Topic: The Nintendo Switch Thread

@TheLobster While the definition of whether games are “big” are subjective and thus opinion based, I think @Therad has a point. The games you mentioned are great and all, but they are not system sellers. Super Mario Party isn’t a game that would single handey convince someone to buy a Switch. Likewise for Kirby or Mario Tennis. They’re games that pad out the Switch catalog, so that once the system sellers attract people, these games show there is plenty in the Switch catalog to play after the system sellers. They definitely help convince someone to purchase a Switch, but do so indirectly (“there are other games on the Switch, not just Odyssey or BotW”). This year had too many non system sellers, although to the many gamers who didn’t buy a Wii U, Bayonetta and DK could’ve been system sellers. Pokémon and Smash are certainly system sellers, but having them both release in the last two months of the year and them being the only system sellers the entire year is a bit disappointing.

@JaxonH Jesus man, not only have you pre-ordered games that are years from release (MP4) but also games that many would consider vaporware(FFVII remake). You sir are a creature of great optimism

@shadow-wolf "Super Mario Party isn’t a game that would single handey convince someone to buy a Switch. Likewise for Kirby or Mario Tennis."

Who's to say what convinces someone to buy a Switch? I saw someone on Youtube who finally bought a Switch because Fortnite was on it and I never would have considered THAT a system seller. Maybe Kirby is somebody's favorite game! If you look at the Japan sales for the week Kirby came out, Switch sales were significantly up that week. So who's to say? Don't dismiss a game because it's not for you.

@TheLobster You make good points. I
should probably rephrase what I was saying. While those games will sell systems to people interested in them, they don’t have the system selling power of big hitters like BotW, Odyssey, Pokémon, or Smash. But I guess that is just my opinion at the end of the day and can be different depending on the person

@shadow-wolf Honestly we need more games in the industry that's more on the lines of AA games, games that don't necessarily need to be the best thing ever with reasonable budgets but are still super solid. Currently we have the industry sandwich of either a ton of indies or a ton of AAA games. We have very little AA games, and seeing more of that is a good thing. Supplementing the "exciting" AAA games (and even then Nintendo compared to the rest of the industry is pretty much AA, BotW being their only "AAA" game) is my ideal world, so we have more very solid games for people to attract a wide swath of people. Maybe BotW and Odyssey don't sell you on the system, but how about these other 5 games?

Not everything has to be some mega "system seller" every few months of the year. It's not like previous "system sellers" expire. People will still be buying Switch for Zelda years from now. Adding another 2 this year just keeps it rolling.

Besides, the game most people at my work are excited about isn't some "system seller", but Mario Tennis Aces!

So ya, the whole notion of "you need X amount of games I personally deem large enough system sellers or I pronounce the year a failure" is ludicrous.

An absolute metric ton of incredible games have released and are going to be released this year. That's what matters. Besides, there's only so many "system sellers" that exist. Really only enough to do 1 or 2 per year. Which is exactly what they're doing.

So just enjoy the games and forget the rest. And if you can't enjoy games that dont fall into "mega system seller" category, well that sucks for you. But I buy consoles for the 99% of games that's not "mega system sellers." I dont give a crap about system sellers, I already own the system! I just want games I like. And practically everything they're throwing at me is stuff I love to death. I leave sales to Nintendo. I'm not here to worry about their "strategic release schedules of system sellers". Switch is selling good enough to get games, that's all that matters. That's ALL that matters. Now it's time to sit back, relax and enjoy the games. And they dont need pop radio popularity either. In fact, most of the best games imo are the more niche, 0.5 - 3 million seller releases.

@Syndrome

There's no reason not to, really. I know for a fact I'm gonna buy Metroid Prime 4, day one. So why pretend otherwise?

Same for FFVII. The game will release. Nobody knows when, but it'll release. And when it does, there's no question I'm gonna buy it day one. So why not get it over with now and forget about it.

And if it changes platforms to next gen, the order gets cancelled anyways so, no harm done.

Nintendo published 7 new titles at retail for Switch last year (Zelda BotW, 1-2 Switch, ARMS, Splatoon 2, FE Warriors, Super Mario Odyssey, Xenoblade 2).

This year they'll have published... 7 new titles (Kirby Star Allies, Nintendo Labo, Sushi Striker, Mario Tennis Aces, Super Mario Party, Pokemon Let's Go, Smash Bros Ultimate).

According the whole 'system seller' topic I agree with @JaxonH. How many of these are out there really? Take Sony for example. Uncharted, Last of Us and God of War maybe? I don't think many people will buy a PS4 for Detroit Become Human f.e.
So, everybody(including MS) has 2-3 top notch exclusives that will sell consoles and the rest are titles that will essentially tell people: 'now that you bought the hardware there's also these great games you can play on it. Enjoy!'.

Blimey, looks like the Smash Ultimate Gamecube controllers are out of stock already! The game is going to be super popular lol!

@GrailUK While Smash Ultimate will be popular, there's going to be people who buy only the Gamecube controllers (not the game) simply to use as a Gamecube controller for Gamecube games. The longer Nintendo ignores their fantastic collection of Gamecube games, the longer Gamecube controllers need to last to play those games.

Yeah but you just know if a Gamecube game got ported to Switch people would riot if it didnt support that controller.

Its not a matter of the controller existing for as long as Nintendo ignores those games, its a matter of the controller will remain for as long as the people who remember the Gamecube draw breath.

Neat to think its the only controller even to be usable on 4 different successive systems via official production and support

@Knuckles-Fajita It'll last as long as Smash lasts. If Smash Ultimate truly is the last game in the franchise and doesn't get ported to next gen, I don't think as many would be annoyed if GC controllers aren't supported on next gen.

It's such a beautifully precise and ergonomic controller. Could do with a left z button and the right stick aping the left stick but it was a joy to use.

I'm sorry, hold the phone... isn't that what we've always wanted? (the people on this board)
To see more games from non-Nintendo franchises on Nintendo hardware to fill the gaps?

So now, we're taking the thing that we said has been missing and we wanted it so badly, and now that we have it, we're using it as some kind of portent that it means new hardware is coming or something else? It can't just be that we've achieved a balance of Nintendo and non-Nintendo like we've always said would be awesome to have?

(Side note: you may be completely right that new hardware is coming. I'm not saying you aren't. I'm just taking issue with the thought process here.)

I never got the fuss for the GameCube controller. It's good, but so radically better than anything else? I don't see it. Even for Smash, I just moved onto the Classic Controller for Brawl and the Pro Controller/GamePad for Smash 4.

That said, if Nintendo ever released an official Pro Controller with an added ZL/Select button, clickable sticks, gyro, and HD rumble that was shaped like a GameCube controller as a limited edition, that would sell, I'd imagine. If Microsoft can bring back the godawful Xbox Duke controller for the Xbox One, Nintendo could do the same for the GameCube controller.

I haven't said anything about it being a bad year. Or that it is bad Nintendo have more third party support. But my point still stand, on a single year they are usually developing more first party titles across both their hardware lines. And that is the thing, they are not supporting the 3ds anymore (despite Reggie trying to claim otherwise) and this year have had smaller titles.

@iceclimbers your list is missing stuff from last year, but published by Nintendo isn't an especially good measurement for support imho. Games developed by Nintendo is a better measurement.

@Therad Sorry but i don't see that being the case. Releasing a new handheld, that is.The Switch's biggest selling point as of now(apart from the obvious being the place to play Nintendo games) is portability. And that point will need to be strengthened even more in a couple of years when the next gen of the twins will launch and the Switch will be be completely overshadowed in terms of processing power. Having a new handheld launched at that time will greatly diminish the Switch's utility and imo it would be like Nintendo shooting their own foot.
Also, wasn't the whole reason behind the Switch's creation to merge the home console/handheld aspects of gaming?

Let's not forget Pokemon as well - one of Nintendo's best sellers and a flagship series of their handhelds. Why would they release that on Switch only to introduce a new handheld next year?

I see a Switch mini, not a separate handheld. Can barely keep one platform afloat- two would put them in the same software drought situations as years past.

Switch mini solves that issue. Immediate adoption, existing library, and no additional resources required to keep games coming.

Just needs a $200 price. No dock, no detachable controllers, cut it down to $199. Could do it March 2020 when costs have come down.

Yeah, can't see a separate dedicated handheld when the Switch is getting a new mainline Pokemon(2019,), Yokai Watch and SMT.