Topic: The Nintendo Switch Thread

@DylanMcGrann Yeah, I also had the perspective that it just may have something to do with their games being compatible on mobile and PC devices anywhere like a new type of e-Store or app. And they may have a new controller, and AR tech that you can use with these devices.

Yeah based on comments the gimmick, while it'll be new for sure, doesn't sound like it'll be anything too out there or groundbreaking. But we will see.

I just had a dream about the NX! The system is going to be focused on multiplayer and hanging out with friends. The console is going to be in a suitcase type cover with a handle so you can easily take it to a friend's house, and it will also be able to fold into a small chair for easy extra seating. You heard it here first!

Neat video but I don't think it's nx. Interesting recent patent though.

My bet is november, otherwise february. NX will not be here by march. I’m thinking june or july.

@erv they're having a contest for it and it was reiterated twice for march last shareholder meeting. Unless something disastrous happens I think it'll be out in March.

@WebHead Isn't September the potential neo reveal (at TGS)?

@Grumblevolcano possibly but I expect October actually. They said they want an apple style thing and I expect the device to be out in november.

@DylanMcGrann "what if the "idea" is mostly rooted in software?"

Is pretty much nail on the head imo. I think what Reggie said at e3 was the most telling thing about the NX:

"it's not about specs, it's not about terraflops, for us it's about content".

This is basically confirming to us that the NX isn't going to be massively powered. It also makes sense why they didn't show it at e3 then because why show it when all the other higher powered consoles will be shown? It'll just look weak right?

We also know that the controller on the NX is likely to be standard*. They've removed gamepad functionality from Zelda BotW and now are saying they see a "second screen" as distracting.

I think it's becoming quite clear that the NX is going to be a "no thrills" console. There's no real special hardware idea/gimmick (unless if you consider cartridges as one). They're going back to basics with a simple, straightforward console that likely hits the sweet spot between enough power that interests third-party developers but also represents affordability. I think the idea for the NX is to create simple, affordable and likeable hardware to sell the software. They may have special ideas concerning the software (i'm suspecting a unifying operating system that allows cross-game compatibility on a handheld NX in future years).

*controller may have scroll shoulders or something similar but other than that it will be a standard pro controller.

If I was betting I would say the NX is a $250 console with between Xbox-PS4 specs.

It’ll be announced, and therefore exist, before march. If it exists the investors will be please-understanding. e3 is gonna be full of new stuff that people can, at that moment, go out and buy. It’ll be the ultimate marketing machine.

In all seriousness, your reasoning is sound. Mine is just healthy speculation with a dose of touchy-feely expectation management

@dtjive would be fine to me. No shame in being a secondary console or a budget console. But it should actually be priced as such

@WebHead I wouldn't necessarily see it as a second console per se (although that isn't necessarily an incorrect term either), but I think they've accepted that they've lost the hardware war, but also recognise their strengths lie in their software. Hence why I think their approach will be a reasonably powered but well priced to attract a reasonably sized install base to sell their software too. Also their new slogan pretty much says it all "there's no play like it"- e.g. our software is the best. It just all makes too much sense for it not to be a basic console.

The issue for them will obviously be marketing what effectively is a 2/3 year old console to consumers but I think that also plays into why they aren't saying much. As I said before, announcing it at the same time as the other consoles will show up the limited hardware, but also remember Kimishima's (sp?) talk about needing a good software line up? I suspect when the NX is announced it will be marketed as a "returning to the origins of gaming" (they've reverted to their traditional colours) and will spend more time on the software titles (hence needing them to be ready for launch) than the actual hardware itself.

@dtjive well whether we want it or not there has to be some type of special hook. It's going to be very hard to convince people to buy it over the PS4 and Xbox One S.

Nintendo has a booth at gamescom.

@WebHead Probably just another BotW only showing on showfloor like E3.

@Grumblevolcano most likely sadly.

@dtjive I don't buy that it will be a "basic" or "classic" console. Kimishima has made so many comments that suggest otherwise. Why would he put out a console that is so similar to the competition when he said the Wii U's biggest problem was being too similar to the Wii.

I think they will call back the past in various ways, but Nintendo is almost certainly going to make something that at least superficially looks different from consoles up to now. It's simple marketing. Without a gimmick to differentiate your product, why should people buy your product over some other? The more similar their stuff looks to anything else, the harder they have to work to communicate what's new and great about what they're doing.

Nintendo does have a lot of first-party software, and they could aim to be cheaper or higher quality in some way than the competition, but it would be easier for them if the hardware just looked different and changed they way we play games in a fundamental way. It can be very difficult to explain to the average person what's new or special about the latest Mario or Zelda in a commercial. Wii and DS worked so well, because you could instantly see how different and new the concept was with a single image. I think they're shooting for that again.

Kinda feels like Nintendo's playing chicken with Sony.

What comments are these? I don't doubt that there will be some differences to the NX that they can focus on, but I think an NX will be a consolidation of what has come out of Nintendo over the past 2 decades. Here's a couple of things that they can at least talk about in regards to the new console:

1. Use of cartridges. They can talk about extra space on them and faster loading times thus a better experience and no need for extra downloads to install
2. Motion controls will remain. Well at least the gyroscope functioning will.
3. The controller may also include those scroll shoulder buttons

I think all of them will explain to a consumer what makes the NX different, but none of that would stop the NX from being overall a console designed to be affordable and reasonably powered. I also believe that the NX will have a handheld sister version thus integrating the handheld/home console systems (the handheld would just be a portable Wii U given that would be the min spec for running Zelda BotW). Again, none of that stops the console from being something that can be targeted as an affordable/reasonable powered console, but also shows enough differentiation from the rest.

And I don't buy that consumers won't understand what is different about Zelda/Mario in a commercial. I think the BotW trailer already shows a very new Zelda- that if anyone had only played Ocarina/TP then they'd immediately understand what is special about this game. Overall, I just think it's becoming obvious that the NX is going to be what I've laid out. Numerous things point to this:

1. Reggie says it isn't about specs or terraflops. Okay so that pretty much confirms it isn't going to be anywhere near Neo/Scorpio in power.
2. Anouma said in developing BotW that they found the second screen distracting, and also confirms that the experience will be the same across both consoles. So a) gamepad is dead; b) no new gimmicky controller that completely changes the experience; c) but likely to maintain some similarity such as gyro controls
3. Reggie says it's all about content for them- so a focus on the games, like what they did with e3 perhaps?
4. Kimishima says the delay is about having software ready and didn't he mention (although I may have imagined this last bit) that he contributed the failure of the WiiU in not having enough games ready at launch?
5. Merging of the 3ds/wiiu development
6. Return to old style logo and the new brand "there's no play like it"- again feels to me geared towards focusing on a return to roots and on software, not hardware
7. I believe someone at Nintendo also said that the aim is to make the NX affordable?