I'M CALLIN IT NOW!
Most comments on this video will be from people who have NO CLUE what it's about.
Such is life…
Fortnite is the BIGGEST game in the world right now.
Every week we hear about a Drake fighting a Ninja on Twitch to world record breaking
numbers of onlookers, the ensuing domination of the Twitch directory filled to the brim
with aspiring streamers hoping to ride the wave, the Thanos invasions, AND MOST RECENTLY:
there was an announcement that Epic Games is committing 100 million dollars in prize
money for Fortnite.
That is HUGE.
For perspective, that's more money than Blizzard, Valve, and Riot put into eSports
last year COMBINED.
For one game.
Let me stress.
That is a big deal for the video game industry.
For further reference this one game is committing an amount of money that is approaching national
averages for traditional sports.
The NHL for instance has an average team valuation of about 200 million dollars.
That's a 101 year old organization.
eSports is a baby in comparison and we're seeing pro athlete numbers during these beginning
stages.
The major difference being Fortnite is a lot less imposing for your average person.
You don't need to be superhuman to be competent in this game on a competitive level and in
comparison to other eSport games it's SUPER accessible.
It's playable on everything from super speed out gaming PCs all the way down to iOS and
eventually Android devices.
Meanwhile, Nintendo fans as of right now don't have access to this phenomenon.
YET, I'm sure we'll see it eventually & if people's knee jerk reaction to Logan's
original Fortnite video is any indication, it can't come soon enough.
BUT, in the meantime, Nintendo has a weapon that could take advantage of a lot of the
same strategies being utilized by Fortnite.
& no, I don't mean introduce a 100 man battle royale mode.
Ever since the official the official reveal for Nintendo Switch it's been pretty clear
that Nintendo sees a future wherein they are a big part of the eSports scene by way of
the Nintendo Switch and I.P like Splatoon and more importantly Smash Bros.
We've seen and continue to see them making good on that promise by sponsoring big tournaments
like EVO, CEO, Genesis, alongside other Smash Bros tournaments AND they've put on their
own tournaments with the latest of which coming next month in the form of the Splatoon World
Championship and Smash Bros for Nintendo Switch Invitational.
This, is a GREAT start, but, I think they could really double down on this and expand
the impact.
I think the most appealing part of eSports on a corporate level is the aspirational aspect.
The feeling that many viewers get when they watch and they facepalm and say "psssshhh
I could do that!
ALL HE DOES IS ROLL!
THAT WAS A TERRIBLE READ!!" etc, etc.
This feeling is hard to convey to new people if the opportunity to view an event like this
is every once in a while, found in places that are only known to existing diehard fans,
and ultimately open to the same few people.
Of course, there's local tournaments for Smash Bros all over the world and you can
fight to achieve access to these tournaments.
But, most players won't be made aware of this unless they're MADE aware by Nintendo.
& not just in a tweet.
Do social media and video campaigns on YouTube, secure deals with YouTube, Twitch, and Twitter
to stream these events on prominent real estate of their sites.
As of right now, the announcements tend to be preaching to the choir, essentially marketing
a product to people that already purchased it.
That's counter productive if you ask me.
More general YouTubers like us, or our friends Bob Wulff or Izzy Nobre don't talk about
these tournaments.
That means if you're not naturally searching for the Nintendo eSports team through specialized
news sources you likely have no idea these tournaments even exist let alone when and
where they take place.
They could also advertise these tournaments in realtime tickers for tournaments in your
area, make sizzle reels viewable in game, make best practices for characters in competitive
play in partnership with the best known players that main them.
Make the game an incubation chamber for aspiring competitive players.
Also, on the note of Epic Games massive investment in the Fortnite competitive scene, Nintendo
should be making an effort to do something similar.
Of course, Smash likely won't bring in the cash that Fortnite brings in.
Unless of course, it adopts a similar model wherein the full game is priced as normal
and they offer free access to a game mode like For Glory or something like it with a
limited roster in some way.
Maybe allowing people the option to choose one main with the option to buy more, or buy
the retail release if you decide you want more.
OF COURSE, this model would enrage people who I'm sure you'll see in my comment
section complaining about the mere mention of such a thing but, love it or hate it, that
model is a huge reason why Fortnite is so successful.
It's accessible.
Now I'm not saying Nintendo NEEDS to adopt this.
All I'm saying is, it's a proven model and that's even coming from an unproven
franchise.
Imagine that power with Smash Bros.
Current fans will buy the $60 game regardless, but, there's a chance to rope in people
that are hesitant to spend $60 on fighting games but are open to pay for some of the
content a la cart to experience it with their friends that AREN'T as stupid as them….
Joking….
Sort of….
That being said, even if Nintendo doesn't offer a $100 million cash pool, they should
at least increase the little bit that they do offer.
I personally can't name a single pro Smash player that is raking in millions and Smash
is easily Nintendo's BIGGEST eSports property.
I think if they REALLY want to see eSports flourish they're going to need to put some
serious money in these player's pockets.
That will drastically increase interest as well.
Pokemon Company offers scholarships to their tournament winners, Nintendo could offer that
as well but I also think straight up cash would be smart for them to commit.
Scholarships are great and all, but, not exactly useful for EVERYONE.
eSports strategies and business models aren't the only things that Smash Bros can learn
from Fortnite, though.
Fortnite also does a great job at telling a story and eventizing changes to their game.
Imagine if rather than just being giving a character reveal trailer if we were treated
to ARGs, and in game hints to the inevitable addition of DLC characters.
Of course, this isn't even Fortnite exclusive.
Overwatch teases their characters in a similar fashion.
Even closer to what I think Smash should do, in fact.
A while back, in a video that I did for our old MCN, I detailed the introduction of Sombra
to Overwatch.
I don't see any as to why Smash Bros couldn't do something similar.
Also, why stop there?
Why not start doing Thanos-like promotional events wherein we gain access to a timed event
with a new character, mode or stage?
These events should definitely stay video game specific.
Smash Bros began as a celebration of Nintendo's properties, Smash Bros Brawl began to erode
that a bit, & Smash 4 was pretty much an all out celebration of video games.
Why not continue that evolution but with a little bit easier access in terms of licensing.
You gotta figure putting hard limits on access has to make negotiations easier for all parties
involved.
& in the event that fans REALLY embrace a particular event, they could always bring
the back in the form of traditional DLC rather than a free promotional event.
This could be true for special characters and stages as well.
We recently have seen the return of the Ridley rumors.
Events like this could make full size Ridley playable.
Maybe through a special big boss battle mode that allows an Evolve-style 4v1 game mode
wherein the boss player is given some sort of advantage, like Ridley's ability to fly.
Of course, this would potentially lessen the possibility of these characters becoming full
fledged characters, but, it's better than the alternative.
How else would we play as Rayquaza???
I'm sorry, but, any option where we get to be Rayquaza, I'm checking yes for.
Don't even care how many potential Ridley dreams I crush.
In game explanations for new stages would also be cool in my opinion.
Rather than just sending out a press release, or a trailer alongside whatever bundled character
comes with the stage what if we were teased with references to stages we'll see in the
game before they're released?
Mario Kart 8 is a good example of this self referential practice.
You can see names of locations and whatnot across stages.
Why not bring that to Smash?
In Fortnite, Epic Games even does this with stage changes.
& those changes are typical for the flow of matches on a particular stage.
Think when in Splatoon, entire stages would change and we'd see Callie and Marie reference
their status as being under construction, but less overt than that.
Thanos's arrival was prefaced by a whole saga about an incoming meteor.
I'd appreciate similar gamification for similar additions in Smash Bros.
Of course, this COULD go down a slippery slope VERY quickly but if you ask me, Smash Bros
embracing it's status as one of the most powerful marketing tool in games and infusing
those efforts with some gamification would add a natural layer to the experience.
Doubling down on eSports will also increase longterm exciting for the game, especially
if they maintain a consistent clip of national and international events.
The spikes in the player base as well as the search volume around the game will be longer,
more pronounced, and more often if people have consistent events to keep track of.
BUT, those are MY thoughts what do YOU think?
Do you think Smash Bros could grow by implementing some of this practices used in Fortnite?
What other changes would you like to see?
Let me know in the comments!
Like my ideas?
Like the video!
Share it with a friend that has hope for Smash Bros on Switch. and/or would be excited to
see and of these franchises I mentioned on Switch in the future.
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Also at 4PM.
Ok.
That's it for me.
See you next week.
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