Event - E3 Invitational 2014 History of Smash at E3

[SuperSmashDrake]

Hi everyone. So as this year's E3 approaches, and Smash on the horizon for release this year, I just thought it would be nice to know what to expect, kinda. Smash' appearances at previous E3's have been all over the place, so I decided to compile everything here for you all. However, the focus is on playable characters.

E3 2001
Super Smash Bros. Melee is announced alongside the Nintendo GameCube. Variations of what we now know as the Opening Movie and Special Movie are shown. 14 characters are shown playable, 4 of which are newcomers. The characters are Mario, Peach, Yoshi, Kirby, DK, Ness, Bowser, Captain Falcon, Fox, Samus, Pikachu, Link, Sheik, and Ice Climbers. The newcomers are Peach, Bowser, Sheik, and Ice Climbers.

E3 2006
Super Smash Bros. Brawl is announced. A trailer is shown that features 9 characters playable. 5 are new comers, however, one is a transformation, and another is a guest character. The characters are Mario, Link, Pikachu, Kirby, Meta-Knight, Pit, Samus/Zero Suit Samus, Wario, and Snake. The newcomers are Meta-Knight, Pit, Zero Suit Samus, Wario, and Snake.

E3 2007
Super Smash Bros. Brawl is dated for a December 3, 2007 North American release. First footage of Giga Bowser as playable is shown in a small teaser.

E3 2012
Reggie says that a new Smash Bros. game is being developed for WiiU.

E3 2013
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS are formally announced. The trailer reveals 11 playable characters, 2 of which are newcomers, including another guest character. The characters are Mario, Link, Samus, Kirby, Fox, Pit, DK, Pikachu, Bowser, Villager, and MegaMan. The newcomers are Villager and MegaMan.

Later that day, another trailer is shown revealing Wii Fit Trainer as a newcomer. This brings the total character roster to 12, with 3 newcomers.

Post-E3 2013
We have been given a lot of information via the official website and the April Nintendo Direct. We have seen 3 more newcomers and 15 veterans. The newcomers being Rosalina & Luma, Little Mac, and Greninja. The veterans being Pikmin & Olimar, Luigi, Peach, Toon Link, Sonic, Marth, Zelda, King Dedede, Lucario, Diddy Kong, Zero Suit Samus, Sheik, Yoshi, Charizard, and Ike. We have also found out that character transformations have been cut.

In total, the roster for SSB4 is currently at 30. 6 newcomers and 24 veterans. We can compare that to the total roster of past games:
SSB - 12
SSBM - 25/26
SSBB - 35/39
SSB4 - 30

The roster is shaping up nicely and we have already surpassed the character amount for the first two games. I personally think we will pass the base roster number for Brawl at E3 this year. Between possible veterans and newcomers, I don't see why this game won't surpass its predecessors.

Veterans that we haven't seen yet are Captain Falcon, Ness, Jigglypuff, Dr. Mario, Young Link, Pichu, Mewtwo, Roy, Mr. Game & Watch, Ganondorf, Falco, Ice Climbers, Pokemon Trainer, Squirtle, Ivysaur, Snake, Wolf, R.O.B., Meta-Knight, Wario, and Lucas.

 

[Ryan.]

To answer the poll, yes. Also loved reading about the history of these E3's, wasn't following those games during their development so I didn't know.

 

[aliensalmon]

I'm not sure...but there's a lot of characters already, so I believe we might see a bigger roster than Brawl.

 

[SuperSmashDrake]

If we get 5 characters like Brawl's initial reveal, I think we would see Wario and Meta-Knight for sure. If the 5 are all related to the Brawl reveal, we could see Palutena, Ridley, and Snake (or a new 3rd-party).

 

[Aninymouse]

I'm gonna guess that the roster is 47 characters at most: 13 more veterans and 4 more newcomers. I'm pretty sure that Sakurai said it was less than 50.

And yes, I did enjoy the history lesson. It's been many years since all that went down.

 

[SSBCandidates]

Does the mention of it in 2011 counts?

 

[supercopper64]

I'm gonna guess that the roster is 47 characters at most: 13 more veterans and 4 more newcomers. I'm pretty sure that Sakurai said it was less than 50.

And yes, I did enjoy the history lesson. It's been many years since all that went down.

Everybody says that Sakurai said that, when the heck did he say it, GIVE ME A SOURCE!!

 

[Golden Gallade]

Everybody says that Sakurai said that, when the heck did he say it, GIVE ME A SOURCE!!

I think he said something along the lines of "I'm not going to add to many more newcomers and instead work on balancing the characters that are already there." And people somehow took that as less than 50.

 

[Bravetriforcer]

I think he said something along the lines of "I'm not going to add to many more newcomers and instead work on balancing the characters that are already there." And people somehow took that as less than 50.

"Too many" is really not very useful. It could mean as few as 12 (Gematsu + Rosalina) to as many as 16 (Which is still less than Brawl's 18). I'mma say it's going to be about 14 Newcomers, which is enough to cover any loose ends with "necessary" fighters and have room for Sakurai whimsy.

As for E3, I'd say we'll either match or be one higher than Brawl's roster afterwards. Show off Ganondorf and Metaknight's new movesets/rebalancing, obligatory Wario, some other Vets, and a new batch of Newcomers.

 

[supercopper64]

I think he said something along the lines of "I'm not going to add to many more newcomers and instead work on balancing the characters that are already there." And people somehow took that as less than 50.

But when did he say THAT?

 

[Smashoperatingbuddy123]

I think there could be a trailer like the first brawl one.

Could involve a bunch of hype veterans and newcomers.

 

[Ascended]

I think there'll be somewhere around 6 more characters shown off. Either 3 veterans and 3 newcomers, or 4 veterans and 2 newcomers, plus a final trailer showing the full starting roster and the 3DS and Wii U release dates.

 

[Golden Gallade]

But when did he say THAT?

In some interview shortly after the game was announced.

 

[supercopper64]

In some interview shortly after the game was announced.

Well that probably changed

 

[Golden Gallade]

Well that probably changed

Probably.

Just like he said he was having a hard time with ice climbers on 3ds so people say they will be cut. Why do people still bring that up? If you need prof that they solved the problem just look at Roslina.

 

[supercopper64]

Probably.

Just like he said he was having a hard time with ice climbers on 3ds so people say they will be cut. Why do people still bring that up? If you need prof that they solved the problem just look at Roslina.

Yeah he said both the less characters AND the ice climber thing before he even started developing the game

 

[Cpt.]

I hope to see a full character list at E3, but that won't happen. So I'll hope for 5 reveals.

 

[Artsy Omni]

Yeah he said both the less characters AND the ice climber thing before he even started developing the game

No, it was shortly after development started. He said that it was an obstacle that was before them, and like others said, the IC thing seems to be an obstacle that is now behind them.

 

[Golden Gallade]

Yeah he said both the less characters AND the ice climber thing before he even started developing the game

I thought they started development in 2012? or am I just crazy?

 

[Artsy Omni]

I thought they started development in 2012? or am I just crazy?

You're not crazy. it was 2012.

 

[Golden Gallade]

You're not crazy. it was 2012.

Alright, good.

 

[supercopper64]

Alright, good.

NOOO it started in the begining of 2013, a bit after uprising was complete, emphasis on the BIT.

 

[Bravetriforcer]

NOOO it started in the begining of 2013, a bit after uprising was complete, emphasis on the BIT.

No it was 2012...Uprising was released in 2012.

 

[supercopper64]

No it was 2012...Uprising was released in 2012.

EMPHASIS ON THE BIT, Uprising was finished in late 2012, and he waited a bit, than started development

 

[Bravetriforcer]

EMPHASIS ON THE BIT, Uprising was finished in late 2012, and he waited a bit, than started development

It was released in March of 2012.

 

[BKupa666]

E3 2007
Super Smash Bros. Brawl is dated for a December 3, 2007 North American release. A special gameplay trailer is shown using some scenes for the story mode, the Subspace Emissary. 10 characters are shown playable, 4 of which newcomers, who were all announced on the Dojo before hand. The characters are Peach, Ice Climbers, Bowser, Fox, DK, Zelda, Lucas, Ike, Pokemon Trainer, and Diddy Kong. The newcomers are Lucas, Ike, Pokemon Trainer, and Diddy Kong.

This...never happened. It was a 15-second clip of gameplay footage playing in the background while Reggie gave out the "ON DECEMBER...THIRD" release. Only Donkey Kong was revealed as a veteran, and no newcomers were shown.

 

[SuperSmashDrake]

This...never happened. It was a 15-second clip of gameplay footage playing in the background while Reggie gave out the "ON DECEMBER...THIRD" release. Only Donkey Kong was revealed as a veteran, and no newcomers were shown.

I looked into it more and you are correct. The video I described was the Nintendo Fall 2007 Conference. Someone mislabeled it online.

 

[supercopper64]

I looked into it more and you are correct. The video I described was the Nintendo Fall 2007 Conference. Someone mislabeled it online.

Also Reggie was not the one who announced wiiu/ 3ds versions, it was Iwata