Topic: The Nintendo Switch Thread

Could just be Nintendo having their input on Wreck It Ralph 2. For the first movie N was quite specific in how they wanted their characters to appear.

Well the Pebble is a thing so there is a precedent for it. It's still a bad idea I just don't think that's the reason why it's a bad idea/theory. I think the bigger question is why they'd even bother. Why would you want email/text/call notifications on your console distracting you from the game you're playing? I can't see why you'd want that. It would be a negative feature and if you want to have your phone near by an unnecessary feature.

Also since when have Nintendo been the company that pushes that sort of thing? They got a lot of crap for not including DVD playback on the Wii and Blu-Ray playback on the Wii U. They were slow to put youtube on the 3DS. They're quick to do their own thing and make a game out of something but they don't push features for the sake of it. I'd be surprised if the NX has Facebook integration let alone a way to use it as an accessory for your phone.

I think a Wii U level hybrid is feasible for sure but anymore than that I think is too much.

@Whitewatermoose: I personally think they're doing the shared ecosystem thing with scroll wheel shoulder buttons. Home console this year handheld next year.

Well yeah, the 940M is almost literally half way between the Wii U and XBOne. Though the Surface Book costs about 10x the price of the 2DS currently. Also the 3DS has a 7Wh battery, the Surface Book has 18Wh in the top and 50Wh in the base. So it's fair to say it's an entirely different ballgame.

It's just a report from Cisco about the state of the industry from early 2015. More likely than not, Cisco is just going off existing tumors at the time.

We're now seeing lots of rumors of AAA games going to the NX. Why would major publishers be so enthusiastic about a console with 0 market share? My speculation: NX is a portable. It's the only reason major game publishers will be so enthusiastic: the only portable on the market with HD capability and adequate muscle to play AAA titles. Even if it's at a barely adequate WiiU level of power, a portable NX would offer publishers the only way to offer console-class games to mobile players. Don't think it's only Nintendo that's worried about the mobile gaming threat.

Every time a console releases from one of the big 3, 3rd parties say they are excited. It doesn't really mean much.

Anyway, a new patent was revealed today:
http://nintendoeverything.com/nintendo-patent-handheld-device...

This is actually really interesting. It looks like Nintendo is trying to use a mobile device as a "Wii Remote" esque device. Don't know if it will get integrated into NX, but I think it's a good insight into some of the things Nintendo is looking at.

Nintendo clearly wants to keep motion controls around, but they don't want to keep bringing the Wii Remote back.

A lot of those rumors are pretty sketchy. I don't mean in the regular kind of "it's just rumors" sketchy either. I wouldn't read too much into it.

Why would the NX need to be a portable for triple A developers to take an interest? Do you not remember the PS Vita problem?

The PS Vita had power behind it and like it's predecessor was marketed as a console in which you could play home console type games on the go. The problem is, no one wants that experience on the go. That's why Nintendo’s handheld systems do so well, because that's not the audience they cater to with the odd exception here and there.

If the NX replaces the Wii U, and if the NX releases this year, then it will need to be more powerful than the PS4 or XB1. It will need to be the system that can run games at more optimized levels. It also needs to be different than a clone of XB1 or PS4. It needs a wow factor. It needs something that the others don't have. Nintendo probably won't be able to get a big 3rd party exclusive but they need something. A new Controller probably won't inspire confidence unless they can prove it will play just like a "normal" controller. If they can't wow anyone with the hardware then the Software will need to be huge. Ports will help but it won't sell the system. A port of Zelda U will not be enough on its own. The Software would need to be unique and target a large audience. The price point would need to be competitive to the other hardware on the market and the PS4/XB1 will most likely get price cuts this year.

It is going to be extremely difficult to pull off.

Plus Xbox one is likely getting a new slim and/or enhanced model this year. And there's PSVR too.

@WebHead: I just have no idea how Nintendo could be competitive and blow us away with a Wii U replacement this year. In a few years maybe but this year I just don't know.

@DefHalan: tbh neither 2016 nor 2017 are optimal years. But it's clear that Nintendo isn't waiting.

I agree that they're not optimal years for Nintendo to release a home console. Which makes you think about why we're talking about the NX. Could be a few reasons. Maybe it's not coming out as soon as we think it might be. Maybe it's not a home console. Maybe it is a home console coming out soon and Nintendo know what they're doing better than we do. Maybe they're going to hit a brick wall.

Really, at this point we're not that much further along in the speculation than we were a year ago. And on questions of whether the timing is right or not I don't think we're going to know for a long while yet. If they've bottled lightning or failed spectacularly we might know within 6 months or so after launch. If it's less clear we might still be asking questions a few years down the road.

I kinda see the Wii U as currently doing Ok. It is last in the "console race" but it still delivers impressive sales numbers for Nintendo Software and Nintendo seems to be more interested in shorter dev times and quicker releases which could lead to more profit for them. If they stick with the Wii U for a little while longer, things will probably stay roughly the same for them and they could wait out this gen for a better launch time... but will they?

@DefHalan: Are we deeming Wii U sales numbers "impressive" now? Honest question. And please provide evidence.

@rallydefault: Software sales have been impressive

Mario Kart 8, Super Mario Bros U, Smash Bros, Splatoon, Super Mario 3D World, Mario Maker, Super Luigi U, Wii Party U, Wind Waker HD, Mario Party 10, Topical Freeze, Hyrule Warriors, Yoshi Wooly World, Captain Toad, Pikmin 3 have all sold over a million. Almost 10% of the install base.

Depends on how you define impressive and what scope you look at it with.

Nintendo has done a spectacular job of turning a 15M lifetime selling system into a profit with things like software and amiibo.

This would have completely destroyed Sony or Microsoft.

@iKhan: While they are releasing 'new concepts', they have no reason to wait for a new generation to begin. Generations are predominantly governed by jumps in technology. 8 bit was over taken by 16 bit so everyone made 16 bit consoles etc etc. Anyone wanting Nintendo's next 'gimmick' to be optional doesn't appreciate that is not how you chase a 'new concept'. They have to go all in with it. But the Wii proved to the majority of PS / Xbox 'gamers' that graphics > new concept.