Topic: The Nintendo Switch Thread

@FragRed Depends on whether there's a larger Direct soon. If there is then I'd expect it in there instead of the Mini Direct if it was coming at all. The only major 3rd party announcement in the Mini Direct was Dark Souls Remastered and that was probably only in the Mini Direct because it was being announced for PS4/XB1/PC the same day.

@MFD To give Nintendo credit, Labo is not just for the kids - it's for the parents. A Switch becomes a far more attractive proposition to parents if Nintendo can convince them that, as well as family-friendly games, it also offers crafts, design, imagination, music, construction...

I think most parents would prefer their kids to be folding cardboard and playing piano than cussing the f*** out of strangers on Call of Duty.

@Grumblevolcano After what Nintendo showed yesterday, they best have a large Direct that shows they haven't abandoned the core fans. But then I also remember them saying we need to now rely on third party to give us the kinds of games we want and instantly I feel concerned.

@Krull But all parents know (or should at least) that if their child is curious about something, holding them back from it only kindles that fire of curiosity.

Plus, one needs to keep in mind what this does with the public view of the Switch. What if actually reduces Switch sales because people looking for a Switch besides their main and real gaming platform look at the Labo and think "What is this? A kid's toy kit? No, I don't want a console like that"

@MFD I think that the key could be that they seem to have attracted third-parties back - if third-parties can provide more content for the 'core' gamers, it gives Nintendo a bit more freedom to try to bring other demographics in with their own content...of course, they have to strike a balance (and I'm sure they will) but if the 'core' market can be satisfied with series like Dark Souls, Wolfenstein, Bayonetta etc - Nintendo might consider it a good time to cover other bases with some of their own games etc?

@NaviAndMii Here's the thing with that: I've red quite a few instances of people buying the Switch as a companion console. Will these people buy a game for Switch instead of their main, real power-machine? Arguably not, unless portability is of importance. But what happens should that novelty of portability wear off? Where do we stand then?

I feel that Nintendo NEEDS more reasons to buy these games besides portability. Portability is great for selling games, but unlike something like straight up power, which seems to be like mentally stabbing a Nintendo fan with a sharpened glass shard when mentioned, it won't make sure that your system can more easily render the next games, have multiple things on the screen, and so forth.

If something like DOOM is already pushing the small system, then we can't look at those next-gen games and think "Ugh, why is the Switch excluded from this?" because the answer is clear cut and obvious.

But, I'm going off track, push comes to shove, Nintendo has venerated IP and quite a few dormant ones that could do with a return/underutilised ideas that could do with more expansion upon (Mario Kart Double Dash) and plenty of these games work for young and old alike.

So just for the newest set of speculation on Pokemon Switch, they just announced they're giving away legendaries for SM/USUM every month this year besides December. Pokemon Switch releasing November? ;p Oh and I just realized, if Nintendo makes their sales goals for FY2018, they'll have outsold what the XB1 has sold life to date as of the latest figures. Pretty crazy to think about.

@MFD But what why shouldn't it be Labo that is firing their curiosity, rather than Call of Duty? We're not talking about 13-year-olds here, but under-10s. Labo (and by extension Nintendo) caters for them in a way that your standard PS4 or Xbox doesn't.

I admit, I'm not wholly sold on it either, though I think it's a neat concept. It might not shift more Switches, and probably won't, but it firmly consolidates Nintendo's position as the most inventive, friendly and inclusive of the console-makers. It's good branding, pure and simple. Labo is admirable and creative, definitely, and I'm sure any kids (and many adults) given the time to build and create something with it would enjoy it.

That said, I think the Switch needs to be a bit cheaper and more easily replaced before I start letting my daughters make a cardboard housing for it.

@NaviAndMii Are you seriously buying that crap Nintendo is saying about us having to rely on third party support to cater to the core gamer? The Switch struggles to get real triple A support as it is. That's the most pathetic PR excuse I've ever heard. Most people buying the Switch want the first party games, not something they can get a much better experience from on a different system.

@Krull One can also argue, that a console is simply a step above where you'd use Labo for, and that they'd better stick to stuff like Lego, that'll probably last far longer.

I think the best approach would be trying to stick to the 2017 model with stuff like Labo being extras. Note that I think Wii U ports could count as the potential "big game of the month" so like Tropical Freeze could be the big May game.

@FragRed After what Nintendo showed yesterday huh.

Sid anyone freak out when PlayLink was shown off for PS4, a way to get non gamers using a PS4 in different non-core experiences?

Did people suddenly forget we have Fire Emblem, Pokemon, Metroid, Wolfenstein, Dark Souls, 3 Bayonetta games, TWEWY, Wii U ports, Ys VIII, etc.?

Are people really that short minded?

Considering Wii U ports counted last year, I don't see why they wouldn't this year . But yeah, we're still seeing a big game in February, March, and May so far, and two more announced for the spring period, so that gives us five (six if you count the original Bayonetta) in five months that are published by Nintendo. I don't see any signs that the release schedule for core gamers is being impacted by this so far, it's not like we won't see summer stuff announced later in the year.

When did they say this? Link please.

@gcunit I believe the quote he is looking for is one that stated third parties should hopefully cover genres Nintendo themselves don't develop.

So simulation sports and racing, FPS, Tactical RPGs, hack n slash, so on so forth.

Japan finally got Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle. I hope they enjoy it just as much as we who played it almost half a year ago.

@MFD It's a tough one...for me, personally, I only bought one game for my PS4 in 2017 - GT Sport - for 2 reasons: the PS4 controller has analog triggers (and that precision control really adds to the immersion for me) and I feel that racing sims, as a genre, benefit more than most from the 'extra beef' of the hardware...but, for the majority of multi-platform games, I'd be more inclined to buy them on my Switch (if possible) because I think it offers a better way of playing - unless that version of the game is seriously compromised of course (eg. FIFA - to get the portability factor you have to sacrifice more than just resolution/graphics, unfortunately)

...but that's just me - I'd take portability over power 9 times out of 10 - and that 'novelty' hasn't shown any signs of wearing off quite yet - but sales of the PS4 (in particular) show no signs of slowing down either, so the more 'traditional' style of console is still highly sought after too

My point (which also ties in to @FragRed's response) was more trying to consider the lay of the land from Nintendo's perspective...

Firstly, it's very rare that we get a Zelda and a Mario in the same year - that's as hardcore as you can get! ..not only that though, but they also went even further to reach out to the 'core' gamer by providing a racer (Mario Kart), a shooter (Splatoon), a couple of fighters (Pokken/ARMS) and an RPG (Xenoblade) in year one - a highly satisfying selection of first-party games!

It just shows, to me, that the 'core' have been the priority right from the start....but, secondly, I think that energising the third-parties (to the degree that they did) was quite an achievement last year - and if you have third-parties on board, the 'core' gamers don't have to rely on first-party content so much. That's not to say that I don't want 'core' first-party content - of course I do - but Nintendo is bigger than just me! ..all I meant was that if we get Wolfenstein one month, Nintendo might not need to bring out a rival 'core' game in the same month - they could perhaps use that month as an opportunity to drop something for kids/casuals/parties instead? ..it just gives them that option

They mustn't neglect the 'core' - but they mustn't neglect the other demographics either...having third-parties involved can only help to ensure that everyone feels catered for - that's all I was saying - and having attracted them back (to some degree) it might allow them to diversify their first-party offerings a bit more going forward and perhaps strike a balance that broadens their scope, but keeps all demographics satisfied

Geez, I hope not. I'd rather Nintendo stay 2017 Switch launch version of themselves and not Wii - Era Nintendo.

@YummyHappyPills I wouldn't count tactical RPG in that list as Nintendo has Fire Emblem but yeah the main ones which will only be supported by 3rd parties are multiplayer FPS and realistic sports/racing games.

@NaviAndMii I'd like to point out we've already seen that once. Take a look at last November. Between Sonic Forces, Doom, Batman, Skyrim, LA Noire, Resident Evil Revelations and a whole slew of smaller games, the lack of a major new Switch title between Odyssey and Xenoblade (unless you count DLC for Snipperclips) was a nonissue. So the theory does hold water, if we can see 3rd parties on board like that on a more regular basis anyways.