Port Specialist Virtuos Advises Other Devs To Not Treat The Switch "As A Secondary Platform"

This guy gets it, bravo. I wish all vice presidents thought this way about the potential of switch and we would then have alot more decent ports of popular franchises with extra content.

Switch isn't a secondary platform. It's complimentary to whatever else you have be it playstation Xbox or PC. Gaming is gaming where ever you choose to do it and whatever system.

As far I'm concerned the console wars aren't even a thing. Only fools follow one platform.

@Zeldafan79 or people with limited finances. Some people have to choose one console only. It all adds up. Especially accessories and online subscriptions. Which is why I wish my Nintendo was on par with the other two consoles. But again I rarely play portable mode.

I don't really agree with half of his statements...

Yes, the Switch is a primary platform, like all the others. Not secondary.

Simultaneous release? Sure.

But saying that the audience on Switch is younger? BIG NO. I refuse to believe that. Playing a lot of online games with communication etc inside huge Switch discords and other chats shows you that most people are actually adults. Meanwhile, enter any game on ps4/xb1... Yeah. Kids galore. In general I've found the Switch community to be more mature than the ps4/xb1 communities. Been part of them all, too.

I also don't think special features and extra content is necessary, or a particularly good idea unless you want people to grow dissatisfied with a title (unless it's a Switch exclusive). Look at how many people are not just jealous but downright spitting raw hatred at the DQ devs for only letting Switch owners have extra features.

Of course, including these features on ALL consoles in their own way (aka no limitation on content for sure) wouldn't be a bad thing.

@ sixrings

Sure if you're dirt poor i guess but if that's truly the case might i suggest another hobby? Gaming isn't for the financially impaired.

@Blizzia To be honest, motion control is a must in any shooter to me. I'm so used to it that I simply can 't play a normal shooter.

@Zeldafan79 @sixrings He has a point. Gaming has never been a cheap hobby. If you don't have the money to keep up with upgrades (PC mostly) or games coming out every other week or month, then it's best to choose something else to occupy your time.

@Zeldafan79 - and some people do have other hobbies, and choose to spend their disposable income on those, rather than on gaming systems.

You know, getting out the house and stuff. I'm happy to focus my gaming on one console. Used to be PS, then PS2 before 3ds and now Switch.

@tanasten Motion control should be a thing in every shooter on every platform tbh. I wouldn't call that an extra feature, but rather call it "lacking basic functionality" if a shooter didn't have it.

Nobody said you have to have more than one system but if you plan on gaming and don't wanna miss alot you'll want more than one. They don't even have to be current consoles. Even a poor person should be able to afford one current system and something on the side even if it's a couple gens ago.

@Blizzia Agree. Don't get why on the PS4 almost no one uses it :/

OK Virtuos, after LA Noire it is now really time to give us GTA V. OK, I could accept IV

@Shade_Koopa superbly ignorant. You can very easily enjoy gaming as a hobby without buying everything that comes out.

He is slightly just trying to advertise his own company's services.

Great, now tell Nintendo to port more of their Wii and Wii U games.

EA laughs nervously...

Agree with a few points but not about the switch audience being younger I mean play COD on PS4 or xbox and it’s only a matter of time before you get insulted by a 10 year old I think this has been a massive misconception throughout console generations that Nintendo is for kids but saying that don’t think it has really hurt Nintendos reputation

@Fazermint Not easily. By the time ya get the money for the game, the next game is already out.

I agree with simultaneous releases. I'm not going to wait for a game I want when it's available elsewhere. I'm also unlikely to double dip and buy the game a second time when it finally does release, or at least not until its had a considerable price drop.

Playerbase? I'm doubtful its mostly kids, but I don't have any data backing that up, nor do they provide any evidence. As far as I'm aware the Switch playerbase is mostly older 20+ with any of my friends kids having little to no interest in Nintendo, but that's just anecdotal evidence.

As for giving Switch versions special treatment with exclusive features? Yea, no, lets not do that. Its bad enough when Xbox/Sony get exclusive content for multiplatform games, lets not insist Nintendo always gets some special treatment. If one console is getting special features, they all should, and at that point nobody is getting the 'full' version of the game.

That said, things like adding gyro support or having a costume based on one of the platform holders IP's, that's an acceptable little novelty...That should be on all platforms. Monster Hunter comes to mind with the 3DS games having costumes/weapons for Link, Mario, Samus as well as the publisher costumes like Megaman, Dante and Chun li, meanwhile Monster Hunter World had the PS4 with Aloy and Microsoft with...Nothing, and its objectively the worst version because of that.

I would also say that with old ports, yea, add a little something to make it more worthwhile. Paying £15 for a 10 year old game is pretty naff, add an extra level or something though and it's a bit more worthwhile and less lazy feeling.

Overall this guy has:

• One bit of common sense
• A statement he hasn't backed up
• A bad idea only going to backfire in some way

@Shade_Koopa how does that impact your enjoyment of the games you do purchase?

@Zeldafan79 So based on what you said, I'm either a fool or dirt poor. Because I only follow one platform. Nice.

@ Fazermint

Like i don't know that. I bet I'm older and have more costs and responsibilities than most of the people on here. Yet i still have money for more than one system. It's called gaming not Nintendoing or playstationing!

If you are so financially obligated to other things how do you find the money to play games at all?

The five companies that treat the Switch as a secondary platform are these: Activision, Capcom, Namco, Sega, and Konami. A lot of their games (ports) came out on Switch way after the other platforms and are usually either missing contents, was release digital only, or perform worst but still sell for full price wtf.

@Zeldafan79 you shouldn't assume what poor people can afford. Videogames are expensive and so is rent and food.

@Snugglevixen That too, but I still stand by the "more adults" thing.

And everyone got tricked into justifying what they do because the whole thing was framed as a matter of affordability rather than choice. You know you don't need to be poor or have to spend your money or time on other things. You can not own more than one console simply because you don't want to. You don't need to prove anything to random strangers. Especially when said strangers are obviously just trying to rile you up.

Im a young 44 year old that plays on a switch lite

@Snugglevixen I don't PC game so this learning that it's getting cheaper to make Gaming PCs is nice. Still doesn't change that buying games will eat away at your wallet.

@Fazermint Easy, with most games with online mutliplayer, they are only relevant for so long. Usually only for the first 1-2 months. Unless they are a popular multiplayer game (Mario kart, smash, Splatoon), the player base dwindle as times move. And when the next game is release, the previous game has lost its player base.

You want to keep up with the crowd, ya need money to do so. No point in buying a game with a dead lobby to it's online multiplayer.

@Shade_Koopa but only a marginal portion of players have that mentality. Otherwise the switch would have sold worse than the wii u

@Blizzia You don’t agree with half of its statements and begin by saying you agree with them.

@Zeldafan79 I'm not financially impaired, far from it and being self employed, I have all the free time in the world yet I choose to only own Switch because I love Nintendo and one console is enough for me. I've been gaming for near 40 years. I know a few others from Nintendolife who are in a similar position to me and only own Switch. Your generalisation is way off, hence all your downvotes.

Elijah Freeman mostly talks money and branding, but I'd argue the technical hurdle is worth it on its own, if you want to future proof your backend department.

Building your game in a way that facilitates multiple power settings, means of controls, and resolutions at the outset has been a core requirement for PC game makers since the dawn of time, and Adroid game makers for over a decade now.

Unless game streaming from massive standardized and centralized facilities really takes off (and I don't think it will) there will only be a bigger and bigger requirement for games to be built in a flexible, adaptable way.

All I know is dark souls is amazing

@Spanjard I know reading is hard honey, but please do try.

@Blizzia which is what I might have told to you but hey, manners. Again, it’s an honest question so maybe respond honestly. Where does it say they think Switch is a secondary platform IF that’s what you’re trying say.

@Spanjard If you had read my comment, you'd know that is not what I was trying to say. My comment was, as you could've read, directed at the fact that they have the same misconception a lot of other companies have, that Nintendo's users are generally "younger", which is untrue. They look at the goofy cartoonish lighthearted games and think "that's what the kids play!", when in reality the kids are busy playing FIFA/GTA5/Battlefield/Call of Duty on their PS4s.

As I also wrote (which you didn't read) was that I disagreed with HALF of the statements. I proceeded to write which statements I agreed with (that the Switch is a primary console, not secondary, and that simultaneous releases on Switch and other platforms should be expected AND the norm), then wrote what I disagreed with.

I'm sorry if I come off as rude, but everything I've just clarified is literally in the comment I made, plain as day.

@Zeldafan79 gaming is for everyone. If you have to pick your purchases carefully you get a much better appreciation of the games you do get.
I used to have an acquaintance who was into expensive hifi. Two valve amps in their rig, one for left and one for right, uni directional cables, all the expensive bits. Went round there one day and they said i could put something on. Not a single record in their collection that i wanted to hear. They had all the equipment but not a clue about music.

@Blizzia I agree with most of the points you made. We definitely see eye to eye on many of these things. And now that you explained it I understand it better. But the point still remains I think. You start out by given a statement which is quite negative. Which sets the mood and contradicts in my mind the points you make. Because I would think that the points you agree with are FAR more important than the the ones you disagree with:

Agree: 1. Switch is a primary platform, treat it as such. (Simultaneous release etc.)

2. Invest! It’s unique in the market.

Don’t agree:
1. Audience is younger. I also disagree but does it really matter? They are not saying the base is younger so pls create games for kids, on the contrary, they say INVEST now and invest more because these “kids” will later play your games. So it’s good thing even if the assumption would be technically incorrect.

2. “special features and extra content is not necessary”.You have to admit, this one is a bit weak. Yes. I am more inclined to buy DQ 11 with all the new features because if not it’s inferior to the ps4 version, which is how the mind works, you compare. So I would definitely encourage devs to treat ports like they did with DQ11.

I agree but the problem is that Nintendo has so many great games with even greater replay value that Xbox and PS combined, that it would make sense porting/remake a lot of the games. But they need to make it in a way where still new stuff is implemented.

There are definitely younger people on Switch, but I would suspect there are an equal if not greater number of older, mature gamers who grew up on Nintendo products and continue to support them--like myself. But it's true...Switch shouldn't be treated like an afterthought just because of whatever beliefs may prevail about power. Its versatility makes it a great investment compared to the other platforms...at least for the time being. Devs should continue to strike while the iron is hot and treat the Switch platform and its player base--of all ages--with respect.

@Mii_duck Steady on, do you mean to say there are other things one can do in life aside from trying to play every single video game? Are you feeling all right there, darling?

😉 I'm right there with you. One console is more than enough for me. It cracks me up when people talk about how you need to have multiple consoles so you don't miss out on important releases.

I'm pretty sure my dying words aren't going to be, "my one real regret is that I never played God of War Chapter XII. If only I had bought ALL the consoles..."

If only EA thought this way...

"...having previously worked on the Nintendo versions of Starlink: Battle for Atlas, Dark Souls: Remastered and L.A. Noire"

Think they need to work on something that is an actual hit before giving advice 🙄

Most ports on Switch have nothing to do with "investing in the future"... they about "Milking the past". Why they just outsource it with a set budget to these studios.

Their site SEO tags starts with "3D Art Outsourcing, Game Outsourcing, China" 🤦‍♂️

@Blizzia That "younger crowd" statement seems to hail from the good ol' "Nintendo is kiddy" bullcrap that really needs to die already

Thanks games journalists of that for that perception and completely ignoring the Wii in favor of AAA BS

@Zeldafan79 What a childish line of thought for a supposedly grown up person.

@Zeldafan79 That's a really insensitive way to look at things.

I know a lot of people who are restricted to only having a Switch due to numerous other factors that stretch well outside financial instability.

Either they have no plans to invest in other consoles, or in the case of younger people like tweens or teens, perhaps their parents can't afford or even refuse to buy another console for them.

@Zeldafan79 So there is no in-betweens in your world? Only people who can afford videogames and people who can't? People who can only afford to choose and support only one system don't exist? And if they can only afford to go on one system, they shouldn't bother at all?

I have to disagree a little. The audience spread is about the same. At least according to the data I've seen. You can thank PlayStation for that since they dominate the teen to 40s market. Xbox people from the 360 era seem to pull in people from the late 20s early 30s where that demo is strongest for Xbox. Switch certainly is being picked up by dads and younger folk. Not on a level that I'd consider it a missed opportunity. The switch just can't deliver on certain experiences gamers demand. Maybe 8 years ago this would have been a different case, there are certain gamers who are OK with that level of quality in a product. Time and again the superior experience wins even on day to date releases with more powerful hardware.

Only way to achieve parity would be to water down new experiences. Cut features and refocus on switch capable modes on all platforms. Gamers are wise to this and would also put developers at risk of falling behind their first and third party competitors who do not constrain themselves in such ways. Thus losing an important revenue stream the switch at present can't supplement and may never be able too.

I do think it is a mistake to skip the switch entirely. I've been saying this since launch. Developers need to focus on exclusives for the system, so the power divide is less apparent. That a title can play to its strengths and limitations. So engineers can focus on pairing back storage hungry titles in favor of optimizations and less heavy handed compression reliant techniques. Ubisoft's best games for the system were made exclusively for it. Had starlink been a starfox title they probably wouldn't be writing off a huge loss for the next fiscal year.

Just my two cents, but the switch should be treated like a better vita/3ds with experiences all it's own. Big console like experiences tailored to its strengths that can be taken on the go. With rare ports now and again. Only ports I want to see are older titles that are remade, remastered, or re-imagined and of that hand picked without comprising new original titles. The switch is a perfect place for launching future franchises that can be enhanced and ported else where with greater ease.

@tanasten
Because everyone has preferences, just like how you like gyro, I prefer twin stick because I just feel more comfortable with it.

Ill admit I don't use it much but I just don't feel the need to use it because I do well without it, I use it for Resident evil and that's it.

I wanna clarify i'm not against motion controls, just give the option to turn it off if we don't want it.

I imagine the player base comment is predictive rather than current. Yes, the Switch was originally marketed at the adult market, the lapsed gamers, the Nintendo veterans from pre-Wii. And that has made up it's primary player base so far. But with the introduction of the Lite and Pokemon, I think the traditional Nintendo handheld youth market may start to become, statistically, the larger audience again. Not that the adult market will shrink, just that the child market will shoot off like a rocket.

A Team Rocket.....

@JasmineDragon - exactly!

You reminded me of one of my little mantras - "no-one ever laid on their deathbed and said 'I wish I'd spent more time in the office'"

(Unless they were hit by a car on leaving work, obviously.)

I must admit I was very close to buying an XBone S recently, just for Forza, but we had a free weekend and for the same money we could stick a pin in the map and have a decent hotel city break somewhere. Just chill and explore.

Switch fills all my gaming needs, and even if no software was released from tomorrow on, I have enough to keep me going for years.

@Big-Pepsi

Sure. I consider twin stick as a default setting. I even consider the calibration nowadays default in both, dual stick and motion controls.

This is the present to me, not having these is a fail.

Most of what he said is right.

Except the part about age... anyone i actually know in person who own a Nintendo Switch are all over 20 and quite a few like me are in their 30s.

I don't know any teens with a Switch... not saying there are none, but just that i personally don't know any, any teenagers that i know all play Xbox and PS4.

The main reason i choose Nintendo is their stance on loot boxes in games and the lack of political games that Nintendo allows on the Switch.

The latter being most important to me, i get politics shoved in my face daily from all other angles, don't need that in games.

Just on the topic of "primary or secondary" it really doesn't matter how you see this but if you want access to all the best games from this current generation then you need both PS4 and a Nintendo Switch - this gives you 90% access to all the best exclusives games and PS4 will have every multiplatform game available anyway.

I personally don't like the PS4 but its hard to deny that the PS4 along with the Switch is simply the best gaming combo to date, to own both would be gaming heaven. Doesn't matter which you view as primary or secondary... you simply need both - PS4 alone wont do it and Nintendo Switch alone won't do it. You have to have both.

Yet EA has been doing underwhelming ports since the Wii....

@ sixrings, Thegaminggeek, BlueBlur101, OorWullie and anyone else who didn't like my opinion.

I'm almost certain all of you who were giving me crap about saying it's better to own more than one system in fact do own more than one. Everybody who games as any kind of serious hobby certainly has a PC in their house or other mobile/gaming device.

Quit acting like you only game on one platform and I'm horrible for suggesting otherwise. It's very unlikely. That's like saying you only watch movies on one platform.

@Zeldafan79 People from third world countries seem to be able to game just fine though

Sure, they might not be playing the latest releases, or playing on the latest tech.. But they're still gamers.

With the huge backlog of games I've got, I could stop buying games today and I'd still have plenty of games to last me two lifetimes