Poll: Nintendo Switch Delivers Single Screen Gaming - Will You Miss the Dual Screen Concept?

I only like the Wii U game pad screen for off tv play and inventory (like in Zelda)

I've grown to be use to that second screen and now to take it away at least as a Nintendo fan stinks. I do understand why they did it though so for that I'm ok.

dual screen is the best for portability IMO but i am interested in the switch anyway

I will miss it, but I understand that this was the way to go to get back developers and mainstream gamers.

I mean, it WAS likely that Nintendo would move back to single screen gaming at some point (or triple screens, huh? Guys?)... just didn't think it was now.
I've loved every one of Nintendo's efforts at dual-screen gaming, so yeah I'll miss it... but the Switch is looking pretty decent so I guess I'll get used to it.... (I'm already used to it because I play games on other consoles but I'll have to get used to it on the Nintendo side of things. )

I'm, 35 and the first gaming hardware I bought for myself out of my own earned money was the Gameboy Color & have owned nearly every handheld available... including the Wonderswan and Neo Geo Pocket.

While dual screen gaming was a good concept it struggled to find a niché outside of selection screen, I remember playing "Project Rub" at a Nintendo Summer Tour and even before the DS was released... people were running out of ideas.

However, I will certainly miss that second screen & when Pokémon Switch comes out I'll probably curse my luck when I can't see my Alakazam for the word "Psychic".

Dual Screen Consoles, you've served us well, farewell my friend, you may rest in Silicon Heaven. Mission Accomplished!

Dual screen gaming shines bright when it's well used, but those instances have become rarer and rarer as the years went. I've longed for the simpler times of Nintendo's retro consoles for a while now. As long as they keep touchscreens around (a much bigger deal for sure), then I won't miss the dual screen setup one bit.

I'm just super concerned for this means for Families that game. Right now for my family I could buy my son a 3ds my wife a 3ds and myself a 3ds and use the Wii u at home as a home console. I would hate the idea of having to buy 3 Switches.

It was never told implemented that well by Nintendo aside of a few games so I won't miss it but I'll always rue the missed potential

It's okay Switch just only Single screen. I still can use my NDS, 3DS and Wii U to experience Dual screen games.

Going to miss it and hope that buying two Switches will cover some bases and not ruin me.

@MarcelRguez I agree the better used the dual screens were, the better the game was. But it is sad that two of the most memorable uses of the dual screens (Project Rub & Wario Ware) were launch titles for the original DS!

@Vee_Flames
Triple screen, LOL XD
Btw, how do I use that LOL Emojicon ?

@FeatherlessDuck
One less device though.

What I'm concerned about is not the lack of dual screens but the potential lack of a touchscreen. While I don't have many games I need it for, I'll definitely miss it in the inevitable Mario Maker sequel/port. Creating levels will take ages now.

For the dual screens, yes, they did lead to some nice and easy menu management but nothing I'll miss that much.

Maybe Nintendo meant to have 2 screens for the switch but they wrote the "x2" next to the controllers instead?

The World Ends With You was such a perfect example of how Dual Screen could change the way these games are played, but the vast majority of games I've played on the DS/3DS didn't really take advantage of the feature. I'm much more concerned with Switch's battery life and off-dock performance than a lack of dual screen.

i'm ok with the Switch not having 2 screens although it had some interesting concepts on Wii U it was never fully utilised

plus i think it was one of the things putting 3rd party publishers off the Wii U because i don't think anyone really knew what to do with it

honestly i think the Switch being a system that has proper controls and with being able to play all your console games either at home or on the go should open up more markets for both Nintendo AND 3rd party developers

To be honest, I'm happy. It means that games will be ported to Nintendo Switch more readily

Pikmin 3 with the second screen was a great expérience

My problem with dual screen gaming (on my 3DS) is when i'm lying in bed watching netflix or youtube trying to fall asleep. My 3DS's screens combined puts out too much light and there's no way to dim/turn off just the touch screen. It's been fun for sure, but I won't miss it.

Dual screens are great if used well. And by and large the Wii U used the screens well. But if games can be equally well designed if they are made for one screen. There's no compromise with Switch if the option isn't there in the first place.

@audiobrainiac Your problem is that you watch YouTube to try and go to sleep.

The DS line are my favourite consoles ever, largely thanks to the 2 screens. It's perfect for gaming - I really hope they come back with another DS. REALLY BAD.

That said, I don't mind their home consoles not having two screens.

@Tsurii This is my mindset as well. Played through Arkham City on Wii U with the gamepad, then went to Arkham Origins with the pro controller. Not a problem in the slightest.

@DanteSolablood I was thinking about WarioWare Touched when I made my post, go figure. I can't think of many games that require both screens. In most cases, its use was supplementary, not necessary.

Personally, I'll miss it. I really wished it could play 3/DS games, using either the single screen to display the dual outputs ala DS emulation on Wii U, or have an optional separate screen attached to the top and folds in clamshell-style. Either way, I'd imagine the NS could emulate DS games, but 3DS games would need some thing akin to the PICA200 GPU, as the Tegra custom chip utilizes an ARM multi-core CPU that could theoretically handle the 3DS's CPU side. Homebrew thusfar for 3DS has revealed that unlike the DS that extends the GBA hardware, the 3DS mode utilizes no hardware from previous systems.

I understand that listing the 2nd screen will make game developing easier and will bring in more 3Rd parties and will therefore Switch will sell better....

@Calllack You're right.

Who cares. Whether you have to tap a single button to bring up inventory /map or glance down and stop what you're doing in-game anyway makes little difference

Haha, next Switch reveal... playing with the Switch on the TV AND it's own screen. If that happens this whole chat will feel redundant.

What I miss is the 3d. I want it to have that super stable 3d because it's awesome.

It's a little disappointing, but is probably the right move. If they're not focused on a second screen, then it means Nintendo can focus on other important things with the console.

Not really, as I'll still be playing my DS, 3DS and Wii U for years to come.

Its called Retro Gaming.

I need to see how certain games can get by without it. No dual screens means there's no separate map/inventory screen, so that could potentially be a step back for games like Pokemon.

I'm going to use the Switch for handheld mostly. So I am going to miss the dual screen because I'm use to it. Its what, 12 years. I mostly used the WiiU as a handheld except for Smash/MK8/Splatoon It's not a big deal. It's not like I don't have a Vita or a PS4. The only problem is the VC for the DS/3DS. #awkward.

I really don't need a dual screen, I loved playing on Vita this gen and this will easily replace that home console-like portable experience.

Dual screen for me is only wanted if my daughter has the TV. But the clever thing about the switch is I still have that functionality.

For the DS and 3DS the reason I think dual screens worked so well is because of how close together the screens were. For the Wii U that wasn't really the case. You either had to move your head up and down a lot or hold the controller up in an unusual way in order to have the same at-a-glance experience as the handhelds.

I think the one big thing I'll miss though is the clamshell protecting the screens.

A good point I heard Wiiviewr make was he hopes that stand is strong and doesn't break. They could make it out of metal for a classy look and extra strength I guess.

It was a non-existent issue when Nintendo ditched Duel Screens in the Game and Watch line for the first time to go single screen for the original GameBoy...in 1989...
We are all going to be just fine.

Disappointed, but definitely not going to cry about it. Although, it depends on the type of game.

Wasn't too fond of the dual screen play on DS, but I'd initially been scared off by the stylus controls in Star Fox Command and Phantom Hourglass so I hadn't seen what was so great about it. After seeing the HUD decluttering in Monster Hunter, the cartography gimmick in Etrian Odyssey IV, and the quick subweapon switching in Shovel Knight, and I don't even remember what else, it was feeling like a compromise to play on the big screen without these things before getting a Wii U. Pikmin 3 was better than the first two, Mario Kart felt more modern with the map moving down to the GamePad with that useless horn, Wind Waker HD addressed one of my biggets gripes about modern Zelda (constant item switching), and third-party games have a reason to make me consider getting the Wii U version instead of PC. And now here we go again, back to one screen, and with no reason to play any western-made multiplatform title on anything other than the PC. At least the Japanese third-party support will still be there. Right?

Kinda wished they could've thought something up for a dual screen, but...whatever.

I think the only games that I will miss playing with 2 screens with would be Pokémon. The past month I have playing the Gen 3 games and it's a slower experience due to having many button prompts just for battling. Other then that the second screen is hit or miss depending on games good for Zelda meh for Mario etc…

If anything I'm more upset by no real d-pad on the joy-cons

I'm glad the Switch is going for its own vision and not aping the dual screen idea from previous consoles. There wasn't anything necessarily wrong with it, but it's had its time - even if the Game & Watch games did it a long time before the DS!

As for dual screens, it's all about how designers use the hardware creatively. With the DS I remember particular games like Hotel Dusk and Zelda Phantom Hourglass creating fantastic puzzles, some platformers moved the action from one screen to another, and other games used the bottom screen so you didn't have a cluttered HUD on the top screen (it's a reason why I love the DS version of Chrono Trigger most).

It felt less important in 3DS games, and the Wii U only had a couple of games which properly utilised it in an interesting way, so it felt like it ran its course.

Dual screen gaming excelled at making games more playable. Maps, inventory, that jump in Splatoon. A screen on a pad should be common place. However, when the second screen becomes an integral part of the game ala Star Fox Zero, the whole affair becomes messy. So to sum up, the second screen was AMAZING for input and feedback, but lousy for trying to do two things at once.

Who said the 3ds is being retired?

As long as the Switch screen allows 3d game play all will be well.

Double screen gaming is helpful (but not necessary). I'll miss it, but it's not the best thing in the world.

I definitely will miss the second screen feature for the Switch. I mean, it helped me a lot for games with inventory and maps, but I'm still getting the Switch either way.

At least looking at things now, third-party developers can bring their games to a Nintendo console without worry of a second screen.

I don't like dual screening o wii u much because I find it disorientating to look between the game pad and tv, I'll definitely miss ds dual screening though D=

The majority of games actually really don't need two displays, even though they are lesser experiences without them in some cases. For Splatoon, a button mapped to a view of the level for superjumping would be a good enough substitute for the touch screen, and Super Mario Maker could technically work with just a traditional D-pad cursor than a touch screen. But the comparatively few ones that work only with a touch screen are going to be sorely missed. In particular, I have no idea what Atlus meant when they said "the games they publish are a great fit for Switch" because in my mind, the games they publish include Etrian Odyssey and Trauma Center, which are games that very much depend on a touch screen. The latter worked much better with a stylus than a remote pointer, even though it would otherwise go with the first two examples. (I know we'll never see it again as long as they have their hands full with Shin Megami Tensei and Persona anyway.) And then there's games like the Zero Escape series, and anyone who's played them will know what I mean. And these are just a few extreme examples. I guess only time will tell if the sacrifice is worth it.

@Bolt_Strike I could see the UI becoming a sidebar in Pokemon on Switch. The battle UI in Sun/Moon even seems set up for that.

I like how Nintendo likes to experiment, break the mold, and shake things up. They never fail in my books, because they bring a powerhouse of creativity and memorable gameplay on any system. The Wii U has some of the best games I have ever played, but I'm fine with it not being compatible with a new system. I can still use the Wii U. Simpler is often better, so I think the simplicity and focused aspects of the Switch will make it a great success.

Oh Ill definitely miss it. Ive always been a fan of dual screens and some games (like MH3U) were made so much better as a result.

That said, Im far less impressed with Nintendo's dual screen efforts on consoles vs handhelds. Handhelds should keep the dual screens, if possible. But as for Switch, you cant make it dual screen because the games then wouldnt be playable on the unit portably. It would just be another Wii U.

And as much as I loved the 2 screen concept I love this a whole lot more... a small price to pay for the first real home console slash portable hybrid.

I hated the ds when IT was released.

Had some good uses on the 3DS but was largely meaningless on the Wii U except for Mario Maker.
Ultimately doesn't matter going forward though. PS4 manages just fine.

As much as I loved what was done with dual screens on DS models and the Wii U, Nintendo needed a new concept for their new console. Dual screens shouldn't be carried across to too many generations. Loss of backwards compatibility is acceptable for a brilliant new idea like the Switch.

its not a big deal but it did bothered me a tiny bit because it was really useful to navigate the map for xenoblade and inventory for zelda

Time to change some gameplay paradigm - altough this time we are going back to the traditional one screen gaming and, the best part, local multiplayer.
But it all happens with some innovative "on the go" idea - not much as groundbraking as the motion controls or the dual screens, but these ideas are still enduring somehow or just became commom place losing its impact on general gameplay.

So its time to think and deliver a new appeal and here it is the NS!

@BiasedSonyFan lol thats not true !!! but i know what you mean

The dual-screen possibilities were a vital part of what made the (3)DS line great, and for all its flaws, the wii u bringing that to consoles was amazing. This is a gigantic step back for map and inventory management, when more and more things should be becoming available from a second screen, not less. I can't imagine how many times I'm going to wish I could switch out inventory or check the map on the fly in Breath of the Wild. This isn't a 100% deal breaker, but it's definitely a terrible step backwards.

@Exy yeah i know what you mean the touchscreen was really useful for making notes because of the puzzles and you need to take some notes in order to progress the storyin the zero escape series which is why i think the 3ds versions are better than the vita

I wonder how a game like Mario Maker would work with one screen. 5 friends sitting together. One is showing of "Mario/Zelda/Whatever Maker" using the tablet (assuming it has touch). All 5 of them have to crowd around the little screen. Now he/she wants his/her friends to play the level he/she made. Stands up, walking to the TV and Dock, putting the Switch down, walking back. Friends playing and finish the level, he/she stands up, walking to the TV and Dock... and so on.
Yeah, this seems like a lot of fun, right?

It's a huge missed opportunity. The second screen was great and many game benefited from it. After playing Don' Starve on the Wii U, I can't go back to other version where you can't seamlessly explore the world and unveil the map.

Every Adventure/RPG game benefited from the second screen and the permanent map. If I imagine I have to pause the game and go through a menu to get to the map in games like Xenoblade X? Horrible! The second screen was one of the best improvements of this generation.
It also created some great multiplayer experiences. Affordable Space Adventures, Runbow, Nintendo Land, Rayman Legends.

This is random but interesting: I showed the trailer to my roommate and he was excited but then referenced it as the "Wii Switch"..... I suddenly realized that Nintendo is going to have to do a lot of work to scrape the the Wii brand out of everyone's mind just to move on...

I, for one, am looking forward to ruling out the possibilities of a game being held back by its controls in an attempt to innovate using multiple screens. I'm looking at you, Star Fox: Zero.

Dual screen made sense only on the DS and 3DS. With Switch, Nintendo is stating unequivocally that you will have the same experience on-the-go as at home: one screen. I would not be surprised if that meant there would be no touchscreen, as most people don't have touchscreen HDTV's.

It was great for gaming, but we don't need it for the 4th device in a row. Knowing Nintendo it will be back in a decade or two when they can do something new with it.

Saying we wouldn't miss it would imply we wouldn't miss Super Mario Maker, Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, and all the other good games that came out on dual-screen consoles. So yeah, of course we will miss it.

Here's what Nintendo might be thinking:

Switch goes to one screen so that it can be the hybrid it needs to be (think taking the old GBA single screen but making it console-like in power and software, docks for regular HDTV play, and the portable aspect is there but not necessarily a huge focus)

Then, after a few years, Nintendo releases a new dual-screen device that is a 3DS successor. It will have glasses free 3D screen, lower touchscreen, obviously a resolution bump, can play a limited number of games directly from your Switch library without needing to pay again, and be cheaper than a Switch with much better battery life and a return to STREETPASS!

I know, it sounds weird...because that's not exactly a unified front for their devs to condense it all down to one platform, which was according to some the point of a hybrid. However, Nintendo likes to make money from the hardware and they can do that with this strategy as long as they are smart and improve how well all of this integrates across devices.

They will need to stagger hardware releases by a few years so that no one feels like owning one prevents them from seeing the value in owning the other (or some will just not care about the nicer specs of a home console and stick with buying handhelds, so expect the dual-screen handheld to do better in sales most likely).

You know, what I described isn't too far off from a rundown of what Wii U and 3DS were, lol. Of course, you had to buy everything separately back then, while the new way would unify the experience to the satisfaction of fans.

I like to controls for DS first person shooter like Call of Duty: World at War and Dementium. The controls required the second touch screen to work. Those games were by far the minority in the DS and 3DS library,

The second screen was used in Star Fox Zero, but I think that game would have been better with controls similar to Star Fox 64.

It seems like most of these comments are discussing the loss of touch screen more so than dual screen. I'm still assuming that there will be a touch screen until proven otherwise. Anyways, touch screen games aside, the only dual screen games I will really miss. are TWEWY and WW Touched. Decluttering the UI aside (Zelda Pokemon and MH especially), most features won't be missed. I imagine some games, such as Mario Maker, may allow touch control in portable mode too.

The touch screen on the DS was largely what made the system so different when it launched. So many developers came together and made practical use of both screens + the touch screen for so many genres in so many ways that the DS is one of the few video game devices that offer many unique experiences all in one system. Years later I still favour the DS, even when comparing it to its successor!

I'll miss the dual-screens, but I suppose it's time to leave them behind to try out a new vision of portable gaming. Personally, I have a feeling dual-screens will come back, but not in this decade

The games where the Dual Screens were actually really useful were games like Monster Hunter where it was used to help manage your UI, maps, items, and menus.

Games that tried to forcibly integrate the secondary screen into the main game play, like Star Fox, were either lesser for it or barely improved.

I will miss the lack of 3D far more than I will the Dual Screens.

I've never played a dual screen game where I thought, wow, the second screen really adds to this. Even if we look back 20 years ago where we were pulling up maps and inventories during the game, was no worse than having all that done on a second screen. You still take your eyes off the main screen, you still stop the action. Pretty much everything in the prior generation did inventories and maps FAR more elegantly on a single screen. Scrolling though weapons and items, mini maps. You don't need a second screen for all that.

Definitely not played anything on the Wii U that confined me. I keep seeing people on here say you can't play Splatoon without a second screen, but I remember picking where I wanted to jump to after a respawn on Modern Warfare almost 10 years ago. Just because it's relegated a function to the 2nd screen, does not mean you NEED a 2nd screen for that sort of thing.

I'm thrilled the 2nd screen is finally gone and it looks like motion controls are gone, and the touch screen is relegated to nothing more than pressing menus. Finally we're through we these gimmicks and can get back to Nintendo making great games.

I'm of the opinion that the Switch is the next home console, and not the next handheld. It could end up being both, but what we've seen of it so far (games, features, etc) are more in line with a console. Half of it's portable use seems to be using the screen as a tiny TV to play as if you were home. Perhaps I just can't imagine the next Pokemon game being on an HD system already.

As far as losing the second screen, I'll miss it, but not enough affect my interest in the Switch. It added a lot sometimes, but the vast majority of its use was just to make things more convenient (which was great, but not hugely important). If this does end up being Nintendo's next handheld as well as their next console, I will miss the clamshell design of the DS and 3DS, though. It was just so perfect for portability. This thing will never fit in my pocket, and I probably won't take it out of the house for fear of breaking or losing my home console.

Real time subscreen, was nice but never vital. And too often they wanted you to use a touch control, which was more awkward than it was usually worth because any longer than a second practically demanded reworking your grips.

And let's not forget the triumph of Kid Icarus. Literally unplayable without a stand.

When they first announced the Wii u, the game I envisioned was a two-player co-op open world platformer. I called it Wario Bros. When you got a new hat it would open up new parts of the world, etc, but with each player on their own screen.

Of course, I didn't realize we would never get to use a second game pad.

If the Switch is the first in a new line of machines using the same os- say we get a portable-only, maybe dual-screened system next- a game like that would work. Or maybe it'll just be different sku's , one with the cradle, one not. I, for one, would buy both as quickly as i could afford to.

All this to say, dual screen gaming may not be dead, but is being rebooted to be more fluid and feasible.

Ah well, back to the 1DS

Usage of the second screen was all to often merely an afterthought (In the "Let's just slap an inventory screen on there"-vein), so all in all i think Switch will be fine with just the one screen...

Nope don't care.

Etrian Odyssey. Makin' maps.

@FeatherlessDuck I think Nintendo will give you the option to buy the tablet separately. So many people don't have TVs and only watch Netflix on their computer. It would be stupid for Nintendo to make so many people waist money like that

I will miss it most in games like monster hunter where you could remove all the hud, item selection to have a clear view of the world. But now monster hunter will need improved graphics and I can play it on the big screen again so the tradeoff is acceptable.

The DS's best feature was the touchscreen, not the 2 screens. It was certainly interesting but didn't add anything the PSP never had.

The touchscreen is rarely used on the 3DS, to the point it may as well not be there. 3D was a much better USP.

On the WiiU it is nothing but a battery hog and distraction. It would have been better off as an HD Wii.

The dual screens was essential for, Wind Waker, XCX, and Affordable Space Adventures

@FeatherlessDuck I totally agree with hating to have to buy more than one Switch. I thought the same when I saw the trailer.

I really liked the DS and 3DS, but I didn't care for the gamepad for the WiiU, I found it awkward. Granted, I only played Raymond, maybe other games would have user the gamepad better.

I'm more concerned with the horse power this system will have. Hasn't it already been confirmed that the new Mass Effect game isn't coming to Switch?

I just don't want to see Switch getting water downed versions of Ps4/Xbox one games.

Yes.

I don't think the dual screen concept brought anything to gaming on a consistent basis and more often than not was just a map or inventory. The real advantage was been able to fold it closed, whether to put it into sleep mode or just fit in your pocket. I mean is it just me or is this Switch not very portable? I mean it looks quite big and there is no way to protect the screen or controllers without some form of bag. I suspect many will end up using almost the same way as the Wii U and not take it with them for some late night basketball or go karting.

They were great when they function correctly. If you had a malfunctioning ds, 3ds or wiiu screen its time to get it fixed or else gameplay could get hectic.

It's absence helps the console look like a normal console instead of a dumb gimmick like the Wii U.

On the DS and 3DS it works great, but is a lot of the time pretty pointless, unless it's a puzzle style game. For the Wii U it was pretty pointless what they used it for, only games to use it good was ZombiU and the Zelda games for quick inventory, but pausing the game and going to inventory did the same thing.

Personally, this doesn't bug me, it will be of course different from what they have done, but features like this aren't a big deal to me, I just like playing great games!

Also, you guys are acting like this thing is more of a 3DS replacement, but the 3DS is still gonna be alive, at least for next year from what we know. All the Switch is doing is what most people wanted the Wii U to actually be. I can see their being a market for both system, at least for awhile until developers fully move from 3DS to the Switch.

since Nintendo announced switch wii u and 3ds has had a price hike

http://www.game.co.uk/en/hardware/wii-u/?merchname=HomeHeader--consoles--wiiu

http://www.game.co.uk/en/hardware/nintendo-3ds-3ds-xl-and-2ds-consoles/?merchname=HomeHeader--consoles--3ds2ds

I won't really miss it TBH. It was cool and it worked well for those systems but I've always been fine with one screen.

I will miss it because more options means more possibilities.

Without 2 screens or a touch screen, how will that possible Elite Bear Agents sequel be revved up? Perhaps if the Switch had an add on controller that's just like the gamepad, than they can keep dual-screen gaming, or, use mobile tablets, but that won't be the same......or will it?!.

I am very much fond of the dual screens on the DS and 3DS. Many users seem to be disappointed that the second screen was used as a map or inventory only, but I am quite content with that use. Not everything needs to be revolutionary, and a large, non-intrusive, touch interactive HUD fit perfectly for many games.

The dual screen setup was pretty disastrous on the Wii U because unlike on the DS and 3DS, the 2 screens are too far apart on the Wii U, which severely limits how useful putting a HUD on the 2nd screen can be. On the Wii U it was only really useful for asynchronous play, and that was only implemented well in a few games.

I will miss the 2nd screen on the Switch, but I can live without it.

I can't believe people actually liked having dual screens. It was unsightly and useless from my perspective.

I'm not at all disappointed the Switch doesn't have dual-screen gaming, for two reasons.

1. I have a 3DS and Wii U and no plans to trade them in or sell them or give them away or toss them. Great games, and still plenty I need to pick up (including the DS and Wii library through backwards compatibility is insanely amazing).

2. The Switch kind of needs to focus on single-screen gaming. Makes it easier for ports and third parties, and also helps development for games on the system be very focused without having to tailor to certain gimmicks or differences in the hardware.

I'll only miss this in Monster Hunter, but, since the screen is larger, it'll be fine if they just connect the map display to the corresponding item.

New Monster Hunter next MARCH, by the way!

Never cared for the 2nd screen. Not a mis that's for sure

I found most DS games being gimmick-y in touch screen department. Or games with touch controls forced. Some weird directions and such.
3DS got it more right. Devs learned how to use it, although some games had that gimmicky feel to them. Frankly? 3DS have more gimmicks to be worried about, haha. Anyone even remember the AR cards?
Wii U? Uh, don't have one...

Right now I can't think of anything dual screen heavily dependant other than EO and maybe MH or some games you play in book mode...? 999 had its great use of the touchscreen later in the game that contributed to the story.
And even if there are more of such games - like all of them (minus EO) can work without the second screen anyway.
But yes, I am accustomed to a two screen handheld; I see Switch more of a stationery console. A portable stationery console.

I'm not suprised nor disapointed. I will miss the feature sometimes, though.

I think, all things considered, it was the best move. As far as the wii u was concerned it was so rarely exceptionally well utilised anyway and third party developers perhaps couldn't win with it: spend extra resources developing for it and risk not making any return or don't bother and get slammed for 'lazy ports,' and still risk a poor return.

I have loved the gamepad, but it's a drain on power and clearly makes porting harder. Hopefully with the switch we really will see more third party support. That, coupled with the unification of Nintendo's handled and home console divisions several years ago - presumably with the switch somewhere in mind - means we should see plenty of great content.

I also think Nintendo might have got this one just about right in terms of the trade off between appealing to what some people call 'core gamers' and the hook that can attract a wider audience.

I'm optimistic, all in all, and I eagerly await the day when all bow down before our Nintendo overlords once more.

This whole Switch not having the 2nd screen raises the question, what will happen to Pokemon? Pokemon has of course not always relied on the double screens, but once they were introduced it helped a lot with the games in many cases, but with it being gone, is it back to a style like the GBA games and prior? Or something different, maybe along the lines of the Uranium fan-game even?

Rarely used well. Drives up cost of hardware. Best to be done with it.

Wii U's dual screen experience sucked, for the most part, but DS and 3DS games wouldn't be what they are without the second screen.
...That said...that's mostly due to a low resolution. Pokémon games don't need a second screen to see the battles clearly if the UI is gonna be in a little corner of the Switch screen.

So yeah, not at all bothered by this.

Etrian Odyssey is dead!

@Frosty_09 VLR is only having a PC port but i dont know about 999, if the 999 remaster is coming to switch its no big deal as VLR works fine on psvita, but then again 999 REALLY uses both screens for dialogues sooo... idk

Eh. The bottom screen (of the ds) isn't really that important for games that don't use it as a touch screen. It's used for maps and stuff a lot. I won't miss it that much.

I'm not a big fan of the dual screen of Wii u. That said I hated it at the beginning but it has kinda grown on me. Most people would say the best feature was the off screen play which Switch retains. So pretty clever Nintendo.

It is a part of Wii u personally which is pretty cool. Nintendo are always trying trying to innovate which is what makes them great.

I got a PS4 last week and I definitely like it but where's the innovation? It's just a souped up PS3.

I'm only disappointed that Etrian Odyssey V will likely be the swan song of the series. The central concept of Switch seems solid otherwise, and I'm looking forward to trying it out.

The Switch DS will come out in 2023 anyway... just in time for people who grew up with the DS line to be a part of the target market. For the people that Nintendo is trying to get back though, for now the DS concept won't matter and could potentially help drive down the price to Wii levels of affordability.

It's disappointing but hey we get a brand new Nintendo system too get use too .

Not only will I miss it, but I won't be buying without it. I can get more powerful single screen consoles and I have no use for mobility, so I guess it's goodbye Nintendo.

Dual screen gaming has been great for the games it was made for. I've loved having the 2nd screen for maps and stuff (like for Zelda and Etrian Odyssey games). I figured that Nintendo wouldn't stick with dual screen systems forever. If Switch games don't need it, that's fine.

There is absolutely no evidence that simply by the Switch being portable suggests that the 3DS line is in any way dead. If anything, the fact that the Switch is single screen suggests that the 3DS's dual screen model and smaller pocket-sized form factor can live along side the Switch. I see them as separate product lines with separate utility. Lets not forget that the pricing will be substantially different as well. I see the Switch coming in at no less than $299. Small DS is half that. They will coexist.

I won't miss it at all. It was a great feature on the DS, in the sense that it made people buy the system and it's games, but I can hardly think of any game across the three systems where it was an important feature and no one at all where both a touch screen and an ordinary screen were neccessary at the same time. Wii U's GamePad had some good use since it made the console semi-portable and good for those to lazy to turn on the TV. The NS screen will likely be touch screen and will therefore be able to replace all three consoles uses of two screens.

For me, DS was the last console with innovative dual screen gaming. 3DS focused on the top screen (thanks to 3d, higher resolution, etc), so basically we had/have maps and inventories at the bottom screen. WiiU expanded on that idea... Second screen became an add-on instead of an essential part of gaming. So, although it won't be as fast and simple to check items and maps, we can easily live without dual screen.

I will miss having inventory management handy. Games such as the Zelda remasters and Xenoblades Chronicles X used the concept in such a great way, but for pure gameplay, the way Wii U was, I think I'll be just fine without it.

@MarcelRguez Why? I never understood people saying this. If the Select is 300, you could buy 3 for cheaper then what itd cost to get 3 3DS' + Wii U, with the same functionality, plus not having to buy aditional controllers for multiplayer.

The Select is objectively BETTER for families that want a console + handhelds for each.

I think the Dual Screen was at its peak on the DS. The 3DS changed the DS function. I think the Game play on the DS was more creative because you can put it sideways. Looksley's Line Up was a clever use of the DS. That game could never happen on the 3DS. To me the 3DS was nothing more then a dual monitor on a computer. It is hard to go back to a single monitor.

The Wii U was disadvantaged because the control screen was not next to the tv screen. The 3ds was a quick glance between them. The ability to switch back and forth on the Wii U was more difficult in a real time setting which was the problem with Star Fox Zero.

I'll miss dual screen local co-op, unless Switch prices are cheap enough that I can afford two.

The only thing I'll miss is if it makes VC for dual screen consoles not possible.

Honestly, I think they made the logical choice with the Switch really. One of the main touted features of the Wii U was off-TV gameplay. The Switch allows this. Most of the Gamepad functions in games felt tedious, tacked on, or were just somewhat convenient IMO. The gamepad itself felt like it needed to be more streamlined, hopefully the switch accessories are an upgrade here (the relocation of buttons and sticks is a good indicator of it).

In regards to DS/3DS, I don't mind it (dual-screeN0 being available and it is often far better used there, but the one problem I had is that in games like Castlevania DoS, they forced touch screen elements where they weren't really necessary. Im not too see dual-screen play die, especially if the power of the console is focused elsewhere.

I'll miss stereoscopic 3D. I didn't even think about the 2nd screen to be honest.

Yeah, I agree with everyone else about the dual screens. While it was cool to have them, I don't see why future consoles should be shackled into it forever. I don't think it was as universally appealing as, say, the D-pad, so it's smart for Nintendo to drop it going onto the next generation.

Besides, it's not like the 3DS (which, in my opinion, did dual-screen the best) is going to evaporate when Switch comes out and it inevitably meets its end (assuming they sunset it along with the Wii U, but who knows). Heck, it's not even like many of us will get through our wishlists by the time the Switch comes out.

I very much doubt the 3ds will have a successor. They said the ds wouldn't replace the game boy line too. Maybe they should have called it the Game Boy Switch! One console makes sense, I don't think they have the capacity or market share to support 2 consoles anymore. It's fine by me, a portable with Wii u power is a great idea. Better give it an android compatibly layer for easy porting though.

I'm happy to go back to a single screen. Most uses for the Wii u gamepad screen were things that can be in the pause menu. I played wind waker HD the first time on with gamepad screen inventory and second time with the pro controller. I liked the pro controller much more.

for tv play, the dual screen was okay, but not necessary. for portable, i really think it is necessary. a portable single 2d screen experience is just a tablet or a mobile phone experience. the dual screens and auto-stereo 3d of the 3ds were features that distinguished it from just another smart device. the general public and investors as well won't see any distinguishing features on the switch other than the controllers and the stand.

Why so dramatic? It's not as if second screen on DS, 3DS, and even Wii U was used for much more than relocating the UI or other menu screens. In the case of the DS line, this allowed other genres of games to have an easier time with with designing the UI so that it wouldn't look like crap and clutter up a small 240p screen, because they could fill an entirely separate screen. That is a problem that doesn't really exist on a larger screen with much higher resolution.

I'm disappointed that the option for asymmetrical gameplay is gone (as well as possibly touch and motion controls...and rumble). Third parties were never obligated to do anything with the GamePad screen and they still wouldn't be if the Switch allowed for two screens to be used at once. The 5-player standard gameplay with the Wii U was awesome, and now that's gone. And no 3D? Really?! Goodbye, original games. And remember all those digital Wii U and 3DS games you bought? Hopefully your systems last forever, then, because now you can forget ever seeing a Virtual Console or System Transfer feature for either of those systems.

As cool as I think the Switch is (and I do think it is very cool), without any differentiating feature that can actually significantly affect gameplay (such as the unique features of the DS, Wii, 3DS, and Wii U), it just doesn't seem like it can withstand competition with extreme conventionality and portability alone. I imagine that early adopters and children will be pleased with it (as well as us diehards), but that it will fade away from the public consciousness within a year or two. It's far too similar in concept and execution to almost every video game-playing device out on the market now, and it will look even more archaic as the years roll by. A huge mistake by Nintendo to finally fully give up their principles to try to follow the herd, and initial enthusiasm from insular game fans will not save it.

Can't really think of any game, that could have not done without it, so no, it's not necessary and hence it won't be missed.
I just can't look at two screen at the same time, I am not a Chameleon, I am human.

I'll miss it for sure. Having the map on the second screen made a much better RPG experience in general. However, since I believe the feature was taken away in order to 3rd party have an easier time porting games to the system, I'm okay with that.

It makes sense: the New 3DS has twice the processing speed and twice the processors with twice the memory. Nintendo didn't make much use of it since launch except with Xenoblade Chronicle.

They will most likely discontinued support for the old 3DS after launching Switch and move forward with the New 3DS, developing games only for it. Perhaps porting the all the dual screen Wii U games to the New 3DS?

The biggest thing I'm going to miss is stereoscopic 3D. Not that the Wii U had it but I really love playing my 3DS games using it. If Nintendo do decide to do a follow up portable system I really hope it features 3D.

Maybe it's too early to assume but what if Switch can detect Wii U gamepad as second screen while your Switch is being inside the dock ? Well, maybe with same limited range as Wii U. Tatsumi Kimishima said Switch is not replacing Wii U and 3DS but maybe get support from both Wii U and 3DS. Still my prediction...

Extremely disappointed.

The DS line continue please. The Switch going forward, minor minor disappointment but meh.

This is actually very disappointing for me. I've come to love having two screens, even if it's not used much. I think it's a missed opportunity that you couldn't hold the tablet upright with two screens being shown. And at this point, we don't even know if it's a touchscreen. Imagine if the Switch was powerful enough to function just an iPad or Kindle Fire. Nintendo would be raking in the dough, although that would mean it's not just used for Nintendo games.

I will miss it, but it's not a deal breaker for me.

Based on trailer, when the first guy playing Zelda and Skyrim, the Console still inside the dock. He used Joy Con grip and Pro Controller to play the game. That make me think the dock itself can detect Joy Con grip, Pro Cotroller and possibly Wii U gamepad, Wii U Pro Controller, Wii mote, etc. When Switch being portable, the people who play Switch didn't use Pro Controller. Instead, they use Joy Con to give some commands whether attached or detached from Switch console. I still assume if Switch console itself can detect Pro controler regardless being in dock or not. Well, still so many questions to be answered. Better we wait.

they can just do the trick they did with the 2ds. they can make it 2 screens easy.. just hope they are touch or at least half of the screen

@BiasedSonyFan I'll wait for official confirmation before getting my hopes up, but thanks for the heads up. I hope you're right.

I have a feeling that it won't happen, though, as it wouldn't be uniform to use touch control when only holding the Switch, itself. Since none of its controllers have any sort of overt touch pads, touch control while in "TV mode" can't happen, and therefore, gameplay would have to be radically different between the two play styles (which very rarely happens with first-party Nintendo titles, and it would shoo away third parties, because they're all apparently incapable of not using absolutely every feature when developing/porting a game for a Nintendo system).

I'm OK with single screen because I know that will solve the biggest problems the Wii U had.
1) difficult to port/program
2) lower graphics and speed
3) price too high

If it means they can't ever again screw up one of their franchises (cough Star Fox cough) then I'm all for it.

I'll somewhat miss it on the handheld front to begin with, but Switch's hybrid concept will more than make up for it

I firmly believe that a 3ds successor will come eventually, but either way there's still a lot of great games coming out for it in the next few months. Its not dead yet guys, no need to mourn it.

If I am already looking down, a la 3DS gaming, the dual screen is very helpful; especially in RPG's where it's nice to see your items or a map. However, I found dual screen gaming cumbersome on the Wii U and I didn't like needing to look down. Paper Mario Colour Splash is a fantastic game but the battle system ruined it for me. I have only played about 3-4 hours but I find I'm looking down at the Wii U gamepad more than my TV. As far as home console gaming goes, I'm perfectly fine looking at my big tv. For something handheld like the DS or 3DS, I like the dual screen. Personally, Switch will hardly be portable for me. It doesn't look like a portable at all. It's quite big.

I wonder has Switch got more than a couple of secrets. Does it double up as an android tablet? It certainly could do.

@Frosty_09 Aha, I see what you mean. If you're playing active over ATB then I can see how flitting between the two would be a pain. I guess I'm stuck in my way so I went with ATB! Also, the fact that Chrono Trigger on DS was the first official release in the UK may swing my view on that!

I definitely agree that the UI is well suited to turn-based strategy or turn-based RPGs.

Also, thank you for reminding me of Advance Wars: Dual Stirke. I loved the dual battles with two COs and how both screens could affect one another. If anything, Advance Wars and Golden Sun are the two games that would make me lose my sh*t if they were announced for Switch, especially as they've been dormant for a while. Both worked brilliantly on one screen as well so it's all good!

@GravyThief
I'm not having a go. Did you actually ever play Starfox Zero? It's not on your list of games.

Will miss it if 3ds is replaced with it but you can still use off tv play with switch so not a big deal.

@EverEndingStory You sure you are replying to the right person? I have no idea what you're going on about.

@MarcelRguez LMAO

In some game i would really miss the dual screen but except for some titles it was greatily underused so it won't be a problem, plus they can make a second screen app to android and ios or connect a wiiu gamepad

Im sure if they want to do a dual screen game they can and will.

Dual screen is a gimmick with little to no use in most games. 3ds would be better off with lower price, one higher resolution multitouch screen, no 3d effect and no second screen.

All the games I have barely use the Wii U's second screen. I think the only one is Splatoon. Outside of that, however, all the games could easily have done without it.

3DS on the other hand always seemed to make excellent use of the dual screen gaming feature (and by extension, I also mean the DS), so I will be hard pressed to get used to a lack of dual screens in that vein.

From the other thread:

The funny thing is, for me by far the most brilliant and underappreciated function of the Gamepad was indeed Off TV play. To play on the handheld while the TV is used for something entirely different is a godsend to many and to have it as standard rather than requiring a vita or some button-less windows 10 contraption that would need propping up was a huge deal in my opinion.... So you can see, in this instance, ditching the second screen does literally NOTHING to detract from this function, because by design Off TV it's what the Switch does anyway, and infinitely better to boot. The other benefits of the second screen, while convenient in a number of games, to me, serve as a worthy trade off 1,000 times over for what the Switch will do instead.

Additionally:

The actual dual screen function of the DS generally works better than for Wii U because the screens are equally sized and next to each other, rather than differently sized with one in your lap and the other straight ahead. As a guess, that's probably why the opinions are skewed between the consoles in the polls and why people care about DS dual screens yet don't generally mind overall about the Switch not having them.

I liked the exploitation of the dual screens in the DS era (and the touch too, despite some useless exagerations or afterthoughts), but the 3DS has been lacking in this department.
I have no Wii U but from what I gathered, it has never been really exploited either. And even Nintendo itself just dropped of the idea of dualscreens gameplay for a home console over the years.

About the Switch? The fact they are giving up annoys me a little, but it is mainly because I resigned myself to see this as the replacement of a new handheld. And since there was a regression in the overall use and interest of the d.s. (on both portable and home consoles), I doubt we lose anything.

@Titan_Clocker That would be great, because it means mean that they would need to sell adaptators to recharge the tablet without needing the dock. (I am quit ebothered by the need to play on the TV monitor when you want to recharge and play simultaneously)

@Rei I'm sure they will have another charger for portable use, they just didn't show it in the trailer. That would be really dumb of they didn't

@Mart1ndo I did. I own the collector's edition (and still do). I think I made an attempt to use the Game's list feature on here but gave up ages ago as I have hundreds of games spanning 2 decades' of Nintendo systems.

I am very vocal about my disappointment with SF0. I really found it was ruined by shoe horning the Gamepad into its controls. I particularly detest the lack of an option for standard controls - there was no reason to omit that. I couldn't even complete one play through of the game, I hated it that much. I won't pretend to be the best at games, but rarely have I given up on a Nintendo game due to its control scheme, something Nintendo are normally very good at.

I remember leaving a screenshot on Miiverse if where I managed to get up to as well!

We are alike in all the Nintendo games we own over multiple systems. I didn't see it listed in your games. I've never seen a game before to devide opinion like SFZ. I actually really like it. I wasn't trying to open an argument or anything. I just wondered if you'd played it. Good profile picture btw.

Having in game map and menu on DS/3DS/WiiU is great experience for me.

I don't think it worked so well on Wii U since there was that disconnect between the screens. There was the constant looking down from the TV which was a pain, and trying to hold the GamePad in one hand whilst you used the stylus was uncomfortable. Although it was handy for maps and inventories of course, but many of the games just didn't utilise the 2nd screen for anything besides mirroring what was on the TV. It was a wasted opportunity a in a lot of games.

It works on the DS line because of how small the unit is and the position of the screen is always directly below the other. When the Wii U was released the idea of 2nd screen gaming wasn't exactly original since it has been done since the DS, and although they tried to use it in unique ways it never felt like it was that revolutionary. And one of the main selling points, off-TV play, never worked beyond the boundaries of the room your console was in. In many ways, looking at Nintendo Switch's concept now, it seems almost as if the Wii U was a stop gap for when they were able to deliver the idea properly. You could almost say they were testing if dual screen gaming with the TV was worth it, and after seeing it wasn't, decided to make Switch a single screen experience.

Still, if they no longer release any dedicated handhelds I'll miss the dual screen. I won't miss it nearly as much as the TV dual screen though.

@123akis A multi-monitor setup on a PC makes for easier multi-tasking, like monitoring chat windows and browsing the web without needing to alt+tab out of the game every time something happens. Or just having that much more screen space when working with productivity programs.

For actual gaming purposes, I don't know of any support for multi-screen play beyond simply widening the resolution and stretching it across the two (or three, or more(!)) monitors so that you have a wider resolution that has bezels and empty space between the screens. It's a shame, really, considering the possibilities of what could (optionally) be shown on a secondary monitor in gameplay but just isn't.

Unless the graphics are insanely better on Switch I'll be getting Breath of the Wild on the Wii U. I think it is how the game was meant to be played. I love the second screen in Wind Waker and Twilight Princess as well as the 3DS Zelda games.

I really dont miss the second screen. I have both a 3ds and a Vita.The single of the vita is leaps and bounds above that of the 3ds in my opinion because it allows for a wider, clearer screen as well as raised sticks and buttons. So, i was very happy to see that the Switch looks a lot like my vita. On the wii u side, i dont really like the gamepad, because it felt very forced. There are some occasions where i really enjoyed it, such as Nintendo land and legend of zelda ww hd, but overall, it is just ok.

if more things used I would miss it more. Hopefully the Switch can work with smartphones so we can use third party 2nd screen apps

I didn't mind dual-screen gaming, but I'm not saddened by the loss. It was definitely handy in some games (like Zelda), and software like Nintendo Land showed what kind of fun could be had, but I think it's time to move on (at least, to stop selling second-screen as the 'main' thing, like 3D).

With smartphones and tablets, screens are everywhere now, so I don't think Nintendo would have any trouble dipping back into the asymmetrical well, if they were so inclined.

I liked the DS and loved the 3DS, but I don't think dual screens were ever really worth it. You can always spend the resources on having a bigger or higher-res screen, not to mention having all the processing power concentrating on one.

The one truly great use of it I can think of was Etrian Odyssey, but even then autocomplete would be a satisfactory alternative. The real appeal of the games is the RPG mechanics.

Really pleased Switch represents a return to single screen.

@Mart1ndo I didn't think you were, I'm always up for a good debate about the games we love (or don't!). It is a shame they couldn't bring themselves to offer multiple control schemes outside of just the dual screen set up, then more people could have enjoyed the game. I really liked the whole look of the game, I just couldn't enjoy it when I played.

It'll be interesting to see if they do port lots of Wii U games over to the Switch, and if SF0 is one of them. If it is, then clearly it will have to be changed to work with a single screen setup, which means a traditional control scheme was always possible and Nintendo were just being stubborn. Only time will tell!

aren't we going to miss the clam shell design more than anything for portability? I don't see the switch as that pocket friendly.. in fact not at all.. however my pockets are pretty big.. lol... time to break out my nice ass man bag..

I felt it was best with the DS because the screen shapes/sizes were the same.

I'll more just be annoyed that this means there's still no way to properly play basically all of Nintendo's legacy console games on one single system. Now, this wouldn't be such an issue on the likes of Sony's and Microsoft's consoles for me personally because I haven't basically been promised the dream of "virtually playing all of Nintendo's games from previous consoles ever made"—give or take the exact wording of the quote—since the Wii era. Nintendo did promise that so many years ago, however, and I feel like we've stilly truly never gotten that yet. It's been close but not quite there, and certainly not without needless compromises (like the terribly desaturated and dull colours on Wii U NES VC titles), and I was really hoping the Switch would finally realise that genuinely brilliant vision/promise that Nintendo made oh so long ago—but it looks like that ain't going to happen (again). Nintendo's the one that such set expectations, and boy would it be a magical thing if it actually delivered on such a vision fully and properly at some point. Because, it's not that the Switch is a bad machine (not from what I can see), it just falls short of the vision I have for modern Nintendo consoles in some ways that I now consider extremely important (in how many areas I've yet to see), and more so with each new generation of Nintendo consoles. It's the not realising the true potential of potentially revolutionary ideas like this that disappoints and frustrates me the most.

Remember back then that many of the older core gamers complain that Nintendo killed off the Game Boy (single screen handheld) line way too soon. Well it looks like Nintendo is bringing back the Game Boy, just not in name and double as a console. I say had Nintendo continue with the Game Boy line instead of going the DS route throughout the rest of 2K then the Switch would had been what we got anyways.

@GravyThief
I'd say there is a high probability SFZ along with other Wii u games, will be ported to Switch.

While I like the idea and functionality of dual-screens, having a single screen and no software gimmicks is what will draw the third-party support, therefore possibly saving/extending Nintendo's life.

Sorry if this has been discussed, it's a long thread!

They can emulate a DS by turning the Switch in portait mode and stacking 2 screens vertically.

Also, Nintendo have said there'll still be another portable, so who knows if the dual screen concept is even dead yet.

I will miss dual screens...on handhelds. I could care less about dual screen play on home consoles. Nintendo needs to move as far away from the Wii and Wii U as they possibly can.

Dual Screen gaming was neat but I won't miss it. It assisted in some games but was irrelevant in many. Mario Kart DS and Mario Kart 7 became strategy/kart games because of the dual screen; seeing what items your opponents had would effect your decision making.

Losing it is a good thing I'd say. Dual screen gaming does nothing for me. Even most DS games barely required two screens. They could have easily been achieved with a single touch screen and anything lost would've been superficial at best.

The Wii U's dual screen experience was pretty bad. A solution desperately looking for a problem. I mean thankfully it was hardly ever used, but in many cases it was the most annoying part of the game (like those awful bits in the Wonderful 101). Asymmetric gameplay does have one great idea: Pac Man Vs (reimagined as Mario Chase on Wii U). That is a great idea, but that's pretty much it and it was foolish to base an entire console around it. Everything else was just clutching at straws.

At least now with the Switch, people can stop trying to convince themselves that having a map/inventory on a second screen is "mind-blowing innovation!" that they "can't now play games without!" No, it really isn't. You pause the game to look away at a different screen instead of pausing the game to look at the screen you were already looking at. You're still pausing so it makes no difference.

Let's be honest. The dual screen really doesn't add too much. I rarely ever found a huge need for it for DS games that couldn't be done with one screen. And even less so with the Wii U. The Wii U has a couple really brillant uses of it, 2 of which are Zelda games. Beyond that, nothing really took advantage of it in a reallyear useful and much needed way.

@Frosty_09 Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised if Atlus revealed Untold III as the last hurrah of the series. They are known to support popular older platforms, after all.

I could live without it. But it's awesome in monster hunter for inventory

Dual screen play really fired my imagination when it came to game design ideas, so it's really sad to see it abandoned. Would be nice if the GamePad was backwards compatible for virtual console and original second screen options.

Won't miss the second screen to much but I think it's sad that Nintendo has pulled out of the Home Console game and is now only making solely handhelds it's sad that a company as big as Nintendo has bowed out.

one thing i have noticed that the newer Nvidia chips support VR and it would not take much the turn the tablet part into a VR screen similar to how Samsung does it with their phones having it click into a custom head set.

It did have its moments (Zelda: Phantom hourglass and Spirit tracks), but overall I won't miss it much. I easily open the menu for a map and item management. Never used the touchscreen for item management when I could also use buttons. Besides, I have trouble with managing 2 screens at the same time (Yes, I am old, lol).

However, I find it a bit strange that all Nintendo's innovations are only temporarily (touchscreen Zelda, Wiimote, 3D). You would almost think Nintendo does this to prevend piracy/emulators (I know that sounds a bit cynical, but still).

On a more positive note, I am happy that buttons and physical media are still in. And I would be very surprised if the screen isn't a touchscreen. Nintendo is flirting with indies, even the ios-ones. Surely they want to offer touch-screen controls to them. And I guess Nintendo wants to port the DENA titles too (at least it would make sense)

Also, wouldn't be surprised if the joy-cons work like mini-wiimotes (motion-control).

However: The dock having extra power? Naaaaaah! Surely Nintendo doesn't want their games to look worse on the go with this device. The dock will be mostly empty with only one purpose: Bringing the games on the tv-screen!

One last thing: 2 joy-cons instead of one whole controller means double the radiation. Not to fond about that, but yeah everything has radiation nowadays. We all become Doctor Manhattan!

I won't miss dual-screen gaming at all. While the concept has overall been decent, there hasn't been a ton of games across both the DS and 3DS libraries that really harness the second screen as an integral part of gameplay. The DS library had more games that harnessed this concept such as Hotel Dusk: Room 215, Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword, etc. But generally, the second screen is where pause menu features are thrown. Honestly, I don't mind having to drill down to those same features via the start/pause menu(s). I'll miss the dual screens as "the end of an era" type thing but it doesn't bother me at all that it's gone.

I'll miss the 3D effect more than the second screen !

If the DS-3DS line is to be killed off, that will very likely also kill off my interest in Nintendo gaming. Why would I ever want to regress to a single non-touch screen?

@Henmii Don't step outside! That giant nuclear furnace in the sky will bathe you in more radiation than any number of wireless devices.

After playing the crapfest that was Star Fox Zero, I am glad to dump dual screen play. I also went back and played Star Fox Assault too for comparison and it plays so much better. Really makes me sad as I love Star Fox and to see the series take such a nose dive. I hope Nintendo knows its poor sales are due to the crazy control scheme and not lack of interest in the series.

@yuwarite
Oh, wait. Another portable ?
Switch itself from trailer wasn't complete without 'Mysterious' portable device ?

@Henmii - Regarding whether the dock would boost the Switch's graphical prowess, it wouldn't be so much making the portable weaker; more like the portable is at maximum power (considering battery limitations), and the dock would just improve it.

I do share your concerns about unnecessary radiation/wireless communication though. It really wound me up how you couldn't plug the Wii U GamePad directly into the system (thus blocking off the Bluetooth signal).

I feel the dual screen for console gaming never saw its potential. Mostly developers just used it for off screen gaming (which is just single screen gaming), but a few others actually used it great. Even Nintendo failed to really use it aside from being great help for Pikmin 3. Really, really, really sad the Wii U never got a Battalion Wars, as the gamepad would've been great for top down RTS style army control, while the main screen offered individual unit control on the battlefield. A great opportunity that was sadly missed. We also will never know what Metroid could've done with dual screens. But alas, here's hoping these great franchises will return for the switch.

Dual screen gaming definitely came in handy, but it's not a deal-breaker if I can't have it any more. Who knows? Maybe we have it all wrong and the Switch will have one final hidden feature of communicating with the (home?)base for dual-screening with the Switch and TV? Looking forward to knowing EVERYTHING the Switch has to offer.

EDIT: https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2016/10/nintendo_switch_will_be_a_single-screen_experience
Ah... nevermind then

"Don't step outside! That giant nuclear furnace in the sky will bathe you in more radiation than any number of wireless devices"

Lol!

@MetalKingShield,

That's a way to look at it, but I still think Nintendo wants the games to look the same on your tv and on the go. Besides, adding extra chips (or stuff like that) to the dock would just bump up the overall price.

As for the radiation: On one hand I am happy that the Wii u gamepad is wireless (no wire spaghetti), but on the other hand I am a bit worried. All the joking aside: In the future we all pay the price. Even now there are already lots of people with strange health-issues. I know I sound like a old fart, but that's how I see it!

I'm very happy Nintendo is going back to simplistic console gaming. I won't miss it at all if they keep pumping out 3ds titles. I hope 3ds never dies. Long Live the 3DS!

I'm also hoping Switch has some nice online features. I love what I've seen so far

I'm surprised to see the DS and Wii U result are so different.
Since the Wii U does everything a DS does, they should be the same.

The problem with Wii U was never the Gamepad, it was the system itself.
All the NX needed to be, was a better machine, but keep the Gamepad as it is (but with better battery)

Switch is a huge step backwards compared to Wii U.
To me, the Switch is not a replacement of Wii U. Far from it.
However, It fixes the problems i had with portable systems.

• Bigger screen.
• Connects to TV.
• Normal (ergonomic) controller.

Considering I played single screens on most consoles/handhelds and dual screen for 3 of them I can honestly say I don't care which way I play.