[UPDATE] Nintendo Blocks SSBM from EVO Livestreams, then Backtracks - News

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UPDATE: Nintendo of America has reversed course and granted permission to air Super Smash Bros. Melee on the EVO livestreams, mere hours after announcing to the contrary. A large outcry from the community likely caused the reversal.

ORIGINAL STORY: Super Smash Bros. Melee will be making a rare appearance at EVO this year, but those of you who plan to watch the online streams will not be able to watch any of the matches. Nintendo of America has sent a cease and desist letter to the EVO Tournament Series, preventing Super Smash Bros. Melee from being shown on the event's livestreams.

Luigi is blasting away from EVO's livestreams.

 “Regrettably, we’ve just been informed by Nintendo of America Inc. that we do not have permission to broadcast Super Smash Bros. Melee for Evo 2013,” said a statement from the EVO organizers. “In light of this, we must make the following changes to the schedule.

Smash has been removed from the stream schedule and replaced with a mix of Persona 4 Arena and King of Fighters XIII, Smash Finals have been moved from Sunday to Saturday, 2:00 PM, Persona 4 Arena Finals have been moved to Sunday, 10:00 AM, King of Fighters XIII Finals have beem moved to Sunday, 12:00 PM."

The news puts a damper on the excitement over the inclusion of the old 2001 Gamecube fighter. Tournament organizers held a Facebook poll to determine which game should be added to EVO this year, with any games garnering 500 or more votes being entered in a fundraising competition. Super Smash Bros. Melee won the fundraising event, as its fans raised $94,683 out of the total of $225,774 raised by the event. 

This isn't the first time Nintendo of America has drawn the internet's ire. The company recently drew criticism for claiming advertising revenue from Youtube videos featuring Nintendo games.

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