Topic: The Nintendo Switch Thread

@Paulthevgnerd
Yeah, but sometimes it gets crazy with all the speculation.

Actually I don't. It might be another iKhan.

The problem is that the demands of VR are far more strict, get it wrong and it's a horrible experience. It needs to be high framerate, low latency, high resolution. So streaming isn't an option at all. Also the parallax barrier in the 3DS? Not really practical for VR either. The screens are simply too close to your eyes. Things like variable refresh-rates, higher pixel density and more powerful hardware will be the sort of advances that will move VR forward. None of which are cheap.

Rumours again, not really much to say. Although these rumours seem to be increasingly backing the idea of a portable system. So maybe there's something in that. Who knows. Because for a while there a few of the rumours seemed to swing the other way. Or at least they were reported as such.

@Whitewatermoose:
The problem with game streaming is the quality of the connection. Simple games are no easier to stream than more complex ones. If anything the streaming of very high end content is easier to get away with. Playing the original SMB on the Wii U GamePad isn't particularly exciting, you can do that on a 3DS. Playing Assassin's Creed 4 on the Wii U GamePad? That's exciting because it's unusual to see a game like that "run" on a portable device.

The NVidia Shield is an interesting concept in the same way that the Wii U GamePad or Steam Link are. It's also a novel solution for being the only off-the-shelf way to play PC games on a portable device. So when you say that you think Nintendo should have gone down that road? I can't help but be confused. How did they not? How was the Wii U not an incredibly huge gamble on that same idea?

Random idea that will never work time. Portable VR Glasses. You wear them like normal glasses but instead of lens, you have screens. The glasses fold up to easily fit in your pocket. The controller will be similar to the Game Stick controller and when not in use clip into the folded VR glasses, for easy carrying. Games are stored on MicroSD cards, its power output rivals the Vita due to parts of the hardware being in the glasses and part of it being in the controller.

This device could also connect to a home console for more power and more realistic experiences.

But seriously, I am still in the micro console camp lol

@Whitewatermoose:
Fundamentally there's not much difference between streaming from a box you own and streaming from one "in the cloud". Other than the added latency ect and the fact that you rent the hardware rather than own it. IMO streaming from a device you own is a solid experience and do-able on a mass market scale. Streaming games from the could is hit-and-miss.

As for architectures... I can't see a portable not being ARM based. I don't think this poses many major issues given that the 3DS (and just about every other mobile device) is also ARM based. For a home console I think at this stage x86 would be a good move. Sure it'd make Wii U backwards compatibility tricky but it'd also make ports easier. As it stands the only PPC devices on the mass market are the Wii U, 360 and PS3. Wonder why Ubisoft stopped supporting the Wii U with Assassin's Creed Unity? It being PPC based was surely one of the bigger reasons.

What I will say though is that I hope Nintendo find a way to create some sort of local ecosystem. Maybe they could upgrade the Wii U firmware in such a way that it allows streaming to things other than the GamePad. That wouldn't be too hard. For a portable system with sufficient resolution/controls/WiFi it'd be pretty easy for Nintendo to do. Maybe they find a way to turn the Wii U idea into a network device that you stream games from. To PCs, Steam-Link style devices and portable consoles. Though.... as cool as that'd be I'd still rather HDMI-out

Must not be a simple ps4 or xbone or vita clone if they're being so secretive about it. NX must really be something special to have such strict NDA.

I've never owned a Nintendo home console since the N64, so I'm really excited for the NX. I'll probably start saving money on the side for it.

@Fuhgeddit: why come back now on an unknown console and what have you been playing (if anything) in between?

@Frostyboy: Well, I am waiting for the E3 announcement obviously and hoping that it's going to be really good. I've been playing mostly Sony consoles, and well..I just got an Xbox One last year.

@Fuhgeddit: iv always owned a nintendo console but after super mario galaxy (I wasn't a fan) I moved onto the PS3. I current have wii U, PS4 and xbox one, but I feel to spread out spoilt with choice. So I want to go back to one console again and being a big Nintendo fan I'm hoping the NX is it.

@Frostyboy: Makes sense. I think next gen I might go ahead and stick with 2 consoles...preferably Sony and Nintendo. I like my Xbox, don't get me wrong, but I think the exclusives and games on the Playstation is where my heart lies.

@Frostyboy: @Fuhgeddit: Yea I'm with you guys. I own all three consoles right now, but I just feel a little overwhelmed when it comes down to what I want to play. My Wii U has gotten the most time this generation by far - no contest.

I've said it before: If the NX reveal really "wows" me, I can see myself going 100% Nintendo and maybe selling off my PS4 and Xbox One for a bit of cash (NX games - ha!). I can't even remember the last time I played something on my PS4, to be honest lol

A bit of a timeline observation for you guys:
Wii -> Wii U:
Time between launches: 6 years
Time between last big Wii game and Wii U launch: 1 year
Time between official announcement and launch: 18 months

DS -> 3DS:
Time between launches: 7 years
Time between last big DS game and 3DS launch: Pokemon Black/White launched ontop of the 3DS
Time between official announcement and launch: 1 year
Time between DSi launch and 3DS announcement: 16 months

Wii U currently:
Last known big game release date: Zelda U, late this year
Time since launch: 3 years

3DS currently:
Last known big game release date: Probably another Pokemon, late this year
Time since launch: 5 years
Time since New 3DS launch: 15 months

http://mynintendonews.com/2016/01/20/rumour-nintendo-nx-to-in... hmm

It could just mean that cross-platform play will be available on the system. I highly doubt they'd be able to interact on a deeper level.

@cookiex: being able to play with players on ps4 would be pretty sweet. In games like dragon quest x

Why would the NX not be able to do 1080p/60fps when the Wii U can? _{I think 900p/60fps would be too much for a handheld, so I assumed it was talking about the home console.}

@DefHalan: anyone could make a list like that