Topic: The Nintendo Switch Thread

@Whitewatermoose

Overall, very excited. A few disappointments but I'll get to those. The system, for starters, is just amazing. It really is. I don't think I've ever laid eyes on a sexier console, and the Joycons are brilliant. I always said the Wiimote and Nunchuck was a good idea but it was hampered by A cord B lack of 2nd analog C lack of buttons and ease of reaching existing buttons D forced motion when it didn't always fit or enhance the experience E motion capabilities still limited by technology

With the Joycons, the cord is gone, we have a 2nd analog, enough buttons (including clickable analog) and easy to reach, and the Joycons actually work as normal controllers except in certain situations or games where it naturally enhances the experience (like aiming Link's crossbow in Zelda or a game like Arms where you steer your punches). And last but not least, the motion looks on par with HTC Vive and Occulus... far more advanced than 7th gen motion like the Wiimote

One of my favorite features though is that the controllers can be used sideways Wiimote-style, so the dual Joycon setup ensures you always have 2 controllers for multiplayer wherever you are. Local multiplayer has been dying off in the west because consoles are stationary and adults don't have friends over all the time like you do when you're a teenager. And handhelds are single player only (unless you both own one and have a 'download play' compatible title). With Switch, the console becomes portable, but that alone wouldn't be enough. It's the fact that it also, by default, has two controllers built into it that really makes it work. I can bring my Switch with me anywhere- to my brother's house, to work, wherever... and I can just set it on the table, pull out the kickstand and undock the controllers, hand one to a friend and we can play Mario Kart or Bomberman right there on the spot.

Now, as for the disappointments. The launch lineup is weak. But Zelda, truthfully, is worth a dozen mediocre titles so, it's kind of hard to feel all gloomy when I know I'm going to be playing Zelda day one. Also Bomberman R. That game looks hype. The following 9 months after launch look a lot better. By the time it's year's end, we'll have Zelda, Bomberman, Mario, Xenoblade, Splatoon, MarioKart, Fire Emblem, Arms, Skyrim, Dragon Quest XI, Dragon Quest Heroes 1 and 2, Sonic Mania, Sonic 2017, and countless other smaller titles like Redout, FAST RMX, Has Been Heroes, etc. And maybe, if those retailer listings are accurate, Pikmin World and Smash Ultimate as well.

The paid online is bittersweet. On the one hand it's never good news to hear you're going to have an added expense. I've never agreed with the idea of paid online and I really hate to see Nintendo adopt it as a policy, but I suppose it was inevitable given the industry trends and the fact every other console does it. On the bright side it is good news to see them bolstering their online, even if it is there a smart phone app. In principle I could object, but practically speaking I do always have my smart phone right next to me so it would be wasted breath.

I was expecting to see a few more bigger titles from third parties- that is probably my biggest let down. That said I'm still fairly confident there are plenty more games to come that have not been yet revealed, even if not a single extra game gets announced between now and launch, e3 is right around the corner from Switch launch and I find it hard to believe they'd go empty handed.

But again, overall I think it's a sexy system. I'm very pleased with the graphical capabilities as well. Mario Kart Switch runs 720p 60fps in undocked handheld mode... that's identical to Wii U. Means even when the system is undocked, it's like having a Wii U in the palm of your hand. Docked the game runs 1080p, which is a pretty significant upgrade. The sheer value of getting a console like Wii U and handheld like 3DS all in one $300 price tag is impressive, even more so given the "3DS portion" of it is actually on par with Wii U. And all games are effectively a console version and handheld version in one. No more $300 Wii U + $200 3DS with $60 Smash Wii U + $40 Smash 3DS. With Switch I pay once and get both, which even as a handheld is like a portable Wii U. Just can't get over how awesome that is

The comment from Gearbox about how their talks with Ninty broke off as they lost interest/had other priorities is a little disheartening, makes me wonder how big the problem of Ninty working with 3rd parties is.

Okay, this is pretty important. Looks like that, on top of paying for the online servers, you also need to pay for the smartphone app that enables the voice chat. By the looks of it, it's not possible to use voice chat directly through the Switch, you need the app and you need to pay for it as well... A free version will be available this summer, but it will be limited, like a trial version.

I mean, I don't even know how to give this a positive spin anymore...

Source: http://www.nintendo.com/switch/online-service/

My main gripe with the switch is the initial cost. I've so far layed out £465 on all the bits and bobs I want Day one!
And that's not including all the BoTw amiibo.
I guess the plus side is the only game I want at launch is BoTw so that keeps costs down.
Sigh

@Octane Geez Louise, man. I guess Kimishima really is a businessman first and foremost. Not to point the finger directly at him, but ouch.

@jump
I think the Nintendo/3rd-party situation is way more complex than those of us outside the industry will ever know.

Your average forum-goer like you and me sees it as pretty clear cut: The Switch needs games. Nintendo should approach 3rd-parties. Nintendo should offer them money/incentives to develop for the Switch. Everyone profits. Skip through the fields.

But I reeeeeeaaaally doubt it's as simple as that. After the Wii U, I'm sure the third parties feel a bit burned, if not downright turned off by the prospect of putting their stuff on a Nintendo console. I mean, the Wii U is going to end its life probably somewhere around 14-15 million units sold. Some of the big third parties that you guys keep clamoring for (Gearbox actually being a good example) are used to releasing HUGE games that NEED to sell a few million MINIMUM to be viewed as "worth it" in their eyes. I would imagine something like an Assassin's Creed or Call of Duty would prefer to sell something close to half of the Wii U's entire install base.

So think about it: When Borderlands 3 comes out, even if it were ONLY launching on the PS4, let's say, would Gearbox be happy with 1 million sold? Nope. 2? Nope. We're talking like 3-4 million MINIMUM for a huge release like that, and pretty quickly. Then go back and look at the Wii U and something like Ubisoft taking a chance with ZombiU. What did that sell? BARELY 1 million as of a month ago, and that's after nearly 5 years of being out. It's just not worth it.

Third parties, aside from what we've already seen, will NOT come to the Switch until the install base grows. I'm sure some of them have some projects "cooking" in preparation for that (hopeful) time, but I bet they also have their fingers VERY ready on the "cancel" button should things go south for Switch adoption.

@Octane
Sorry for double post, but if that stuff about the online system/app/voice chat is true, I certainly will not be subscribing.

(Also, I own a Windows Phone, which...uh...I highly doubt they will make the app for lol)

@Octane I think the wording on that is just misleading. I think that just means that the app is free, and then you get basic features like your friends list, but then the other features like voice chat aren't available unless you pay for the subscription.

@Whitewatermoose They're not out of touch, it's just that they know that the typical western gamer that plays those games isn't their audience and never will be. Nintendo is irrelevant to that AAA market, and has been since the PlayStation deal with Sony fell through. That's why the majority of those games don't come to Nintendo platforms, the same way most Japanese games don't come to Xbox.

Nintendo will never be able to become that top dog primary platform in that AAA market again. Accept it.

@IceClimbers If it's not trying to be the primary platform, then why does it cost WAY TOO MUCH? I mean, the Switch would work great as a secondary console for your average Western gamer, but the system is launching at the same price as a PS4 with lower specs and a meh game library.

@Whitewatermoose That isn't who they're targeting though.

The marketing for Switch as well as the pricing paint a very clear picture of who their target audience is:

Party-going middle class adults in their mid-20s through early 30s. The people who buy Apple products as a lifestyle.

@LegendOfPokemon You fail to realize the Switch is releasing in March and the PS4 and X1 have had price cuts already since they've been out for much longer. Yes the specs aren't close in terms of power but for what this unit does playing the games it showed on the go that isn't coming cheap so yeah it really isn't that expensive

@LegendOfPokemon
Because it's also a handheld. And it's not as expensive as people are making out....

Nintendo consoles adjusted for Inflation from cheapest to most expensive:
GBA: $140US
GB: $175US
DS: $190US
3DS: $270US
GC: $270US
Switch: $300US
Wii: $300US
N64: $310US
SNES: $370US
Wii U: $370US
NES: $450US

@skywake Yeah, but you also have to purchase a $60 game, not to mention a microSD card for extra storage and a portable charger for taking the system on the go (although the latter 2 might not be a big deal for most people).

Does anyone know where one can go to pre-order a Switch right now? Probably a stupid question, but yeah.

@Whitewatermoose Nope. The "blue ocean casuals" of before (Wii/DS) were the grandmas and soccer moms of the world - nongamers who had no prior interest in video games, as well as families.

Go rewatch the reveal trailer and the presentation, and look at who's in the marketing, and then look at the pricing for the Switch and it's accessories. Then take into account their strategy with mobile games, and the fact that Super Mario Run was timed exclusive to iOS.

The people who they're targeting with Switch is exactly who I described in my previous comment. The people who buy Apple products yearly because they see that brand as a fashion statement, a lifestyle.

First Switch commercial posted on the German Switch Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/NintendoSwitchDE/videos/356710011365...

Edit: Ewww, that's some terrible embedding there, Facebook. Great ad though.

@LegendOfPokemon
Most of those systems I listed didn't come with a game. The Wii, SNES, Wii U and NES did but all the others didn't. With the charger well technically it's USB Type C. From what I can tell the dock is also powered by USB Type C. So the charger included should be good for both.

Anyways, you can get a USB Type C cable for around $10 or so. And if its anything like the previous standard USB cables you're going to have more than you know what to do with before long. It doesn't seem that long ago that I only had one micro-USB cable. Now I have literally a box full of them.

See this is the reason I hate the word "casual gamer".

It paints a very specific picture of a soccer mom or grandma, who is the only type of person who plays a so called "casual game".

But the entire purpose of a casual game is to be enjoyed by everyone, including gamers. I love playing Just Dance with my family and friends. 1, 2 Switch is targeting a similar approach, but instead of families, it's aiming at young adults (and honestly, looking at the gameplay, drunk young adults), some of whom don't play games (I had plenty of friends in college who either didn't play games or only played 1 or 2 specific games like LoL or Hearthstone)

I'm hoping to get a Switch when MK8 Deluxe releases on April 28th, I'm excited about the System. I never owned a Wii u, just a 3DS