I'm really wondering if Nintendo is just forfeiting the showroom floor because the PS4 and the Xbox3 are coming to E3. The WiiU is tanking, and they know they can't stand toe to toe with these new consoles.
Either that or they checked their vault, saw an empty room, and decided it was best to go a cheaper route and not show.
Thinking that Nintendo Direct is going to replace their showing at conventions is foolhardy. Of course Nintendo fans lap up Nintendo direct, but they're not reaching or impressing anyone outside that sphere. What they need right now is exposure outside the league of Nintendo die hards, who already have a WiiU and 3DS, and concentrate on trying to win over the vast majority who let the WiiU rot on the shelves. It will be a tremendous uphill battle, given what the WiiU is and in the face of the new consoles, but they have to try something. Burying their head in the sand isn't going to work.
They need a strong showing at E3, with games, games, games. Give people a reason to buy a WiiU and a 3DS. Give them something to look forward to. All they have now is exclusive games to help them survive this generation. They need to hit this hard, and now.