Topic: The Nintendo Switch Thread

All I know is, Dragon Quest XI is coming to Switch. That's good enough for me. I'll play it when it arrives. Definitely check out the 3DS version but I'm not going to sink my teeth into it until it drops on Switch.

And now Dragon Quest Builders 2? This is perfect! I loved the first one- I'm not a big Minecraft gamer but this is a game that I really like. The first one hit PS4 and Vita, the second is coming to PS4 and Switch. Exactly what I was hoping for.

@Octane Or maybe all of them are experiencing the same pressure from Sony. That Sony has noticed the Switch is a real threat and have stepped up their monopolistic abuse to make the PS4 stay on top.

@Grumblevolcano Sony has been doing that in the UK since the day it came out. Price drop. Bam. Switch gets a major game, PS4 is right there with a better deal. This would not be surprising given Switch has done a fifth of what PS4 has done in Japan already.

NBA 2K18 will have amiibo support.

https://store.nintendo.co.jp/item/HAC_P_AB38A.html

I expect WWE 2K18 and probably FIFA 18 as well will be amiibo compatible.

@Grumblevolcano Afraid the Switch is getting games like RE7 and Steep a year late? Yeah... I doubt it. I believe it when I see it. Exclusivity deals like that are very expensive. If Sony was moneyhatting every company, they would be bankrupt in no time. Likely explanation? Third parties were cautious to jump on board from the start, after what happened with the Wii U. And Nintendo clearly doesn't care about third party support, they know they need it, but they are not the company that would go out of its way to pay companies to bring over games.

@BLP_Software That's just competition...

@Octane Of course Nintendo want third parties. They get cash when they sell a game on their system. I honestly think the only reason third parties aren't ready to release yet is purely the fact the damn thing launched in March as opposed to a more conventional time for a home console! My personal theory is the Switch was released earlier than intended and it caught third parties out (after all, Bomberman needed a patch, many indie games missed the launch and the main hook game was in development for 5 years on a previous console. If the Switch released later in the year, then 2K and EA would have had their sports games in the launch window.) Third parties will be gearing up for the busier time of the year so reluctant to release on a new system now (especially as supply constraints are limiting the target market. The longer they wait the bigger their release numbers will be.) Nintendo were losing millions and this gives them a clear monopoly until October to recoup WiiU costs with ports and a untouched blue ocean to sell Mario to. There will be a huge direct sometime before Holiday season and this together with the online in the new year will be like a second launch! (Maybe being cynical.)

@GrailUK Almost all games get patched at launch these days, that's hardly evidence

I don't think the Switch itself was rushed. I think it has more to do with the communication between Nintendo and other companies. They were also very selective with their dev kits I've heard.

@Octane Lol, you are so right about patching (don't know if I should be smiling!)

The existence of patching is a very good thing but it has been abused this gen a lot.

I don't know if patching is that good, considering that it's become an excuse for many publishers to release half assed games.

It's interesting to see, though, that some third parties are only reacting now to the Switch's sales, like Capcom. It seems they though it would be a disaster like the Wii U and now are rushing to get something out, and not have to explain to shareholders why they don't have anything available on the new shiny system.

5000 people in 3 different locations queuing up for a chance to buy a console that has already been on the market for 5 months, with only a 10% chance at best of success. That's crazy!

@OorWullie Only 5000? Nintendo are doomed! Not enough people want the Switch, it's going to fail! They should be selling a gazillion a day! 😉😛

@SLIGEACH_EIRE Cripes! You beat me to it!

Unfortunately, this thread that I posted got locked before anyone could respond to it. It's a shame, as I think that a leaked game that we previously didn't know about was a "big deal".
But I'm curious. What do all of you think of this Zelda spin-off from what we currently know about it?
Personally, I think it's quite cool. From what my friend told me, it seems to be the Zelda sports spin-off that we've been wanting for years. As exciting as it can be, it's hard to think of an idea for a multiplayer sports game that's not out of tone with the Zelda series. But I think it was a great idea to expand on those boss battles in Zelda games (which were already quite badminton-like actually) and turning it into some kind of sport and involving more characters. I think it will be fun. Hope it turns out well.

@Triforce_power What do we know about it?

@Triforce_power I don't mean to doubt you but the only sources are yourself and the mate who supposedly told you. A Zelda Badminton game is about as unbelievable a concept as someone could possibly come up with. But then again that's just like Nintendo to come up with something crazy. Still I don't believe it, sorry.

@Triforce_power Yeah I don't believe this for a moment. Nintendo already has a Mario tennis franchise which would scratch that itch should they wish to include Zelda characters into future instalments. I'm not saying your friend hasn't been involved in some concept for a studio that has put forward the idea of said game to Nintendo, but as for an actual video game actively in development to be published by Nintendo... No.

I liked the crossbow practise game, but this sounds a little bit too far out.

Whilst I wouldn't necessarily go as far as @BLP_Software or @Grumlevolcano they are not completely wrong.

Whilst it may be 'just competition' there are limits and laws that regulate that competition (in the UK at least). Practices like price dumping to keep potential competitors out of the market unfairly can, for instance, be illegal in some instances. Sony is nowhere near that of course but some of their strategies, whilst great for their management and sales team, are not particularly good for the industry or even Sony investors.

What you see with Sony from the retail side is that they are very aggressive at sales promotions and their pricing is determined based on protecting a near monopoly status rather than maximising their revenues in the here and now. So they announce fantastic (time limited) deals on hardware and software when their competitors have big launches planned - purely as spoiling actions. Anyone interested in buying a PS4 Pro is well advised to wait until the week before the XBox One X launches - the PS4 Pro will get a £100+ discount that week (possibly in the form of a very time limited bundle).

From a marketing side of things Sony, in their completely dominant position, doesn't need to be paying for exclusivity or even "marketing exclusivity" (as they do with Destiny for instance). It helps to keep 3rd parties on the hook though and makes it harder for 3rd parties to successfully release on other formats.

I suspect that the cozy party between 3rd parties and the Sony management will end at some point though when their shareholders ask "why are we paying them so much when Microsoft and Nintendo aren't paying anything at all?". Some of the deals that made sense when it was a real competition just don't today.

@StuTwo Sony has estimated they had 70% EU market share at least and that was two years ago.

The "Fortress PlayStation" lines from Jim Ryan cement how they dont want anyone even approaching a dent in that share.

And yes in the UK there are very strict monopoly regulations. Sony has come under fire for lesser here as well.

But youre right. Why do they need to keep paying at this point? At one point it was to move them into the lead but was is the point now at nearly double the sales numbers of the competition? Its to keep it that way, and thats where we get into murky water.