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Nintendo goes all out in Australia.
This year, Nintendo Australia went for the maximum push at PAX Aus. As we explained in the last article, Nintendo switches between two marketing modes. They either do minimal presence, or they opt for the maximum push. With a ton of new games coming out, it’s no surprise Nintendo Australia went big.
New games
Nintendo’s two big featured games at PAX Aus are Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee! & Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu!, as well as Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. About a third of the booth was allocated to each game. The final third of the booth hosted a range of other titles including Super Mario Party, Mario Kart 8, Fortnite, plus heaps more. The booth was set up with lots of little places for people to experience. Part of the setup was made to look like the Poké Mart and Pokémon Center.
Head over to the @PAXAus #PokemonLetsGo booth to try the #PokeBallPlus with a demo of the game before the Nov 16 release.
Just look for the Poké Mart & Pokémon Centre at the Nintendo AUNZ booth! #PAXAUS #NintendoSwitch pic.twitter.com/X50lPRXfXW
— Nintendo AU NZ (@NintendoAUNZ) October 27, 2018
Some of the areas included couches with Super Mario Party cubes for people to play against their friends. A stage ensured fans got a chance to play on the big screen. We had a great time playing Mario Kart in front of the crowd. The best thing about the Mario Kart game is that it included the Breath of the Wild DLC. This downloadable content is now available for free on the Switch.
Attendees had the chance to play both versions of the new Pokémon game. Players could be seen throwing Poké Balls at the screen to catch their favorite Pokémon. Many of the panels talked about the upcoming game and its crossover with Pokémon GO. Keep an eye out for these panel discussions coming up.
Nintendo even had a special Pokémon-themed Switch on display. Check out the video below and see if you can spot it.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
One of the games we were most excited about at PAX Aus is the new Super Smash Bros. game. It’s a franchise that continues to grow and develop. As was mentioned at the Ultimate Super Smash Bros. Panel, it’s a game that appeals to new players and long-time fans. We were very hyped to have a try of the new game. The graphics were beautiful and the gameplay was spectacular. The Nintendo booth had both the GameCube-style controller and Switch Pro Controller available to use. Being seasoned fans of the series, we went straight for the GameCube-style controller.
The game felt natural and smooth. Moves seemed more crisp than in previous games, and more levels were available. We can’t wait until December to get our hands on the game and play for hours!
Even more at PAX Aus
With a few big games coming out, Nintendo Australia didn’t limit themselves to the Expo Hall. Giant Poké Balls sat outside the convention hall, inviting people to take photos. Obviously, we had to make sure we snapped photos with our favorite characters. The staff also had mini-booths outside the GameSpot Theater so fans could play whilst they waited in line.
Chilling out #Gamespot theatre playing my Switch ? this setup.#PAXAus #Paxaus2018 #PAX #Nintendo #Xenoblade pic.twitter.com/XKIqgePLBX
— Michelle Mannering ? #StJudePLAYLIVE (@MishManners) October 28, 2018
Fans sat around playing their Switch consoles in open areas hoping a staff member would spot them. Lucky fans who were seen playing their Switches could score a limited edition Nintendo Switch pin. Lines of pin collectors stood outside the expo booth signing into their My Nintendo accounts to get a My Nintendo pin. A few Pokémon-themed pins were floating around too. We were lucky enough to collect them all!
Four pins available at PAX Aus 2018 (Photo: MishManners)
Overall, this year’s Nintendo Australia booth was on point. It was bigger than in previous years and boasted a wider variety of games, appealing to more people. The scope and reach of their setup was much more impressive too. Let’s hope we see more amazing activations like this in future. It’s also a testament to Nintendo’s belief in their upcoming titles. We’re all looking forward to having Pokémon: Let’s Go and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate on our own Switches.
Keep a look out for a few more articles from PAX Aus 2018. In the meantime, check out our Nintendo video at PAX Australia. We did a quick run through the booth, played some Mario Kart, and we have some sneak peek gameplay of the new Smash Bros. game. Also, see if you can spot the Pokémon-themed Nintendo Switch in the flesh! We want them all!
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