Feature: New Year Resolutions For Nintendo In 2020

Nintendo should print this out and hang it up in their office. This is a solid, realistic list of improvements

#4 is the most important thing. Keeps them from going the way of Sega hardware. Don't go too fast, of course, because then you get a bunch of questionable games and IP damage.
Eh, forget #5. Too many titles already out with 'meh' visuals and too many third parties moved on from the porting that could have been done had the Switch had some horsepower initially.

I just want the ability to buy another dock so I can play upstair or downstair....

I don't really care about #5 but the rest are great ideas. I think they need to improve the online aspect of the Switch since they charge for it.

Honestly, 2019 was so big, and had so many games that I'm content with Animal Crossing: New Horizons being the main course of 2020. It's looking spectacular and will almost certainly take most of my gaming time in 2020. No rush on BOTW sequel or MP4. I'm willing to wait. I love what Miyamoto said a while back "A delayed game is eventually good, but a rushed game is forever bad." That is key and why Nintendo is my absolute favorite media company ever. To another great year, Nintendo!

I don't see why Gamecube games should be pie in the sky considering the wide scale availability of 360 and PS3 games on their respective consoles

I find it strange that web version of the eShop has options like filtering for games on sale, and then organising that list according to (off the top of my head) either price, %discount, popularity, or name. Why these options online but not on the switch? Nintendo.

@C3dr4c you can do that already

Mario Kart 9. 8Deluxe is great but with the WiiU release I've been playing that game for nigh 6 years now. It's time Nintendo. I'm ready for a slew of new tracks.

To be honest I like the xbox interface. Mostly because I just use it for streaming. All my games are bought on ps4.

i honestly hate the idea of a switch pro, don't wanna get annoyed by exclusives or games that'd work like crap on standard.

Number 1# sort the chat out! Dump the app. Add the option on the home screen to chat, message and party!
Number 2# deliver some old Ips - wave racer, Diddy Kong RC, f-Zero, etc
Number 3# give us some sequels as well as ports - last story 2, toad adventures 2, etc
Number 4# push Sega to release Saturn and DC titles on EShop
Daytona, virtua cop, chu ch u rocket, bass fishing, sega rally.etc
Number 5# push for more apps, iPlayer, NETFLIX etc.
Number 6# do something with the background options.
Number 7# push Capcom for another switch monster hunter entry

Most of this seems completely unnecessary and it's just the kind of stuff you hear from the hardcore crowd.

Number 2 is the biggest one for me, honestly. Everything else is fine really. NSO will slowly get more games. Obviously Nintendo will continue making new games, etc. I want the eshop to recommend things to me like Spotify recommends music or Netflix recommends movies.

@matdub where????

I do think that the eshop needs a revamp to help discoverability. However, the switch home menu’s minimalist approach is something I have really appreciated (folders could be added though). The really big question I have about 2020 though is whether we will get gba or n64 games on NSO (will gba include gba color or advance games)?

@C3dr4c Amazon, Bestbuy, Walmart, Gamestop, Nintendo website, etc.

@Laxus yeah but it's all third party, never saw a real Nintendo one . It exists but never in stock (I'm in canada)

Roger that. They may not sell it anymore, but they did at one point.

I still believe the whole 'Switch Pro' idea is pure fantasy talk. Nintendo may do a 'New' revision in another year or two but that's about it. Happy to be proved wrong of course – but I really can't see it happening.

I thought New Year's resolutions were to be made by those supposed to fulfil them, but I also thought it made no sense to count a "new decade" since 2020 when this logic literally leaves the very first AD decade nine years long (there's no year 0 between the eras). Maybe Great Britain or the west in general has its own traditions in this regard, too.😆

Four out of five items on the list remain our wishful thinking until/unless they actually happen, especially the same old "Switch Pro in 2020" discussed in the vein of specs arms race (implying that there aren't thousands of older games left to port until an actual successor's advent or that PS5 and XBSX are expected to compete with Switch's trademark flexibility in return). Even if there's a chance for a "Switch Pro" to become technologically AND commercially viable before the time when it'll be more sensible to just brand it "Super Switch Advance Series U" (or some new name like "Nintendo Voyager" if you will), it likewise doesn't feel fruitful to discuss it until/unless it actually happens.

And again with Lite "removing the console's namesake gimmick". I'm beginning to wonder if NL writers are actually under this impression and have never heard otherwise. 🤔

As for #4, though, it sounds definitely probable - and I suspect that's one resolution Nintendo has long made for themselves, regardless of how well they will manage to meet it in practice.

@Lord is it me, or does every instance of "push" seem to stand for "pay" in this context?😅

NSO is fine as it is, using N64 games (which are rented, not purchased) as an excuse to raise the price is unnecessary. It should be opt-in if that’s what they’re going to do. The NES/SNES games were meant to be an added bonus to help players get their heads around the fact that they’re adding a subscription fee to something that used to be free, not the main purpose of the program (which is to play Splatoon/Mario Kart 8/Smash Ultimate/Minecraft with your friends). It should be opt-in if they’re really going to do that.

Also, relatively few people buy AAA multi platform games on the Switch so it makes little sense to release a new model just for that purpose. The graphics aren’t going to get much better from this point on anyway.

@C3dr4c I am shopping from Australia, and maybe it's different where you are, but they have them on Amazon, jb hifi, eb games and even a used one on gamesmen.

@Lord "Number 7# push Capcom for another switch monster hunter entry"

Seconded!

Agree with all five.
Addressing Joy con drift would be nice, as would a Wario picture for my avatar

Improve the quality of their 1st party titles. So many mediocre to bad Nintendo games this gen. (1 2 Switch, ARMS, Flip Wars, Kirby Star Allies, Mario Tennis Aces, Super Mario Party, Pokemon Sword & Shield) These games hurt their IPs. Look at the Wii, not really any bad 1st party titles there besides some throw away ones like Flingsmash.

There are still a few WiiU titles that need Switch ports like Xenoblade X and W101, but I’d also kinda like Nintendo to do HD remasters of some of their Wii titles like Sin and Punishment, Last Story and Pandora’s Tower

Can we ask for some Nintendo Life New Years resolutions?

1. Being able to quote other commentators in our comments (not just @ them) so we can follow the thread of a conversation

2. I’d like to be able to see my own down votes to know if the NL community disagrees with something I say

3. Heavily down voted comments should be greyed out or hidden, which minimises troll-like behaviour

4. Keep on doin’ what you’re doin’ - love you guys!

@Prof_Yoshtonics Ordinarily, I'd say "No, make it DLC because I don't want to buy a whole new game," but 8DX has some serious mechanical and menu issues that have rendered it unplayable and undesirable with my local group.

I would also really like for them to add the ability to buy games for other people from the eshop

all I ask from Nintendo is to give up release dates and not release windows (coming late 2020) or (Coming Q3 2020) enough of that

#1 More switch games the more games the more viable switch is as a essential console for every household.

#2 No pro console. Pro console would divide the userbase and divide resources for both versions of the console. Nintendo should improve the console without improving power.

#3 Choices when releasing new console version. The lite only offers better portability but screws you with permanent joycons and no tv switching. if nintendo going to release a another switch version make sure its actually worth it by adding features actually worth it like easy battery replacement, better chat and audio features, durable joycons. If a lesser console is going to be released give it actual purpose like a tv only box that is more durable at only a third or fourth of the price of the og or best switch versions.

#4 Limited switch exclusives. Games dont even have to be permanent execlusives, they just have to start and launch firsts on switch so that the switch only features are maximized and the switch can more easily carve its own path instead of try to play catch hp with ports from other consoles.

Despite the haters marvel ultimate alliance 3 is a good example of why nintendo needs games made exclusively for the switch if only originally so that the games features can shine and not only be second or third best.

Nintendo needs to more agreesively hunt certain producers and franchises to ensure switch version is the best lr most unique version.

@koaeinferno ? Arms was brilliant - I want to see a sequel. It was refreshing and typically Nintendo. I didn’t see too much wrong with Mario Tennis Aces either. Yeah 12 switch wasn’t great but it was never intended to be the height of gaming brilliance. It was merely to show off what the new console could do and nothing more.

@C3dr4c you realize they have been selling additional stand alone docks since the console was released.

How do you improve the console without increasing power. A pro model is an absolute must. Switch is great but it will be 2 generations behind the consoles out at Xmas 2020. Thats going to be too much pressure to get quality ports. That in turn will only serve to see games dry up from third parties and that would lead to Nintendo undoing all of the brilliant work they have done with the switch. There is no need for it to divide a user base if it is backward compatible. Nintendo has to keep its distance from the big guys but not so far that it can no longer handle the quality ports. It’s just the reality.

"certainly don't want to see Switch's menu turned into the turgid mess of Xbox One's 'solution'"

You obviously never seen the cluttered and sluggish menu system on PS4 where you can't sort anything on the laggy main screen.
Home Screen can only be sorted on Wii U, Xbox One, VITA and Xbox 360.

@Prof_Yoshtonics Completely agree. As much as I want MK9, I somewhat doubt it just because of lack of players on the Wii U. Most people are still content with MK8 Deluxe, so it'd be a push for MK9 before 2021 or 2022. I really hope we do get MK9 in 2020, though!

@KBuckley27 Usually when a release window is given, it's because even the Big N themselves aren't quite sure when the game will release. Development, and how dev of games moves along is so difficult to predict, along with scheduling games far enough apart has always proven to give Nintendo issues with scheduling game releases. In late 2019 Luigi's Mansion 3 came out Oct. 31, then Pokemon Sword/Shield 15 days later on November 15th. I'd prefer not to have instances like that.

@ancientlii
Totally agree.

@Bondi_Surfer You can always hit 'Ignore' or 'Report' if you get sick of a specific user - but hiding heavily down-voted comments would also result in unpopular opinions being deleted. I like where you're going with removal of 'troll-like' posts, but unpopular opinions I actually quite enjoy reading. Even if the unpopular opinions are slightly troll-ish, they usually make me think in a way I usually would not.

@koaeinferno Wii Music. Your argument is invalid.

@Lemonyoshi I would rather Nintendo and both Sony and Microsoft not announce a games without a full release dates and hold that back till they have one instead of this coming late whatever year

@C3dr4c you xant do that?

@Prof_Yoshtonics I would prefer an update

If they could have a direct soon to announce Xenoblade for a summer release so I can play it on my holidays, that would be great. I don't care about any other game this year.

@koaeinferno What 'bad' first party game have been on switch...? Yoshi's Wooly World was 'meh' to me, but Yoshi games have also taken a much different role than they used to be. Still wouldn't call ANY first party switch games BAD.

@brunojenso Yeah I think the whole concept of turning the Switch into some high-priced high-end device is outside of Nintendo's philosophy. We did get a "New" 3DS but that was more of a mild update with the right thumb nub and SNES support added.

Agreed with all except #5....
New 3ds was basically useless and the risk is to split the fanbase And having games that run like crap on standard version.

Keep going with the actual Switch and release a Switch 2 in 3 years from now.

If the notion of a Switch Pro is to appeal to the 'hardcore' gamer, then why doesn't any discerning Nintendo fan appreciate that goes against their mantra of making games for everybody? Sure, folk might cite the New 3DS but I'm not convinced it's the same coloured horse. If there is a New Switch, I would imagine it gets brought out as a replacement (with a new 'gimmick') that hopefully encompasses the Switch technology. And that would be a couple of years away. Nintendo themselves see Switch with a long life. Leave selling plastic video game consoles as if they were cars to Sony and Microsoft lol.

Massive hypocritical disclaimer...I would buy a Switch Pro in a heartbeat lmao! (It just feels very un-Nintendo to me)

Big yes to #1-4, big no to #5.

As some have said before me, the New 3DS was pretty unnecessary for the most part, and if this meant that some upcoming games were worse on, or straight up uncompatible with the regular Switch, that would be terrible. Not everyone has the capacity to upgrade to the newer model, video game consoles are very expensive. Especially if you live in a country where one costs more than half of your monthly income.

Switch "pro"... Because everybody knows it's a Sony console

@JayJ 'Yeah I think the whole concept of turning the Switch into some high-priced high-end device is outside of Nintendo's philosophy.'

Couldn't have put it better.

#6 Sort out sharing of digital purchases

I’m really surprised NL didn’t hone in on this one. It’s less glamorous than discussing a Switch Pro (for which the timing would be all wrong in 2020 - though I’d buy one) but with Switch Lite out there and Nintendo aiming to sell multiple Switches to families the method of sharing digital games has to improve.

Put simply if you buy a game digitally it should belong to the family account - not your individual account - and everyone in that ‘family’ should all be able to play it (simultaneously if they wish). The whole ‘set one Switch as primary and the other as secondary and then anyone who has an account on the secondary Switch might get access to your games if they’re online and you’re not playing it etc.’ Is terrible. It needs a multi part FAQ to explain and any function that genuinely needs a FAQ of that nature is a marketing disaster.

I’d go so far as to say it’s the number one thing that they should look to solve on a system level because it would directly unlock the ability to sell more Switches.

The things should be have for Switch :
1. Themes and folders
2. More Avatars, especially Mii with Miitomo features
3. Mii games
4. Cartoonish Boxing games by Nintendo or 3rd party
5. Fix the drifting Joy Cons problem
6. Other color bundles (White, Blue, Silver, Red, Yellow, Green, Pink, Purple)
7. Change the spine design of Switch games case from plain Red and generic font into colorful background like NDS
8. Get rid the publisher like EA if they don't want to commit with Nintendo and Nintendo can buy Maxis to colaborate and creating new games without DLC vampires
9. Provide the underdogs genre and make it fun to play.
10. Lowering the cost of cartridge so developers will consider to release their games in physical.

If there's never going to be Switch Pro just tell us now. My day 1 Switch is making some very disturbing noises and I will replace it in the next few months if I don't hear about an upgrade.

6. Clean up the mess Game Freak and TPC are making with Pokemon. The flood of cheap, low effort games is really damaging the brand, time for Nintendo to prove it cares about quality and step in and overhaul how these games are being made.

#3 isn't right. They need to stop using the paltry selection of games to justify a less than bare bones online service. Just because it's cheap doesn't mean it should lack even basic functionality. Like what is the point of my friends list? I can't message them or even interact with them. Maybe I can via the obtuse phone app, but that's another issue in and of itself.

Well I totally disagree the first two and the last one has no chance of happening, but 3 and 4 are good. Also, this quote: “A simple 'List View' or the ability to sort games by title or (discount) price would make it easier to navigate”, is already a thing that you can do, so...

If only there was a way that instead of only one is playing a Nintendo Switch and you are the only account holder playing, isn't there a way to not have the 'Please select a user' while selecting a game save file or entering the game in general. That is frustrating for me cause I would love to play the game as fast as possible.

Which brings me to another point. I wish that Nintendo updated it to include even faster load times. Just waiting 5-6 seconds isn't an issue for me, but I would love it if they updated the UI to have the Switch be able to load even faster.

@ummyeahnintendo nah lol make too much money on switch lite, which is counterintuitive. But yeah I use this link for switch 2 player deals and then buy from PC or phone. https://www.nintendo.com/games/game-guide/#filter/:q=&dFR[filterPlayers][0]=2%2B&dFR[generalFilters][0]=Deals&dFR[platform][0]=Nintendo%20Switch

They'll never try to compete with Xbox game pass/ultimate and PS plus/now when Super Mario maker 2 can be $60 and need switch online solely to download levels, which is sad as the original 3ds version is still accessible and $20.

@Scottwood101 Nintendo only remaster 2 games from it. Zelda & Zelda... they have more awesome Gamecube games though like... Mario Kart: Double Dash!! and Mario Super Sluggers and Pokémon Coliseum and Mario Sunshine, Fire Emblem Radiant Dawn etc.

It would be nice if they added an optional pass code option for people to unlock the console. Not keen on someone stealing my unit and having access to all my games.

I just got the better battery switch, so please hold off on the nintendo switch pro for another few years please? For me?

@Bondi_Surfer With you on point 3...sometimes I come in here and see posts from people where this gif makes perfect sense...as in how do these people function in the real world?

@Euler Still light years better than Super Mario Party.

The worst case for the Switch Pro is a Wii U repeat, not a New 3DS repeat. I doubt a Switch Pro would outpower an XB1 or PS4 (and if it did, RIP battery life), so sending it out right around the time the XBSX and PS5 are getting hyped up might be a bad look.
Let them play their cards first, let mobile technology advance a bit more, and THEN release a Switch follow-up.