Rudy_Manchego

Hmm to be clear, the handheld market is dipping, if not drying up. If you look at handheld sales from the different generations, sales have steadily been dipping.

Sony did the Vita all wrong but I would argue that they have a point in that the handheld market is tougher to break into then when they introduced the PSP. Nintendo are great with handhelds, the DS did gangbusters and the 3DS did well but even that saw a big dip from its predecssors. Smart phones are certainly a part of it. I would also argue that development costs are another - dev costs on handhelds are tradtionally far lower than consoles but the power of handhelds has upped the dev cost.

I think Sony are just stating the obvious, they can't see an immediate benefit to entering the handheld market again after they failed so much with the Vita. Nintendo have done very well with the Switch to make a case for its existence, by going the hybrid route. Is the handheld market big enough to sustain the Switch and a Sony competitor? I doubt it, at least not to the size of the DS and PSP days.

@Fandabidozi No, I'm afraid that Ernie turned out to... well, let's just say that he had a temper when he had had a drink or two.

We still swap Christmas cards each year but that's it.

@TJM This was the only way I could square buying another gaming device! As for your niece.. I am sure she wouldn't want you not to have one!

Got my confirmation email... which does me no good, this is going to be a christmas present from the other half!

I'll try and make it on Saturday to watch. Good luck all!

Is there a specific chant we should be using?

He might as well have just sent a pic of his balls to Nintendo. Completely their IP. Any attempt to profit is going to get a takedown.

This game is still my favourite game of all time. I completed countless times on SNES, played it on Wii VC and recently completed it again on 3DS. If you compare it to newer indie 2d metroidvania games, it still holds its own. The music, atmosphere, level and boss design are all top notch. Great read - thanks!

The problem with a lot of these stores is mainly the inability to adapt to the online environment, selling and pricing competitively. It will be sad to see Toys R Us go but the firm hasn't had much investment in its stores. They aren't pleasant or convenient to shop in, from my experience so if I had to choose, I would go online.

I feel sorry for anyone though who works there that may face uncertainty or job losses. Also, there are some pretty horrible comments from people taking glee at the thought that others on this thread might lose their jobs because they don't like their chain. Let's hope karma doesn't exist eh?

I was playing Metroid all last night and thought to myself, gosh darn this game is good but I just don't feel that the OS behind it is stable enough for my style of play. Lo and behold my dreams were answered and I can now bomb hop knowing that the 3DS has my back on the stability side of things.

Been meaning to get this for PS4 for some time (in a recent sale, I think it was under £10) but this is still a good title for the Switch. I may wait and then see for this one.

As a UK gamer, shame that Samus Returns isn't higher (it really is a great game) but it really is true that Nintendo does not have a massive high street presence here in the UK or mind share when it comes to gaming. That has been the case since the end of the Wii and DS days.

I do not feel ashamed to be a UK gamer however - just because some games and genres released by the biggest corporations in gaming hit big doesn't mean other games don't sell.

As for stating that genre defines an entire nation, that is ridiculous. It would be like me slating Japan for not buying games that I like.

Let's be frank, the console is great. It speaks to people and is clear what it is. It is the best handheld made (in my opinion) and works great as a home console. It had a system seller launch title that everyone knew about, even if they didn't buy a Switch.

Titles have been spaced, and after a very slow start, are picking up. I think this is very very positive for Nintendo. Who knows if momentum can be kept up, supply issues and a good but not huge list of major titles might affect it but I would be surprised if the Switch doesn't make headlines this Christmas as the must have electical gift.

It selling more than competitors doesn't mean too much to me - the XB1X will sell a load as well. The PS4 and XB1 have had the same hardware out for over a year after the Pro, Slim and S refresh. However it would have meant more if it didnt outsell these consoles.

@Anti-Matter Not for me, I have Thelephobia and I have a phobia of fictional Italian plumber chests. Double whammy. This is not what I expect from Nintendo

P.S - I had to google Thelephobia and this comment is no way meant to belittle sufferers.

I don't know... Nintendo had better get ton top of 'Nipplegate' or else I am going to sell my Switch.

I have the black and torquoise 2DS XL and think it is great. Wasn't keen on the Orange colour.

@Priceless_Spork I think it was a trick to make the Battletoads seem waaaay more awesome in comparison.

I will be getting this for PS4, simply because I have the previous game and DLC with platinums BUT, this is just great news. Well done to Nintendo for doing whatever deal they did with Bethesda for this support. Recognisable brands on the shelf is really what the Switch needs. I now have Skyrim and Doom on my Switch list for this year. I need more money...

@dystome Ha brilliant, same here!

This needed to be that much demanded Double Dragon vs Battletoads sequel.

@stevejcrow Same with me - all Nintendo heads until the PS1 era and even then, N64 was pretty close behind. Goldeneye 4eva.

@AlternateButtons A little after E3 and the announcement (Well technically I bought a cheap, rather nobbled second hand one, then changed it to one of the new 2DS XL's because I wanted to play SNES games).

Never got round to this on other systems, so will give this a punt once I am done with Samus Returns.

Well, this is more like common sense. As someone who missed out on a NES Mini, really happy that they will return to manufacturing them.

The reason I bought a 3DS - can't wait for this.

I love the concept, the build is good and the unique selling point is something consumers understand. I am not blown away by the software at a personal level and I am concerned about quality of third part support. But, I have some good games and more than enough on the horizon to keep me on the console.

Wow these tracks are ace. Look forward to listening to the full collection.

I only recently bought into the 3DS family because of Samus Returns, for me the franchise has strong nostalgia values. I think, even if not a big seller, it is important for branding. Nintendo relies on its first party content and Metroid is a massive part of that.

Fun read - took me back to when Starfox released. I finally got a SNES with the Starfox bundle (my parents could only afford hand me down consoles, I got my NES when the SNES first came out because people were selling) and this was the first new console or games system I ever owned.

It felt so new and fresh seeing the polygon shapes and gameplay. Seems dated now but I can remember kids at school talking about the FX chip as if they even knew what it was.

@FragRed Yeah I'd agree. I think Nintendo needs to make a push to get the Switch into non gaming stores, such as major supermarket retailers so it sits alongside PS4 and XB1. I know that these are often just a few shelves but, from personal experience, the way to get kids excited and shouting I want it is to have it on somewhere they visit regularly!

It is odd, because I have seen very little in store promotion of the Switch in various local stores. The only place I have noticed is in second hand shops with exorbitant mark ups. But hey, somewhere must be selling them successfully!

I normally just poach them from elsewhere. Not sure I see the point in scrambling around...

I would get for Switch on Day 1 because I am one of the people that never owned a Wii U but this was one of the titles that nearly made me get one back at release.

I think the future is healthy and I love my Switch though I haven't dabbled in as many titles as I would have liked due to time and money.

My only complaint (as the article highlights) really is the lack of visibility of where the console is going, particularly with updates like cloud save and more importantly the Virtual Console. I kinda feel that the SNES mini is actually a way to drum up interest for a 2018 VC release.

Other than that, I hope that Mario + Rabbids and other third party titles like Fifa do well as Third Party support is my only other concern.

The console is genuinely a great piece of kit, I think now it is just down to supply and software whether it becomes as big a hit as it deserves to be.

Another sign of the times. This is pretty cheeky though in my book.

I think this is pretty impressive for the game so fair play to them... smaller install base, minimal shelf space dedicated to it and more niche. The test will be the first 2-3 weeks sales. If it can shift a steady amount of units, it will encourage further Switch development.

Hyper Light Drifter would be day one for me.

@JaxonH Sony announced a few other full releases - there was the one with Mouse and a few more shooters but you are right that we have very little going into 2018. I just want a full Arkham VR game!

@JaxonH Other than Skyrim, Doom and several other physical releases for PSVR alone

I am still on the fence as to whether VR will success or fail - I think money will be pumped into it as a future investment for the tech as the war for pixels starts to become more fruitless but in terms of this gen, we'll see.

I think this is just a bit of code left in from some tinkering.

I was lucky in the UK and have a preorder but the whole thing is pretty ridiculous. I was annoyed by the Nes mini but fine, companies get things wrong. To do the same in less than a year is a real finger to true fans.

It is a technicality - at the end of the day, Ganon will more than likely be back in some form regardless of the localization. That said, I would hazard a guess that if they decide to produce another Zelda this gen using the same engine that the villain won't be Ganon. If we see another stylistic or platform shift, we'll go back to Ganon.

I have it on Vita and great game but then I got repetitive strain injury. My wife assumed I had been doing something else.

Good article. End of the day, third party publishers are out for a profit and have no loyalties to anyone unless it is advantageous to them. Who knows how much money/support Sony offered to get MH back? At the very least, I suspect it would have offered to pay for marketing costs.

Of course, it doesn't mean they always make the best decision and Capcom seem, in my mind, to take one step forward and two steps back. Take Resi 7 - good game, restored the brands reputation and sold a solid amount of numbers. However, sold less than Resi 6 so Capcom are disappointed. So I would suspect we'll get a Resi 8 more in line with 6 then 7.

@gatorboi352 Well yes actually. That is exactly what I mean. Glad I could clear that one up for you.

I've deliberately waited for this on the Switch rather than other platforms because I think it will work so well with the console. Hope I'm not proved wrong.

Man, I get worried about carrying my Switch down the stairs.

@SLIGEACH_EIRE I have to agree. I've played BOTW and there are some cool items that I would like that I can't have unless A) I buy a ton of Amiibo's and B) I can even find them at a reasonable price in the first place.

Locking shipped content behind pay walls is bad but what is even worse is making them limited edition (again) so that you either have to persistantly pre-order everything or get scalped.

I don't have a problem with people wanting collectibles but having real game content locked in them that is then pretty much unavailable is ridiculous. A season pass is one thing (not that I'm a fan) but at least it is a one off cost.

I hope this whole thing does really start to die out as it has for Disney.

This is a saga now Dave...

This feels a little bit like Nintendo have broken a pool cue in half, thrown it to the fans and said you guys battle it out to buy our product.

@StuTwo Sure, I think if we get some great Nintendo Directs late year that show 2018 has a good slate of confirmed titles with solid release dates then that will mitigate that risk.

Agree on the 3DS sales being beaten by Switch.

Nice. Lots of interesting points to analyse here. Two confusing factors here:

1) Availability - inconsistent availbility in different markets changes perceptions of the console.
2) Software - some great early software launches.

I think the risk time for Switch is probably in January of 2018 in that holiday sales are done and there isn't too much software with firm dates into 2018.

However, I think the sales results show the one critical point - consumers understand what the Switch is and what the unique selling point of it is. This is something both the 3DS and Wii U struggled to do at launch. The 3DS turned it around but the Wii U did not. This is enormously important and quite positive.

I recently got an OG 3DS second hand but to be honest, I wasn't 100% on the 3D and I wanted a bigger screen. Instead, decided to sell and get a 2DS xl on launch. I also like the design of the console. Plus, I just really want to play some SNES games on the go!

I think for non 3DS gamers, this is an attractive console at a good price point.