Rudy_Manchego

Personally, I hate the over the top 'forced' presentations - they don't really work, ever (not just Nintendo but all publishers). We want the announcements, we want the trailers, we want to see games in peoples hands. I just get bored of hearing from publishers how amazing a game released in 2 years will be.

If Nintendo opt to do a different style and still announce good content, that is all that matters.

I think this is sensible forecasting rather than listening to speculation. The console is solid, consumers get it. That is what the launch is proving. Now it needs to keep interest going, get titles flowing and manage expectations. Hopefull they will exceed expectations in sales but to avoid negative headlines, it is better to go safer and beat expectations. These are respectable numbers which won't scare shareholders but also aren't speculative 'we're kings of the world' numbers which can inflate expectations negatively.

This sounds, from what the article suggests, to be a resource issue at Nintendo rather than a policy. When people are stretched, they make mistakes or can alienate people. I hope they sort this out, the Switch is the perfect form factor for Indies and could really become an indie flagship device.

Anyways, great article, well written and raises some good points. More please!

@TheMudHutDweller Oh wow, I had forgotten about Vicky, I too had a slight crush in her (though as an early teen, I had a crush on everyone vaguely female). Loved the pixel characters and how they changed depending on the quality of the game in the review. I didnt realise at the time but that, and other titles, really did represent some good gaming journalism and reviewing.

I was a long term subscriber to Total and really miss Steve Jarret and Andy Dyer's reviews. I still have a few of these at home where they did the full collectible walkthroughs of Zelda a Link to the Past and Super Metroid. I would pore through these guides, gamepad in hand.

I don't think they need it in the same way as Sony or Xbox, certainly not with big name franchises or AAA games.

I think, what they need, is selective third party support. Titles that work well with the form factor and hardware on show. Things that people would think, that would be cool to game on the go or things like that. I intend to support Skyrim when it releases on Switch because the ability to play really good games on the go is the point of the system.

If we get some third party titles, alongside the already promised excellent third party Indie titles and all the good first party products then I think the Switch will have an excellent library.

This is going to be my first 'physical' Switch release and my first Mario Kart since the Wii so I am looking forward to it.

I'd add Parodius in there as a really fun shooter. However I don't think this console is going to happen personally.

I lick my own giblets if this turns out to be true. Unless the cost is a lot more than the NES Classic as they were not making much money on the device and they are going to go guns blazing on the Switch and probably try and squeeze the last remaining bits out of the 3DS. Why would they muddy these waters with the SNES Classic?

It is so stable, I've put my horse collection in it.

I can confirm I saw a boxed one at £90 last week in Cex. To be expected. I was annoyed at the hike then, almost seems like a bargain now.

I am pretty annoyed, it felt like the Nintendo had hit on a winning formula with the classic and Switch. The product itself was great and so many people, myself included, wanted one. This isn't a colour variant or an amiibo but another product, like the wii, that had a chance of a crossover success in the mainstream. The only thing I can think is that Nintendo used it to get rid of leftover hardware parts.

While this is a niche product this is ridiculous. I haven't been able to get one. It isn't about the games - the unit itself is just fun and nostalgic. That is why there was demand. I think it crazy not to at least maintain a limited ordering run, even if you have to order via Nintendo. Anecdotally I know of several more people who want one but can't get. I doesn't even have to be a promoted brand, just a side offering.

Hey Nintendo, do you want to make money on something that takes zero effort to support? Nope, fair enough

I liked the look of SF2 and a few games but I can only agree that I still feel NS releases are too spaced out at the moment and I think E3 needs to give a better roadmap for the rest of the year. I am not keen on Arms, so that leaves MK8 and Splatoon 2 as the big releases. I was surprised at no Virtual Console announcement or more on Online play.

I think the future is bright for the Switch but from selfish terms, I want more big releases to play!

I didnt really get how you play it, like how the controls will work on this game so I am still on the fence.

Loved the SF2 preview though. That has shot right up my want list.

Actually tempted - I have the Switch upstairs so I can use it dedicated rather than be forced to share my main screen that the family uses. Another dock will solve that (only if all the cables are included!).

I think it will be online pricing because, let's be honest, no one wants to hear financial details at E3 and this will let any perceived outrage or indignation die down before they show off software.

I want a VC adding to Switch asap, so many titles I would love to play at home and on the go!

I think that people buy systems for games and the image it portrays. I think MS are way off in thinking that the public care about specs that much.

Nintendo are doing the right thing for them, which is carving out a slice of the pie with innovation. It didn't work with the Wii U but they dominated last gen with the Wii. I think the Switch will do well because people can understand the unique selling point. What is the USP of the Scorpio? Buy a big PC like box that will make things look better if you have the expensive accessories necessary to display it?

They need to get stock levels and some bundles before fall when the Scorpio is released. Those itching for a hardware purchase this year might need to choose between the two. But I really think that if the stock is there, sales will be good.

I think Nintendo knew to fly as close to the edge as they could. My feeling is that the accessories are where they are making more margin. Obviously price of production will fall as volume increases and technology cost decreases as long as any of their tech is not something too bespoke as with the wii u.

I felt that the Switch was priced a little high, not for a launch price per se (or for the rather awesome console) but just to persuade users to jump on board, particularly as a second console.

Meh, reviews on this game are largely pointless and in no way an indicator for success. The audience are the backers and if they are happy and pleased then job done. This was never going to be a crossover hit with the mainstream. I've always thought that the best home for this was a Nintendo console so I hope the Switch version is up to snuff.

I had to buy Zelda digital as when I got the switch no one in my local area had the physical copy. Would have preferred physical but no way was I waiting.

I call Shenanigans.

Great and balanced article. They won L-Day (launch day), now they need to win the war. For me, as a someone who skipped the Wii U, I feel that the hardware speaks for itself and makes complete sense. It is great.

The issue is the lack of content. For me, when Zelda is done, I have to wait for MK as the next game to entice me away from other platforms. No VC, other apps or post launch titles is a problem and will stop people making the Switch their day to day console.

I also completely agree with others comments about a worrying trend towards MP or co-op games like the Wii. This is not what the Switch does best, focus on portable and home console gaming, it is the biggest USP of the platform. I never bought into sitting around the switch with friends as per the marketing, but I did in the pick up and go element. I think I am in the majority there.

Speculation based on the obvious. Many Sony and Xbox owners already look to nintendo as their second consoles and a lot of primary nintendo owners have a secondary Sony or Xbox machine. It all depends on the console and, yes, the Switch gives a different gaming experience so could well entice those people in the same way the Wii or 3DS did. Nintendo need to work hard to get all types of gamers to buy into the Switch. I am one of those gamers who has a Ps4 and returned to Nintendo for the Switch but I do see other non gamers looking at it with interest.

From a hardware perspective, I think the Switch is very very impressive, I love the concept and I have loved the time spent on it so far. I think it has the potential to do really really well.

As for a first month though, I think the drip feed of games is not a good start. Zelda is awesome and I am sure some of the smaller titles are great, but the next major release is end of April and then no confirmed dates for anything else. It is just a shame as I would love to be playing more on the Switch...

Was in a Game yesterday and they weren't doing much to promote the Switch. Also, their pricing is just way off their competitors. Even for pre-owned.

I have for Ps4 but would buy again in an instant. Great way to increase the install base.

@Billsama Not entirely true, it is (or was) a two man creator team and the co-creator went on to do The Binding of Isaac I think as well as this.

Sequels are very tricky things to get right in any medium. People expect to build on the first but still give them the same feeling of the first. It is easier with strong story led or RPG games to leverage sequels. New settings, story, characters and gameplay tweaks can give the player a feeling of a new experience, even if it utilises the same engine and assets as the previous game.

A game like Splatoon is harder to do. Personally, I suspect this will be a minor upgrade and that a third iteration would see more sweeping changes.

So generous. My dad would love one as he hasn't got passed the wii and it helps his arthritic hands get exercise. Good luck everyone!

I will be getting this day one as I never played the original but also because I ma slightly desperate for any content. Zelda is great and will last me months but it would be cool to have a few more titles because I love the hardware so much!

OK, so yes I actually would pay £70 for these bad boys

I've just started scratching the surface and for the first hour or so, I was not enjoying it at all. I felt directionless and left to fend for myself. However, after a bit, I had a lightbulb moment that I was free to do what I wanted and that the game wasnt being obtuse, it was all gently signposting me, I just wasn't paying attention. After that, well I have now gone with the flow and it is liberating.

For me, that is the strength of this game. The familar tropes of open world games or RPG's just don't feel relevant in this game. If the Switch succeeds, it will be because of this game.

All for emulators for content that is not available or hard to access. This though, on a brand new game, tied to the release of a brand new platform... well, it is just taking money away from devs and Nintendo who are they only ones to produce this type of content.

@BigBadJohn Lol - I have the same issue. I'm starting a government petition to get my skilless hands addressed by all the gaming manufacturers.

Don't mind as long as it doesnt have microtransactions or a two year grind to get the same level of progression (I'm looking at you For Honor).

That said, I'd play a Far Cry game for Switch or something similar. A new IP would be cool.

@JHDK This is compatible with Just Dance?

It'll never do Wii numbers as I think that console was an aberration n the industry (IMO) but I think it will do good numbers. It is all about getting over the release high and providing exciting content to encourage users to get into it.

Also, officially license a cradle for passenger seats in the car so that kids can do multiplayer on a long journey. Never underestimate the spending potential of parents desperate for a car journey without nagging kids.

Going to be tied to paid services - pretty common, and makes it another incentive for purchase.

No way could I play a Dark Souls game on an expensive portable device. It would be out the window or smashed within minutes of my first playthrough. I have little patience...

When I got the Switch last week, I had to go digital for BOTW because I couldn't get a physical copy cheaper or delivered quickly!

This isn't doom and gloom. I may have read the article wrong but it was saying what were you producing titles for. A lot of third party content is released as multiplatform - so PC/XB/PS. You would expect that developers will have to develop a seperate Switch version for their games at the moment. Plus, new system, limited dev kits etc.

Developers will go where the money is - so if sales are strong and owners gobble up software, this will change.

In my mind, it is down to software now. I think with the right software, the hardware speaks for itself. The Switch is my first Nintendo console since the Wii (no slight against the Wii U, I just couldn't afford two consoles at launch) and I think it has great potential. The marketing has been pretty spot on about what you can do with it.

Now it needs the game library to back it up and I think it needs some big reveals in the coming months. First party is great but I would like to see a few more third party releases, even if ports of popular existing titles.

@Dezzy In theory, they may be able to secure better sourcing deals on components by paying for larger amounts, as well as guaranteeing production runs at a cheaper rate.

That said, it is all offset by sales. Any saving in producing more is wiped off if stock then sits in a warehouse doing nothing and they need to make a stock writedown.

@DanteSolablood I also think they've done a great job of explaining what the Switch does and the benefits of the unique design.

It shows confidence in the product, so investors like that. The downside is any further data that suggests those projections aren't being met will then affect investor confidence.

I'd say in the UK that there has been quite a lot of attention on it in the media, such as newspaper articles and even the BBC news as opposed to just industry outlets. Price is a big factor here - it is priced quite high which may affect peoples decision to buy until the library is larger and the console is more embedded. It has, however, had far more focused marketing then the Wii U did at launch.

I learnt a harsh lesson as a child with Chip N Dale. I swapped the NES game for some tat with a friend that I instantly regretted but he wouldn't swap back. I have never forgotten it.

So I will get this on PS4 though I would have preferred on Switch.

I just got a Switch as a bonus from work and they managed to snatch the last one from Argos. Purely from talking to friends and co-workers, the Switch has got a lot of people talking and interested. I think it helps that people can take it with them to show. The only drawback for most purchasers is the library. When Mario Kart and Splatoon 2 are out and if there are some big E3 announcements, I can see sales being sustained and it being a big holiday seller, particularly if any bundles are released.