Not sure what NoA is thinking and it makes me wonder if NoJ gave them the go ahead on this, or just doesn’t know about NoA being dumb.
From a financial perspective, I understand why Nintendo is sensitive on the subject, but they seriously chose the WORST possible time to spring this. Why would they make this announcement just a few days before EVO? I mean, it’s not like the core Smash community hasn’t been streaming all the other major events that happen on a regular basis. Or that they actively campaigned to get added to the biggest fighting game tournament in the world. And it’s certainly not as if EVO is the best possible (free) advertising for what is pretty much a game created for the purpose of advertising their IPs.
Bad form, Nintendo, bad form. 
All this shows is that nintendo hates their fanbase, plain and simple.
#FreeMelee is now trending on Twitter. I took part.
I just posted about blowing up twitter on this…lol. Ask and yee shall halfway recieve? That twitter name is too focused on Melee though…it needs to be on the whole issue surrounding Melee than just Melee itself. Otherwise Melee will get ‘freed up at Evo’ and everything else surrounding it won’t have changed…meaning they could very well be right back at square one again once the new Smash gets released.
Sadly the problem is that in recent years NoJ has started pull the strings of NoA HARD. Reggie is President but one only has to look at the policies and overall marketing direction to tell Iwata (who recently has become CEO of the American division as well) is running all/most aspects given how little autonomy they have had in recent years.
King9999 (Edit: and Sonichuman and everyone else involved; thread was slow to refresh on my end, sorry for leaving you out!), thank you. However, there is more that could be done since Twitter pressure is easy to do; Nintendo probably gives it only a modest amount of weight. Calls, emails via their web form, and even physical letters would probably be a better idea. They do listen; I’ve heard them pounding away on their keyboards taking notes when I called them up once to provide feedback on the Wii U eShop and they volunteered (and this was just a few minutes into the call, so it’s not like I had been droning on or testing their patience) to transfer me higher up the chain in the hopes I could repeat these same sentiments to other staff.
They might not always act on feedback, but they do legitimately listen. If enough of us politely* explain we’re unhappy about this decision, there’s a chance they’ll take notice. It’s worth a try.
*: I can’t stress this enough to anyone reading this… please be civil; we want the FGC to be seen as a demographic of eager and truly passionate consumers who want to work with Nintendo on getting this resolved. They’ll listen to people who sound like they’re willing to offer some money on upcoming Nintendo products. People screaming and cussing them out won’t have quite the same effect because we’re already seen as a niche audience they can live without.
Me and other people have pointed out to Nintendo how Melee got on the roster, so I don’t think you have to worry about that. Polygon reported the issue and also mentioned the fundraiser.
People should take to Miiverse on this issue too…We know they’ll DEFINITELY see it on there.
Good idea, Sonichuman. Any particular game’s section we should focus on? I’ll boot up my Wii U as soon as I know where we’re focusing the attention.
It already happened.
More than likely posting in the Smash community section is going to be the best bet. I’d probably post in the regular forum and the developers room so Sakurai could see it as well. There may be people who visit the smash community on miiverse who don’t know of the current situation that will probably have to be told about what’s going on as well.
People on Miiverse have made everyone aware of the circumstances surrounding Melee’s entry into Evo. All the bases are covered.
I know right, that is what makes this more delicious :lovin:
Aw, don’t be like that. Sure, I think Melee has some serious issues in competition as well but a community came together to do a wonderful thing in combining their donations-as-entries to get Melee onto the big stage. Let 'em have their fun. Besides, this could become a good thing, a very clear message to Nintendo that they could work together with Smash/FGC devotees to make sure our interests are accounted for in Smash 4 and other products in the future. There’s no guarantee it would happen, but there’s no chance of it happening if people don’t try. I’m willing to throw my lot in both as a nod to the Smash community’s passion and in hopes Nintendo will begin paying more attention to fighting game enthusiasts from here on.
Anyway, I dropped by to lend some support for the Miiverse side of things and made a phone call earlier. Going to prepare a letter and email as well to make sure I’ve done everything I can… then I’m going to have to let it go. The Legends 3 situation a while back showed us there’s a very real line not to cross, and if you keep pushing relentlessly then other fans and the company themselves just get mad at you. Right now this situation has popular sympathy… please be careful not to go too far and lose that support.
Looks like IGN is reporting on it as well and they’re trying to reach out to them for a comment on it
By the way, can we (and I mean ‘we’ in the broadest sense, not accusing any particular person but this has been an issue) chill out on flagging people’s posts as infringing/inappropriate on the Miiverse when they ask what Evo is? Sure, some of them probably are trolls. Others legitimately want to know why in the hell we descended on the Miiverse Community like a pack of starving birds all over someone covered in bread crumbs, and this could be a good chance to reach out to them and make new friends. Some of them might find themselves thinking “Wait, there are organized groups for tournaments? I want in on this!” and join us. Being hostile to them because they don’t know what ‘an Evo’ is is a little mean, and will only turn that person against us.
Now, the folks posting comments calling us “Crazy” or other such things need to be flagged. No question there. Nonetheless, this is a great chance to win hearts and minds… and hostility will not do that. Let’s be patient, explain our concerns, and win them over. It’s incredibly easy to do when you’re in the right on a matter!
I am really really really confused. Can someone please do their best to explain to me why Nintendo would even do this in the first place.
I am actually being quite serious here, I would really like to know their rationale for stopping melee from being streamed.
This just seems asinine.