Topic: The Nintendo Switch Thread

In my opinion, if the NX is a home console, it's probably going to be more powerful than the PS4 at the least; especially considering all the complaints about the Wii U's power relative to its competitors.

Meanwhile, if the NX is a handheld console, it's probably going to be more powerful than the Vita. Though, I have a feeling there are mobile phones out now that are more powerful than the Vita.

I don't really think so. Remember, the people getting excited about the NX are the Nintendo fans who frequent forums and talk about it every day. That's a very small fragment of the fanbase.

As for the part about Nintendo creating hype, they have an uphill battle even without the "disappoint or meet" theory you mention. A lot of people just bought a new generation console within the past 2-3 years, and those who haven't can choose between an NX or a PS4/XB1.

Part of the reason I think the mid-cycle updates will help Nintendo is that they may open up more people's minds to picking up a new system this year, and that can help Nintendo build a little more hype than they would have prior.

Load of crap, but I'll give him credit for not going the hybrid route.

It depends on what it is. Some things will be an easy sell and others will take some effort.

If they're jumping to a conventional higher spec on a home console? I think some well placed third party support could build some hype. As would things like cross-play with other platforms, cross-buy across Nintendo systems and other boring conventional stuffs. Remember how hyped people got over the PS4 for "used games"? Yeah, that sort of stuff gets the mainstream excited. If they said something like "every copy of Zelda U for the Wii U will come with a free copy for the NX with full cross-play"... that'd build hype.

For a portable it's much easier. All they need to do is show some footage of games running on the stream. I don't know about everyone else but I'd get hyped with just that. Especially if it was paired with some compelling software. All they need to do is show this directly after showing some footage for a 3DS game that's coming out soon and it'll be immediately obvious why you "need" the new one.

If it's a lower spec machine and there's some kind of weird concept? That's much harder. They did it amazingly with the Wii but failed with the Wii U, DS and 3DS. Initially at least. The DS they eventually landed on some software that showcased it. Really, only the Wii was easy to explain with a video. I don't know what their new concept is but I would guess it's going to be hard to explain.

What will get me super excited for the NX is when they start talking about what games will be on it, I really couldn't care less about the specs and if it has 4K as long as it has Great 1st party games and all the new 3rd party games

https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2016/03/road_redemptions_wii...

Yeah at this rate I think we can kiss PowerPC goodbye.

Hey guys... uhm... what happened to that thread I just commented in like half an hour ago with the guy posting pictures outside NoE headquarters trying to back up a supposed "NX meeting" that some developers were invited to? I think @WebHead replied to me.

CONSPIRACY?!?!

lol but seriously where did it go? Or am I just missing it for some reason?

I bet the OP deleted it to make it seem more legit

I say aliens.

Well, honestly there wasn't a whole lot there we didn't already know.

Late 2016 release.
"NX" is a family of systems running the same OS.

That was kind of it, now that I think of it.

My expectations for the next handheld:
-is a single-screened device with freeform screen tech.
-Screen is multitouch.
-No 3DS BC
-L/R Scroll Wheel shoulder buttons
-Rear AR camera
-cross functionality with mobile devices
-Can cast to TV.

@WebHead:
I can't see them dropping backwards compatibility from their portable line. There's just not going to be any need and it's not like the "DS" design is holding them back. There's also no reason to move away from ARM given how far ahead ARM is with compact devices. On every measure.

The rest of the stuff? The "AR camera" is just a camera, everything has a camera including the 3DS and DSi. So I'd assume it's still there. Multi-touch would be an obvious improvement. Scroll wheels? I guess. Free-form screen design? I don't see why not. Cast to TV? Eh, I'm not sure... but from the home console to the portable is an obvious move IMO.

Lastly the idea of "cross functionality" with mobile? To the extent that I think it'll happen we're already seeing it. Miitomo does that already and I'd expect there to be more of that. Pokemon Shuffle exists as a mobile and 3DS title, I'd expect more of that. I don't think we'll see Google Play on Nintendo's next portable but I think you're right in a sense. The lines between what's portable content and what's for mobile will continue to blur. I think that'll be the biggest difference between Nintendo's portables before and after the 3DS.

Verified apparently. And IDC what anyone says, a freeform screen handheld isn't gonna have 3DS BC.

@WebHead:
All you need for 3DS BC is an ARM architecture, more than 240x400 x2 of screen plus the gap in the middle, the correct button layout and the cartridge slot. You can do that and have a free form display. It would also work pretty easily with the other stuff you described. It just means that it wouldn't look exactly like all of the fake mockups we've seen! And you know why I think they'll keep BC? .... Pokemon. And if Not Sun/Moon then the next one.

Anyways, the link you just posted? Sounds very much like what I'd expect their next home console to be. You could also use that same list of bullet points to basically describe the PS4, XBOne or even PC. Although I assume that the "additional screen" they're describing would be more of a GamePad than a Vita/tablet type scenario.

@skywake: yeah I think that the home console or micro console will be able to be controlled by a smart device ie Chromecast.(not the main controller obviously but has the ability to do such.)

I hope they don't ditch the clamshell (that is what it is called, right?) design for their portable. It keeps the "important" bits a little safer while bumping into stuff.

@WebHead:
I don't think it's a good idea to constantly use the Chromecast as an example. Other than the obvious inclusion of a screen, buttons and other I/O a Chromecast is far more "advanced" than the GamePad. A Chromecast is basically the equivalent of the guts of an entry level smartphone. When you tell it to stream a video it basically loads an application and then does the work itself.

And if the Chromecast was an entry level smartphone then the GamePad would be a monitor. A monitor that has buttons, motion controls, NFC and wireless video input. A monitor that only displays 480p from a fairly low quality connection. It's basically doing for video what a bluetooth speaker does for sound. It's well engineered but it's not at all like what the Chromecast is.

I think if we are indeed getting a new home console this year that's x86 the CPU will likely be AMD Puma.

So with the new info that Zelda will indeed be a (launch?) title on the NX, I am quite sure it is an home console now. Basically, I can't see that kind of experience work on an handheld.

@Therad: Yeah home console is very likely at this point, and it's definitely wii u or better in terms of processing power.

@Therad: Launch title is likely, but it's a little weird how they didn't specify March 2017 and just gave us a general '2017'. I'm probably looking too much into it...