Best Buy gets in on virtual action to showoff new games

6/8/2013

Toledo-area video gamers unable to attend the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo trade show that begins Tuesday in Los Angeles can still get a taste of the virtual action.

Nintendo Corp., which will unveil several games for its Wii U gaming console at the so-called “E3” show, plans to simultaneously debut some of those games for testing by gaming enthusiasts at 119 Best Buy Co. stores nationwide.

Included among the demonstration sites is the Best Buy store at 4505 Monroe St. in West Toledo.

“Nintendo just typically releases all of its new games at the conference. So this is kind of a new thing — unveiling them at the stores at the same time and giving our customers a sneak peek,” said Shandra Tollefson, a spokesman for Minneapolis-based Best Buy.

She said the titles and types of games to be debuted at the stores won’t be known until Nintendo announces them at E3, which will be at the Los Angeles Convention Center and is considered the premier trade show for the computer and video gaming industry.

All major gaming companies, including Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo, Ubisoft, and Electronic Arts, typically reveal their products at the convention and offer attendees the chance to try their games and provide feedback.

Ms. Tollefson said Nintendo plans to send marketing teams to the 119 Best Buy stores.

“Nintendo people will be on site helping with this event and I’m sure they’ll be very curious to hear what customers think of their games,” she said.

Local gamers will be able to try the upcoming Nintendo products from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, and again from 1 to 5 p.m. June 15.

The games won’t be available for purchase at the stores next week, but Best Buy and Nintendo plan to release more information about the games on Best Buy’s Web site, www.bestbuy.com.

Contact Jon Chavez at: jchavez@theblade.com or 419-724-6128.