Nintendo's got a lot of forward momentum right now, but if 2018 is going to be anywhere near as successful as 2017, the company needs to keep hammering home the key "play anytime, anywhere" message of the Switch.
That's precisely what it's doing in Japan with this new spring line-up commercial, which not only shows of the versatility of the console but also gives ample screen-time to the likes of Mario Tennis Aces, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze and Kirby Star Allies, as well as the new Splatoon 2 single-player DLC.
It's a pretty effective piece of marketing - goodness knows we want to be invited to that rooftop party at the end so badly - but do you think Nintendo's slate of spring releases is strong enough to keep sales brisk? Let us know with a comment.
Comments 37
I have my switch hooked up through an LG short throw projector so now I always play on what is a small cinema screen, with a blue tooth sound system set up at the back of the room - it's such an awesome set up!
Be the change you want to see – organize a rooftop party!
Kirby finally in a commercial.
Love this trailer
@sparkyfilm Nice. We have a projection set up and it's funny but we have to zoom the size of the screen down for some games. A little too much for some people.
I think Mario Tennis Aces, played that way, is actually going to happen. Outdoors is a perfect way for that to go and outdoor projection is not even that hard or expensive anymore. (Relatively). I'm realizing how important it is that it supports the motion control style of play, though I was originally okay with it possibly not having it. It's obviously a dedicated gamer style competitive game first, but having that mode is going to get way more people to play, even if it's only for 10 minutes here and there.
Not to mention, I always wanted a Mario version of Wii Tennis/Sports. The Mii thing had its place and widened the appeal, but it never should have completely pushed the Nintendo characters out. Should've had Mario as the ref like the original Tennis, at least.
1st party wise I'll only be getting Mario Tennis, Captain Toad and perhaps Labo, being the big kid at heart that I am. I may get Hyrule Warriors further down the line since like Captain Toad I never got round to buying it on Wii U. Not forgetting the Splatoon 2 DLC, that will be mine day one. No complaints from me about the lack of games from the big N though, I've got enough on my plate.
To think, other than Smash and perhaps Fire Emblem we know nothing about what's coming in the 2nd half of the year. One of Pokémon or Metroid Prime 4 is going to happen.I'm siding with the latter. What else awaits us in the 2nd half though? I'm thinking we'll get Mario Maker for Switch.
3rd party wise, Dark Souls Remastered I cannot wait for. The lack of news on Wolfenstein 2 makes me think it won't be coming till into the 2nd half of the year,hope I'm wrong. YS VIII is another I'm looking forward to.
So after spending all that time in the ND showing how Mario Tennis is practically a tactical fighter game where the object is to break the other person's racket, the commercial only shows simple motion controls. I wholeheartedly approve. I also think there is more of a game in that commercial than there was in all on Mario Tennis on Wii U. Did that game even have motion?
Nintendo really is doing their best to keep Labo out of their Switch ads aren't they?
Is there a 30 second version of this where they mostly show portable and handheld mode? That was a lot of tv and big screens for the typical Japanese Switch ad.
That Splatoon 2 DLC looks great, but we still don't have the game. May have to borrow it or rent the game, buy the DLC. Still not sure where to get the game as I don't think my library is carrying Switch carts. Probably afraid those tiny bad tasting things will get lost. They've never had 3DS carts.
Don't forget this game also.
I love how they're trying to sell DK as a brutally tough platformer in this video.
@SmaggTheSmug My roof is shaped like ^... but I'm going for it!
GameXplain made a video having a close up look at the Splatoon 2 Octo DLC. (Sorry its not André who's talking.)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8452NSaVnvI
PS: Off topic but, can somebody teach me how to put actual YouTube videos in the comments instead of making a link.
I want to live in this commercial
If only it were really like this in real life. I always play my switch docked and alone. None of my local friends like Nintendo.
I suppose showing me sitting wearing my underpantst in my apartment swearing at Axiom Verge boss 4 wouldn’t have the same effect...
@KIRO Which one was boss 4? I remember that giant insect gave me trouble
Last night there were six people in my house, each with their own Switch. We played Splatoon and Mario Kart together and it was amazing. Gaming locally is so much more fun than online.
@Biff_ARMStrong stupid lobster you have to fire under it. Thing is, I know the technique to nail it but my weapons selection sometimes just decides to swap by itself...a small bug methinks....driving me bananas. Love the game though!
Nice commercial, poor new line up
@KIRO Hmm, I think that's the boss near the end of the game if I'm not mistaken. It is a tough game and I scrapped by the last boss without most the collectibles.
I wish my mom would play kirby with me too!
@TF-Warrior: https://www.nintendolife.com/forums/help/helpful_tips_for_formatting_messages
@Matthewxcv: Yeah, the sad thing is, most teens, and young adults on a beach, or rooftop are having sex, & alcohol. Nintendo, or any game co. is just not as popular with that crowd, as the video portrays.
@Everyone_Else: I caught it; you missed an f. "shows of*f* the versatility".
Looks good, but as I just said, most teens, & young adults on a beach, or rooftop are having alcohol, & sex, not video games. Still, the video is for marketing purposes, & it achieves that.
Nice ad. Yes I think the current lineup is strong enough. Nowhere near last year but last year's games don't stop having momentum. To most potential Switch owners there's Bayonetta 2, DKC and a Zelda spin-off which are new games as well as Kirby and Mario Tennis.
Bring your Switch anywhere, also bring your 40KG 900 dollar projector screen with you to the beach. XD
Living in Japan, I can vouch that no cute girls have come up to me to play Switch with me while on the bus or at the cafe. But I do see other people out with their Switches from time to time, especially on bullet trains to and from Tokyo.
Gotta say that Tropical Freeze looks even better (somehow) on the Switch.
@Ngamer Kirby's been in commercials since the Game Boy years
@Capt_N WOW! That's really helpful. Thank you!
@KIRO He gave me trouble until I realized using the second weapon you find (Nova? the one you detonate into smaller projectiles) makes him super easy to beat.
Just wait until you meet the wasp.
I tried playing Splatoon 2 in my car once. Instant motion sickness.
@TF-Warrior: You're welcome!
The video highlights the main problem with playing the Switch in public; within seconds of removing it you inevitably end up approached by random enthusiastic young women with a deep interest in your activities.
I can't get a moment of peace and quiet on public transport anymore unless my Switch is at home in its dock. I have to take out a dusty old book or something to appear sufficiently uninteresting.
How is this news? We already knew about this since the last Direct...
@Maxz Irony?
@aaronsullivan didn't Nintendo release a new play control version of Mario power tennis on the wii? I thought that version had motion control
@shani Something like that. I couldn't help notice that whenever the protagonist got their Switch out in the video, a bonny young lass would enthusiastically approach them soon afterwards. I wondered whether it was an inference Nintendo was trying to push (subconsciously or otherwise), despite the unlikelihood of it actually happening.
@Maxz I guess you could call it wishful thinking or even Nintendo's pipe dream.
But yeah, after seeing the first marketing videos (prior to the Switch's launch), the thought/fear of getting approached by random people also popped up in my head.
But in actuality, whenever/whereever I took my Switch out, not a single person - not even a child - noticed or cared about it.
Once, a fellow passenger on the train actually approached me, but not because of my Switch (which was standing on the table as well), but because of my slider laptop/convertible.
I mean, I couldn't care less, I don't actually want to be interrupted while I'm playing (unless it's one of those 'enthusiastic young women with a deep interest in your activities' you were talking about 😆). But it kinda surprises me that it doesn't spur any interest at all.
It's also strange to read about the Switch's record breaking sales numbers (it even broke the Wii's record in Germany) and the hype that it gets online, but not to see a single Switch out there in the wild (apart from a local Splatoon 2 tournament, which doesn't count, because it's a planned occurence).
Despite being against gaming on the go, I would've expected/wished to play locally with/against other Switch owners on the train or whereever.
Oh how this commercial makes me really miss Japan...
I like how this casual commercial focuses on motion control for Mario Tennis, but the Direct focused on the detail and mechanics of the game.
@Oat That rings a bell. I just looked it up. I wonder how well it was retrofit to it. I never did play it.
@shani @Maxz Man, I want to live the dream and play the Switch on a train, but alas, my commute is a just a 5-7 min bus ride to work.
@pinta_vodki 😆
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