Man, I have been just dying to watch some live, pro-level Super Smash Bros. My reasons are twofold; the first is because I suspect it’s a fun (if not wildly entertaining) spectator sport. The second, though, is a bit more personal. In college I once defeated a Smash player who claimed he was a “former pro.” I’d like to watch current pros play, and see if this guy was serious, or if he was just trying to make me feel good.
My suspicion is that I’ll run crying to my mother as soon as I see some actual professionals throw down. As it turns out, Nintendo has officially detailed how I can go about doing so, and it’s happening next month.
The Super Smash Bros. Invitational is scheduled for June 10th in Los Angeles, the first day of E3, and there’s space for up to 3000 fans to come check out the festivities — all free of charge. Sure, you’ll have to get up early and wait in line for a pass, but a free schooling in next-gen Smash Bros. mastery can’t be expected to come completely without cost. You must wait alongside your fellow sweaty nerds to gain entry.
In the event that you can’t attend, Nintendo has you covered, with both its own Twitch channel and Twitch’s round-the-clock E3 channel covering the whole extravaganza in its entirety. The madness begins at 7PM, and will pit 16 “previously selected highly skilled Super Smash Bros. players” against each other, to the death. Hopefully just within the game.
Nintendo is foregoing a traditional E3 press conference this year, so it’s great to see them fill the space with something fans will love equally as much, if not more so. The traditional conference’s true replacement, a special Nintendo Direct stream, will take place the morning of the very same day. Come June 10th, I highly suggest you wake up early, gather ’round the computer screen with your favorite Nintendo plushies, and get comfortable. It should be a great day.
