Topic: Why did Nintendo seem to keep so much from us?

They had this big presentation about the Switch, I'm wondering about how much they actually left out and how much we don't know about with less than 2 months to release. The details about the system power and things like that, how the online subscription will work and just more about the games.

At the moment, there is nothing really encouraging me to get this system and here is why.

The games

Zelda, I can play on the Wii U.

Mario Kart 8, I can play on the Wii U and the few additions don't encourage me to buy again.

Splatoon - I can play on the Wii U, but I don't see buying the sequel with the little details released. There are new stages, new clothing, new weapons, but are they really going to change the game that much?

Super Mario Odosy - This is probably the game I am most interested in, but it still doesn't seem to have much new compared to other Mario games like Super Mario 3D World. Yes, the real life themed city is new, but that just doesn't feel like a city that should be in a Mario game.

Other games - None of the other games really appeal to me.

Paid online subscription - Why would I pay any amount of money to get online when I will likely not be playing online often enough to feel like it is worth it, but I still would want to play online. However, these concerns might be less concerning if I actually knew how much this costs which I am annoyed Nintendo didn't say about.

Who knows? Maybe it is an elaborate strategy to build up hype until the release date? It's still a couple of weeks away. If they offer a piece of information (system specs, more games, dates etc.) every week they could stay relevant and in the headlines 'till the actual launch. Look at the buzz that the press conference created. Or maybe the just don't have a good way of communicating with the customers.

Any launch ports will probably be announced closer to release, so that they do not cannibalise sales of the Wii U/3DS versions. The oft-rumoured Switch version of Sun/Moon springs to mind.

I find it funny that when Mario Kart 8 came out without the "real" battle mode/arenas, people were up in arms and citing it as the reason why they had no interest in the game and wouldn't buy it (didn't stop it from selling like hot cakes though, obviously).

But NOW, when it's coming back with new characters AND the "real" battle mode/arenas that everyone wanted in the first place, people are citing the OLD game as the reason why they won't buy it.

And to the OP and @Julius_Senpai, the lack of info when it comes to certain particulars is no mysterious "strategy" from Nintendo, at least not one that we don't see from all the major companies. I mean, come on - do you not remember the PS4 and Xbox One E3 conferences? They didn't disclose everything about those systems during those presentations - not by a long shot. It was the weeks and months after of interviews and reports that finally disclosed all of the details on specs, online, pricing, region locking, games, etc.

@rallydefault I am absolutely fine with the battle mode in the Wii U version and I find it annoying that if I did want to play the new one, I would have to get a whole new system that at the moment, really doesn't appeal to me.

With less than 2 months release, I think it would be a lot better to know more about the system.

@rallydefault I'm aware of that. Very likely that Nintendo is doing the same thing. Just wanted to answer the original question. The only thing I remember about the original Xbox One conference is "TV".
Only the window Nintendo are doing it in is it much smaller.

It's pretty obvious even from the reveal trailer that Super Mario Odyssey is EXTREMELY different from Super Mario 3D World.

Console launches are often pretty rough. At least it's launching with a must-have game, even if that game isn't exclusive.

The system launches in a couple of months but it also launches during the quietest period of the year for games. It launches before E3 when all the big games for the end of the year are usually shown. So don't be too surprised if we get a lot more info before the end of the year.

Even so we've still got quite a few big games confirmed already. We got ports and sequels for sure but there's still content there. Any year with a new Mario and a new Zelda is a big year. But we're also getting Splatoon and Mario Kart. So it's not exactly dire. Could it be better? Yes. But keep your hands away from the panic button until after E3. They'll drag the hype on for as long as possible.

@rallydefault
To be fair these aren't necessarily the same people. Of course some people are probably just finding reasons to complain and said Mario Kart 8 was unfinished on Wii U and now old on Switch. But there will be some who said it was incomplete on the Wii U that are hyped about it on the Switch. Some got it on the Wii U and are now less interested in the Switch version.

Personally I got it on the Wii U but am fine with the Switch release. It's Splatoon that I'm not particularly interested in. And that was a game that I loved on the Wii U. I just don't see what they've added to make it worth getting again. I'd argue Mario Kart 8 is almost different enough just being a portable release now.

I'm that person that bought it on the Wii U and I was fine with the release back then, especially after the excellent DLC. Wasn't too bothered about the lackluster battle mode, so I'm not really excited for it being in the Switch version either. Haven't really seen any of the new tracks, so I can't get excited for that either. I do know that Nintendo will be charging for online this time around, so that's why I'm (currently) not very excited about this Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

@Octane Has anyone confirmed there are new tracks, because I thought the demos people were playing didn't show any new tracks?

@FragRed I think you're right.. Those were just the rumours. There must be new tracks, right? If they're all the same tracks, then it's another reason for me to just stick with the Wii U version for now.

@Octane I'd hope so. They went out their way to create new characters and all new battle mode including a Splatoon arena, so you'd think there is at least some new tracks? But this is Nintendo, so... Who knows.

@FragRed Well Nintendo's definitely hiding stuff. The character select screen has 1 question mark (could be Mii as that was in the Wii U version, could be something else) and with the demo there was no course or battle select. Every track, battle arena and battle mode was completely random.

@Octane @FragRed
Sadly, there are no new tracks. Any new track for Deluxe will be through DLC.

Anyway, @Octane, I'm like you. I have the Wii U version, played it to death, and never really missed the battle mode (I think I played Battle on MK8 uhm...once...but it didn't alter my feelings about the game).

BUT, I will say that I will be getting Deluxe. My wife and I love playing the game together, and even with no (initial) new tracks, the addition of the battle arenas will be pretty awesome. New characters are nice, too.

Side note: Does anybody know if there are new items. I saw a video yesterday of the new battle mode, and there was definitely a feather item that let them hop over a wall.

@rallydefault Feather from SMK and Boo from some of the previous games.

@Grumblevolcano @rallydefault
I'm pretty sure that the Feather and Boo are only in battle mode. But they are there. Which makes sense given that the Boo wasn't in the GP for the original and the Feather would be pretty useless outside of battle mode without tracks designed specifically for it. It was a shortcut item in the original but could also be used to get away from enemies quickly in battle mode.

They're probably not even 100% sure how their online system is going to work so there's no point in offering a ton of details when everything is probably subject to change. A lot more goes into figuring this stuff out than people realize.

And Mario has plenty new, you can finally get stuck in traffic in real life and on the Nintendo. Plus you can throw your hat and jump on it. These are exciting times we live in.

Uhm, then I suggest you should go back and watch more of the gameplay footage, especially the Treehouse video because they explain a lot of the new and changed stuff (and I'm sure this is only a fraction of all the new things):

And just to sum it up: Yes, they are going to change the game that much. There are tons of gameplay changes. Just a few examples: the charger can now save his charge, the roller can now fling ink in a different way when you do it while jumping. And there were several new sub weapons and many new special weapons too! They have a totally different mechanic than any of the previous specials and will have a big impact on the meta of the game. They will use the vertical space better, something that was missing in Splatoon all along.
The maps also seem to be more open. Inkopolis seems to be bigger, who knows what it has to offer.

The only other Switch game that really interests me is ARMS! This will definitely be the next competitive Nintendo game. It looks like a mix of Wii Sports Boxing, Street Fighter and Overwatch.

Adding on to this, we don't even know if any of the old specials are coming back, they mention overhauling them which may or may not mean they won't. Also, we can see a returning stage in the trailer, Moray Towers, except it now has the formerly single-player exclusive ink rails passing well above the center, which is good, because I hated that map due to things almost always bogging down there.