@UmniKnight Well, versatility hype, perhaps? Or maybe you're right, but nonetheless, people ate it up. The Switch had a good launch, and it may be unwise to undermine what was established then.
@gildahl Ahhh in that regard. True, but at the same time there's a PS4, PS4 Slim and PS4 Pro, yet they can all play the same games, some just with better settings. I guess Nintendo could do that, instead of dock only, though I don't think that's what a majority of Nintendo gamers will really care about. I'm diverting the point though, but yes, it would somewhat split the base, but arguably, Voez and Severed-like games do that already.
When I say "splitting the base", I'm referring strictly to the creation of a separate line of games that requires purchase of an enhanced console to play those games at all. While Nintendo could do this, it is a risk that hasn't traditionally worked out so well for consoles in the past as it tends to create some rather vocal user alienation (What! you're making me buy this $150 device to play all the new AAA games for this system??). Much safer from a business perspective is to offer something that allows gamers to play all of their games with better settings. The neat thing here is that Nintendo could possibly do this with just an enhanced dock rather than forcing one to buy a whole new console as XBox & PS4 are doing. BTW, I don't consider Voez as splitting the user base at all as one does not need to upgrade their system to play it. It does, IMO, "dilute the experience" a bit by not offering a docked mode, but that's more the lack of a feature (akin to not supporting the Pro Controller in Snipperclips), which is more of an "oh, well" thing rather than a "what?!" thing.
@Zyrac It's great that people ate it up, but as I've said before, I've paid a handsome sum to get a home-console that will succeed where the Wii-U failed, but as per your words, I've bought the future of what the 3DS is to become. So where is the Wii-U's successor then? And why does Nintendo have 2 handhelds on the market?
I agree. I've got a PS4 Pro and it's a really nice upgrade but at £450 for the XB1X they've put it at a level where, if I was going to spend the money, I'd just flog my XB1S and PS4 Pro and spend the £800 on a PC.
Plus, it doesn't say anything about being able to play 'Everything, Anywhere, Anytime, with Anyone' - I know I'm being pedantic there, but I could still play 'anywhere, anytime' - just not certain games...
...and Nintendo can control that central hybrid concept by ensuring that all of their first-party games can play in all modes - also, when they licence their IP to a third-party (ie. Mario+Rabbids w/ Ubisoft) they could insist on it being a hybrid game - but, if Ubi want to bring their latest Assassin's Creed game over for instance, they could have more free reign...the incentive for Ubi to aim for AC to be a 'fully-hybrid' game is that they could reach the widest possible audience - but, if they simply can't, the 'Expansion Pak' would ensure that they're not put off altogether as they can still bring it to the Switch, just in 'docked only', 'Expansion Pak required' form...
...as I say, I don't think it'd dilute the message or detract from the core concept - so long as Nintendo themselves always make their first-party content 'fully hybrid', the core games will be hybrid - anything else would just be options - expanding the flexibility and versatility of this already ultra-flexible/versatile piece of hardware!
It will replace both 3DS and Wii U. It's a home Console and a handheld. I expect 3DS will get another year or so of remakes and translations before quietly being phased out.
People more technical than me would know better but I'm pretty certain there's a problem with the connections that rules out either an expansion pack or a dock with extra processing in. Not sure the USB ports are quick enough.
Shame, as I originally thought the dock would add a bit of extra oomph to the system.
@Therad It's more likely that Nintendo will sell a New dock with GPU built into it if they really decide to go down the external GPU path.
It will be Nvidia GPU, not the crappy AMD that PS4 and Xbox use. In 2 years time GTX 1080 will be cheap and outdated, but used as a GPU for console it will be faster than even the Xbox One X.
@electrolite77 Me either, I must confess! I watched a video stating that the internal USB port is 3.0 (cutting edge) and the HDMI port is capable of carrying 4K - and the amount of empty space in the back of the dock leaves ample room for a pretty heft GPU expansion...I'll try and see if I can find that video a little later (got to go out now) - but I'm just going by what that guy said - I have no idea if he was right or wrong to jump to those conclusions...so I have no idea if I'm just getting carried away with 'false hype' or not!
@NaviAndMii Releasing games that can only be played on the dock would fracture the user base and defeat the point of the console, which is being able to play your games anywhere. It would also encourage devs to not optimize games to run on the tablet. What you're proposing would just turn the Switch into another stationary gaming platform.
Nintendo is really emphasizing the versatility of the Switch, thankfully, so it's hard to imagine them opting for something like this.
@UmniKnight I do think that regardless of debate over where the console/handheld line is, the Switch is more of a successor to the Wii U than the 3DS. After all, the 3DS does a bunch of things that the Switch doesn't. That along with its popularity is why the 3DS is still around. No need to drop it when it's still making money.
I can understand if you'd rather they'd gone in a different direction. But the Switch is working out so far and many people think it's the best move Nintendo could have made. Personally, given that they weren't at all focused on power anyway, I don't see much of a problem. But I guess you just can't please everyone.
I've seen people discussing the possibility of an external GPU. Really? Do you people have any idea how much that costs? External GPU's range from a couple hundred dollars to over $1000. That is not in any way a realistic idea.
@Zyrac I'm not necessarily displeased with the console, but I'm very keenly aware of what sacrifices were made in the name of it's handheld component. Something that doesn't at all benefit the home-console crowd. That and the possibility of devs wanting to emphasize one of these two aspects: http://nintendoeverything.com/game-freak-excited-to-see-the-m...
I'd say that's a very dangerous thing for Game Freak to be looking for "the main way to play the Switch" which is can easily become "emphasizing that". Again, favouritism, handheld above home-console, etc.
They're definitely not releasing docked only games. It dilutes the core concept of the system far more than a couple of handheld only games that rely on the touchscreen.
Also, let's put this discussion to rest: the Switch is BOTH a handheld and a home console. Not one or the other, but both. It's a hybrid device. The successor to both the 3DS and the Wii U.
@IceClimbers And yet, if you look at above post, they're looking for a "main way to play" a very dangerous thing indeed. Game freak might as well be putting an axe to the tree that is Switch to prepare it's splitting into 2 camps with that one. They should do well to tread lightly. Very lightly.
@electrolite77@Nincompoop Wireless VR, ohh goodie! High bandwidth radio transmitters positioned right over our brains! All in the name of entertainment! I can hardly wait! (Now's the time to invest in neuropathic oncology related businesses and drugs!)
An external GPU only works if the USB-C on the Switch is capable of Thunderbolt 3 with eGPU support or an nVidia proprietary equivalent. Somehow given the fact that they saved a buck by dropping BT audio, that seems pretty unlikely to me. I'd guess you'd have to buy the upgraded Switch. Which means they can't make it essential. Desktop grade eGPU docks come in huge cases with tons of cooling. I really doubt it would be desktop grade if it were to exist. It would be a mobile geforce (laptop/Surface Book) variant if anything.) But its VERY VERY unlikely the bus actually supports that kind of bandwidth anyway. eGPU is just not for prime time unless it was built as a core design. We don't know for sure it wasn't, but giving the price points and cuts they made it's exceedingly unlikely.
Nintendo stuck with the same general 3DS hardware for 6 years and only now at the end of life are there some games that require the very minor bump of the n3DS (which was really bumped for menu/multitasking performance more than game performance.) I don't think Nintendo has any qualms about sticking with "very outdated low spec hardware" for long durations so long as games are selling. 3DS is still moving games into its 7th year and it was more obsolete on launch than Switch.
I agree. I've got a PS4 Pro and it's a really nice upgrade but at £450 for the XB1X they've put it at a level where, if I was going to spend the money, I'd just flog my XB1S and PS4 Pro and spend the £800 on a PC.
Technically you get more to spend since pc doesn't have online subs. And quite frequently games are $10 or so cheaper.
@UmniKnight You're reading into something that isn't there. All Game Freak said is that they're looking forward to seeing how people play Pokemon on the Switch more. That's all. There's no favoritism conspiracy theories going on here
@IceClimbers From one thing comes the other. The article did say where, more so then how, but the fact remains that looking for a favoured mode in the Switch is to split it in half. There should be no favoured here.
And yet that is exactly what they're doing. I can't imagine Game Freak would care to look for a "main way to play" beyond wanting to do something with it.
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