Topic: The Nintendo Switch Thread

And they haven't had trouble selling their portable systems? The Vita has arguably done worse than the Wii U and the PSP certainly didn't lead the field in the way that the Wii did. Having two tiers of systems splits the development teams and splits the audience for your IP. And strong IP is something Nintendo has far more of than Sony.

It's a bit more complicated than that. If you combine Sony and Microsoft's efforts they're doing about the same as they did last-gen. And PC gaming has been doing better. The portable market is down significantly but the Vita and 3DS combined are fairly close to the GBA in terms of sales.

I didn't say that or at least I didn't mean that. I wasn't talking about what Nintendo wanted to happen either I'm talking about what actually did happen. My point was that the more dedicated gamers did grab a 3DS just as they would have the DS or GBA in generations prior. But this time the 3DS delivered well enough that there was no reason for them to get a Wii U.

If you brought a DS before the Wii launch (as I did) and then looked on youtube at what the Wii was going to have? Even without Wii Sports being a thing you needed to get a Wii. As good as New SMB and Mario Kart were there was no way I wasn't getting the console with Mario Galaxy, Metroid Prime and Twilight Princess. With the Wii U? Less so, and I reckon quite a few people would have been happy with just their 3DS. That's what I meant.

If the game was built for an ARM based portable then the cartridge is going to be useless in the x86 based console. This wouldn't work at all. It's like getting a game for the 3DS and expecting to be able to just copy/paste it and have it run on the PS4. I mean they could do it in theory with emulation or something similar. They could also build the portable hardware into the home console. But........... why?

If they require them to have binaries for both arm and x86, it would work. Or if they are using or have created their own bytecode and interpreter. Or if they are using android...

Here's how I think the NX will be priced:

The portable unit w/ 64GB storage (plus SD slot to expand)- $199
Portable unit w/ dock (includes additional storage of 128gb*)- $249
Dock bought separately- $69

Depending on how successful those sell then we may see a dedicated home console version of the NX in 2018. I guess they could also try a dedicated portable version (e.g. non-detachable controllers) at a budget price but I suspect they'd just do a price drop on the current portable to $149

*they may try to avoid the hub doubling up storage altogether by just offering additional on-board capacity and/or just by merely offering an SD slot on the handheld. However, I suspect they might see the additional storage offered as a way to push people towards getting the more expensive hybrid.

Now Sony has confirmed the date for their live streamed event in which they'll almost certainly show the Neo, taking place just before TGS, I think it's certain Nintendo won't do their reveal at the same time period as it'll definitely take away a huge amount of limelight from Nintendo.

But they are fast running out of time and places to reveal the NX. And that's worrying. I still don't think they really know how they want to reveal the thing and send out the right message.

@FragRed well given everything else happening for the rest of the year, I think it's a bit too late to worry about having to share attention :/

@FragRed Your logic only applies if Nintendo are making a Gamebox Alpha that is less powered than a PlayStation Neo. If they are not competing directly with Sony or MS and have a new concept. then it will succeed or fail on it's own proposition compared with the staus quo as opposed to failing due to comparison with something it is not (according to rumour). Stop being so nervy lol I don't think stealing thunder is applicable here unless Sony have kept a hybrid quiet, or Nintendo are being quietly generic. Either way, the majority of consumers will not be affected for good or bad.

@GrailUK I just hope they show it soon. I mean does Nintendo have so little faith in their product they're afraid if being overshadowed by an incremental upgrade?

@WebHead Exactly. I'll try to use an example I know. Imagine a massive PC store that is super busy and you want to get in the industry. Well, where do you want to open a shop? You don't open miles away because then the target grouop don't know you are there, or they cannot be bothered to trek between stores etc etc. Next door right. You see them customers and think, "I want some of that". After all, that's competition (not opposition lol) Now if you open a small diddy shop that does the same, you get over shadowed for sure. If you open another huge store then you end up simply dividing a consumer base and no one really wins (Sony / MS). If you open a second hand trade shop (i.e same industry, different take) suddenly you embrace all the customers in that big PC store. You get those customers selling you stuff they bought from the PC store and you get people buying stuff from you that the PC store sells more expensively. Now, just like all Nintendo's innovations, you have to hope that the PC store does not do second hand lol but aslong as you establish a name for being the original second hand store...then things generally work out. You may not be as 'big', but you can still be successful. And I think too many people want Nintendo to be BIG as opposed to successful.

@GrailUK well still. They can't cover behind secrecy forever. If the "building hype by being quiet" mentality is what they're using it ain't working.

@WebHead lol true mate.

@GrailUK I don't believe the NX IS going to be that revolutionary, certainly not on Wii scales and it'll always be compared to what Sony and Microsoft do as long as it can play games on the big screen.

We only know of the rumours put forward by Eurogamer as potentially the most realistic and the Internet has been extremely split with half liking it and half hating. And that is not a good situation to be in.

@GrailUK being honest I'm beginning to question of Old Man Kimi was the right guy.

@WebHead Don't be too hard on him. He is..erm..how can I say while being respectful..playing poker with someone elses hand.

@WebHead From what I understand he wasn't Iwata's first choice. I think he originally wanted someone younger to take over.

@WebHead Why?

@GrailUK he's uncomfortable with presenting and even admitted he is going through trial and error. Not exactly inspiring. I feel he lacks the confidence and enthusiasm his predecessors had. He's not in tune with gaming. He lacks "it".

@WebHead Well, the guy has not done anything to warrant criticism either way from me yet. I will judge him on how well the NX is communicated and how well the launch is implemented. At the moment, Nintendo are wanting to keep the NX a secret...and he is doing a sterling job at that. Lol.

@GrailUK what's he's not doing a sterling job at is building confidence in the company and its products as well as communicating well with the consumer base. Sorry but atm I do not like him as CEO,.

@WebHead I do agree with that, he really isn't doing a good job at communications with their fan base. September is quickly approaching and we have still yet to hear a word from Nintendo. To me it's odd that they had no problems revealing a worldwide release for the NX in March 2017 but they can't announce a reveal date.