do take issue with being told to buy Ultimate by someone who doesn't understand Melee's competitive mechanics nearly as well as I do. You need to understand that I don't enjoy the post-Melee SSB games at all.

Cervantes For a long time I believed that same "beautiful accident" theory about Melee, too, until I found an IGN interview with series director (and creator) Masahiro Sakurai where he stated that Melee was his proudest achievement and that all of Melee's advanced techniques were completely intentional (as he revealed in a different interview with Nintendo Power magazine), but also suggested that the producers of the series weren't happy with his decision to make Melee's gameplay oriented towards competitive fighting game fans, and ordered him to simplify the gameplay so it would play like a party game. It was basically yet another example of executive control in the entertainment industry in an effort to make more money. I can link the interview for you if you want.

I just bought the DLC for Xenoblade 2 because of E3.

I heard they had more gameplay for Bloodstained Ritual Of The Night. I'm glad the game is not getting cancelled. I had always been looking forward for it.

Not Indies, but they had gameplay for Mega Man 11 and Team Sonic Racing, both looking really fun.

The studio behind Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed decided to put on hold Crackdown 3 because in all honestly a Sonic Racer should aways be a priority. As far as I'm concerned they made the right call on that one.

Just archiving this post in case Strat decides to edit or delete it. This post says it all. You lost all your credibility in talking about competitive Melee.

So, are we close to this year's E3? Any announcements yet?

The rumor mill has been rather quiet this year.