I think it's pretty evident that any portable console maker wanting to attract non-gamers, or the mainstream, need to realize that all the people they're targetting ALREADY have a device they carry with them to play more casual stuff.
So there are litterally only TWO ways to approach this.
Either you try to compete with their multi-purpose devices (phones) by going directly against them (a phone-like portable device that does it all + gaming)... ...or... You aim your products at gamers that want something better, more gaming-centered, than what they can find on mobile platforms.
So either you compete directly with mobile, or you offer something mobile can't. Doing both would be pretty hard, if not impossible these days. Case in point, trying to lure non-gamers to a $400 console aimed strictly at gamers.
Nintendo Labo was a nice little experiment, but I see that more as something a dad like me would buy to play with his kids. A dad that ALREADY has a Switch. A dad that is already a gamer, with kids interested in gaming as well. But then again, $100 to play with cardboard.... really?
I think companies need to realize that getting their games on the Switch is a twofold move. Because not only it means getting their game on another home console, it also attracts buyers who would love to play their games on the go.
Not so long ago, developping for a portable (or mobile) platform required a completely re-thought and redevelopped game, requiring a complete additionnal development team for that different game. Now, if a game is developped with an engine working on all consoles, you can easily get a portable version of your game on the Switch, at a fraction of what it would've cost in the past to get a portable version.
I really don't get why so many third party studios are only porting "simpler" games to the Switch. If the Switch can run Wolfenstein, Doom, Skyrim, with only minor compromises, surely it could run a lot more of those games we find on the competitors platforms...
I would love Spyro on the Switch as well...
And 2K... please port over a Borderlands compilation... I would play the hell out of that... during the train ride to/from work everyday!
Again, like others have told, Nintendo doesn't seem to have a clue about what it's doing. They're saying the Switch sold better because of better marketing (not because it's a better fit for what people wanted). They're saying the Switch is a game-only system (no movie-playing, music-playing, or other type of apps than games), but then they put Labo out with the intent of bringing over non-gamers to a gaming-only system... huh? And a gaming-only system costing $400 (Canada) which is pricier than what the WiiU launched at... ($350)...
Yep.... Nintendo is still the good old Nintendo... lol!
While I'm usually against mobile game ports on the Switch (to me, the whole point of buying a dedicated gaming console is to play more elaborate experiences than cheap and simplistic mobile games), when these ports are done right, I don't mind them too much.
Of course, there'll be the "Nintendo Tax" on most of these mobile ports, as pointed out in the article, which will undoubtedly make some people ask why it's about 3 times the price on the Switch than on all other platforms this is available.
Although, as long as there isn't any "pay-to-win" or "artificial waiting times" elements, and the game is fully playable once paid for, again, I don't have too much of a problem with it. It's just a bit too pricey for what it is.
If it were the same price as on mobile, I'd probably give it a try. But for what it asks on the Nintendo e-shop, for now, I'll pass.
While the WiiU marketing didn't help, I don't think the Switch success is due to Nintendo having done "clearer" marketing. If that's their conclusion about why the Switch is selling great, then they only show that they still have NO CLUE about what consumers want, and that the Switch, like the original Wii, seems to be some sort of random success for them.
The reason the Switch sells great, well, in part, is because it is a well-made product that has a feature people wanted since some time, which is console gaming on the go AND to have a unified library between home console and portable console (which is solved by both being unified into a single unit). Your home console is also your handheld one. Bring it with you everywhere.
It's well built, and has a nice library. Also, it launched with very good games too.
So, sure, marketing for it didn't suck. And wasn't confusing like the WiiU was. But then again, if Nintendo pinpoints the reason for the Switch success as "it's not the WiiU", then they haven't really learned anything IMO....
You know, I work in marketing. Maybe I can give them some help? lol!
I still love LEGO games, but cannot spend the $80 (plus taxes) these warrant when released in Canada. And given that the formula didn't change that much since... quite some time, even at half-price, these should be REALLY special to warrant my attention. I'll buy them, of course, but probably when they get around $20 either digital or in-store, during some special sale. I mean, same old, same old, only with a new coat of paint doesn't make me want to spend a lot....
I think that anything can be turned into an addiction. No one on the news talk about people who spend 20+ hours per week reading books. Or watching Netflix. Or playing sports. Why? If playing games for many hours per week may be a symptom of addiction, why isn't it the case when talking about other things?
Some people will say that books and movies can bring meaningful things to people, but then again, if that's true of documentation work, I don't think that's what most people are reading or watching. Most people use books and movies like most people use games, which is, for entertainment. And they'll say sports helps fitness too, which is completely true, but then again, why not criticize those who push aside social activities and responsibilities to go to the gym every day?
The difference, is one of perception. Games are still seen by many as "toys", or similar to "boardgames", like an activity you do occasionaly. Anyone being passionate about them is seen as not being "normal", but instead as "childish", "geeky", and sometimes as "having a problem". Not saying game addiction doesn't exist. It does. But when it's emphasized in the news as much as it is these days, people have a hard time being unbiased about it.
@Pahvi , yeah I know about those. But I'm talking about those platinum points exchanges for % rebates. Or exchanging gold ones for rebates (in %) as well. This only happens for the 3DS, as far as I ever saw.
I wouldn't call these "bargains" (well, some, maybe). Sure, those games are sold for less during this sale, but to me, a "bargain" sounds like a really, really good sale. Like, you know, when we use the expression "bargain bins" in store? Stuff you can get without much thinking about it because they're priced very low.
But then again, this is a Nintendo platform... where everything is almost always pricier for stuff you can get everywhere else (multiplatform titles)... and sales often disapointing compared to sales happening elsewhere.
I still might go for Golf Story, as I've heard a lot of good stuff about it. At $14 (Canada), the price seems reasonable to me.
@sremick, I think the BT chip is used to communicate with the controllers when not attached to the unit. Granted, Nintendo could probably enable it for when they are attached to the console (as I think they use the connectors on the side to communicate when attached - don't know for sure). But then, you'd lose audio the second one controller would be detached from it. I think it would become a hassle and people might complain about that in the end, and that may be why Nintendo haven't made it work like that.
@RasandeRose, it is known that BT audio is of lesser quality than plain old analog (because BT bandwidth isn't large enough to use an uncompressed signal), but using a BT dongle in the audio jack means digital signal from the Switch being converted to analog, then to digital by the dongle to send to your headset, which converts it again to analog. The more conversions you do, the more likely there is that fidelity goes out the window. It's definitely serviceable though, but I think for Switch, a BT dongle from USB sidestep a lot of conversions, and thus would reduce lag.
I'm ususally the first one who says that analog audio beats BT audio hands-down for fidelity, but in this case, I think the USB dongle may be a better choice, since the source is already digital.
Well, first, I wouldn't count the many cheap mobile ports sold for about twice their mobile price "because... reasons". I can already get them on mobile, for a lot less, and even somtimes for free.... Yes, these are technicaly games available on the Switch. But games people (more than a handful) want? Let me doubt that.
WiiU ports, while nice, shouldn't really be calculated as "original games" either. And seriously, ports of old games sold full price again are a bit insulting too. But hey, that's Nintendo so no surprise here.
And while indie games are nice, and that there are true gems among those, we can't live on these alone. Personnaly, I need games with a bit more substance to them from time to time. The difference between a mobile ecosystem and a console ecosystem, is that the console should have more games aimed at gamers, and not mostly the same thing as what you'd find on mobile platforms.
@RandomNerds, yeah I know, it's not ideal. I've been spoiled in the past with the Vita supporting Bluetooth audio directly, which was super nice. But at least my current BT cans have both BT audio and a wired connection, so I use them for my phone, and when I play on my Switch, I just use an audio cable I carry along in my Switch case. I wouldn't use a dongle either. But I know some people do and they seem satisfied with this solution.
@RandomNerds, why not use a bluetooth audio transmitter? I've seen people use that on their Switch and some say it works like a charm. I know, it's a dongle you need to plug into the audio jack, but it works. https://i.imgur.com/4jLOph9.jpg
I don't think their shares have dropped explicitely because of that sole game issue, but maybe this made a lot of people notice their backwards policy regarding cross-platform play. What investors could see, is that all other platforms are doing what people are wanting, and Sony isn't.
So, probably not because of that single game. But the fact that this only moved the spotlight over Sony not wanting to do what everyone else are doing (because that's what people want).
But in all honesty, Sony is doing this because their market position allows them to do this. They lead the console market by a pretty large margin, so "playing nice" isn't going to bring them more people, or make a significant number of people leave PSN. They're already on top, they have not a lot to gain, and not a lot to lose.
I'm pretty sure if Microsoft was in the same situation as Sony right now, they'd be the ones doing this. In fact, not so long ago, during the previous generation, I think I remember Microsoft being the ones against cross-platform play, and Sony being all for it.
Comments 466
Re: Nintendo Says Labo Support Will Continue, Still Trying To Reach A Non-Gaming Audience
I think it's pretty evident that any portable console maker wanting to attract non-gamers, or the mainstream, need to realize that all the people they're targetting ALREADY have a device they carry with them to play more casual stuff.
So there are litterally only TWO ways to approach this.
Either you try to compete with their multi-purpose devices (phones) by going directly against them (a phone-like portable device that does it all + gaming)...
...or...
You aim your products at gamers that want something better, more gaming-centered, than what they can find on mobile platforms.
So either you compete directly with mobile, or you offer something mobile can't. Doing both would be pretty hard, if not impossible these days. Case in point, trying to lure non-gamers to a $400 console aimed strictly at gamers.
Nintendo Labo was a nice little experiment, but I see that more as something a dad like me would buy to play with his kids. A dad that ALREADY has a Switch. A dad that is already a gamer, with kids interested in gaming as well. But then again, $100 to play with cardboard.... really?
Re: One Guy Got Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy Up And Running On Switch
I think companies need to realize that getting their games on the Switch is a twofold move. Because not only it means getting their game on another home console, it also attracts buyers who would love to play their games on the go.
Not so long ago, developping for a portable (or mobile) platform required a completely re-thought and redevelopped game, requiring a complete additionnal development team for that different game. Now, if a game is developped with an engine working on all consoles, you can easily get a portable version of your game on the Switch, at a fraction of what it would've cost in the past to get a portable version.
I really don't get why so many third party studios are only porting "simpler" games to the Switch. If the Switch can run Wolfenstein, Doom, Skyrim, with only minor compromises, surely it could run a lot more of those games we find on the competitors platforms...
I would love Spyro on the Switch as well...
And 2K... please port over a Borderlands compilation... I would play the hell out of that... during the train ride to/from work everyday!
Re: Nintendo Says Labo Support Will Continue, Still Trying To Reach A Non-Gaming Audience
Again, like others have told, Nintendo doesn't seem to have a clue about what it's doing. They're saying the Switch sold better because of better marketing (not because it's a better fit for what people wanted). They're saying the Switch is a game-only system (no movie-playing, music-playing, or other type of apps than games), but then they put Labo out with the intent of bringing over non-gamers to a gaming-only system... huh? And a gaming-only system costing $400 (Canada) which is pricier than what the WiiU launched at... ($350)...
Yep.... Nintendo is still the good old Nintendo... lol!
Re: Review: Chameleon Run Deluxe Edition (Switch eShop)
While I'm usually against mobile game ports on the Switch (to me, the whole point of buying a dedicated gaming console is to play more elaborate experiences than cheap and simplistic mobile games), when these ports are done right, I don't mind them too much.
Of course, there'll be the "Nintendo Tax" on most of these mobile ports, as pointed out in the article, which will undoubtedly make some people ask why it's about 3 times the price on the Switch than on all other platforms this is available.
Although, as long as there isn't any "pay-to-win" or "artificial waiting times" elements, and the game is fully playable once paid for, again, I don't have too much of a problem with it. It's just a bit too pricey for what it is.
If it were the same price as on mobile, I'd probably give it a try. But for what it asks on the Nintendo e-shop, for now, I'll pass.
Re: Nintendo Says Switch Success Is Due To Clear Marketing, As Opposed To Wii U's Failure
While the WiiU marketing didn't help, I don't think the Switch success is due to Nintendo having done "clearer" marketing. If that's their conclusion about why the Switch is selling great, then they only show that they still have NO CLUE about what consumers want, and that the Switch, like the original Wii, seems to be some sort of random success for them.
The reason the Switch sells great, well, in part, is because it is a well-made product that has a feature people wanted since some time, which is console gaming on the go AND to have a unified library between home console and portable console (which is solved by both being unified into a single unit). Your home console is also your handheld one. Bring it with you everywhere.
It's well built, and has a nice library. Also, it launched with very good games too.
So, sure, marketing for it didn't suck. And wasn't confusing like the WiiU was. But then again, if Nintendo pinpoints the reason for the Switch success as "it's not the WiiU", then they haven't really learned anything IMO....
You know, I work in marketing. Maybe I can give them some help? lol!
Re: Review: LEGO The Incredibles (Switch)
I still love LEGO games, but cannot spend the $80 (plus taxes) these warrant when released in Canada. And given that the formula didn't change that much since... quite some time, even at half-price, these should be REALLY special to warrant my attention. I'll buy them, of course, but probably when they get around $20 either digital or in-store, during some special sale. I mean, same old, same old, only with a new coat of paint doesn't make me want to spend a lot....
Re: Poll: As "Gaming Disorder" Becomes A Thing, Is It Time To Assess How Much You Play?
I think that anything can be turned into an addiction. No one on the news talk about people who spend 20+ hours per week reading books. Or watching Netflix. Or playing sports. Why? If playing games for many hours per week may be a symptom of addiction, why isn't it the case when talking about other things?
Some people will say that books and movies can bring meaningful things to people, but then again, if that's true of documentation work, I don't think that's what most people are reading or watching. Most people use books and movies like most people use games, which is, for entertainment. And they'll say sports helps fitness too, which is completely true, but then again, why not criticize those who push aside social activities and responsibilities to go to the gym every day?
The difference, is one of perception. Games are still seen by many as "toys", or similar to "boardgames", like an activity you do occasionaly. Anyone being passionate about them is seen as not being "normal", but instead as "childish", "geeky", and sometimes as "having a problem". Not saying game addiction doesn't exist. It does. But when it's emphasized in the news as much as it is these days, people have a hard time being unbiased about it.
Re: The Latest European My Nintendo Rewards Include Discounts On "Challenging" Titles
@Pahvi , yeah I know about those. But I'm talking about those platinum points exchanges for % rebates. Or exchanging gold ones for rebates (in %) as well. This only happens for the 3DS, as far as I ever saw.
Re: Grab Yourself A Bargain In The Big Nintendo E3 2018 Sale
I wouldn't call these "bargains" (well, some, maybe). Sure, those games are sold for less during this sale, but to me, a "bargain" sounds like a really, really good sale. Like, you know, when we use the expression "bargain bins" in store? Stuff you can get without much thinking about it because they're priced very low.
But then again, this is a Nintendo platform... where everything is almost always pricier for stuff you can get everywhere else (multiplatform titles)... and sales often disapointing compared to sales happening elsewhere.
I still might go for Golf Story, as I've heard a lot of good stuff about it. At $14 (Canada), the price seems reasonable to me.
Re: The Latest European My Nintendo Rewards Include Discounts On "Challenging" Titles
Anyone has any idea why Nintendo isn't including any Switch MyNintendo Rewards?
Re: The Genki USB Bluetooth Adapter Finally Brings Low-Latency Audio To Switch
@sremick, I think the BT chip is used to communicate with the controllers when not attached to the unit. Granted, Nintendo could probably enable it for when they are attached to the console (as I think they use the connectors on the side to communicate when attached - don't know for sure). But then, you'd lose audio the second one controller would be detached from it. I think it would become a hassle and people might complain about that in the end, and that may be why Nintendo haven't made it work like that.
Re: The Genki USB Bluetooth Adapter Finally Brings Low-Latency Audio To Switch
@RasandeRose, it is known that BT audio is of lesser quality than plain old analog (because BT bandwidth isn't large enough to use an uncompressed signal), but using a BT dongle in the audio jack means digital signal from the Switch being converted to analog, then to digital by the dongle to send to your headset, which converts it again to analog. The more conversions you do, the more likely there is that fidelity goes out the window. It's definitely serviceable though, but I think for Switch, a BT dongle from USB sidestep a lot of conversions, and thus would reduce lag.
I'm ususally the first one who says that analog audio beats BT audio hands-down for fidelity, but in this case, I think the USB dongle may be a better choice, since the source is already digital.
Re: Nintendo Switch Now Has Over 700 Games
Well, first, I wouldn't count the many cheap mobile ports sold for about twice their mobile price "because... reasons". I can already get them on mobile, for a lot less, and even somtimes for free.... Yes, these are technicaly games available on the Switch. But games people (more than a handful) want? Let me doubt that.
WiiU ports, while nice, shouldn't really be calculated as "original games" either. And seriously, ports of old games sold full price again are a bit insulting too. But hey, that's Nintendo so no surprise here.
And while indie games are nice, and that there are true gems among those, we can't live on these alone. Personnaly, I need games with a bit more substance to them from time to time. The difference between a mobile ecosystem and a console ecosystem, is that the console should have more games aimed at gamers, and not mostly the same thing as what you'd find on mobile platforms.
Re: Conversations To Bring YouTube And Netflix To Switch Are "On-Going"
@RandomNerds, yeah I know, it's not ideal. I've been spoiled in the past with the Vita supporting Bluetooth audio directly, which was super nice. But at least my current BT cans have both BT audio and a wired connection, so I use them for my phone, and when I play on my Switch, I just use an audio cable I carry along in my Switch case. I wouldn't use a dongle either. But I know some people do and they seem satisfied with this solution.
Re: Conversations To Bring YouTube And Netflix To Switch Are "On-Going"
@RandomNerds, why not use a bluetooth audio transmitter? I've seen people use that on their Switch and some say it works like a charm. I know, it's a dongle you need to plug into the audio jack, but it works. https://i.imgur.com/4jLOph9.jpg
Re: Sony's Share Value Takes A Hit Following Fortnite Account Woes On Nintendo Switch
I don't think their shares have dropped explicitely because of that sole game issue, but maybe this made a lot of people notice their backwards policy regarding cross-platform play. What investors could see, is that all other platforms are doing what people are wanting, and Sony isn't.
So, probably not because of that single game. But the fact that this only moved the spotlight over Sony not wanting to do what everyone else are doing (because that's what people want).
But in all honesty, Sony is doing this because their market position allows them to do this. They lead the console market by a pretty large margin, so "playing nice" isn't going to bring them more people, or make a significant number of people leave PSN. They're already on top, they have not a lot to gain, and not a lot to lose.
I'm pretty sure if Microsoft was in the same situation as Sony right now, they'd be the ones doing this. In fact, not so long ago, during the previous generation, I think I remember Microsoft being the ones against cross-platform play, and Sony being all for it.