We’ve closed the book on yet another PAX West (or “Prime” for those who’ve been around a while.) Overall, 2017 was another spectacular show, filled with great people and some of the year’s most anticipated games.
A good deal of that anticipation centered around Nintendo, something that we’ve not seen at PAX for quite some time. Redmond, WA local Nintendo of America usually has a significant presence at PAX, and 2017 was no different. From the massive exhibit hall booth jammed with upcoming games to the constantly packed “Nindies Arcade,” this was perhaps the biggest Nintendo experience at PAX in many years.
In the crowd
Among the many reasons to look forward to PAX, I was really interested to see how the Nintendo Switch might fare with attendees. PAX is infamous for its lines; there are lines to get a spot in line. If you need a rest from all that waiting around, the show is also great about carving out space to get away from the crowd and relax.
With so many people simply milling around waiting games or panels, handheld consoles and board games are a common sight. The 3DS has always been a popular choice among PAX-goers, but I was happy to see the Switch being just as well-received by attendees. It may not be much of a stretch to say I saw nearly as many Switches as 3DS’s appearing miraculously from bags as lines ground to a halt.
It almost seemed like the realization of all those early Switch commercials; impromptu groups forming between strangers for a few rounds of Splatoon 2‘s Salmon Run or Snipperclips. PAX has always been a great place for the gaming community to come together, but the Switch makes that connection feel so much easier. I collected a good deal of new friend codes from my trip, and I’m sure I’m not the only one.
I was somewhat surprised that Nintendo didn’t try to facilitate these connections, like designated Switch areas or organized meet-ups. After observing for a few days, though, it became clear that such a heavy hand wasn’t needed. The community’s willingness to connect is perhaps the biggest testament to just how effective the design of this console is; connecting with people in a crowd is natural and satisfying, even when a useable wifi signal is a distant memory from inside a packed convention hall.
On the floor
With heavy-hitting titles like Metroid: Samus Returns and Super Mario Odyssey right around the corner, you can bet Nintendo was intent to make sure fans knew what was on the horizon. The Kyoto giant’s anchor on the exhibition floor was certainly a beacon to fans of Mario, festooned with images of Odyssey‘s New Donk City and a life-size replica of everyone’s favorite plumber.
For what may be the first time, Nintendo even set up a small stage with a massive screen, featuring looping trailers of the most anticipated games coming to the 3DS and Switch. Throughout the show, they even held pop-up tournaments featuring Pokken Tournament DX and others, complete with professional players, streamers and a commentator. It was something of a spectacle, which seems to have worked as fans crowded the booth and choked the surrounding aisles to watch the screen and get a peek at the kiosks inside the booth.
Getting in to actually play the games Nintendo brought to PAX was a different story entirely. The booth boasted some of the longest lines in the show on each of the 4 days, with the wait for a chance to play Odyssey spanning several hours at any given time. Fans with a MyNintendo account lucky enough to get in early could grab a fast pass to a quicker line, but these were limited and disappeared pretty quickly each day. Still, those who could make it into the booth were treated with a chance to play the latest builds of Odyssey, Samus Returns, Rocket League, Pokken Tournament DX, and NBA 2k17.
Overall, the long lines and the monumental footprint on the show floor sends a pretty big message: Nintendo is in full effect this year. The excitement for the Switch console is only stoking fans’ eagerness to get their hands on everything coming out this holiday season. If production of the hybrid console ramps up as Nintendo expects before the end of the year, 2017 is shaping up to be a pretty big one for the company’s first party franchises.
Add all of this to the tremendous turnout for the Nintendo Minute panel that aired during the show, and you can see the effort Nintendo made to reach out to fans. The panel marks the first time I’ve taken time away from the main show to visit an Nintendo-specific panel in many years of attending, and it was certainly worth the wait. The support for Metroid: Samus Returns from fans was near-overwhelming, and from what we saw this weekend the game is shaping up to be a definite milestone in both the later days of the 3DS and Nintendo’s 2017 overall.
Indies
Adding to their showing in the exhibition hall, Nintendo made a point to feature all of the independent games coming to the Switch in the next few months. An entire room was set aside for the “Nindies Arcade,” a separate showcase to highlight games detailed in the recent Nindies spotlight that aired just before PAX.
Games like Steamworld Dig 2, Dragon: Marked for Death, Nine Parchments, and many others were available for attendees to try out, many of them for the first time. Speaking with developers at the Arcade, there was a definite air of excitement in the room. “Nindies” have been a significant portion of Nintendo’s segment of PAX for years, but it really feels like the company is taking greater steps to support 3rd party independent developers, and some of these games could be the strongest titles coming to the console this year.
It’s particularly promising, hearing these developers share their experiences building games for the switch. Many of these developers have experience creating games on the 3DS and Wii U, and mentioned during the show how easy the transition to the Switch has been. Not only that, but it seems Nintendo has taken a more vested interest in the success of indie games on the platform, communicating constantly with these studios to gather feedback and making sure the teams have resources to create what they want.
Conclusion
It may not be fair to suggest whether Nintendo (or any developer at all) might have “won” PAX, but it certainly feels like the company made more of an effort to connect than many other big names. The support from fans was palpable, from the gathering at the booth to the constantly capped lines at the Nindies arcade. You didn’t have to travel far to find someone willing to hop into Switch multiplayer, and if you still need your StreetPass fix then PAX is still the place to be.
Looking back at what has already become a banner year for Nintendo, I think a positive reception at a player-focused show like PAX West wouldn’t surprise anyone. Looking back on the show itself, it’s good to see that Nintendo hasn’t forgotten its fans, and is determined to keep the momentum of the Switch going throughout the year. Looking forward to the holiday season and beyond, with what I’ve seen so far…it’s shaping up to be a busy few months of play.
