Nintendo lists Best Buy locations for E3 game previews

Nintendo has listed the 110 Best Buy stores that will give impatient gamers an opportunity to play new Wii U and 3DS titles alongside their launch at E3 2013 next month, as part of its attempt to boost enthusiasm in the fact of Sony and Microsoft’s next-gen consoles. The scheme, revealed earlier this month, will see select games put up for in-store play, though not offered for sale at that stage.

In the US, 89 Best Buy stores will be participating; the remaining 21 will be in Canada. Times on two days will be set aside for access, first from 4-8pm local time on Wednesday, June 12, and then again on Saturday, June 15, at 1-5pm local time.

The events are part of what Nintendo has already confirmed will be a software-focused E3 appearance for the company, with no new hardware expected. That’s arguably the biggest gap in Nintendo’s line-up, however. The company saw fewer sales of the Wii U than expected in the early months of 2013, blaming the shortfall on a lack of high-profile titles.

Although the stores are known, which titles will be shown is still unclear. One possibility is Nintendo’s exclusive on SEGA’s upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog game, Sonic Lost World, which will only be available on Wii U and 3DS; however, it could also be Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, or a number of other games.

It’s not the first time Nintendo has taken its consoles on the road to try to stimulate interest. Ahead of the launch of the Wii U in November 2012, Nintendo put sneak-peek booths in some Best Buy stores so that gamers could sample the motion-tracking console.

Participating Best Buy US stores:

Alabama
Birmingham
Huntsville

Arkansas
Fort Smith
North Little Rock

Arizona
Phoenix

California
Culver City
Elk Grove
Emeryville
San Jose
Tracy
Visalia

Colorado
Denver

Connecticut
Manchester

Delaware
Wilmington

Florida
Brandon
Fort Myers
Gainesville
Kissimmee
Miami
Pensacola

Georgia
Augusta
Duluth
Savannah
Smyrna

Iowa
Cedar Rapids
West Des Moines

Illinois
Bloomington
Schaumburg

Indiana
Greenwood

Kansas
Overland Park
Wichita

Kentucky
Florence
Lexington
Louisville

Louisiana
Harvey

Massachusetts
Cambridge
Dedham
Worcester

Maryland
Frederick
Glen Burnie
Wheaton

Michigan
Ann Arbor
Flint
Grand Rapids
Rochester Hills

Minnesota
Eden Prairie

Missouri
St. Louis

North Carolina
Cary
Fayetteville
Pineville
Winston-Salem

New Jersey
Iselin
West Paterson
Woodbury

New York
Albany
Amherst
Long Island City
Syracuse
Valley Stream
West Nyack

Ohio
Fairborn
North Olmsted
Reynoldsburg
Toledo

Oklahoma
Oklahoma City

Oregon
Portland

Pennsylvania
Erie
King of Prussia
Pittsburgh
Reading
Whitehall

South Carolina
Greenville
North Charleston

Tennessee
Brentwood
Knoxville
Memphis

Texas
Arlington
Austin
Houston
McAllen
The Woodlands
Tyler

Utah
Sandy

Virginia
Charlottesville
Glen Allen
Virginia Beach

Vermont
Williston

Washington
Lynnwood

Wisconsin
Greenfield