Topic: The Nintendo Switch Thread

@DefHalan I see the last option as most likely (stay with their current system) meanwhile those who have none will get the PS4 Neo.

But there are more ways to attract people to a device other than hardware specs. Even if hardware specs are an exact match of the PS4, there are different features and software Nintendo could support that could attract consumers. Even having PS4 specs and having a unique controller could be enough to attract. There are other ways to attract customers than hardware specs.

I personally want to be able to play 3rd Party games on my Nintendo system. I am finally playing Tomb Raider (2013) on my PC and it is a real shame the Wii U missed out on this. It would have been great. Would love to have the map out on the GamePad at all times.

@Grumblevolcano PS4 owners could stay with their own systems and not buy another system, but I think most people that are interested in a Playstation system have gotten the PS4. The rest of the market is still open and it is still possible for Nintendo to announce something that could sway the market towards them. We won't know until Nintendo announces the NX.

@DefHalan IMO if NX is so awesome they should be confident enough to show it. Who cares if competition copies them, that's just a natural part of industry.

@WebHead The competition copying them and announcing a similar device could steal a lot of thunder away from the NX release, especially while we don't have a firm date for launch. The NX could still be delayed to end of 2017 and that could give Sony and Microsoft plenty of time to copy what the NX is trying to do. Competition will come, but why show your hand before you need?

I don't expect the NX to be anything amazing or blow the specs of the PS4/Xbox One out of the water. In fact, I'll be perfectly happy as long as it graphically/power wise sits on par or marginally below par those, which is what I expect Nintendo might aim for to. Frankly graphics have gotten so good nowadays it doesn't really make much difference to me. I don't have 4K, I don't care about QuadHD- it's the same with phones. Give me one that works and has the same functionality and general crispness of the others and I'm all happy. Give me a console that can have access to an abundance of games, and importantly, great games.

I think given the whole shuffle around that apparently has happened at Nintendo, I think this is what they are aiming to do. The NX is the first step of bridging the handheld/home console systems to use the same OS (like Apple or Android). I don't think however that this will be one console itself. Just that they will use very similar architecture that allows for easy development between platforms. I also think they will have had this in mind in getting 3rd party support back, but I do expect that the NX will still keep the spirit of the WiiU by including a gamepad with a smaller sized screen.

So yeah... an underpowered/on par console that'll be sold at a cheap price point but the aim will be to churn out first-party titles like there's no tomorrow and get some more third party support. I think it will be both a forward thinking (unifying OS/motion controls) and backwards thinking (back to great SNES/64 type games) console

@DefHalan well um dunno what to say. Glad I don't Nintendo anymore lol. This is one of the reasons why. They take too long.

@WebHead I find they are mostly worth the wait. Nintendo doesn't let me down too often. Sadly replacing the Wii U so early is a let down in my opinion lol

@DefHalan well I hope nx makes you happy. Sadly I still don't think you'll be playing your Wii U games on NX. At least for free and physically. And taking too long as in releasing info.

@WebHead I am all digital anyways, so the physical part doesn't bother me lol. I think backwards compatibility will be a thing, and I think the eShop will continue to grow with the NX instead of reseting like the Wii to Wii U or PS3 to PS4. (Yes, I know the PS Store is on both PS3 and PS4 but the games you own on PS3 can't be played on PS4, the dev has to port the game and offer it for free for those who already purchased it I believe)

@Project_Dolphin

Then I am confused by your definition of a PS4 clone. Most people, when they talk about a PS4 clone, mean specs that line up with the PS4 to allow for 3rd party support, which is what I was talking about. I was just mentioning ways they could still differentiate themselves while having a system that is a PS4 clone. So how is it not a PS4 clone when I said they could literally have the same exact specs as a PS4?

I don't think anyone is saying a Nintendo system with PS4 specs will do Nintendo well. Most people are saying getting back 3rd party support, and unique software will help them. Others are asking for unique features and some are asking for unqiue hardware, but I don't think anyone is saying system specs alone will do it. Most of the time, systems specs are brought up just for more 3rd party support.

@DefHalan I think the NX will be something we didn't know we wanted lol.

@GrailUK Like a Micro Console lol

@Project_Dolphin

That happened with the Wii, but a lot of that 3rd party support was phoned in shovel-ware. If Specs are something competitive, along with offering their gold mine idea, then 3rd Party support could be a lot more interesting.

@DefHalan maybe a subscription payment model. Like you pay $15/month for access to all games new and VC

@WebHead That seems like Nintendo would lose money doing that

@DefHalan Heya Mr D Erm...what is a micro console? Like the Game Boy Adance Micro? So...a reeeally small Wii U with a 3cm screen on the pad? (I know I'm being light hearted but it is a genuine question.)

@GrailUK Micro Console is basically a low powered console that is easy to develop for.

In my version of a Nintendo Micro Console, it would act as a optional companion device to the Handheld and Home Consoles. It would allow you to stream games from your console in one room, to a TV in another room. It would allow you a way to do download play multiplayer with your Portable Console. It would be able to run small eShop titles and VC titles on the system. It would be a cheap way into the Nintendo marketplace, giving new customers a taste of Nintendo software while enhancing loyal customer's experiences. It would give developers a common ground point to develop for since any game developed for the Micro Console would work on both the Handheld and Home Console. It would also house multimedia apps, such as Netflix and Hulu, which would also be compatible on those other consoles.

A Micro Console could go through faster revisions to enhance and add more features that complement the other systems for frequently and slowly add more power that developers could use, but at the risk of not working on older versions of the micro console. It would probably be priced between $75 and $150, so it wouldn't be too expensive for the users to own multiples of them incase they want them in multiple rooms. This would really create a family of devices that work well together and can be cheap enough to be competitive.

_{I haven't used Chromecast, but I imagine it is similar. The heavy lifting is done by your home console which it is connected to through your router, but lighter things can be done on the device itself. It would bring all your devices together and provide you with a lot of value at a low price.}

@DefHalan Blimey! What does it do if you don't own either the handheld or console?