Topic: The Nintendo Switch Thread

@subpopz Sony is going to maintain their dominance over xbox next gen, they're basically free to take whatever stance they want.. xbox will never be a threat.

@misanthrope Now that's a laugh. Xbox was a huge threat last generation,what makes you think the same won't hold true next generation? The new management there seems to actually have their heads on straight, so I could see the NeXtBox being the best console they've had yet.

@link3710 stop patronizing them.. we need Sega back.

@misanthrope @link3710 Never ever underestimate how tides can change from one generation to the next. No one ever thought Sony would fall so hard after the triumph of the original PlayStation and certainly the PlayStation 2. Yet, they messed up big time from the very get go of the PS3.

@JaxonH You've been admirably beating the drum for Valkyria Chronicles 4, but to me there's a very good reason why people aren't getting excited about it.

I won't pretend to be an expert on the issue, but as a prospective buyer I see virtually NOTHING that differentiates VC4 from VC1.

And this is reflected in Metro.co.uk's review:

Clearly a very good game. But seemingly too similar to an existing game to get excited about. I don't want to drop £40 on a game that's just like another I own.

@gcunit
Well I mean, there's the different characters and personal story, different maps, etc. it might follow the same template as the first but, that's kind of what everyone told them they wanted them to do (especially after Valkyria Revolution deviated), return to what made the series great with the first.

That doesn't mean it's not a different game though. It's like all the fire emblem games. Same formula and template but it's different games, and they're all good. When you're talking about strategy games, it's the maps and the strategy being different that matters, although there's new characters and story too.

Idk. I think just because a game follows the same template doesn't mean it's not worth enjoying. It's a Valkaria chronicles game. A country's going to invade and your group is going to have to fight them, it's going to be strategy game play with certain classes and rules of engagement... I know this one sticks particularly close to the first but, given the second and third games got further and further from that, it's a good thing. I don't think just because they're similar though that it's going to feel like you're replaying the exact same game any more than playing DKC Tropical Freeze was the same as Returns.

Two games I simply couldn't care less about, sorry mate... And I'm guessing a lot of people feel that way too, there's not much else to it.

At that time, backlogs were empty and there was little to look forward that was actually confirmed. That's changed now.

I think it's simpler than you suspect: the proportion "number of appealing games" / "number of available customers for these games" is shifting. There's a higher number of appealing games. Of course there's also more Switch owners, but a relatively high proportion may have bought the Switch either for the big hitters (not interested in the games you're referring to) or as a second/third gaming device (having been able to play the games you're referring to already on other platforms). Whether I like it or not, all people I know in my direct vicinity have never heard of VC 4 nor DBFZ.

I mean, that's pretty true. Everyone in my direct vicinity has heard about both, but that's solely thanks to me. Besides which, most of my friends are far more excited for the new My Hero Academia games, Naruto Trilogy, or Sword Art Online games than DBFZ. Honestly, I think Dragon Ball's popularity is finally waning.

VC4 is now at #58. I don’t think the Best Sellers list has been updated since midnight, so I’d presume that it’ll be in the top 30 by Wednesday morning.

The special edition of VC4 is currently sitting at #36 on the best-selling Switch products list on Amazon. I don't even see the launch edition of the game in the top 100, though. Very weird.

It's trending slightly higher overall on Switch than on PS4 on Amazon.

While it's true more appealing games are out, we're looking at macro trends here.

Obviously its a more niche game. Im sure a lot of people in certain groups haven't heard of it. But overall, there is a fanbase for these games. And overall, games have been selling much better than this until now. Even YS VIII and Shining Resonance charted significantly higher, and that was only 2 months ago. And YS VIII is a classic, as is VC4 and DBFZ. Id expect these 2 games to do as well if not better. Yet they're not even matching Shining Resonance, a decent but not spectacular niche release which dropped in the middle of the summer onslaught.

So I do think there's a significant trend change on a macro level, that's not explained by simply "my friends arent interested". Because that was true for countless previous releases which all went on to do very well.

I think a lot of early adopters might become dormant after a year or so. That could explain it somewhat.

I'm pretty stoked for VC4 but I don't have the bandwidth for it. I'll get in December I think. I'm tying to stop buying games just to put them in my back log. I bought spiderman and it is still in my bookbag...

Valkyria Chronicles 1 is only going to be $19.99, and if you buy VC4, you get 25% off.

I championed Valkyria Chronicles 1 for years as one of the best SRPGs of the 7th gen. Was ecstatic when it got remastered for PS4 and PC. Never thought the day would come we'd get a completely new entry, because sales hadnt been great despite being a cult classic.

So many people would talk about this game Valkyria Chronicles most hadn't played, and how good it was. Sounded like it was gaining enough word of mouth traction to be extremely successful if the series continued.

And here we are. Not only did we get a new entry, we got it on Switch, and we're getting the original itself on Switch too.

I don't get paid until mid October so...can't buy these games at launch.

Plus since I work nights, I wake up and have no time to play games, then sleep in the day. I get maybe half an hour in on my phone at breaks.

But that's just the thing. This rampant game buying mood isn't for everyone, since everyone has their own needs to put first.

But the good news is hopefully these companies have reasonable expectations.

@JaxonH I loved the first one and have been excited for 4 since it was announced. I’d be playing right now if my GameStop’s shipments werent delayed. It’s getting hard to keep up with all these games coming out, but this is one I knew I’d get day one.

Also, since they aren’t busy complaining about Switch Online, PushSquare already reviewed VC4 and gave it a 9/10. According to the review, it’s the return to form fans have been waiting for.

@JaxonH Wait really? Does that apply to the US too, or is that a European deal? I haven't seen anything about it.

@DarthNocturnal Thanks, that sucks though. I'm definitely getting it physically then, with Best Buy rewards it's cheaper than that discount would be + gold coins.

Wait, what!?! When did that happen?

@MilkBone A month ago, a direct result of Best Buy stopping the GCU.

Ok thanks. That really stinks