Topic: The Nintendo Switch Thread

@Spoony_Tech By the 'other two', you mean the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in regards to the not-very-surprising PES 2018 news?

And in regards to the above video showing the likes of Hollow Knight, Mighty Gunvolt Burst and Owlboy, it seems that the Switch is carrying on with the portable indies legacy of the PS Vita, which is good news for all!

Konami's dedication to the Switch right there. Charge €50 for a game that's not even worth half the price and drop any further support.

So if PES 2018 isn't coming to Switch, its not a case of too little RAM. Or a weak CPU/GPU. 360 and PS3 use architecture that compared to Switch are very removed from what PS4 and Xbox One use...

So is this another case of EA on Wii U where they put a gme out for full price that isn't really worth it then walk away when it doesn't sell?

So why mention the size of the market if its an issue of power?

I have a horrible feeling support depends on market size...which is better, but it also requires dev knowing what fits this target market, and historically they miss the mark and then run.

I took it to mean the challenge of getting it to run of the Switch is too much given the audience, for example something like Resident Evil 2 on the N64 was astonishing given it was 2 discs on the PS yet still fitted on a cart but did it anyway as they felt there would be enough sales for it

@FGPackers LOL naw, the flight was only four hours...I fell asleep because I wasn't used to the time change (and I drive everywhere because it is more fun, but I had to get home quickly so plane it was).

I think the thing is that a lot of "not really gamers as we know it but play PES and FIFA religiously" type gamers still own and play PS3/XBox 360 and see no reason to or value in moving on to PS4/XBox One until their existing machine actually stops working. So there's a vast audience there that will buy those games on those formats.

It also helps that the people still playing PS3/XBox 360 include a lot of children who have them as hand me downs. Also I'd assume they're still big in Brazil.

Either way it's a shame. PES and FIFA are really important if the Switch is to find major mainstream success. A year down the line things might be different.

At the risk of digging up a slightly buried conversation thread from this topic - I think there are some genres that are likely to sell better at or near launch. These are largely games as tech demos (like 1-2 Switch) or games that are designed to push graphics but deliver games that are ultimately very slight (like Knack or The Order). In part because there's less competition but also because their role in demonstrating the novel and new gives them a higher visibility amongst the press and makes them more desirable amongst early adopters who want to justify their big expensive new toy.

On the flip side there are genres that would struggle early on but which will sell much better as the install base grows. I'd put sports games in this category. Someone who buys a console for FIFA 18 will probably also want to buy FIFA 19 and FIFA 20 and over time these people add up.

I'm sure EA is quite happy they will be the only soccer game on the system but I do hope that doesn't mean they can give us an average port.

@BLP_Software Because it is two separate issues instead of one?

I think the majority of developers are happy with the PC and PlayStation 4 combo at this moment in time; it's less risk adverse too, given the power of both system (in that you won't be held back with your overall vision quite as much) as well as the number of folks who buy and plays games on said formats.

Do you cater to an audience of nearly 60 million or around 2-3 million as of today? This time next year however, perhaps it will be more likely to be a singular issue (power) instead of two.

@Spoony_Tech EA is packing their bags already and you can tell by their language.

"Nothing else planned right now."
"We see the sales"
"FIFA later this year"

So lets put this into perspective.

They make FIFA. It wont sell as well as the others just on install base numbers alone. It will sell more elsewhere just on the basis that those other systems are at least 3 years old and have more potential consumers due to time. But that wont matter. It wont have sold as many as PS4/PS3/360/One individually.

Even if its the best performing individual version, unless its by one very large gap, they'll still say the audience is elsewhere and walk off.

I think they are betting on it.

'NO PLANS' FOR DESTINY 2 ON NINTENDO SWITCH
"I think it's pretty unrealistic."

http://ie.ign.com/articles/2017/05/19/no-plans-for-destiny-2-...

How many Switch have been sold worldwide so far? I've been trawling the internet and the only solid figures I can find is the 2.7 mill sold in march and then a few regional results. Anyone know or can make an educated guess?

@BLP_Software I thought they said more recently that they are considering more games on the system as we speak? They have some good fits for the Switch and would sell well if they did.

@BigBadJohn Nothing confirmed but when you add the figured from NA in April and what Japan has done so far alone that's about 3.5 million and that doesn't include may sales.

@BLP_Software What @Spoony_Tech said. I can throw EA farther than I trust them but I really do think they are somewhat encouraged by the interest the Switch is getting. Time will tell of course but if it gets me close to NHL on the go I will have to have a little faith (oh that sounds weird). Let me go grab my blue lantern ring...

@Peek-a-boo Do you cater to an audience of nearly 80 million, if we include Steam, or 2-3 million?

Good question: Depends what your game is. Certain audiences will be in certain places. As a developer your vision will be for a certain demographic. If it wont fit for Switch and that audience, then take it elsewhere, don't waste the money, but the same is true in reverse. You also have to consider the feature set of the hardware. You wont get a keyboard reaching simulation like ARMA on a controller, for instance.

The answer is yes and no. How you make you game is influenced by who it is for and what it will be. But what it will be is limited by how you are going to end up making it and who you want to target. But who you want to target is based on what the game is, and how much money you want back based on how its made.

It's the basic economic problem (I recently lectured on this subject) and apparently developers I spoke to don't consider this when forming an idea.

I believe it is one problem: The market that gentlemen wants to appeal to are people who like that genre and are prevalent on other ecosystems. He therefore made the decision to tune his game to what that audience wants.

You say it is two problems when in actuality, its one. How you make it, who you make it for, and what it is you make, is the basic economic problem. He made the right call, and I respect him for that. However, I don't think he was fully aware of why he made that call, and so he answered the question by addressing two of three aspects of the problem.

A lot of developers can save themselves the backlash of the power complaints or sales numbers by simply saying: That's not the audience my game is made for, or the audience I am targeting with this specific product.

@Spoony_Tech @Ryu_Niiyama Think in the mindset of the money not the PR.

I will throw this out there. Right now, it's just FIFA. If that changes, great. But this was a company that has been optimistic on a lot of things. EA says a lot of things. Where did it all go? Right now, being bullish, fine, cool, do that.

But if it keeps selling and nothing happens? Or the FIFA results come in an EA cites those? I wouldn't be shocked. I'm fully prepared for it. Money talks more than fan demands to large companies.

@BLP_Software That is why I said the interest the switch is getting. the system is selling like hotcakes right now. EA doesn't do anything for goodwill, they don't care. However the switch is getting a big marketing push and sales and interest reflects that. So they may take a chance. We will get madden at least I'm willing to bet on that.

The sad truth of the matter is Fifa interests me the least. I will most likely not get it. You give me any of their other games and I'm all over it. I know the series does well but they may do better to sell Madden in NA.

Let me add that though it's rarely mentioned Plants Vs Zombies Garden Warfare would be a perfect fit. It's as close to a Splatoon type game out there and who wouldn't want a Star Wars game on the system? As long as it's not half baked it will sell often on name alone.

NBA2K18 special edition is GAME exclusive in the UK.