No big deal. Emulation satisfies the itch, even if it's not perfect. I've bought VC titles again and again and I'm getting sick of buying the same titles over and over again, anyway. The NES Classic, though, will be a very expensive collector's item since very few were actually produced. I'm sure it could have sold five or six million if they'd just bothered to make them. But I think it's obvious that Nintendo would prefer to put the titles up on the Switch VC for $4.99 each and make $150 for those thirty titles instead of $60. Does anyone want to bet that the VC will make its appearance at E3? Anyone?
10% off 1-2 Switch with 300 Platinum Points / Exclusive TAUPE Switch theme 99 Gold Points / Exclusive EYEBROWS for Switch Mii Character 250 Platinum Points / Just Dance 2017 HD Prima Official Guide 60 Gold Points / Vroom in the Night Sky HD Prima Official Guide 60 Gold Points
Utterly fake. The artwork looks haphazard and there is absolutely no way, with the shortages Nintendo is experiencing already, that they have the time or the desire to create any special bundles. It's hard enough keeping the system-only SKU's in stock.
It's going to be advertising for those two upcoming games. That's it. Nintendo is saving the important stuff for E3 this year. Do not expect much from this Direct.
I give it six months before a company like Anker or Aukey releases a similar 20,000mAh case for $40-$50. There is absolutely no reason an established battery pack manufacturer with mass production capability cannot dramatically undercut this. It's simply a cradle, a (fast) battery, and a USB-C connector. There are already a host of 20000mAh battery packs for $35 on Amazon. (There's even a quick-charge 2.0 battery for $25.)
PS: I'll also NEVER fund anything through indiegogo. They have a far poorer track record of completed projects than Kickstarter and don't even require a working prototype as KS does. No way.
You can't share digital games with your friends. And you cannot resell them if you get tired of them. I prefer physical for those reasons. If SD cards load more quickly than Switch cards, that's because Nintendo is using cheaper, slower storage on purpose which is a shame.
With my Amazon Prime discount, I'm getting Mario Kart for $47. That savings, plus the fact that I can probably get $15-20 for it a year from now if I decide to sell or trade it in makes it worth buying the physical release. (MK8 for Wii-U, a game released three years ago, nets $15 at GameStop.)
I hate to be negative, but I'm a bit tired of seeing this same art style (bright colors, flat shapes, and SDF/Big Chap characters) for most of the indie games. I hope it does well, but I'd sure love to see more high-end pixel art or lush, realistic or colorful artwork, like Trine's. Thankfully, the Switch will probably have an extremely robust library of indie titles, as the WIi-U and 3DS do.
Exactly how many is "some?" Again, social media leads to ambulance-chasing by lazy reporters who want to make the news cycle. I doubt there are more than a handful of "cases" that, I'd wager, have more to do with mistreatment than with the design of the system or its dock.
Looks nice, but I'm concerned that the lack of distinction between useful or neutral items and enemies might make it difficult to determine what's a threat and what isn't. I like the style, though. I'm a big shooter fan. If the reviews are good, I might buy it to help support the indie community on Switch.
One-up just posted a review, though, that notes that the images are a bit blurry and that the HD Rumble has issues. I think this is another case of a game rushed to market so they can capitalize on the low competition this early in the life cycle.
Being able to run the Unreal 4 engine makes porting easier, but it can also mean that some companies crank out lazy conversions without spending the extra effort to maximize for the platform. I expect that games that were developed for the Switch, natively, will always run better than ports like this.
I have a hard time believing anything Nintendo says anymore. Is there any logical reason, for instance, that the NES Classic Mini is still impossible to find in March? Nintendo continues to use artificial scarcity to make their products more desirable. If Apple and Samsung can make millions of much, much higher-tech smartphones available at launch and for months afterward, there's no reason that the NES Classic and Switch need to be this difficult to find.
They learned a lesson with Wii, one they tried to repeat with the Wii-U, that by keeping supply low they were guaranteed to sell out of every shipment. Good for their bottom line, but I think that it ultimately hurts their total unit sales. As others have said, some consumers just eventually give up.
I'd bet my last dollar that these shortages, despite Nintendo's (empty) promises, will continue through the end of the year and into 2018.
Perhaps when they've mined the entire catalog, we'll get a NEO-GEO collection on a physical disc/SD card. Then it'll be worth the scratch. Until then, nickle-and-diming us for 20 y/o titles feels pretty old at this point.
@Dm9982 IMO, Doom 64 is still one of THE best Doom series titles of all time. The SNES version was OK, but suffered framerate issues and a tiny playing window, though it was still impressive that they got it working on the hardware at all.
Disney would be stupid to leave their past Star Wars library of video games un-plumbed. Unless there are legal agreements that need to be hashed out between Disney and former LucasArts contractors, the huge user base of retro-gamers would almost guarantee excellent sales. Translate all the old X-Wing & Tie Fighter games from PC and put them on these consoles. Re-master the Rogue Squadron series for HD. I can't see how Disney could possibly lose money on such a deal.
From what I can see, it's only available in Japan and the EU. In the EU it runs about £4.49 or $5.50 US and in Japan it's ¥500 or about $4.40. The difference seems to be the VAT which is included in the EU price.
I cannot possibly see how such a plain looking game is worth that much money just because it's on the Switch. On Android, it's F2P with ads and vastly superior, graphically. It's also available as "Othello" as well as a commercially-marketed variant, "Reversi."
As others have said, this is just a rush-job by Arc to make a quick buck off people who have few other choices. Nintendo isn't being selective, they're turning a blind-eye to licensees who milk early adopters. (Not like "N" isn't guilty itself with 1-2 Switch.)
I'd guess that the price is higher because the install base is lower and the title is coming out fairly early in the console's lifespan.
1. You have only a very small window where the title is "new". After that, interest drops off a cliff. RiME will not be selling well even a month after it's released because there will be newer titles and more competition.
2. The cost of porting the title. My guess is that they figure that very few Switch owners will actually buy the title versus on another platform so they will need to recoup their money from a smaller number of users.
3. Cynically, captive audience might also come into play. They know the Switch has a low number of available titles so perhaps they're betting that players will be desperate enough for something to play, at least until Mario arrives, that they'll swallow the price difference.
@KageMaru I sure hope Nintendo embraces cloud saves eventually. They are always so ridiculously behind the times with their online tools that you have to wonder if anyone at Nintendo even USES the internet. The idea that your saves are locked to the system is ludicrous.
@Baker1000 Unlike phones, consoles are now collector's items. Buying a system day one for $300 and with no game, I'd expect it to be technically perfect. And it diminishes the resale value if it's not. Some consumers aren't as picky, of course, but it's an extremely expensive product and I'd want my money's worth. I don't blame anyone that wants the issue dealt with.
It's 2017. I've never had a dead pixel on any phone or tablet I've purchased in the last five years, and neither to my knowledge have any of my family members. They used to be an issue in big screen TV's, but to me this (and the fact that their screen is plastic) indicates that Nintendo has a very poor source for their screens.
Even searching Google for dead pixel problems generally brings up issues from years ago or, laughably, the Nintendo Switch. And we are talking a system with a resolution barely higher than a Kindle Fire that costs $85.
JDI, who makes them, pretty much thrives on making iPhone displays for Japan and little else. Nintendo would have done much better to buy from Samsung or Sharp, but I'm guessing they were more expensive and Nintendo, as usual, cheaped out. And they're dodging the issue because they probably either don't want to incur replacement costs or they simply don't have enough replacement screens for the number of dead pixel complaints.
@nmanifold I really think the people that hold off until Christmas will be rewarded. By that point, supply will have caught up with demand and Nintendo will be trying to juice sales--especially if they run into a game release gap--by putting a pack-in with the Switch. I really think they're trying to milk first-adopters for what they can, but 1-2 Switch was always intended as a pack-in in the long run.
No virtual console, games locked to a single console, DLC for Zelda, no pack-in, too few systems for the initial demand. Gee, you'd think they'd learned a lesson with Wii-U, wouldn't you?
Does it even matter? I doubt that Skyrim was going to shift very many units anyway. It's a fairly old game by now that serves as a useful technical demo of the Switch's capabilities, but most of the people that wanted to play it have done so on other platforms. Those that will buy it have likely finished it before and won't mind a slightly toned-down portable version.
I can all but guarantee that 1-2 Switch will be a download code pack-in with systems at Christmas so for those of us skeptical about being an early adopter (again) as we were with the Wii-U, patience will have its rewards.
@GoatWrench Likely because they know that there will be a backlash, not necessarily by Nintendo die-hards that were going to buy the Switch no matter what, but by the more neutral gamers that might be evaluating a purchase.
As others have said, it's almost certain that the digital games will remain tied to the platform on which they're purchased, save for possible (but I think highly unlikely) cross-buy titles. If you bought a bunch of VC titles on the Wii-U or 3DS and they release those titles on the Switch VC I'm 99% certain you will be required to buy them again. I also doubt you'll be able to use the Nintendo Account with more than one Switch at a time.
Nintendo has always been ridiculously stingy with its digital purchase policies and I don't expect them to change. Ever.
I know I'll get flack for this, but I think Nintendo recognizes that they are no longer expanding their user base. Nintendo systems tend to feed off the nostalgia for their franchises and storied gaming history. They continue to hope that parents will buy their consoles for their children based upon their warm memories of their own history with Nintendo systems.
But I think that the Wii-U failed to expand their audience. And I don't think the Switch will fare much better. The Switch is far outside the "children's toy" that the 3DS is, so they will be largely reliant on hard-core Nintendo fans for revenue.
As a result, they seem to be headed towards the "whale" model, where the die-hard Nintendo fans, who will purchase almost anything made by Nintendo, will be milked for revenue. Rather than expanding their user base, they're more reliant than ever on a smaller number of players for their income. They did this with the Mario game on iOS and Android, and this DLC is more proof that they're headed in that direction.
Personally, I think it's a disgusting way to milk the Zelda franchise and an insult to players. It says, as all DLC does, that they're selling you a percentage of the game they've developed, but they're intentionally withholding content to scrape more dollars from their players' wallets.
So as usual these days, Nintendo puts out ancient tech and charges top dollar for it. A 720p screen, a two year old processor that is more powerful than the XBOX 360 but way, way less powerful than the XBOX One and PS4. And incredibly expensive controllers sporting new gimmicks (e.g. HD Rumble) that developers almost certainly won't utilize much if at all. The Wii-U all over again.
I was a huge SF2 fan back in the day, but this just looks like a lazy port more suited for a mobile app store as a $9 purchase (or F2P with in-app purchases) than it does a first-tier console game. I don't know what Capcom is up to with it, but it does not look like a $50-$60 game to me. I suppose the real test will be whether or not tournament players embrace it, but why would they? They're getting a brand-new SFV game with graphics and a massive roster that makes this version look, appropriately, like it's a relic of nearly thirty years ago.
@RadioHedgeFund I think the branding excuse only goes so far. The problem may have been branding at first, but a poor stream of must-have titles doomed the system. Since Nintendo continues to treat third parties with indifference, the success of the Switch will depend entirely upon whether or not Nintendo can deliver a constant stream of AAA titles that gamers must have.
@Hav0k73 Other than portability, I can't see any reason for a Wii-U owner to buy a switch if what they want to play is Zelda. Perhaps by Christmas, Nintendo or retailers will begin offering a pack-in at the same price as Nintendo is charging for the console at launch. That way, you can play Breath of the Wild until Mario comes out on Switch and it's a win-win.
Even after more than a week to digest it I still cannot figure out why 1-2-Switch isn't a free digital pack-in for the Switch. Without something to sell casual observers on, how can Nintendo hope to appeal to anyone that isn't already a Nintendo fan.
I wasn't going to buy the Switch on day one--I was burned by the Wii-U that way--and I'm probably not even a console gamer anymore. But I was hoping that, for the sake of us that have loved Nintendo for decades, that they'd get it right this time.
Unfortunately, they have a CEO with no vision and a North American president who lies with such ease it's unsettling. How can anyone have any faith that Nintendo will get it right this time?
With all of these (lazy) ports, I'm still wrestling with the question of whether or not the Switch is more powerful than the Wii-U. I know it's not that important to many, but if they're going to hope for ports of hot AAA titles from the PS4 and XB1 licensees like EA, Activision and others the system needs to be at least significantly more powerful than the Wii-U or they won't even bother. None of the titles revealed so far look like anything that the Wii-U--and many modern smartphones--couldn't do.
One of the big problems for the Wii-U was the lack of third party support. It's clear that the third parties are still timid about investing in a Nintendo console because first party titles tend to suck up the money while third party titles sell much worse than on completing platforms. This is why Nintendo never gets AAA titles and I see the SAME trend happening on switch.
Because the console is so expensive most gamers will likely focus on Zelda. It's worth the $60. Games like Bomberman R won't sell well at all. When it's time for another major releases, not that there are many, Nintendo will inevitably have a competing first party title launch.
The pricing and release strategy all but assures that third parties will NOT bring AAA titles to Switch, will abandon it early, or will release only shovelware. Nintendo learned NOTHING from Wii-U.
Nintendo and its licensees are making the EXACT SAME mistakes they did with the Wii-U. Lack of compelling software, high unit price, godawful marketing, and lack of an obvious "hook" to excite anyone but Nintendo fans.
I expected Mr. Kimishima to be an ineffective President of NOJ, just as he was when he temporarily ran NOA, but the tone deafness exhibited by both Nintendo and its licensees is stunning. Nintendo should have guided Konami to keep the price reasonable instead of a ridiculous $49.
Glad Ubisoft can port an old game to the Switch. Minimal effort, minimal impact.
The entire third party support thus far doesn't look like it's going to improve AT ALL from what the 3rd parties did for Wii-U. Weak ports, no AAA titles (unless you count FIFA) and Nintendo has to pay major developers (like Square/Enix) to get them to make any titles for their platform.
I think the Switch will be as easy to find after the initial launch as the Wii-U was after its first Christmas. Take that as you will, but I do not see the Switch, with its high price, limited library, lack of a pack-in to allow casual gamers to "get" the new features, low developer support (look at the titles announced so far if you disagree) and stiff console competition from Microsoft and Sony doing any better than the Wii-U did.
I can't say where Nintendo is headed after this, but the Switch is not the answer to their problems.
They will charge, it's just a matter of how much. They're still trying to decide what their fans will endure. I'm betting they charge $2-$3 per title depending on platform to "upgrade" to switch. I'm so far past handing Nintendo money again and again that I've concluded that I'm perfectly happy with a good emulator and ROMs. Nintendo will never get another dime out of me for VC titles.
@cheonsacz "There's plenty of time for big names and franchises to make their way onto the Switch."
I hate to be mean, but the same thing was said about the Wii-U at launch and over the past two years. EA, Activision, Square, and many other companies simply are NOT bringing their AAA titles to the Switch. EVER.
Unless the Switch becomes an unexpected hit, like the Wii was, there will be no economic incentive to put in the time and effort to convert titles to the system. It's not as powerful as an XBOX One or PS4, therefore any games would have to be ported to work properly.
The Switch is yet another gimmick from Nintendo. There, I said it. The JoyCons are ridiculously expensive and the motion controls are yet another return to the Wii-U. How many people want to do gesture-based gaming anymore, as demoed in the boxing title for Switch? Do you see Grandma and Grandpa buying a switch to play with their grandchildren?
The Switch will sell only to the hardcore Nintendo players who enjoy games like Zelda and Mario. That is a shrinking audience. Many consumers have nostalgic feelings about Nintendo, and will gladly go back and play classic titles as on the NES Classic Mini, but I strongly suspect that most have moved on. If I want portable gaming, even if it's not as good, I have my cell phone. If I want a home console, I want AAA titles that look great on my TV, so I'd buy an XB1 or PS4. (The XB1s doubling as a nifty Ultra Bluray Player.)
The Switch is Nintendo's Dreamcast and there will be little, if any 3rd party support aside from the titles Nintendo has to co-sponsor (like Square's weird entry), in the Switch's future.
Great for starting a discussion, but Reggie said nothing more than he ever does. He's always been a snake oil salesman, willing to say whatever it takes to make the sale, but he's slippery. Right now, I would not count on Mother 3 and Metroid is at least a year or more off, if it happens.
Sorry, I'm sick and tired of the "Reggie Years." NOA's inventory management and promotional campaigns have been terrible for years under his management. He's been much better at promoting himself than he has been promoting Nintendo.
So sick of Reggie's lies. He's a snake oil salesman, has always BEEN a snake oil salesman, and will always be one as well. I'm tired of the way in which he, formerly a marketing exec for Addidas, uses manipulation and scarcity to boost the appeal of Nintendo products. (Worked well for the Wii, though.) I'm not worried about getting an NES Classic, though. I'm patient and can easily wait until 2017 when the furor dies down.
With the success of the NES Classic Edition I'd suggest that Nintendo's not terribly interested in the VC at all. By keeping the classic titles on specialty hardware, Nintendo can create false scarcity and spur demand. Things they cannot do with a VC. I bet the NES Classic has contributed more to Nintendo's bottom line over the last two months than the VC did over its entire run on the Wii-U.
I don't know if I believe the list, but if it's that thin and the launch window has that few third party titles they're going to have EXACTLY the same problem moving systems as they did with the Wii-U.
Just typical manipulation by Nintendo. They always play the supply shortage game to keep demand high and attract free press coverage. There is no reason that an emulator running on low-power chips and Linux couldn't gave been mass produced in the time between the announcement and release. This is Nintendo's modus operandi and it works.
If I can even GET an NES Classic, I'm kind of interested in wireless controllers. Unfortunately, my experience with Bluetooth controllers is that the inherent lag makes some games much more difficult to play. I suspect that Castlevania, for instance, would be much more challenging with the MyArcade wireless controller.
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Re: Italian Discontinuation of the NES Mini Seals Its Fate
No big deal. Emulation satisfies the itch, even if it's not perfect. I've bought VC titles again and again and I'm getting sick of buying the same titles over and over again, anyway. The NES Classic, though, will be a very expensive collector's item since very few were actually produced. I'm sure it could have sold five or six million if they'd just bothered to make them. But I think it's obvious that Nintendo would prefer to put the titles up on the Switch VC for $4.99 each and make $150 for those thirty titles instead of $60. Does anyone want to bet that the VC will make its appearance at E3? Anyone?
Re: My Nintendo Gets a Fresh Batch of Rewards
@Spoony_Tech
I'm thinking...
10% off 1-2 Switch with 300 Platinum Points / Exclusive TAUPE Switch theme 99 Gold Points / Exclusive EYEBROWS for Switch Mii Character 250 Platinum Points / Just Dance 2017 HD Prima Official Guide 60 Gold Points / Vroom in the Night Sky HD Prima Official Guide 60 Gold Points
Re: Video: Capcom TV Shows Off a Whole Lot of Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers
I hate the artwork on the HD versions. It has no character whatsoever and the artistry is poor to say the least. Seriously ugly version.
Re: Rumour: Russian Nintendo Store Leaks Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Bundle
Utterly fake. The artwork looks haphazard and there is absolutely no way, with the shortages Nintendo is experiencing already, that they have the time or the desire to create any special bundles. It's hard enough keeping the system-only SKU's in stock.
Re: Feature: What We Expect From the Nintendo Direct - 12th April
It's going to be advertising for those two upcoming games. That's it. Nintendo is saving the important stuff for E3 this year. Do not expect much from this Direct.
Re: Review: LEGO City: Undercover (Switch)
Whaddya know, a quick port to cash-in on the low number of available Switch games this month. /gasp.
Re: SwitchCharge Smashes Its Funding Goal
I give it six months before a company like Anker or Aukey releases a similar 20,000mAh case for $40-$50. There is absolutely no reason an established battery pack manufacturer with mass production capability cannot dramatically undercut this. It's simply a cradle, a (fast) battery, and a USB-C connector. There are already a host of 20000mAh battery packs for $35 on Amazon. (There's even a quick-charge 2.0 battery for $25.)
PS: I'll also NEVER fund anything through indiegogo. They have a far poorer track record of completed projects than Kickstarter and don't even require a working prototype as KS does. No way.
Re: The Mario Kart 8 Deluxe File Size Speeds Into View
You can't share digital games with your friends. And you cannot resell them if you get tired of them. I prefer physical for those reasons. If SD cards load more quickly than Switch cards, that's because Nintendo is using cheaper, slower storage on purpose which is a shame.
With my Amazon Prime discount, I'm getting Mario Kart for $47. That savings, plus the fact that I can probably get $15-20 for it a year from now if I decide to sell or trade it in makes it worth buying the physical release. (MK8 for Wii-U, a game released three years ago, nets $15 at GameStop.)
Re: Four-Player Competitive Platformer Abraca: Imagic Games Will Cause A Kerfuffle On Switch This May
I hate to be negative, but I'm a bit tired of seeing this same art style (bright colors, flat shapes, and SDF/Big Chap characters) for most of the indie games. I hope it does well, but I'd sure love to see more high-end pixel art or lush, realistic or colorful artwork, like Trine's. Thankfully, the Switch will probably have an extremely robust library of indie titles, as the WIi-U and 3DS do.
Re: Forget Scratched Screens And Joy-Con Problems, "Warp-Gate" Is The New Nintendo Switch Issue
Exactly how many is "some?" Again, social media leads to ambulance-chasing by lazy reporters who want to make the news cycle. I doubt there are more than a handful of "cases" that, I'd wager, have more to do with mistreatment than with the design of the system or its dock.
Re: Switch Timed Exclusive Graceful Explosion Machine Gets Solid Release Date
Looks nice, but I'm concerned that the lack of distinction between useful or neutral items and enemies might make it difficult to determine what's a threat and what isn't. I like the style, though. I'm a big shooter fan. If the reviews are good, I might buy it to help support the indie community on Switch.
Re: Video: How Well Does Snake Pass Run on Nintendo Switch?
According to Heavy.com the game runs in 720p and 1080p when docked.
https://www.google.com/amp/heavy.com/games/2017/03/snake-pass-nintendo-switch-ps4-xbox-one-sumo-digital/amp/
One-up just posted a review, though, that notes that the images are a bit blurry and that the HD Rumble has issues. I think this is another case of a game rushed to market so they can capitalize on the low competition this early in the life cycle.
Being able to run the Unreal 4 engine makes porting easier, but it can also mean that some companies crank out lazy conversions without spending the extra effort to maximize for the platform. I expect that games that were developed for the Switch, natively, will always run better than ports like this.
Re: Nintendo of America Says to Check Retailers as More Switch Stock is On the Way
I have a hard time believing anything Nintendo says anymore. Is there any logical reason, for instance, that the NES Classic Mini is still impossible to find in March? Nintendo continues to use artificial scarcity to make their products more desirable. If Apple and Samsung can make millions of much, much higher-tech smartphones available at launch and for months afterward, there's no reason that the NES Classic and Switch need to be this difficult to find.
They learned a lesson with Wii, one they tried to repeat with the Wii-U, that by keeping supply low they were guaranteed to sell out of every shipment. Good for their bottom line, but I think that it ultimately hurts their total unit sales. As others have said, some consumers just eventually give up.
I'd bet my last dollar that these shortages, despite Nintendo's (empty) promises, will continue through the end of the year and into 2018.
Re: Hamster Corporation Confirms Next Batch Of ACA Neo Geo Classics
Perhaps when they've mined the entire catalog, we'll get a NEO-GEO collection on a physical disc/SD card. Then it'll be worth the scratch. Until then, nickle-and-diming us for 20 y/o titles feels pretty old at this point.
Re: Star Wars: Rogue Squadron Studio Factor 5 Is Apparently Back From The Dead
@Dm9982
IMO, Doom 64 is still one of THE best Doom series titles of all time. The SNES version was OK, but suffered framerate issues and a tiny playing window, though it was still impressive that they got it working on the hardware at all.
Re: Star Wars: Rogue Squadron Studio Factor 5 Is Apparently Back From The Dead
Disney would be stupid to leave their past Star Wars library of video games un-plumbed. Unless there are legal agreements that need to be hashed out between Disney and former LucasArts contractors, the huge user base of retro-gamers would almost guarantee excellent sales. Translate all the old X-Wing & Tie Fighter games from PC and put them on these consoles. Re-master the Rogue Squadron series for HD. I can't see how Disney could possibly lose money on such a deal.
Re: Review: Othello (Switch eShop)
From what I can see, it's only available in Japan and the EU. In the EU it runs about £4.49 or $5.50 US and in Japan it's ¥500 or about $4.40. The difference seems to be the VAT which is included in the EU price.
I cannot possibly see how such a plain looking game is worth that much money just because it's on the Switch. On Android, it's F2P with ads and vastly superior, graphically. It's also available as "Othello" as well as a commercially-marketed variant, "Reversi."
As others have said, this is just a rush-job by Arc to make a quick buck off people who have few other choices. Nintendo isn't being selective, they're turning a blind-eye to licensees who milk early adopters. (Not like "N" isn't guilty itself with 1-2 Switch.)
Re: Nintendo Switch Owners Will Have To Wait Longer And Pay More For RiME
I'd guess that the price is higher because the install base is lower and the title is coming out fairly early in the console's lifespan.
1. You have only a very small window where the title is "new". After that, interest drops off a cliff. RiME will not be selling well even a month after it's released because there will be newer titles and more competition.
2. The cost of porting the title. My guess is that they figure that very few Switch owners will actually buy the title versus on another platform so they will need to recoup their money from a smaller number of users.
3. Cynically, captive audience might also come into play. They know the Switch has a low number of available titles so perhaps they're betting that players will be desperate enough for something to play, at least until Mario arrives, that they'll swallow the price difference.
We'll see how it works out for them.
Re: Nintendo Switch With Dead Pixels? It's Not A Defect, Claims Nintendo
@KageMaru
I sure hope Nintendo embraces cloud saves eventually. They are always so ridiculously behind the times with their online tools that you have to wonder if anyone at Nintendo even USES the internet. The idea that your saves are locked to the system is ludicrous.
Re: Nintendo Switch With Dead Pixels? It's Not A Defect, Claims Nintendo
@Baker1000
Unlike phones, consoles are now collector's items. Buying a system day one for $300 and with no game, I'd expect it to be technically perfect. And it diminishes the resale value if it's not. Some consumers aren't as picky, of course, but it's an extremely expensive product and I'd want my money's worth. I don't blame anyone that wants the issue dealt with.
Re: Nintendo Switch With Dead Pixels? It's Not A Defect, Claims Nintendo
It's 2017. I've never had a dead pixel on any phone or tablet I've purchased in the last five years, and neither to my knowledge have any of my family members. They used to be an issue in big screen TV's, but to me this (and the fact that their screen is plastic) indicates that Nintendo has a very poor source for their screens.
Even searching Google for dead pixel problems generally brings up issues from years ago or, laughably, the Nintendo Switch. And we are talking a system with a resolution barely higher than a Kindle Fire that costs $85.
JDI, who makes them, pretty much thrives on making iPhone displays for Japan and little else. Nintendo would have done much better to buy from Samsung or Sharp, but I'm guessing they were more expensive and Nintendo, as usual, cheaped out. And they're dodging the issue because they probably either don't want to incur replacement costs or they simply don't have enough replacement screens for the number of dead pixel complaints.
Re: Nintendo Switch to Get First Console Release of 'Tough-As-Hell' GoNNER
@ThatNyteDaez
"Can we say, "Multiplayer"?"
Okay, here goes...
"Middleburger!"
Dammit!
Re: Feature: FAST RMX - The Price, Modes and Performance of Switch's Futuristic Racer
Man, as skeptical as I am about the Switch were I buying one when it launches RMX would be a day-one purchase.
Re: Virtual Console Will Not Be Ready For Nintendo Switch Launch
@nmanifold
I really think the people that hold off until Christmas will be rewarded. By that point, supply will have caught up with demand and Nintendo will be trying to juice sales--especially if they run into a game release gap--by putting a pack-in with the Switch. I really think they're trying to milk first-adopters for what they can, but 1-2 Switch was always intended as a pack-in in the long run.
Patience will pay dividends.
Re: Virtual Console Will Not Be Ready For Nintendo Switch Launch
No virtual console, games locked to a single console, DLC for Zelda, no pack-in, too few systems for the initial demand. Gee, you'd think they'd learned a lesson with Wii-U, wouldn't you?
Re: Bethesda's Todd Howard "Can't Say" If Skyrim on Switch is the Special Edition
Does it even matter? I doubt that Skyrim was going to shift very many units anyway. It's a fairly old game by now that serves as a useful technical demo of the Switch's capabilities, but most of the people that wanted to play it have done so on other platforms. Those that will buy it have likely finished it before and won't mind a slightly toned-down portable version.
Re: Feature: Nintendo Switch Countdown - 1-2-Switch Would Have Been Ideal As 'Free-to-Start'
I can all but guarantee that 1-2 Switch will be a download code pack-in with systems at Christmas so for those of us skeptical about being an early adopter (again) as we were with the Wii-U, patience will have its rewards.
Re: Nintendo Switch eShop Purchases Will Be Tied To Your Nintendo Account
@GoatWrench
Likely because they know that there will be a backlash, not necessarily by Nintendo die-hards that were going to buy the Switch no matter what, but by the more neutral gamers that might be evaluating a purchase.
As others have said, it's almost certain that the digital games will remain tied to the platform on which they're purchased, save for possible (but I think highly unlikely) cross-buy titles. If you bought a bunch of VC titles on the Wii-U or 3DS and they release those titles on the Switch VC I'm 99% certain you will be required to buy them again. I also doubt you'll be able to use the Nintendo Account with more than one Switch at a time.
Nintendo has always been ridiculously stingy with its digital purchase policies and I don't expect them to change. Ever.
Re: Talking Point: The DLC Expansion Pass for Zelda: Breath of the Wild is Both Surprising and Inevitable
I know I'll get flack for this, but I think Nintendo recognizes that they are no longer expanding their user base. Nintendo systems tend to feed off the nostalgia for their franchises and storied gaming history. They continue to hope that parents will buy their consoles for their children based upon their warm memories of their own history with Nintendo systems.
But I think that the Wii-U failed to expand their audience. And I don't think the Switch will fare much better. The Switch is far outside the "children's toy" that the 3DS is, so they will be largely reliant on hard-core Nintendo fans for revenue.
As a result, they seem to be headed towards the "whale" model, where the die-hard Nintendo fans, who will purchase almost anything made by Nintendo, will be milked for revenue. Rather than expanding their user base, they're more reliant than ever on a smaller number of players for their income. They did this with the Mario game on iOS and Android, and this DLC is more proof that they're headed in that direction.
Personally, I think it's a disgusting way to milk the Zelda franchise and an insult to players. It says, as all DLC does, that they're selling you a percentage of the game they've developed, but they're intentionally withholding content to scrape more dollars from their players' wallets.
Re: ARM Confirms That The Nintendo Switch's Chipset Is Very Close To Tegra X1 Spec
So as usual these days, Nintendo puts out ancient tech and charges top dollar for it. A 720p screen, a two year old processor that is more powerful than the XBOX 360 but way, way less powerful than the XBOX One and PS4. And incredibly expensive controllers sporting new gimmicks (e.g. HD Rumble) that developers almost certainly won't utilize much if at all. The Wii-U all over again.
Re: Rumour: Nintendo Releasing New Super Mario Bros. On The Nvidia Shield In China
Does anyone pay for a legitimate copy in China?
Re: Video: New Nintendo Switch Advert Shows Off Its Number Two Feature
Who...does...Number Two...work for?!!!
Re: Ultra Street Fighter II's Online And Ranked Modes Get Detailed
I was a huge SF2 fan back in the day, but this just looks like a lazy port more suited for a mobile app store as a $9 purchase (or F2P with in-app purchases) than it does a first-tier console game. I don't know what Capcom is up to with it, but it does not look like a $50-$60 game to me. I suppose the real test will be whether or not tournament players embrace it, but why would they? They're getting a brand-new SFV game with graphics and a massive roster that makes this version look, appropriately, like it's a relic of nearly thirty years ago.
Re: Poll: A Week On, How Do You Feel About the Nintendo Switch?
@RadioHedgeFund
I think the branding excuse only goes so far. The problem may have been branding at first, but a poor stream of must-have titles doomed the system. Since Nintendo continues to treat third parties with indifference, the success of the Switch will depend entirely upon whether or not Nintendo can deliver a constant stream of AAA titles that gamers must have.
Re: Poll: A Week On, How Do You Feel About the Nintendo Switch?
@Hav0k73
Other than portability, I can't see any reason for a Wii-U owner to buy a switch if what they want to play is Zelda. Perhaps by Christmas, Nintendo or retailers will begin offering a pack-in at the same price as Nintendo is charging for the console at launch. That way, you can play Breath of the Wild until Mario comes out on Switch and it's a win-win.
Re: Poll: A Week On, How Do You Feel About the Nintendo Switch?
Even after more than a week to digest it I still cannot figure out why 1-2-Switch isn't a free digital pack-in for the Switch. Without something to sell casual observers on, how can Nintendo hope to appeal to anyone that isn't already a Nintendo fan.
I wasn't going to buy the Switch on day one--I was burned by the Wii-U that way--and I'm probably not even a console gamer anymore. But I was hoping that, for the sake of us that have loved Nintendo for decades, that they'd get it right this time.
Unfortunately, they have a CEO with no vision and a North American president who lies with such ease it's unsettling. How can anyone have any faith that Nintendo will get it right this time?
Re: First Impressions: Getting Some Laps In With FAST RMX
With all of these (lazy) ports, I'm still wrestling with the question of whether or not the Switch is more powerful than the Wii-U. I know it's not that important to many, but if they're going to hope for ports of hot AAA titles from the PS4 and XB1 licensees like EA, Activision and others the system needs to be at least significantly more powerful than the Wii-U or they won't even bother. None of the titles revealed so far look like anything that the Wii-U--and many modern smartphones--couldn't do.
Re: Editorial: Pricing Blunders Have Distorted The Narrative Around Nintendo Switch
One of the big problems for the Wii-U was the lack of third party support. It's clear that the third parties are still timid about investing in a Nintendo console because first party titles tend to suck up the money while third party titles sell much worse than on completing platforms. This is why Nintendo never gets AAA titles and I see the SAME trend happening on switch.
Because the console is so expensive most gamers will likely focus on Zelda. It's worth the $60. Games like Bomberman R won't sell well at all. When it's time for another major releases, not that there are many, Nintendo will inevitably have a competing first party title launch.
The pricing and release strategy all but assures that third parties will NOT bring AAA titles to Switch, will abandon it early, or will release only shovelware. Nintendo learned NOTHING from Wii-U.
Re: Super Bomberman R's Retail Price Has Finally Been Confirmed
Nintendo and its licensees are making the EXACT SAME mistakes they did with the Wii-U. Lack of compelling software, high unit price, godawful marketing, and lack of an obvious "hook" to excite anyone but Nintendo fans.
I expected Mr. Kimishima to be an ineffective President of NOJ, just as he was when he temporarily ran NOA, but the tone deafness exhibited by both Nintendo and its licensees is stunning. Nintendo should have guided Konami to keep the price reasonable instead of a ridiculous $49.
Bomberman R(idiculously priced) is DOA.
Re: Rayman Legends: Definitive Edition to Include Touch Controls for Portable Play on Switch
Glad Ubisoft can port an old game to the Switch. Minimal effort, minimal impact.
The entire third party support thus far doesn't look like it's going to improve AT ALL from what the 3rd parties did for Wii-U. Weak ports, no AAA titles (unless you count FIFA) and Nintendo has to pay major developers (like Square/Enix) to get them to make any titles for their platform.
Re: Nintendo Switch Will Be Easier To Find Than The NES Classic At Launch, Says Reggie Fils-Aime
I think the Switch will be as easy to find after the initial launch as the Wii-U was after its first Christmas. Take that as you will, but I do not see the Switch, with its high price, limited library, lack of a pack-in to allow casual gamers to "get" the new features, low developer support (look at the titles announced so far if you disagree) and stiff console competition from Microsoft and Sony doing any better than the Wii-U did.
I can't say where Nintendo is headed after this, but the Switch is not the answer to their problems.
Re: Reggie Fils-Aime Briefly Addresses Topic Of Carrying Over Online Purchases To Switch
They will charge, it's just a matter of how much. They're still trying to decide what their fans will endure. I'm betting they charge $2-$3 per title depending on platform to "upgrade" to switch. I'm so far past handing Nintendo money again and again that I've concluded that I'm perfectly happy with a good emulator and ROMs. Nintendo will never get another dime out of me for VC titles.
Re: Reggie Fils-Aime Offers Hope for Those Dreaming of Mother 3, Metroid and More on Switch
@cheonsacz
"There's plenty of time for big names and franchises to make their way onto the Switch."
I hate to be mean, but the same thing was said about the Wii-U at launch and over the past two years. EA, Activision, Square, and many other companies simply are NOT bringing their AAA titles to the Switch. EVER.
Unless the Switch becomes an unexpected hit, like the Wii was, there will be no economic incentive to put in the time and effort to convert titles to the system. It's not as powerful as an XBOX One or PS4, therefore any games would have to be ported to work properly.
The Switch is yet another gimmick from Nintendo. There, I said it. The JoyCons are ridiculously expensive and the motion controls are yet another return to the Wii-U. How many people want to do gesture-based gaming anymore, as demoed in the boxing title for Switch? Do you see Grandma and Grandpa buying a switch to play with their grandchildren?
The Switch will sell only to the hardcore Nintendo players who enjoy games like Zelda and Mario. That is a shrinking audience. Many consumers have nostalgic feelings about Nintendo, and will gladly go back and play classic titles as on the NES Classic Mini, but I strongly suspect that most have moved on. If I want portable gaming, even if it's not as good, I have my cell phone. If I want a home console, I want AAA titles that look great on my TV, so I'd buy an XB1 or PS4. (The XB1s doubling as a nifty Ultra Bluray Player.)
The Switch is Nintendo's Dreamcast and there will be little, if any 3rd party support aside from the titles Nintendo has to co-sponsor (like Square's weird entry), in the Switch's future.
Re: Reggie Fils-Aime Offers Hope for Those Dreaming of Mother 3, Metroid and More on Switch
Great for starting a discussion, but Reggie said nothing more than he ever does. He's always been a snake oil salesman, willing to say whatever it takes to make the sale, but he's slippery. Right now, I would not count on Mother 3 and Metroid is at least a year or more off, if it happens.
Sorry, I'm sick and tired of the "Reggie Years." NOA's inventory management and promotional campaigns have been terrible for years under his management. He's been much better at promoting himself than he has been promoting Nintendo.
Re: Super Mario McDonald's UK Happy Meal Toys Revealed, Evidently Much to Mario's Relief
Aw, poor fella. Mario looks all pooped out.
Re: NES Classic Mini Demand "Greater Than We Anticipated," Admits Reggie Fils-Aime
So sick of Reggie's lies. He's a snake oil salesman, has always BEEN a snake oil salesman, and will always be one as well. I'm tired of the way in which he, formerly a marketing exec for Addidas, uses manipulation and scarcity to boost the appeal of Nintendo products. (Worked well for the Wii, though.) I'm not worried about getting an NES Classic, though. I'm patient and can easily wait until 2017 when the furor dies down.
Re: Poll: How Important is the Virtual Console, and GameCube, for the Nintendo Switch?
With the success of the NES Classic Edition I'd suggest that Nintendo's not terribly interested in the VC at all. By keeping the classic titles on specialty hardware, Nintendo can create false scarcity and spur demand. Things they cannot do with a VC. I bet the NES Classic has contributed more to Nintendo's bottom line over the last two months than the VC did over its entire run on the Wii-U.
Re: Rumour: Nintendo Switch Release Date and Key Games Outlined
I don't know if I believe the list, but if it's that thin and the launch window has that few third party titles they're going to have EXACTLY the same problem moving systems as they did with the Wii-U.
Re: Poll: Retro Delights and Stock Shortages - What Are Your Thoughts on the NES Mini Launch?
Just typical manipulation by Nintendo. They always play the supply shortage game to keep demand high and attract free press coverage. There is no reason that an emulator running on low-power chips and Linux couldn't gave been mass produced in the time between the announcement and release. This is Nintendo's modus operandi and it works.
Re: There Are More NES Classic Mini Accessories On The Way
If I can even GET an NES Classic, I'm kind of interested in wireless controllers. Unfortunately, my experience with Bluetooth controllers is that the inherent lag makes some games much more difficult to play. I suspect that Castlevania, for instance, would be much more challenging with the MyArcade wireless controller.