Nintendo giving fans an easier way to try Super Smash Bros. on Switch at E3 2018

Nintendo’s gameplay booth has been among the most highly trafficked at E3 since the show opened to the public, and the company recognizes that. (We can’t forget how people bum rushed the showfloor as soon as it opened the past two years, hoping to secure a spot in an infinitely winding line.) With plans to devote much of its E3 2018 floor space to Super Smash Bros. for Switch, Nintendo has dramatically optimized the process for getting hands-on time with its new game.

“To shorten the time fans will need to wait in line to try it, Nintendo invites E3 attendees to reserve play slots ahead of time for just this game,” the company announced. “This should provide fans with a faster, smoother experience so they can play the Super Smash Bros. game and spend more time enjoying the rest of the June 12-14 show.”

Registered E3 2018 attendees will receive information from the event’s organizers starting June 5, in an email that outlines all possible opportunities to reserve play time with Smash Bros. Only those who sign up in advance will be able to play the game at the show; they’ll receive their tickets as a QR code upon successful registration.

The tickets will entitle players to checking out one of two modes: “for fun,” Smash Bros.’ more casual type of match, and “for glory,” which is a heated, elimination-based fight. You won’t be able to choose both, mind you; at the time of registration, you must choose which of the two you’re prepared to try out at E3.

Hopefully this goes a lot better than Nintendo’s previous method of “letting everyone sit outside their booth all day long, playing their Nintendo 3DS and Switch consoles until the batteries died.” (By the way: If a Nintendo rep spots you playing your Switch while you’re at the convention center, you’ll get a special pin based on the console, which is a nice gesture.)