Topic: The Nintendo Switch Thread

@Octane Microtransactions are dangerous because they don't seem like a large expense, but it can build up over time to an amount over what you would normally pay for a single game. This is a set rate. The sum of all of a person's subscriptions can add up, but that can be managed, and it's a lot less dangerous than paying 3 to 4 times the intended amount on a single game.

@Ralizah You don't think that the core ability to play with other people around the world instantly isn't a service that's worth charging for, when such a service requires an active daily expense? I mean, sure, online has been around for a while, but that doesn't mean it's valueless.

I suppose you could argue that the price you pay online should be included in the games you buy, but that would mean that a single-player game of the same price would be less costly to run. Nintendo hasn't priced their online games higher yet, which is probably why they've been so reluctant to make them until recently. I've been grateful that Nintendo hasn't charged us for it yet, but I knew it couldn't last.

@Octane I know it was free for Wii U and Steam, but that doesn't make charging for it downright unreasonable. Believe me, of this service was $120 per year, I'd be singing a different tune. But online service isn't valueless, it isn't a given, at least in my eyes. To be honest, I'm not sure how Steam gets away with not charging for it.

I dunno, I don't mind it. I of course prefer free anytime, but this is exactly how much I would expect to pay for a basic, barebones online service, and if this encourages Nintendo to make more of their games online-compatible, all the better. Now their accessories; those are overpriced!

@Nicolaison Do we even know how expensive it is to keep the servers running? I don't believe any company every released a statement on that. If Steam can do it for free, I doubt it's expensive. Look, it is what it is, Nintendo was going to implement a paid service eventually (they're not different, they're just 10 years late with everything ), and I agree, €20 isn't a lot, at all (although it is another small price to pay, and they add up). I have yet to see what's different from the Wii U's service that warrants the subscription. Last time I checked, voice chat is still more complicated than it was on the DS, and more limited than on probably any other console right now. And even if they implemented more modern features, I could be indifferent towards it, but I will always find it difficult to be glad they asking us to pay for the services. I'm of the opinion that if they're offering online games, they should provide the services too, I already paid for the game.

@Octane Expensive enough for Nintendo to axe the DS and Wii's service. I'm sure the Wii U isn't too far behind. It can't just be nothing. The only explanation for them avoiding putting online services into the many games that could've used them over the years is that they were trying to cut back on expenses that weren't reaping any profit.

@MarcelRguez Oh, okay. Well, as someone who keeps a close eye on monthly budget and total gaming expenses, I still don't mind paying such a small price. But, of course, it's totally okay if some of you feel otherwise. It's all a matter of opinion and personalized decision-making that make us functioning adults.

It works out to be $30AU/year. So if there are two NES games I'm into and one discount I want to take advantage of? It just about pays for itself.

And I for one am glad about two things people are going nuts about. I'm glad it's delayed because it means I save $10AU or so. I'm also glad it's not replacing the VC because I already "own" quite a few of those on Wii U & 3DS

ARMS Creators Explain How Nintendo Keep Switch File Sizes So Small

https://mynintendonews.com/2017/06/03/arms-creators-explain-h...

Got my 8bitdo SNES30 controller early. As promised, here are my impressions:

• OK, so first off, this thing is a dead ringer for a real SNES controller, and not only in terms of the appearance. I compared it with one of my real SNES controllers, putting them side by side, feeling them, and... aside from the 8bitdo controller having slightly clickier buttons and bumpers, it feels almost identical. ESPECIALLY the D-Pad. The weight is almost identical as well. It's uncanny how close this is to the real thing.
• I've tried this out on a PC, a phone, and the Switch, and never had any issue connecting it when I found out what order of buttons to push. The signal on this thing is great.
• Haven't noticed any latency issues when playing games. At least, not more than you'd get with any wireless controller.
• The D-Pad on this thing is AMAZING. One of the Switch games I tried it out with was Puyo Puyo Tetris, since the controller mixing up inputs can royally screw a person over in Tetris thanks to the up command slamming pieces down. I lost my match, but only because the computer I was playing against seemed unnaturally skilled at the game. Never once did it mix up an input when I was clicking left or right on the D-Pad. I still prefer playing with the D-buttons in PPT, but this is a perfectly satisfactory alternative.

Not sure how it controls with other N-G games, but Blazing Star was AMAZING with this controller. It felt SO comfortable.

Also tried out Mario Kart 8 and Fast RMX. Both control surprisingly well. Had to do a little but of button remapping in Fast RMX, but I found a perfectly acceptable alternative control style. I have to admit, though: I don't exactly notice the HD rumble when it's there, but I certainly notice its absence. It was very weird not feeling those familiar rumbles when I went off-course and such.

It's very weird and very cool to play these modern games with an SNES controller.

• I'm not sure I charged it all the way when I first got it, and I did do a fair amount of playing around with it throughout the day, but by the time I got done messing with it, its battery life had dropped significantly. I don't think this thing will be as puny as my Dualshock 4 in terms of battery life, but don't expect 20 hours of playtime like you'd get from the joycons.

Overall, I'm SUPER impressed with this thing. So glad I opted for this over a Pro Controller: this thing has a better D-Pad and, even if you get the more expensive Pro version, it's still thirty or so dollars cheaper.

I suppose it could flake out on me over time, but it has made a phenomenal first impression.

I find it amusing that the biggest discussion about the top selling video game console in the world currently (correct me if PS4 has stopped Switch's streak yet), right before E3, is about how we will play games from 20+ years ago.

no wonder people think nintendo is nothing but nostalgia lololol

So this game is coming to the Nintendo Switch. It's been known for the past couple of months but it's the first I've heard of it and don't remember anyone posting anything about it. It looks interesting.

Pine - Kickstarter Trailer Coming To Nintendo Switch Full HD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FtfU1RbZBU

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/twirlbound/pine-an-actio...

Don't remember this site posting any stories about it either.

Wow another really interesting title!

That does look interesting and it's the first of me seeing it too. I had a wee look at it's development blog and they've been updating it every week which is good to see. More Kickstarted projects should do the same. The team is from Breda in the Netherlands.I worked there for a few weeks back in 2004,lovely city.

To be fair some people have been talking about the games you get in the subscription as a replacement from the start. The fact that Nintendo are now talking about just NES games with multiplayer and that it's not the same as the VC? I think the conclusion people are coming to is pretty fair.

Remember that most of the best selling VC titles are single player focused. Mario, Zelda, Metroid etc. They're not going to give up on the idea of selling them. Them making a point of saying that it isn't the same thing? That says quite a bit. Because they could have just as easily said nothing.

Well the NES Mini was a thing and the FF7 remake was a huge deal for Sony not that long ago. Hard to be amused when the reaction is super typical....

I actually think the subscription model is a good idea, but it needs to be more than just NES games. Now if we got SNES, GB, N64, GBA, GC, and Wii games for $20 a year? That'd be an utter steal. Heck, I'd pay double that if we got access to all of that.

@Bolt_Strike Why don't you ask for a free yacht while you're in la la land?

So I've been thinking more about what Nintendo said yesterday:

Nintendo Switch Online subscribers will have ongoing access to a library of classic games with added online play. Users can play as many of the games as they want, as often as they like, as long as they have an active subscription.

Nintendo Switch Online subscribers will be able to play a wide variety of classic games, including Super Mario Bros. 3, Balloon Fight and Dr. Mario. More games will be announced at a later date. At launch the classic game library will include NES games. Super NES games continue to be under consideration, but we have nothing further to announce at this time.

I think your €20 a year gets you your online play access to new games and then access to a library of NES games that have been tweaked so they can be played online.

Nintendo at no point has mentioned Virtual Console and deliberately so. I'd say that it will be separate from this and you'll still be able to buy them in the traditional way. What previous consoles we'll have access to I don't know but I'd imagine up to and including Gamecube. If HAMSTER can fart out SNES games every other week no problem then surely Nintendo an billion dollar organisation and who made these platforms should have no problem.

So this may be Nintendo getting the good and the bad out of the way yesterday and then at E3 they'll announce the Virtual Console which will be coming out soon and not next year.

Well, as I said above. There's one part of this that IMO all but confirms that the VC will continue.

Nintendo Switch Online subscribers will have ongoing access to a library of classic games with added online play. Users can play as many of the games as they want, as often as they like, as long as they have an active subscription.

There are only so many classic games that had multiplayer modes. A lot of them didn't. Given they're adding online play to these games I think its fair to assume that single player games are excluded. If that's the main appeal of these releases then single player games won't make much sense.

And you just know that Nintendo will want to sell classic single player games. Just like I'm sure they'll want to sell SMB3 and Dr Mario to people who choose not to subscribe to the service.

It would be a real shame if only NES games get the added online play now.Of all the games from the 8/16 bit generation,I can't think of a better candidate than Super Mario Kart.I was sure that was going to be the game the service launched with in Autumn.But knowing what we know now,if it does happen it's a long way off yet.

I'll guess Hockey,Golf,Tennis and Soccer will be some of the others.Urban Champion Online I would put a wager on it happening.Not sure online play can save those.NES Open Golf,Tecmo Super Bowl,Double Dribble and Blades of Steel could be a lot of fun though.Imagine mutliplayer Track and Field,that would be a laugh.

@skywake SMB3 mutliplayer was turn about though,that wouldn't work online .There was the old Mario Bros game included that could be played at the same time but surely it won't be just that.

@MarcelRguez If the online service can launch with a back catalogue of NES, SNES, N64 and GC games emulated fine for Switch in the space of a year then heck I want what Nintendo is taking. Makes one game a week on VC seem pathetic (wait...it was!)

They do charge a lot more for it, though.