Topic: I did the Millennial thing from the Switch commercials.

@Heavyarms55 Mainly because over here, it's a sign of "richness" and it'll probably ends up with you being robbed.

Just general areas not being safe I guess, phones are okay because there's a lot of phones going around. But gaming device? That's dangerous.

Even for 3DS I don't really like to pull it out outside, let alone Switch.

@darkfenrir That doesn't make any sense. Smartphones are way more expensive than Switch, let alone 3DS... And they appeal to "regular" people more.

Not everyone has an expensive phone. And they've become more of a norm than a luxury.

Can you still get assaulted and mugged for your phone? Oh yes, absolutely, you'll probably put yourself in danger if you walk with your iPhone X at the end of a selfie stick alone at night... But it's a lot easier to feel safe when you know everyone else in the bus is also discretely checking their phone.

A dedicated gaming system is not a necessity or the status quo. It's a luxury.

@Heavyarms55 Most people have phones because they need to stay in contact with people, do things for work and other everyday tasks. So it's considered a normal item for someone to have.

A Switch is made just for gaming, so it's more likely to be a sign that the person with it has more money/disposable income, and are therefore worth stealing from.

Just a thought...

What these people said. It's not about the fact phones are more expensive, it's more of the fact that it's a very luxurious item and it's TECHNOLOGY.

(The usual pay over here is around 300-400 USD a month after all)

With so many people playing games on their smartphone, no one has ever given me weird glances when I played my 3DS out in public. The Switch is harder to play outside only because it is much bigger and most games don't allow for that 5-10 min gameplay.

Just a few moments ago, I played my Switch at a local Starbucks and a cop, seeing me play my Switch, gave me a nod.

@Kimyonaakuma That's a fair point. I just think that because phones are at times as much as or more than 3 times the cost of a Switch, and more useful to more people, that they would be more valuable to steal. Plus, it can be loaded with personal information that can be much more valuable than the phone itself - for all those people who do banking and such with their phones (call me old fashion but I refuse to do that!). Further, phones are easier to steal, they are generic, unless you do something to it, how can you confirm that his iPhone 8 is actually your iPhone 8 or her iPhone 8 or that other guy's iPhone 8?

I guess when I think about crime I always thing about the value of the item being targeted, not what that item might imply about the owner. Looking at it from that point of view, I think playing a Switch might lead someone to following you home to rob your house, in that case. Since the Switch implies more disposable income, that fact would imply more loot at the targets home.

@Heavyarms55 @darkfenrir @Yosheel @Kimyonaakuma That might be why a lot of people choose to get a Switch with gray Joy Cons instead of a Switch with neon Joy Cons. Besides the obvious attractive color of neon drawing unwanted attention, having gray joy cons at the side does make the Switch look like a generic cheap Android tablet with gray add on mini controllers. Of course us or anyone else familiar with Nintendo would be able to identify it as a Switch, but it may be difficult for people not familiar with video games. Neon Joy Cons pretty much scream out that you're using a Switch (since no other personal electronic device has those colored sides), so in that sense Gray ones are better than Neon for playing in public.

To be fair, neon Joy-Cons just look too flamboyant for me. I appreciate they look just like popsicles which make them look very delicious, but I like my technology to be subdued. It's why I love my black Wii U and 3DS as well.

Of course, I say that but also wish for the Xenoblade 2 Pro Controller which is also pretty colorful with that design and red/green colors, so take my reasoning however you wish.

@shadow-wolf Even then though... a cheap Android tablet is still a luxury item worth a couple hundred dollars. Unless it is some 5 year old thing you bought used. That isn't much cheaper than a Switch really.

@shadow-wolf
"Neon Joy Cons pretty much scream out that you're using a Switch (since no other personal electronic device has those colored sides), so in that sense Gray ones are better than Neon for playing in public."

My Joy Cons are Neon Blue and White.
They are look pretty in public.
I have ever saw some kids in my place brought their Switch with Neon Joy Cons attached, usually Neon Red & Blue.

@Heavyarms55 I mean IIRC most Android makers aren’t releasing tablets in the size of the Switch anymore. They’re usually three or more years old and thus pretty cheap. And the ones that still do release them for less than $200.

But regardless, the Switch is becoming popular so more and more people are becoming aware of it and its distinctive look. Which doesn’t bode well for playing out in public.

@Anti-Matter of course they’re pretty ... to you and everyone else around you. It’s also pretty to potential thieves looking around. Pretty draws attention. The kids don’t know any better, which is probably why they’re holding out their neon Switch as they walk around.

@shadow-wolf It really makes me sad that this is the sort of society we have. Sad, but not surprised. Even in Japan, during those first few weeks when the Switch was super hard to get, a friend of mine did have his stolen. One must be careful.