Topic: The Nintendo Switch Thread

@UmniKnight But before we knew about the issue with gluten, did that classification exist? Nope. It became a classification when the issue was raised.

Just like how we should now have a hybrid classification, because something has come that necessitates it, by not fitting prior definitions exactly.

@BLP_Software That, I can see reason with.

@UmniKnight Just because they're selling it for €90 (I believe) doesn't mean they're expensive to manufacture. The Switch dock is essentially a USB-C multiport adapter. I've seen them for around €30, and remember the seller is still making a profit at that price, the retailer takes a cut, it needs its own box, separate shipping costs, etc. I can't imagine they're more than €10 to manufacture.

@UmniKnight It's not mockery, but there's really nothing else to be said! There's no reason for Nintendo to take away TV mode. Why make a successor to the Switch LESS versatile when they could keep tapping into multiple markets simultaneously? It's not like the people who have purchased Nintendo home consoles for decades are just going to vanish into the ether this gen. It's not like the Western market's preference for home consoles is going anywhere, either. As long as they're going with a single system instead of two different ones, why would they focus on one form factor or the other and lose sales? There really is no foundation whatsoever for this paranoia of yours.

@BLP_Software Thankfully, despite people disagreeing on labels for the thing, they don't seem to be confused at all about how it functions like they were with the Wii U, and that fact is reflected in how well it continues to sell. A device that truly confuses people doesn't sell out like this. This "is it a handheld, a home console, or both?" discussion is just there for bored internet denizens like us to amuse ourselves.

@Ralizah The "I promise" part gave it a tone of mockery. As for the TV part, we'll see.

I'll be Switching subject here if ya'll don't mind: http://nintendoeverything.com/major-japanese-developer-hiring...

"We recently came across an interesting job listing from Japan. A couple of months ago, one unspecified company put up a job listing for an engineer. The developer is looking to bring in three people with experience in programming games using C#.NET, Unity and ASP.net."

"Those hired will be working on a major console title by a well-known game developer. Additional details about the company’s identify are not provided."

"Regarding the actual project, the listing states that it’s targeted for launch next spring. It’s a multiplatform game targeting Switch in addition to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One."

"Although the job listing doesn’t say which company the position is for, one possibility is Bandai Namco. The work place is Oshiage, which is where Bandai Namco is located. It’s partial speculation on our part, but again, that’s a strong possibility. "

What does it matter if the successor won't have both modes? It won't magically destroy your current piece of hardware, with your current setup and games. How does it destroy your current enjoyment? If (and that is a big if) the successor is handheld only, there is a simple solution, don't buy it.

But if a potential future somehow gives you this much angst and grief already, I would suggest selling the switch. Because it can't be healthy to worry for years to come.

The meanings of words change. Hell, what you're saying here wouldn't make any sense to the people who originally talked about "video game consoles". A console was originally was one of these, named as such because of the large supportive brackets underneath:

and if that's a console then this must be a game console. If we're calling that a game console then I guess this is a game console you can use at home. A home console if you will. Gameboy? Well if we're going to be different to a NES then the fact that you can carry it is the difference, so it's a portable console.

If we're going to get pedantic then portable consoles are technically home consoles in the way that term was originally used. And in the way that the term video game console was originally used you could argue that the PS4 is portable because its not physically bolted to a cabinet. Technically in the way the word console was originally used none of these modern game machines are consoles.

So why are we even worried about these categories at all?

I've been seeing FIFA 18 Switch ads on TV which surprised me, maybe that version stands a chance of actually doing well.

@Therad I must give you the wrong impression that I'm truly worrying then. I've bought a 3DS for much the same reason I have a Switch: Since I want my Nintendo IP, and I'll do what I can to enforce third-parties bringing their stuff along as well. So long as that IP still has such strong ties to me, I'll probably stick with them regardless. But it'd be a ton more enjoyable if they'd stick with the TV mode aspect here. You simply can't beat a good controller and a nice big screen imho.

The 3DS, however, has truly gotten me to put it down out of sheer displeasure in the case of some games (Monster Hunter Generations). That control setup doesn't lend itself well to that game to be frank.

@Grumblevolcano Wait, what? I thought Sony had exclusive marketing rights for that game?

@FragRed I thought so too, maybe there's some technicalities which allow there to be Switch ads.

@Grumblevolcano @FragRed I think Sony can advertise the game as an independent entity and gets their branding on it. But it can be shown as a sizzle reel or part of a broader ad. Just FIFA 18 on its own has to be Sony.

What's REALLY weird though...is that I haven't seen a single standalone FIFA 18 ad. Or a PS4 ad for that matter. The only time I or anyone I know has seen FIFA 18 on TV...is in a Switch ad.

We're debating the nature of the Switch? I thought it was self-evident.

The thing's clearly a toaster. Look at the dock! The Switch itself is the toast.

Kidding, but it makes as much sense as Nintendo forcing the portable market on us.

@Grumblevolcano That would be surprising. I can only assume that the contract was put together before Nintendo had revealed the Switch to be what it was, and certainly before anyone would have known how successful it was to be in the first year, that somehow gave Nintendo the chance to promote it. Is the advert mainly showing it off in handheld mode? That would be the only way around the exclusivity surely.

@skywake I'm not worried about anything

I think it's portable because it is in every sense of the word:

portable
/ˈpɔːtəb(ə)l/
adjective
1. able to be easily carried or moved, especially because being of a lighter and smaller version than usual.

I can carry it around, that's what matters. And if I choose to play it in docked mode 95% of the time, that doesn't change the device. It's still the same. That doesn't make it any less portable, I can always pick it up and take it somewhere else.

Re FIFA:
News at eleven: EA are cheapskates and tries to unload marketing on to the console holders. More after today's top story, does bears poop in the woods?

From a pure technical standpoint it is a portable gaming device. In the same vein as a laptop with a dock isn't an hybrid computer. The rest is marketing.

@Therad It's the fact that the Switch is a handheld, or has the ability to be a handheld, that has me intrigued over the way FIFA 18 is being allowed to be advertised on TV by Nintendo when Sony has exclusive rights to show the game on its own as pointed out by @BLP_Software. So does that mean Sony's contract doesn't extend to portably devices? If so was that an oversight or something Nintendo managed to snag themselves?

@Octane
I'm not disagreeing with you. I'm just saying that the way all of these terms are being rigidly applied is a bit stupid. Sure if people want to call it a hybrid then that's a cool word to use for it. But tech has always had this habit of blurring/outgrowing our neat little categories. At some point we'll get something that's somewhere between a hybrid console and a PC or something and we again won't have a neat box for it.

And if we really wanted to be super pedantic about terms then why not go all out? The Switch is definitely a portable machine. As you said it can be carried. It's also definitely a machine designed to be played at home as opposed to at an arcade. But in the broadest sense the PS4, SNES Mini and GBA are also both of those things.

How do you know Sony have exclusive marketing rights?

@UmniKnight sorry, then I misunderstood you. I got the impression you were really worried. And I don't think we have to worry until we hear what their next hardware is going to be.