Topic: The Nintendo Switch Thread

If you shoot Nintendo a bunch of questions they obviously can't answer in an email and report them in an article, of course it's going to look bad. It doesn't really bring up any new information, though.

Though I have to admit, the fact that Netflix support "is being considered in a future update" baffles me. Sure, don't have it at launch, but why on earth does it sound like such a maybe?

Pretty sure that Titanfall 2 dev was also drunk when he said that.

@IceClimbers Well Square has no issue doing downgrades. Indies love it. Its a middleware haven from what weve seen.

Honestly? I think wwestern third parties should be more open. The whole Yooka-Laylee issue is one thing but it keeps happening however, props to the guy for not saying it will happen and be shady about it not happening later on.

As a technical western third party (I don't like the tem in the way its used, just like AAA, which has no definition really), who will most likely need to rely on crowdfunding to get the game completed and on Switch as desired...they've basically killed that avenue in their actions, either as a overall general view to third parties that aren't upfront (Which I admit is a problem), and crowdfunding which I think no one trusts.

I think we're getting about what we should have expected so far. Japanese and indie developers going nuts about the idea of the Switch. Western developers of larger games giving largely token support. The bigger question is whether or not good sales can build that support into something more.

But there was always going to be small to medium sized releases on the Switch. With the 3DS and Vita winding up those games don't have many other places to go. And there was always going to be a lot of Japanese support because there's no way this doesn't become the dominant platform in Japan. But western developers? Even if the Switch is big it'll be a long while before it's as big as XBOne and PS4 in the west.

I don't really see why people would believe 3rd party support was going to be much different on the Switch, at least initially. If the system sells well, and there is a strong user base, they will be more willing to bring games to the system. The Titanfall 2 guy came across douchey, but he was honest about the possibility of the game coming to the Switch. Better than the standard "that's something we are discussing" talk we got all the time with the Wii U.

I do think Nintendo is counting on the Switch getting a lot of the mobile 3rd party support that the 3DS got, and it appears they'll continue to court indie developers and make the Switch an indie dev-friendly platform. Getting the support the 3DS got along with Nintendo bringing games they typically reserve for mobile (Pokemon in particular) should drive sales. The other way Nintendo will get 3rd party support is buy partnering with companies (or buying rights to) exclusives, as they did on the Wii U.

Its very clear from the post-event interviews they had a message they wanted to get across and they didn't want to deviate from that message. Obviously, they wanted the reveal of what the Switch was and how it works to come across very clear and avoid the confusion that came with the Wii U reveal.

I think we'll get a Nintendo Direct in February to detail the online network, account system, OS and the App. I think this is where we will get information on whether we will have to once again repurchase VC content (they need to allow consumers to download previously purchased content for free, its absurd to now be charging for online play and making consumers buy VC content(some for the 3rd time)), as well as information on video streaming apps (remember the Wii U streaming apps were delayed for a couple of weeks after launch).

@BLP_Software The guy would've been more believable if he laughed at Titanfall 2's sales instead of the Switch. Anyway, Titanfall is owned by EA, he's just one of the devs, he's not a representative, he was drunk and he had little to no idea what the actual specs are. Ultimately, it's EA's decision though. I admit, that doesn't make the situation any better. The chance of Titanfall 2 appearing on the Switch was incredibly small anyway. It didn't have an impact on the PS4 and Xbox One, so I doubt it would add anything substantial to the Switch. If the Switch is getting ports of older games, there are other games better suited for that. More importantly is whether the Switch is getting support for the upcoming games.

Sadly a common practice when it comes to big publishers. They want their studios to focus on one series, and if it doesn't sell for any reason they are gutted.

Dude, seriously? You must not be very media savvy. If that's enough to make you cancel your preorder, by all means, do it. Somebody out there who really wants a Switch at launch will be very grateful.

Nintendo's not answering a bunch of those questions because THEY want to control the message, not allow Kotaku to control the message. Nintendo wants to drip-feed us information in the style they prefer over the next 5 weeks - not blow it all in one interview with a website. Since last weekend's presentation, we've learned about more launch games and a whole slew of Fire Emblem announcements, including a mainline game for the Switch. Like I said last week, Nintendo probably has a plan for each week leading up to the launch. Who knows what we'll learn this week - maybe the online stuff, maybe VC, etc.

Kotaku's gonna publish all of those "We don't have an answer at that time" knowing full-well how it's going to make Nintendo look, and knowing full-well how it's going to make people like you freak out. Story spreads because people take the bait, Kotaku gets clicks, Kotaku gets money.

Do people really not realize this stuff?

(I used to write for a fairly large video game news website. I'm speaking from experience. This is EXACTLY how the game is played.)

Nintendo has always been like this with their new consoles, it works for them, it's keeping us intrigued.

Nintendo have always been like this with everything. You're never gonna prompt a clear answer out of them - they reveal things at their own pace. And it's completely understandable - would you want to announce something on-the-spot in some interview?

I don't really know how to word this, but it fills me with legitimate fear.

Why was I sat in a room with many more upcoming soon to be graduate developers today, with staff that are now teaching us that while we need to be at the forefront of new technology and experiences in gaming, the Switch isn't that? That its not worth it.

Why did they just tell a room of people to do one thing, but also not do it? I don't...

And I also find out they aren't happy that I pursue creativity in a way that they don't like, namely with new experiences and playstyles a la Switch, as that "Isnt what the course expects". But that's...not creativity? I don't....what?

I need one hell of a drink if this is the development landscape.

I have been wondering what to do with my pre order. I got in there on amazon uk at like 7:10am so am pretty sure I am guaranteed one for launch. I love the idea of the switch and am not bothered about it being underpowered compared to the PS4 and XB1.

However, The overpriced accessories the dodgy online subscription that by the sounds of it will be operated via using your smartphone. Not many launch titles that appeal to me.

I am mostly in this for the handheld side of things. The only reason I owned a Gameboy Colour, Gameboy Advaance, DS and now a 2DS is due to Pokémon and Mario Kart. All I want the switch for it for proper pokemon games and mario kart. If I pick up any other titles than that's just a bonus.

So do you think we will see a proper pokemon game for the switch? I am hoping the switch replaces the 3DS. In fact I think sooner rather than later Nintendo will announce the switch without the dock at a cheaper price to get the handheld crowed over.

I think it will with time. Let me explain. Reggie told that Switch wouldn't replace Wii U and now first parties for Wii U are done. I also feel like they want to create a unique system with a unified library and they are just waiting for Switch success to get third party support either. All Reggie interviews in recent days made me feel like this. So, as i said, it will just be a matter of time. By the way all this japanese support is pointing that way, and i like it so much. I prefer home consoles but this hybrid idea really got me

I wonder if you could take the innards of the Dock and fit them into a more portable form factor..?
There might be technical challenges but wouldn't it be nice if you could have a little block that you could easily take with you and then use that to connect the Switch to a friend's TV? The default Dock is kinda large after all.

Has there already been a discussion about this?

@Moshugan The dock is titchy (barely bigger than a 3DS XL)...I can't imagine how it'd be any smaller.

The only way I could think of shrinking it down would probably be to have just the cables.

@Buizel Well have look at this!
It looks like the Dock is mostly empty space and the tech is fitted into that little boxy area with the cable connections.

Wow, this is encouraging.

Even Angry Joe and ReviewTechUSA are sold and buying Switch day one. Both have fairly large followings, but that doesn't really matter. What's interesting is that they're both very outspoken when it comes to Nintendo, and don't shy away from criticizing them when they feel it's warranted. Just the fact people like this are sold on it could be indicative of interest at large.

And I mean, I know I was always sold on it. It's hard to imagine a scenario in which I would actually say no, I'm not getting one. But I still have interests and I can still not be excited. I wasn't really excited for Wii U aside from the notion of playing new games. Which obviously is what everything boils down to in the end (hence why I bought it) but nothing about the console really excited me. It didn't do anything we hadn't seen before aside from the Gamepad, and while I did appreciate it, it just wasn't the game changer that they hoped it was. With Switch, even though I was already sold, the fact is I'm actually really excited for it. And not just for the games but for the actual device itself. For the controllers. For the technology in the controllers. For the level of power in a handheld device. The fact it is a handheld device.

I can just look at this thing and tell that it's an attractive system. And it seems a lot of people are interested in it... and for good reason imo. I'm glad to see Nintendo put so much thought into the system. There's a few things that still need to be addressed and there's a couple things I wish they'd change (like external HDD support at launch, don't neglect this Nintendo!), but all in all I've got to say I'm quite impressed, and it's hard to temper my excitement for what is, imo, the coolest console I've seen since I've started gaming back on the NES

@Buizel @Moshugan
Well in theory this is a range of Switch Dock alternatives....

@JaxonH I know RTU is a genuine guy. I get the feeling he's sold on it because of what it is, not what it isn't. Yes he'd have liked just a normal box, but damn if the Switch as a concept, what it can do, and how it can just be a part of life isn't absolutely both mindblowing, seemless, and the future. For someone like himself, yourself, or myself, this thing just fits into our lives.

@BLP_Software

Every time you comment about your development course, I'm more convinced their a bunch of closed minded morons that would have died if they were born in the 80's.

Just keep going ahead with what you believe. People may refuse to see it, but we're nearing the point of dimishing returns - what will they propose after 4k and 60fps if the human eye can't see more details? I really can't believe they talk about the beginning of a new trend - hybrid system - that appeals to the more normal people that can't play 24/7 in front of the TV.
I bet they said the same when motion controls came out with the Wii. Fast forward ten years.... Its the base of the VR systems.

Go out, buy yourself a nice JD and get some time to yourself, it sounds like you really need it with that kind of people around. And even if the staff says that, keep in mind there will always exist a group that doesn't want creativity as more pixels and frames per second - they want something that will adapt to their needs.