Topic: The Nintendo Switch Thread

It might just be me, but I really like the patent image on the front page of Nintendo Life:

Maybe add another analogue stick/slider though...

@Peek-a-boo yeah imagine that wouldn't be the final design.

NX is an iOS and tvOS controller.

@erv nah but I do think the gimmick will be full mobile integration.

@Peek-a-boo I'm not sure, it looks like the bottom half of a 3DS, I'd like a more ergonomic shape, proper triggers, shoulder buttons and a second stick. I'm not a big fan of the screen either, just sell a GamePad-like controller as an optional controller.

Nor necessarily meaning anything but currently the puclbkix Nintendo developer portal is going under maintenance.

if it is a hybrid and the handheld controller doesn't have a second analog nub than it will not succeed and i will surely NOT buy it

@6ch6ris6 patent illustration does equal retail product.

I've said from the start that I think the NX should keep the GamePad idea. Maybe just a less clunky design but still keep it regardless. So this patent, if it was to end up in the NX, would line up with that as much as it would any of the crazy theories about some kind of hybrid.

That said, I don't think this means anything. At all. It could just as easily be for some other non-NX product. The 3DS successor whatever that ends up being for example. I mean the image is the bottom half of a 3DS. It could also be something that never actually makes it into a product. Overall I think people are reading far too much into it.

Im still thinking the NX has to be a home console, though maybe this could be the handheld portion of it. All the rumors have been saying the NX is at least the power of the Xbox 1. I personally think it has to be at least on power with the ps4 for 3rd party support. I agree though that if this was in case what the NX is, it will go downhill at least in the West. Everyone is hoping that its a "home" console. Most likely a handheld would not be able to produce Ps4 power on its own while being CONSUMER AFFORDABLE.

@skywake here's something interesting: apparently companies can pay for patents to be kept private for up to 18 months. Nx codename was announced March 2015. That plus 18 months equals September 2016.

Between Pokemon Go, Pokemon Sun/Moon and Breath of the Wild I think there's a case to be made for Nintendo doing well on three tiers. Home console for big experiences. Portables for lighter experiences and solo-play. Mobile for games that work better with a device that's internet connected and always in your pocket.

NX -> Home Console
3DS (with a revision in a year or so) -> Portable
DeNA partnership -> Mobile applications

NX = Handheld (Nintendo Portable) + Home console (Nintendo Ultimate). Still separate devices, but work together in perfect harmony due to common hardware architecture (NX chip), operating system (NintendOS) and your Nintendo Account.

Actually, I've dreamed up a whole concept of what NX could, or rather, what I think NX should be. Please go to http://ntdojoe.wordpress.com if you wanna check it out. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.

@skywake Exactly. "Asymetrical gameplay" and "Off-TV Play" are great concepts (even though I hate these names, Nintendo is just awful at this) and simply not possible with a screen-less controller. I always despised the GamePad for literally everything it was however – clunky design, low resolution, resistive touch, poor battery life. They should just give it a smaller, but better display (720p res, capacitive touch, built-in amiibo reader), which would also make for an overall smaller, less clunky form factor, and longer battery life and it would be a lovely controller.

Pokémon go is a game from niantic labs.

@Therad
I know that. I'm just saying that I expect Nintendo to take the same approach with their own mobile games. They've said as much and for a long time people have turned their nose up at the suggestion. Instead saying that Nintendo should just bring their games over largely as is. That portables are dead, mobile is king and Nintendo should "get with the times".

I think Pokemon Go's success shows how wrong that line of thinking was. I don't think Pokemon Go in any way takes away from Sun/Moon. It's also done well enough that we can now confidently say that Nintendo IP and mobile games are a good mix. So I think there's reason to be positive about what Nintendo are going to do in that space. And we can do that without writing off their portable business.

@ntdojoe plus whether it's BC or VC if nx is to play Wii U, DS, and maybe even 3ds games there's going to have to be some kind of second touchscreen support, included in the box or not.

For VC, they can use a virtual split screen mimicking the DS or WiiU for games requiring a second screen or update certain touchscreen inputs to work with a button or who knows, they may have a touch pad area on the controller for the home console. Most WiiU and 3DS games second screen options were a convenience of having a bigger map or having an inventory screen anyway.

All this time nx is just a smaller nes xD

And with this NES Classic, whoever predicted a micro console has earned the right to gloat.