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@pennylessz
" It was simpler when you just stuck your memcard, disc, and moderately priced controller in and played."

I thought Nintendo was doing something like this with the Switch, by supporting cartridges with no needed game installations, and is putting to controllers in the box. .

Also, I am happy for the motion controls. It's really great for party games and Wii Sport, and makes the Switch compatible with VC Wii games.

@Yorumi
I think you underestimate the cost of online-gaming. At least a service that are reliable and stable, across many games.

If it was so easy, why has Nintendo's free online service been so bad and unreliable on the Wii U?

I think it's very very expensive to offer a unified online infrastructure, that run stable and reliable accross many games.

It's not like PC online gaming, where publisher's offers there own infrastructure, and have fewer concerns.

If the online experience improve dramatically, I will gladly pay 2-3$ a month for a good service that I can relie on. I hope that will be the price, because Nintendo is offering less extras than the competition.

"Would you rather have a ultra smooth 60 fps FIFA experience, build on the xbox360 / PS3 foundation?
...or a super buggy and slow 30 fps FIFA experience build on X1 / PS4 foundation?"

I really do not care, as long as the game runs great, and have all the necessary features.

Switch will have a custom build, but EA will have to chose witch foundation they think will work the best on the Switch hardware.

@Moon
Just like with the 3DS home screen, I am pretty sure you can tweak this to show a lot more icons / games.

Or at least Nintendo will release an update for this feature + folder support down the line. Exactly What 3DS and Wii U also got. In the beginning there will not be that many games or apps for the Switch, so no problem.

Don't worry

@Randomlight
I haven't seen any Coins or any Pipes at all... Is this a Mario Game at all?

Looks nice, modern and clean.
I hope it feels like that too, and that it is fast as Sonic. Not like the slow OS on the Wii U.

I am very interested in the OS part. Can we expect other apps, like on a tablet? Netlflix and a Good Browser? Or is it only for gaming?

Is the OS build from scratch, or what kind of base have they used for it?

Also, how good does the OS work with the Touchscreen? Is there some kind of styles support, like with the Shield Tablet?

I still have so many questions....

Sonic Mania!!! I love it.
Back to the roots

I still missed some more information of the actual Maschine. How does the OS look and feel? Is it still the same slow crap like what Wii U have?

What other functionality does it have. Can I use Netflix and a browser? What is the touchscreen used for? Can it be used as a tablet?

What about backwards compatibility and the VC? And what about the unified account system?

There are still so many unanswered questions, witch is annoying me. But I like the games they were showing, and that's the most important part

The SEGA guy had nothing to show, because they have been working on the level design of the new Mario game

Nintendo didn't have the time, so they asked SEGA to recycle some of the levels from Sonic adventure and Sonic 06 for Mario

I am a big fan of Galaxy and 3D World. Not so much of Sunshine. This looks worse than sunshine, but still, it's Mario 3D, and will probably be allright.

@CapeSmash
You are overreacting. I think no one said it would be unplayable. Quite the opposite, actually.

But you do not need to be a fan of the "Real World" setting. I don't like it, but the game will probably be great anyway.

Mario in a real world setting?!? I am not a fan.

I didn't like this part at all in Sonic Adventure, although the game was quite ok.

I do not think Mario and Sonic belongs in a real world setting, and those levels looked boring and bland, as the real world do.

The game will surely be super fantastic, and other parts looked more like a Mario World. But in general, I didn't like this new direction, and I am missing some Mushroom Kingdom Vibe.

I had a great battery pack for my Game Gear. That thing was very power hungry, and the extra battery pack was just a must.

The Switch somehow brings me back to those times

@DanteSolablood
Yeah, you probably right?

I was just hoping for at least around 4 hours game time on the go. But I hope Nintendo can come up with a clever battery pack, that doesn't feel annoying to use. One that just works and "click's" with the Switch.

@Undead_terror
That would be a bummer, if you can't change that thing .

"The Switch - use it on the go from the store where you bought it, thereafter it will forever be a home-console. It can't be recharged"

Well, I guess there will be plenty of tweakings to do, and plenty of "Battery saving" options like on the 3DS.

But 2.5 hours seems a bit to low. I was expecting at least an hour more as the minimum.

As a handheld gamer, I thought this was the biggest letdown of the presentation. It somehow defeats the whole purpose of the Switch. Either make a real portable alternative to 3DS, or just let it be.

Well, we have to wait and see how bad it really is. At least it got USB-C, so smart use of a convenient and hassle-free battery pack can maybe save the day?

Very low Specs haven't preventet the 3DS to sell quite well. Especially in Japan.

Some guy in the comments wrote, that mobile phones will have better specs than the Switch in two years. Does it really matter? It didn't prevent the 3DS to be a success.

The Switch is a replacement for the 3DS, or at least will become this in a year or two. It will definitely sell, and get some 3.party support. But maybe not everything what we expect?

@PlywoodStick
"If you don't have your own physical/digital collection, available from your own systems, then you don't really own the games that you're paying for. This is acceptable for MMOG's, due to their nature, but it should not be the case for every game."

Exactly the same did people say about their movie and music collections. And now young people mostly stream that kind of content, and do not own it. The same will happen to most games in the future. Kids growing up today would have no problem with gaming streaming services. They would actually expect to have access to services like that.

15 years ago, almost no one had a good enough connection to stream movies at all, and few would have a connection, that would have been good enough to stream music in a high quality. Now fast forward 15 year from now, and think about the speeds you could expect, even in remote areas? The future of Game-streaming services are here sooner than later.

Good internet connection will get better over time, also in more remote areas. It's a matter of time, but one day in the far future, we will look at stable fast internet connection, the way we today in the West look at, and expect a reliable electricity connection.

The countries that have a great overall network infrastructure, will be the winners, and someday USA will have to wake up too.

Fast internet will be the key to many jobs and a good living standard in the future. Areas with bad connection will simply get abandoned.

@Flowerlark
Poor internet connections in remote areas haven't prevented Netflix and Spotify to become industry leading streaming services. And it won't prevent any Gaming streaming service to rise in the near future either.

If there is enough customers, that do have acceptable connections, then it will come. The industry doesn't care, if they can't reach all people, if just they can reach most of the paying potential customers.

@Kroko
Are you for real? The cloud computing has the potential to be "100 times" stronger than any current console.

When the PS2 and GameCube came out, they where near bleeding edge technology. And in 10 years time you will look back at the current consoles, and think the exact same about them, as you do now with PS2 and the GC.

@Hotfusion
Yeah, just keep laughing.

There is a time for everything, though. And some stuff the world is just not ready for yet, but over time, streaming will be the standard.

Like with all other smarter and more convenient technology's.

So many backwards looking people in here. Very depressing, but I guess this is the crowd hanging around at a Nintendo site

How many of you do still have your physical movie and music collections? I threw out my collection years ago, and never looked back.

There is a whole new generation growing up right now, who will never know anything but streaming services. They will not care for physical media's at all.

Gaming streaming will become the standard platform over time. No matter if you like it or not. It will happen to the gaming industry, just as it did with the movie and music industry.

It could take ten years og twenty, but the consoles as we know it will disappear one day. And when the big AAA titles are only available through a streaming service, everyone will follow along.

Some conservative old people, like many in here, will perhaps never make the jump. But they are irrelevant .

I just hope, that there is a place for Nintendo in such a future. I have my doubts though.

I will definitely get a extra stand or charger for the Switch. It's primary location will be on my bed-table, next to my 3DS.
I am more of a handheld gamer anyway.

The TV-stand will probably collect some dust, but it is still a nice option to have
I will use the TV-play option from time to time, but it will not be the primary use case for me.

@Anti-Matter

I am all with you. I also like Nintendo and Japanese games the most. But some Western games I do enjoy.

But if the Switch is going to become a huge success in the West, it also needs a lot of western third party support.

I could probably live without it, but the Switch would not sell much more than the 3DS in the West, with only support from Nintendo and Japanese developer's. That could be enough for Nintendo, but they probably hope for even better sales.

@CircuitWrangler3
I think you got it all wrong. Western third party developers do not need Nintendo at all. They are doing quite well on Playstation and Xbox, and fewer platforms they need to support, is very good for them.

For generations, western third party games haven't really sold very well on Nintendo consoles, for many reasons. They don't owe Nintendo or Nintendo fans anything. They just want a great platform, where they can sell their games.

It is Nintendo that need western third party developers more. And it is Nintendo's job to provide a great competitive platform, where third party games can prosper. Like a great online infrastructure / service, and modern competitive hardware.

Then the AAA titles from third party developers will come back over time, if there is also the right kind of audience for them.

@therealgamer
Well, the Wii U didn't have much support from Japanese third party developers either. The Wii U sold badly anywhere .

Only Nintendo and Indie developers where regularly supporting it with games.

The 3DS on the other hand, has been a huge success in Japan, and have been outselling all other consoles. There have been a lot of Japanese third party support for it, and luckily we have also seen much of this content in the west.

The Switch will be a replacement for both the Wii U and the 3DS, and of course when the most popular console in the country is being replaced by a newer one, the expectations and excitement will be great in Japan.

@LeRaposa

Like what DanteSolablood3 already said.

I expect to see plenty of stuff form Japanese third party developers. They have been supporting the 3DS, and will definitely support Switch from the start. They will be hoping that Switch will be as popular in Japan as the 3DS has been.

I think we should not expect to much from western third party developers to begin with. Many of them will wait and see how Switch is received and the launch sales are. It's understandable, when you consider how awful the Wii U has sold.

Nintendo has a lot to prove, and must work hard to gain the trust from western third party developers again. But even if Switch will never have the western support we all are hoping for, I think the Switch will be ok if the Japanese third party developer keep supporting it like with the 3DS.

Also, Nintendo will have more resources for developing games, because they will only have one single platform to support in the near future.

The above reasons will at least prevent the Switch to become a total disaster like the Wii U

@PlywoodStick
Then you must be blind Have you even played the recent Tomb Raider games?

The new Tomb Raider games have many things in common with 3d Zelda games or Darksiders.

Yes, the setting, style and armory are all different, but gameplay elements and progress is similar.

Zelda, Darksiders and Tomb Raider are all Action-Adventure games, with some RPG elements thrown in. While Elder scrolls and The Witcher are full blown RPG's with some Action-Adventure play styles.

I still hope, that the new Zelda game will be an Action-Adventure with light RPG elements, cool dungeons and puzzles. I am looking forward to see this new open world in Zelda, but it should not become like The Witcher 3.

I really like and enjoy The Witcher games, witch are a great genre mix of RPG and Action-Adventures. But it's way too much RPG for a Zelda game.

This is the reason, why the Switch will never be a commercial failure like Wii U.

The Japanese just love their potable consoles, and the Switch is going to replace 3DS as well.

All the great Japanese 3DS developer's are on board with the Switch, providing the needed content for that market. This is the most important factor, witch shouldn't be underestimated

The next big Pokemon games will also make the Switch sell ok in western countries. And the big new Mario and Zelda titles will lure in many traditional home console gamers all well.

Everything put together and the Switch will probably do even better than the 3DS.

Nintendo also love to make their hardware iterations down the line. We will definitely see a Switch Lite and Switch Mini in a few years, based on the same architecture. Making every possible potable gamer happy.

I guess they will then make some kind of adapter, to make these devices compatible with the old Switch stand.

I am very optimistic about the Switch. It's going to be a great device.

@DragonEleven
The Shield is a Android TV box, is competing with Apple TV and others. It just offers more features than Apple TV, and is a better device.

Sadly, content for the Android TV Play store is lacking in my country (Denmark), compared to Apple TV. But in some other countries, there is enough content.

I do not see a new Shield TV box as a competitor for the Switch, because the Switch is the Shield Box and tablet in one device.

Switch has premium Nintendo and console content, while Shield offers all the emolators for older games. I like them both, though

@Agent721

Well in the article you are referring to, they talk about potential malware in these knockoffs, and that people should be a bit careful what they download. While I agree, there is no evidence that they really contain malware.

Goggle post scans all new apps for malware and other security problems, and will eventually remove the problematic ones. But yeah, better stay away from these apps right now

@Agent721 @DeathUriel

Please stop yourselves with all your bad and wrong assumptions about Android. It hurts my eyes...

Google does actually scan the play store for malware, and are removing bad apps. Even more so than Apple does.

Apple is more strict about esthetics and quality before you app gets accepted, but that's it.

There is also a lot of crapware on Appstore, and I think the differences are not that big anymore. The biggest difference between Android and iOS is the piracy.

On Android you can install apps from other sources than the play store, and it have forced publisher's to release their apps for free or very cheap, only relying on ads and in-app purchases to prevent piracy.

The piracy is the biggest reason for the lower app revenue on Android. But generally Android is just as secure as iOS if you stick to the official Play store, and never use other sources.

The fake malware Mario runners that @Agent721 mentioned, are not on the Play store at all. They come from pirate sites and other unsecure sources:

https://www.google.dk/amp/amp.androidcentral.com/why-you-shouldnt-try-download-super-mario-run-android?client=ms-android-oneplus

@Clockwerk
Nonsense. Then all platformers would be the same too.

As with all type of games, there are great, mediocre and bad runners.

The level design is just as important as in traditional platformers. And the different gameplay mechanics and timing is also very important.

Then we have the overall presentation, graphical quality, and overall substance. There are so many factors.

Super Mario Run and Rayman Jungle Run are some of the best 2d sideway runners you can get, where gameplay and production values are excellent.

@ThomasBW84
Yeah fair enough .

But it probably would help Android users more to list five of the best runners that are similar to Super Mario Run.

And as excellent as Sonic Dash and Subway Surfers are, I consider them to belong to a different subgenre. They are not sideways runners like Mario and Rayman.

@Peach64
Yeah, Rayman Adventures is fantastic. I am not playing it as runner though.

It can be played as a runner, but if you connect a controller it transforms to a real 2d platformer. But no matter how you play it, it plays well. Excellent

@ThomasBW84

A list of runners without Rayman Jungle Run? The game that Super Mario Run cloned, that offers more quality and value for money.

Try Rayman Jungle Run, and then you do not need Super Mario Run anymore

Sonic Dash is a nice alternative too, though.

This game is not better than Rayman Jungle Run. It's a good game though, but to expensive and short in comparison to Jungle Run.

People here defends the price, because Mario is more premium and popular than Rayman. But that is just so ridiculous and stupid fanboyism. A game should only be judged on quality and value for money, not popularity.

Please go and play Rayman Jungle Run, and compare it to Super Mario Run. Mario Run is a nice clone, but doesn't do anything new or better.

It's not a bad game at all, but how often does Nintendo fans not blame other games for being ripoffs of popular Nintendo games? Please stop the hypocrisy, and if you really like Super Mario Run, then you owe yourself to try Rayman Jungle Run as well.

I am not saying that you shouldn't buy Super Mario Run. Just saying there is a cheaper and better game out there already.

Please let Excitebots come to Europe. I really liked Excite Truck and was furious when it didn't got released here.

It was the Americans fault, because they didn't buy it, so Nintendo didn't bother with it after that. And now the Americans get blessed with this title again. Not fair

@emperorbob
What are you talking about? The charger for the Switch will be as portable as for the DS. Or at least you can buy a regular USB-C charger for it. No problem.

And I expect at least 4-5 hours game time from the Switch. Anything else would not be good enough.

Also, what functionality from the 3DS will you really be missing?

The original GameBoy was also huge, and not as portable as the Switch will be.

The 3DSXL is also big, and not very portable in comparison to the smaller model. But it was still more popular and sold better than the normal one.

Most people don't mind bringing their portable console in a bag, and do not carry it in their pockets. I don't know anyone who are carrying their 3DS in their pockets?

I can't see why the Switch is less suitable for traveling? You can even take off the Joy-cons, and then it's not any bigger than a PSP Vita.

Perhaps Nintendo will release a smaller Switch-lite down the line, but the Switch is definitely also a replacement for the 3DS. And I can't see the problem with that at all.

"The Nintendo Switch, the most powerful handheld console on the planet. It's so powerful, that it even runs big home console games decently on your TV.

NOW YOU ARE PLAYING WITH POWER"

As a portable gamer, I can't wait. The Switch will definitely be a big hit for many people. And in markets like Japan, it will sell fantastic.

For all the negative home console gamers: Just buy a PS4 already, and stop whining. And then later get the Switch for your Nintendo itch!!!

Then play the newest Zelda and Mario games while laying in your bed, and play all the soulless blockbusters on your television with your PS4. It's a win win situation

The article says:
"...but due to the portable nature of the system it's unlikely to be bleeding edge technology"

This really doesn't make any sense. The Switch could be based on the newest chips from Nvidia, and still not be as powerful as the PS4. But it would definitely be bleeding edge technology.

The newest mobile chips is still considered bleeding edge technology, although maybe not as powerful as some older hardware setups for desktop computers or home consoles. The two things are not the same.

The new iPhone is also made of bleeding edge technology, but not as powerful as my old gaming PC.

@Lewieboy124

Yes, if those rumors are true

We do not know anything about those things, yet. And of course there will be some compromises here and there. But you can just keep those negative classes on if you want.

I was just describing what the NS is, and what Nintendo is aiming for. But will they succeed? I don't know?

But it is a bold and brave move by Nintendo, to make a new console type, and trying to reach all gamers with it. Let's se how it goes then

@rjejr

The NS is neither a home console or a portable console. It's the world's first real hybrid console. It's just just a "console" now, and a start of a new era.

I think we should stop trying to put the NS in the old boxes, and look at it as a totally new product type.

The NS is the successor to both the Wii U and the 3DS, because Nintendo has merged their handheld and home console divisions. In the future, they will only develop software for this single platform.

The NS needs to be everything, and please both portable and home console gamers. It's what Nintendo is aiming for here.

You just need to take the NS, and use it like you prefer. Like a home console or not, it doesn't matter. What matters is, that all Nintendo games and software are only coming to one single platform in the future.

The NS is "The Nintendo Console" for all gamers!!!

@admiralCrunch

Yes, better than bulging knobs and a screen sticking out in one pocket, like with the Vita. That isn't as flexible

@admiralCrunch

PS Vita has a 5 inch screen + unteachable controllers.

The NS have a 6 inch screen with attachable controllers. Take those off, and put them in your other pocket, and you are good to go.

The NS will probably be more portable than the Vita in the end

@naut

Ok, i do not have deep pockets then, and i don't mind carrying it around in a bag. I do not see a big problem here, really.

And there is not a huge difference in my eyes. If you take off the controllers, and put those in your other deep pocket, you could probably carry it around without a bag.

@naut

How is the Vita and 3DS fitting in your pocket again? Is the Switch really so different in that regard?

All those 3DSXL owners out there are not going to have any problems to switch to a Switch

Portable gaming devices have never really been about fitting in your pocket, and you almost always had to carrying it in a bag.

@naut

You are missing the point. The NS is also a very powerful portable gaming device, and it succeeds the 3DS. And Nintendo are selling a lot of those portable devices.

Nintendo buyers are mostly portable gamers today, as the numbers show. 59 mio. 3DS consoles was sold, and only 13 mio. Wii U's.

As a portable gaming device, it's a pretty neat thing, with a "nice to have" TV-connection-hub. When the fist real Pokémon game is coming out for the NS, it will sell very well. Kids just want Pokémons

The Switch teaser was differently aimed at us. The fans and core gamers, who couldn't wait anymore. Nintendo knows that we are the audience to have a look first.

By toning down the tablet functions, touch control, casual stuff etc. They made it look like a real dedicated gaming console, and that it is all about the games. Exactly how we want it.

But the investors are perhaps looking for something else? A more tablet like experience maybe, that also could take on the iPad?

We didn't see any of that functionality at all, and the touch screen wasn't even confirmed or demonstrated. Even the underlying OS was hidden for us. Can you browse the web with that thing? Are there any casual apps? What about media consumption like Netflix and others?

Maybe some investors where disappointed by the one sided reveal of the Switch?

Maybe the investors where just hopping for some Wii like revolutionary idea, that nobody had predicted. Something that would have felt out of this would, and made everyone talk about it.

Like when the Wii was shown, or the first iPhone was presented.
I know that something "revolutionary" like that doesn't come along very often, but I think many investors are hoping Nintendo can pull something like that off every time?

I am very satisfied with the Nintendo Switch, but the concept is not that "revolutionary" or new. I can see why some would be a bit disappointment.

Investors are not dumb, and I do not think that they want a Nintendo mobile, or something crazy like that. I just think they want to get wowed and impressed by the thing, and expect immediately global hype.

In that regard, the Switch did nothing special, but it didn't do bad either, like the Wii U did.

Nintendo is only trying to please all the core gamers and fans in the teaser. They know that this is the audience that are the first to have a look.

By toning down the tablet functions, touch control etc. They make it look like a real dedicated gaming console, and that it is all about the games.

But the Switch will also have plenty of tablet functionality, to please the mobile gaming crowd and kids. Just wait and see.