So, E3 2018 is just around the corner. The most significant big-ticket item on the gaming calendar is so close, you can actually smell the hype. If hype has a smell, then collectible pins do too, and Nintendo are offering some pretty sweet ones to Switch-toting attendees at the show.
That’s right, friends. In the weeks running up to E3, it’s tough to keep track of what’s really important. Rumours, leaks and not-so-subtle teasers are flying around everywhere. The debate over who’s going to be showing what, and who’s going to ‘win’ E3, are underway in earnest. Amid the usual pre-E3 maelstrom of drama, there’s one thing we rarely stop to wonder: who’s going to have the edge in collectible pins and similar paraphernalia?
We can stop wondering, because early reports seem to suggest that Nintendo are all over that one.
According to GameSpot, the Japanese giant have confirmed that they’ll be giving out exclusive pins, made expressly for E3 2018, in and around the L.A Convention Center during the event. What’s the catch? Nothing much, where fans are concerned. You’ll just need to be seen playing your Switch during the event. Whip out your favourite hybrid handheld, and the Nintendo representatives on hand will give you one of these neat little gifts.
This is nothing unusual when it comes to events like these. Pin badges and similar collectible are ten a penny around here. Regardless, Nintendo have a way of making collectibles seem essential. The Wii Fit Balance Board, the Wii Wheel, the cardboard phenomenon that is Nintendo Labo… the designs of these pins haven’t been shown off yet, but they’re sure to be a hit when the convention center opens its doors in June.
It may not sound like a big deal, but this initiative speaks volumes about Nintendo’s approach to the show. Now that members of the public are being invited to the show (a policy which began only last year), they’re trying to directly engage with fans; the very fans who tune into these shows year after year.
On that note, the much-ballyhooed Super Smash Bros. Switch is going to be playable on the show floor, and Nintendo are hosting invitational tournaments for both Smash Bros. and Splatoon 2.
