Topic: So, two years ago we were digesting the Switch Launch presentation

@JasmineDragon The Switch is perfect for people like us. Instead of expecting from us to make time for it in front of a TV and forcing us to play a determined way, the Switch adapts to our lifestyles beautifully and let us play anytime and anywhere.
That, to me, is much more valuable than a few AAA games or rendering power.

My thoughts at the time, at least IIRC, were that there were some valid concerns but that the March launch was really smart and it would do well. In fact, I'm still angry that I predicted exactly how the March launch and everything about the Switch launch was secretly clever yet only wrote it down after the fact. But even at my most optimistic I didn't expect it to do THIS WELL, nor did I think the 3rd party curse would be broken.

I have to say, given that it cost nearly twice what the 3DS cost, it has sold better than I expected.

My 2 reactions are

1) It's sold a lot better than I thought. I thought it would be successful enough to keep Nintendo going but nothing beyond that (40-50 million lifetime sort of numbers, looks like it could end up being twice that if they play their cards right)

2) I correctly guessed that a lot of the extra hardware gimmicks would largely be ignored. That's been mostly true. It's certainly failed to rejuvenate motion controls to their Wii levels of interest. Trying to cater to too many different audiences at the same time is always a mistake (within the same product). I'm glad they've largely seemed to aim things at the hardcore gaming audience rather than the casual family audience. The Switch has already got about as many good games as the Wii managed in its entire lifespan.

@Dezzy

I still think they’ve got their eye on the casual market down the line when the price is cheaper. They’ve done well avoiding that so far.

Wasn't impressed very much by that presentation. Was cool but at the same time felt a bit underwhelming for an intro of a new console. Glad it's worked out well for nintendo and I am happy I returned after 2 decades away

Well, they weren't completely wrong! I started XC2 around January last year; finished it in the summer, around June/July. I hardly played anything else in those six months or so either.

Didn't watch the original launch video, but did get caught up in the hype in early 2017 and, once I saw the feedback on Zelda BotW and the confirmation that Dragon Quest XI and Shin Megami Tensei were on the release slate, I decided to bite the bullet. Most of the initial hardware reviews came back slightly lukewarm just before the launch, and quite a few people cancelled their preorders, so I managed to preorder a few days before the official release.

Delighted with the machine - though I'm still waiting for Dragon Quest XI and Shin Megami Tensei, with no release dates for either nearly two years later.