@MoldyPasta They already do that. You don't really need a lot of licenses and a lot of them you can grind or get for free. Paying is usually for someone that wants every licence verily quickly.
I have over 300 physical games and about the same digitally with only a handful overlap. I don't like GKC but I prefer that over to the 8GB game cards for a 32GB game thing that they did with Switch 1 that required additional download.
It was annoying. For games like Assassin's Creed, only the base game was on card and you had to download each thing separately including updates, DLC and the other games.
What was the point then? I ended up just getting it digital.
And the thing I hate about digital is that it is "tied to your library". Maybe its my OCD but I usually only buy digital games that are non-Nintendo multiplayer experience that you going to play for a short period. Thus I hated the idea of having big one player games or their DLC being forced to have it permanently in my library. Sure I can hide it, not have it install but I'll know its there...
Thus the problem isn't the smaller card sizes, its the price of the faster 64GB base Switch 2 cards and that most third party games these days require more then that. They didn't offer an 8 or 16GB option because that probably costs more and this becomes pointless.
GKC is $$$ they save and also makes deployment for publishers and consumers more convenient. Just plug it in, download the WHOLE game in eShop with all updates and you're done.
I feel like Nintendo meant that there will be enough pre-orders on "shelf" in most other retailers and didn't anticipate their own online My Nintendo Store Japan to have that many lottery orders.
My Nintendo isn't exactly a popular choice for most people to pre-order generally. 2.2m is also a lot. In comparison, Switch 1 sold 300k in ALL OF Japan in Week 1 and is a best seller. That's like over 7.3x the amount of people wanting the thing just from Nintendo directly themselves.
Honestly, I don't get the whole idea of people thinking out of stock is like a way for companies to inflate sales. It actually has the opposite effect. People end up changing their mind and not buying it on impulse or spending that same money elsewhere on other interests. Nintendo gains 0 money on this and it is of bad faith if people have to turn to scalpers and such similar means to get a Switch 2 and these people exist regardless of supply.
The 0.01% that makes stupid decisions and buy from scalpers do not benefit Nintendo in any way, shape or form. Its make no sense to think that companies will do this on purpose when it just decreases demand and puts a dent and huge negative impression on their supply chain.
@CheapCheepBeach To put that into perspective, the NVIDIA Jetson Orin NX 8 GB that came out in 2023 is $399 retail. The one up from this, the Jetson Orin NX 16 GB is $599. This is just for pretty much the chip itself. The Switch 2 is in between the two with more CUDA, Tensor and RT cores the the 8GB version and uses 12 GB of RAM so for $450, its a bargain considering everything else we're getting.
@CheapCheepBeach They're not the same class of hardware. Its like saying a cheap jet engine has more horsepower then a premium sports car. I can use a sports car anywhere, I have no need for a jet engine in most instances. Also the Xbox Series S is not better then the Switch but comparable with Switch having more modern architecture and hardware. Until the arrival of the new patch, Series S ran Cyberpunk 2077 at a capped 30fps at a dynamic 1440p resolution. The Switch 2 is currently running it at a stable 40fps without the use of DLSS or other technologies that the Switch has and the developers have said patch is on the way. The PS4 Pro struggles to produce 20-30 fps for Cyberpunk 2077.
@SintasSays Consoles are not generally sold at a lost. Its just marketing. What they mean is if the consumer buys it with RRP, it'll be "more expensive". PlayStation literally announces how much they make from hardware and its higher then every before. Xbox being similarly priced would be making similar numbers but have simply sold much less. Nintendo systems can't even be bought at RRP as they often use customized hardware that are not purchasable by the average consumer. We can't easily buy a Tegra or an IBM chip back in the GameCube/Wii/Wii U days. No company is going to fork out a billion dollars to take a hit on hardware in the hopes of making it back in the already slim software margins, that makes no sense.
@Ralizah Late reply but the visuals are washed out as in the art style which I've never played this game because I really didn't like the palette which looks like its all grey and dull (aka washed out). How was the game btw?
@CanisWolfred @Falksi Er...the game came out in 1996 on 48 Megabits of ROM data (6MB basically) and is the biggest game on the system along with Tales of Phantasia, the latter of which also had a vocal track. Not sure what RPG at the time even came close to that kind of level of ambition, breadth and depth back then.
Edit: Also the SNES literally launched pretty much every major RPG we have today to stardom. What are you on about?
Edit 2: "Star Ocean has a sense of exploration that is unmatched even by some of the AAA titles of today, the music easily helps with immersion and the deep customization offers players a lot of freedom as far as how to build their characters."
This is from a GamesFAQ review of Star Ocean: First Departure R (Nintendo Switch) in (EU, 12/05/2019). They gave it a 6 by today's standards so imagine playing it back in 1998 when you were 11 years old.
@SillyG Well cards experience wear and tear and you need space to store them. It is what it is. Digital goods have their own advantage and disadvantage and not everyone is chasing $$$ 20 years down the line.
@LEGEND_MARIOID Agreed. I think it also has a lot to do with time and place of everything.
Like Metroid can compete and surpass Halo but neither Nintendo nor Sony in the 00s could do online like Microsoft could with the Xbox which is why it took off.
Games like Star Fox Assault and F-Zero GX shows Nintendo can make great games for the franchises but I don't think they can match their online vision back then so its been relegated to niche status. In fact, I would go as far as to argue Nintendo suffered because they were trying to push the envelope so much with the GameCube instead of what the average gamers wanted...fun games for their time.
I think the Switch 2 will finally start to realise some of their goals that was held back in the 00s especially now that Nintendo is actually investing 3x as much in infrastructure as they are in developing games.
Edit: Adding to this. I think even the Xbox 360 and PS3 was a little early to the online gaming sphere and it was strived with a lot of problems. 360 was about the only generation Xbox actually competed toe-to-toe in and that was because of the reputation the OG Xbox had set, along with the backing of a multi-billion (now trillion) dollar empire.
Technically speaking, a healthy market should also grow every "generation" if the market leader doesn't fall down..even WITH competitors. Thus if we follow where the games and sales were, which is where the average consumer is, it would go something like this:
NES < SNES < PlayStation < PlayStation 2 < Wii / Wii U < Switch.
The Super Nintendo actually already shows that Nintendo was going in the wrong direction to market trends and gamers. Nintendo was trying to correct course with the Super Nintendo PlayStation that also never came to be (which was a protype obvious and would have become the original Nintendo 64 but with discs), Nintendo ended up doubling down on what worked for them and so lost their thunder during the PlayStation era and only recovering now. I lump the Wii and Wii U together as I suspect that the Wii U was initially the complete package that was going to be the console they launched alongside the PS3/X360 to compete but Iwata convinced them it was better just to sell it separately.
Why all this is relevant? It explains why so many of their greatest IPs now feels they have became "niche". They were prepared game wise but the market had other ideas and thus they had to react differently.
@Bigmanfan The problem with Metroid is Nintendo fans assume its a "boring" shooter and shooter fans have Halo which did multiplayer when it is neither.
Just a respond to what I've read here. For those thinking Xenoblade Chronicles X is insignificant and just a write-off for a certain age group. I disagree.
X is probably more popular then the first game.
Chronicles sold a bit over 900k on the Wii. Half as much on the 3DS and the Definitive Edition sold 2x as much on the Switch.
X almost sold 850k on the Wii U alone.
Just for comparison sake, Breath of the Wild sold 1.7m on the Wii U so if the Switch version was never released, we would think no one wants open-world Zelda and that it was...a flop.
Oh, and Monolith Soft used a lot of what they learnt from X to help create Breath of the Wild so the game is by no means insignificant in contribution.
As for story, I think X is related but not yet explained and the DE will do just that. Afterall, it is describe in Chronicles that the people live on two giants fighting each other. In X, two "alien species" fought against each other and caused the destruction of Earth. So the story could be tired together in some way, either as alternative dimension/perspectives of a retelling of the same history.
@Rozetta They're not as bad as you think. Heavy Rain is one of my favorite games of all time. Also, Metroid is a classified as a first person adventure which is heavy on environmental storytelling. I also the Life is Strange series.
@dskatter Switch Software means both Switch physical carts and Switch digital downloads. They've already stated that account will be bought over and this has not been anything new. Your Nintendo Account is linked to the Wii U/3DS Nintendo Network account if you want it to. Also there would have been no need to mention Nintendo Switch Online if they were just referring to digital.
I've only contribute 1 sale to the Switch ecosystem as I bought my both first Switch and my current OLED second hand. The sales decline is expected and they are doing better then Jan-March 2024. Sales should start picking up again in the holidays and after the Switch 2 is revealed as people will make their decision to upgrade/not upgrade for whatever reason. Typical Nintendo portable consoles sell 20+ million after the previous console has launched so expecting 180 million sales isn't far fetched.
I'm almost done with Trials of Mana. Up to Chapter VI which is basically end game and haven't decided what class I'll like to go as yet so taking a break and listening to metal music.
@Gorlock Its more a first person adventure then a shooter. I had no problems with Prime Remastered as it is quite slow paced and basically auto targets.
@OldGamer999 The Switch uses Maxwell which is the same class or slightly better then the PS4's GCN2. It's just clocked slower and closer to a PS3. FLOPs largely just do the heavy lifting and does not determine anything but graphics. If you had more power, you have more work to do to make use of it which others have said means more time spend on polygons and less time on creatively gameplay and physics which is what counts. Nintendo went stale this generation precisely because they went back to the GameCube days of high tech low power consoles which is now mainstream today. Mario Galaxy is an example of how creativity trumps power. It still looks great today. All power does is give it frame rates and resolution which doesn't add any value.
@Athropos Exactly. Mario Galaxy is a prime example of this. Nintendo went stale this generation precisely because they went back to the GameCube days of high tech low power consoles which is now mainstream today.
@Ryu_Niiyama Yeah. Basically. Digital board games bore me to death in terms of gameplay and physical takes up a lot of space. I use Monopoly as an example because it has Community Chest and Chance cards which usually comes in a large stack. It would be useful to just have one of each card and scan for information and effects when needed. They can always update them too and it would be great for some complex board games with a lot of reading or parts/cards. Pokémon Cards would be another great idea with it. They can sell Limited Edition NFC-cards which makes them rare and you can use it to collect, edit and pre-load a deck of Pokémon onto a screen when you play in competitions.
@Ryu_Niiyama A unique idea. So you have physical board games and digital board games. What if some parts work together to reduce waste and improve interactivity? Think for Monopoly instead of Community Chest and Chance card printed, you had like an NFC card that interacted with a screen to provide you the same. That's just an example. I actually want to make this idea into a reality. Think there's a market or it.
@rjejr As for RPGs, I'm into really niche stuff back from the SNES and PSP days. Star Ocean, Trials of Mana, Tales of Berseria, The 3rd Birthday, Valkyria Chronicles, Valkyrie Profile, Chrono Trigger, The Legend of Heroes, Trails in the Sky are just some of my favourites.
Could never get into Dragon Quest or Final Fantasy or even Kingdom Hearts.
@rjejr Unfortunately no. They had a few new IPS with fun gameplay but it looked pretty much your generic fantasy game. I'm like you and like really bright games but I also enjoy games with good gameplay. Plucky Squire and Lego Horizons are definitely on my list of to get games.
This was what was in the showcase:
Games:
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Doom: The Dark Ages, State of Decay 3, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, METAL GEAR SOLID Δ: SNAKE EATER, Microsoft Flight Sim 2024, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, FragPunk, Winter Burrow, MixTape, Avowed, Atomfall
DLC:
Starfield Shattered Space, FO 76 Skyline Valley, World of WarCraft The War Within, Seat Of Thieves: Season 13, Diablo IV Vessel Of Hatred, ESO Online Gold Road
Things I found at least mildly interesting:
Expedition 33, South of Midnight, Flintlock: The Siege Of Dawn, Age of Mythology Retold, Perfect Dark, Fable, Life is Strange: Double Exposure, Mecha Break, Wuchang Fallen Feathers, Gears Of War E-Day
@RiasGremory Not really. Minecraft has sold 300 million copies and the game only came out 2011. Call of Duty has sold 425 million since 2003 which makes it as big as Super Mario series which is @ 430 million but started in 1985. And that's just 2 IPs. You have hits like World of Warcraft which currently has over 7 million subscribers, Starcraft which is big in eSports, etc. They are far ahead of Nintendo in terms of broadness and scope. Underestimate them would be Nintendo's peril.
@Burning_Spear Because you're missing how strong their IPs are especially now that they own Bethesda and Activision Blizzard. Literally CoD sells as much as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe over 2 to 3 platforms. Yeah, it required more platforms but if Mario Kart is huge, they're even bigger. Access is a big part of what's makes IP strong. Imagine if they one day decided, let's not make CoD multiplat after the game expanded to 100 million gamers per game.
@Burning_Spear Microsoft is probably in a stronger position then Nintendo was with the Wii U. Minecraft for example is now one of the world's biggest games. Selling hardware on multiplat alone actually makes them scary as hell. Can you imagine if Nintendo released no games and still sold 25 million Wii U units in 3 years? Now imagine them porting most their games to the Wii and getting 60 million like Sony. They're pulling insane numbers by doing little.
@Jeronan I disagree. Where are you getting that the consoles are sold at a lost? Its not been this way since the PS4. You can search up how much the parts cost and retail for. Most of Sony's profits actually come from hardware in their own reports.
@TheFatPlumber I see it the other way round. They are weakening Nintendo IP with casual games that hide behind an adult story. If they can sell more units then a Wii U with only third party, then it only shows Nintendo is in need of catching up.
Saw it live. Definitely getting on the Switch. Pretty cool. I still haven't finished Horizon: Zero Dawn as I got bored but will try to get through it now.
This is why I rarely come to Nintendo Life anymore. Stop reporting fake rumours from nameless people who can't even be sure if something is coming. Think about it. Does this make sense to you? Would a leaker who has sources "think about" whether a game is going to make said platform? Its either a Yes or a No and if they had sources, they'll report that.
@Kapten_N I think it'll be $400 as well but not everyone has the OLED or considers it. The sequel is more a replacement for the OG Switch more so then the OLED which some people might still hold onto and not upgrade immediately.
By the time Super Switch comes out which will likely be March 2025. The console would be close to meeting the 13.5 million units they need already. That means next year, the bar is only about 7 million Switch or so for three models.
No one will be upset and you can believe what you want but if you think Nintendo will do a price drop just to sell a couple of millions units then go ahead.
I just don't see why they feel there is a purpose to do so. What benefits does that even bring?
@Kapten_N I'm going to add that a "price drop" would have also signalled to fans that you want to EXTEND the life of the product known as a Switch. That or its to meet sales targets when it falls short and recover some money.
It means, I now feel ripped off if I already bought the product especially if recently.
It means, I have to wait a bit longer if it wasn't the product I was looking for.
It also means they are trying to fight AGAINST market trends which is saying your product is declining. That's is actually anti-consumer.
Its like anti-aging cream for companies.
You're basically saying, no I'm not going to let the Switch die even if you're not buying it.
Edit:
If the Super Switch comes out and the Switch sales drops off a cliff. Its good news for them. It means people REALLY like their new product a lot.
If the Super Switch comes out and the Switch sales continues to sell solid numbers. Its good news for them too. It means people still like their old product despite their new product.
Even if a disaster happens and the Super Switch comes out and the Switch sales gain momentum again (like the Wii did when the Wii U came out). It means people are saying they like their old products better meaning their new one has failed which is still fine and recoverable if they don't do a price drop.
Why?
Because you've not corner yourself.
If your new product failed and you've just dropped the price of the old one. How is that going to work out for you?
That's how companies die by making dumb decisions like that.
@Kapten_N Price cuts are harmful for product because you're basically saying your product is "worth less" now then it did before. When you account inflation into it, that make it even worst because there is a huge price difference with the new product. You end up not selling either.
The reverse mentality to what you said actually works better as they will be driving consumers to buy the Super Switch by not dropping the price of the Switch cause its only $100 more. If the difference is $150, they might re-think.
Think of it this way:
Would you get a New 3DS XL in 2020 for US$150 or a Switch for $300 and then actually continue to buy games for it like you would? What about $50 in 2025?
I wouldn't buy it and if I did, then what's the point of the Switch as a sequel again? (Which I should add they have stated is another pillar.)
All that causes is to make me rethink if I want to get any consoles cause one feels expensive compared to the other and the other feels dated.
That is the last thing they want.
I don't know if you saw my edits, but if they wanted a price drop they would have done so in 2023 when the Switch sales halved so it not just about moving units. They obviously knew this and have been cutting production of the OG Switch and Lite.
Their goal this year is 13.5 million units.
If the OLED takes 9.5 million of those which is a consistent number, it doesn't leave much room for the Switch and Lite. Why would they need a permanent price drop to sell like maybe 2.5 million Switch in a whole year and 1.5 million Lite?
The Wii U at full price sold better then that.
If you want a sequel to a product, the goal is to actually not drop the prices. That's why Nintendo evergreen titles outsell titles that drop in price after its been on market for X years.
Because what you're basically saying is our product is worth the price even after X years in but now we believe we have a better product which is worth even more not because its "new".
Whether the consumer buys it and which one is up to them. You're not trying to blackmail them into either one.
@Kapten_N Anyway, my point is that the Switch has sold enough. Their focus should be on the Super Switch and they aren't rushing to sell more Switch units or clear stock. They can take 5 years to sell that 15% or so. It depends on what their goals are with the 1st Switch Generation but 180-185+ would be a minimum target I would say which seems pretty achievable to me without a cut. They can always release new models like an OLED Lite and then do a price cut but I see no point to doing when the Lite is being outsold by the premium OLED.
Edit:
Just to add some numbers:
FY3 Switch -------- Lite ----------- OLED
Total 93,470,000 23,540,000 24,340,000
Notice how the OLED is their best selling model now and is doing better then last year or launch year. They know consumers are ready for a premium product so no need to drop the price when the next one (which is more a Switch replacement) comes out.
Edit 2: My prediction for 2025. They have said they want to sell 13.5 million units.
FY3 Switch -------- Lite ----------- OLED
@Kapten_N Well the typical strategy of most companies is to have a 3rd console out when the 1st generation is dead. We see this with PlayStation which stopped selling in 2005 and PlayStation 3 launched in 2006.
Similarly, the PlayStation 4 came out in 2013 when they finally stopped selling the PlayStation 2.
PlayStation 5 seems like an exception as it came out in 2020 when the PlayStation 3 stopped selling in 2015 but we know the PlayStation 4 Pro came out in 2016.
Simply put, this is the release strategy of most gaming companies to pick off stragglers who may not have upgraded yet.
Nintendo is very similar in that regard and actually likes to release a lot of models. The DS stopped selling in 2017 and the 3DS in 2021 which was when the Switch and OLED Models came out.
And actually the GameBoy lasted 9 years before the Color. Color, Advance, DS were all about 3 years apart. DSi was 4 from the DS but the 3DS was also 3 from the DSi.
@Kapten_N Also I believe the 3DS is basically a more powerful portable GameCube and the DS was a more powerful portable N64. The Switch thus is a more powerful portable Wii U (since the Wii was the exception to the generation case and added as a stop gap console).
@Kapten_N Not as far as I know. I bought a second New 3DS XL right after the launch of the Switch because I thought I lost my 3DS XL and it was the retail price.
As for selling "that good", I'm just going with recorded stats and came to a 15% extra which is a lower percentage by Nintendo handheld standards. (It works out to be ~23.5 million in 3+ years after the Super Switch launches which is an average of 8 million a year for 3 years).
The GBA sold 30 million of their 82+ million after the launch of the DS and the DS was backwards compatible with the GBA.
The Game Boy and Game Boy Color sold almost 24 million of their 118+millon after the launch of the Game Boy Advance.
The DS sold for 6 more years after the 3DS came out though the last two was more like clearing stock and that moved over 25 million units whilst the 3DS did 17 million after the Switch launched.
So I've actually set the Switch to a pretty modest number. Also selling 180+ million Switches seems "a lot" still but would be about how much they have sold last generation total (181,140,000) and unless they declined again, they have actually done WAY better every generation except the SNES generation.
@FirstEmperor I count the GBC as a separate generation as well. 2x is not really a modest upgrade for a 90s handheld. I think the Wii wasn't even 2x as powerful as the GameCube so there you go but is consider a new generation. The Motion Controls was originally plan for the GameCube as was the 3D screen. It just never came to be till the 3DS and Wii. So honestly, its just how they want to market their product but I agree that Nintendo has only declined twice.
@EriXz People don't take handhelds seriously and numbers are all about how you cut the pie anyway. Like one can say Nintendo generations lasts longer so really you could argue the Wii U was a Wii Pro and the 3DS a DS Pro and thus both sold accordingly. The difference being that Nintendo released exclusive content on their Pro devices and always have....even the New 3DS had their own exclusive but it was still a "3DS" by marketing choice.
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Re: Pokémon Unite Is Discontinuing Aeos Coins In Its December Game Update
@MoldyPasta They already do that. You don't really need a lot of licenses and a lot of them you can grind or get for free. Paying is usually for someone that wants every licence verily quickly.
Re: Nintendo Reportedly Increases Switch 2 Production To 25 Million Units For Year 1
I have over 300 physical games and about the same digitally with only a handful overlap. I don't like GKC but I prefer that over to the 8GB game cards for a 32GB game thing that they did with Switch 1 that required additional download.
It was annoying. For games like Assassin's Creed, only the base game was on card and you had to download each thing separately including updates, DLC and the other games.
What was the point then? I ended up just getting it digital.
And the thing I hate about digital is that it is "tied to your library". Maybe its my OCD but I usually only buy digital games that are non-Nintendo multiplayer experience that you going to play for a short period. Thus I hated the idea of having big one player games or their DLC being forced to have it permanently in my library. Sure I can hide it, not have it install but I'll know its there...
Thus the problem isn't the smaller card sizes, its the price of the faster 64GB base Switch 2 cards and that most third party games these days require more then that. They didn't offer an 8 or 16GB option because that probably costs more and this becomes pointless.
GKC is $$$ they save and also makes deployment for publishers and consumers more convenient. Just plug it in, download the WHOLE game in eShop with all updates and you're done.
That's my two cents.
Re: Nintendo Won't Have Enough Switch 2 Consoles To Satisfy Demand In Japan
I feel like Nintendo meant that there will be enough pre-orders on "shelf" in most other retailers and didn't anticipate their own online My Nintendo Store Japan to have that many lottery orders.
My Nintendo isn't exactly a popular choice for most people to pre-order generally. 2.2m is also a lot. In comparison, Switch 1 sold 300k in ALL OF Japan in Week 1 and is a best seller. That's like over 7.3x the amount of people wanting the thing just from Nintendo directly themselves.
Honestly, I don't get the whole idea of people thinking out of stock is like a way for companies to inflate sales. It actually has the opposite effect. People end up changing their mind and not buying it on impulse or spending that same money elsewhere on other interests. Nintendo gains 0 money on this and it is of bad faith if people have to turn to scalpers and such similar means to get a Switch 2 and these people exist regardless of supply.
The 0.01% that makes stupid decisions and buy from scalpers do not benefit Nintendo in any way, shape or form. Its make no sense to think that companies will do this on purpose when it just decreases demand and puts a dent and huge negative impression on their supply chain.
Re: Opinion: The Switch 2 Is A Powerhouse For The Price
@CheapCheepBeach To put that into perspective, the NVIDIA Jetson Orin NX 8 GB that came out in 2023 is $399 retail. The one up from this, the Jetson Orin NX 16 GB is $599. This is just for pretty much the chip itself. The Switch 2 is in between the two with more CUDA, Tensor and RT cores the the 8GB version and uses 12 GB of RAM so for $450, its a bargain considering everything else we're getting.
https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/jetson-orin-nx-8-gb.c4081
Re: Opinion: The Switch 2 Is A Powerhouse For The Price
@CheapCheepBeach They're not the same class of hardware. Its like saying a cheap jet engine has more horsepower then a premium sports car. I can use a sports car anywhere, I have no need for a jet engine in most instances. Also the Xbox Series S is not better then the Switch but comparable with Switch having more modern architecture and hardware. Until the arrival of the new patch, Series S ran Cyberpunk 2077 at a capped 30fps at a dynamic 1440p resolution. The Switch 2 is currently running it at a stable 40fps without the use of DLSS or other technologies that the Switch has and the developers have said patch is on the way. The PS4 Pro struggles to produce 20-30 fps for Cyberpunk 2077.
Re: Opinion: The Switch 2 Is A Powerhouse For The Price
@SintasSays Consoles are not generally sold at a lost. Its just marketing. What they mean is if the consumer buys it with RRP, it'll be "more expensive". PlayStation literally announces how much they make from hardware and its higher then every before. Xbox being similarly priced would be making similar numbers but have simply sold much less. Nintendo systems can't even be bought at RRP as they often use customized hardware that are not purchasable by the average consumer. We can't easily buy a Tegra or an IBM chip back in the GameCube/Wii/Wii U days. No company is going to fork out a billion dollars to take a hit on hardware in the hopes of making it back in the already slim software margins, that makes no sense.
Re: Review: Master Detective Archives: Rain Code (Switch) - Macabre Mysteries, A Captivating Cast, A Few Frustrations
@Ralizah Late reply but the visuals are washed out as in the art style which I've never played this game because I really didn't like the palette which looks like its all grey and dull (aka washed out). How was the game btw?
Re: Review: Star Ocean (SNES)
@CanisWolfred @Falksi Er...the game came out in 1996 on 48 Megabits of ROM data (6MB basically) and is the biggest game on the system along with Tales of Phantasia, the latter of which also had a vocal track. Not sure what RPG at the time even came close to that kind of level of ambition, breadth and depth back then.
Edit: Also the SNES literally launched pretty much every major RPG we have today to stardom. What are you on about?
Edit 2: "Star Ocean has a sense of exploration that is unmatched even by some of the AAA titles of today, the music easily helps with immersion and the deep customization offers players a lot of freedom as far as how to build their characters."
This is from a GamesFAQ review of Star Ocean: First Departure R (Nintendo Switch) in (EU, 12/05/2019). They gave it a 6 by today's standards so imagine playing it back in 1998 when you were 11 years old.
Re: Pokémon TCG Pocket Adds Anticipated Feature Early 2025, But There's A Catch...
@SillyG Well cards experience wear and tear and you need space to store them. It is what it is. Digital goods have their own advantage and disadvantage and not everyone is chasing $$$ 20 years down the line.
Re: Nintendo Reports Rapid Growth For Metroid, Xenoblade Chronicles, And More
@LEGEND_MARIOID Agreed. I think it also has a lot to do with time and place of everything.
Like Metroid can compete and surpass Halo but neither Nintendo nor Sony in the 00s could do online like Microsoft could with the Xbox which is why it took off.
Games like Star Fox Assault and F-Zero GX shows Nintendo can make great games for the franchises but I don't think they can match their online vision back then so its been relegated to niche status. In fact, I would go as far as to argue Nintendo suffered because they were trying to push the envelope so much with the GameCube instead of what the average gamers wanted...fun games for their time.
I think the Switch 2 will finally start to realise some of their goals that was held back in the 00s especially now that Nintendo is actually investing 3x as much in infrastructure as they are in developing games.
Edit: Adding to this. I think even the Xbox 360 and PS3 was a little early to the online gaming sphere and it was strived with a lot of problems. 360 was about the only generation Xbox actually competed toe-to-toe in and that was because of the reputation the OG Xbox had set, along with the backing of a multi-billion (now trillion) dollar empire.
Technically speaking, a healthy market should also grow every "generation" if the market leader doesn't fall down..even WITH competitors. Thus if we follow where the games and sales were, which is where the average consumer is, it would go something like this:
NES < SNES < PlayStation < PlayStation 2 < Wii / Wii U < Switch.
The Super Nintendo actually already shows that Nintendo was going in the wrong direction to market trends and gamers. Nintendo was trying to correct course with the Super Nintendo PlayStation that also never came to be (which was a protype obvious and would have become the original Nintendo 64 but with discs), Nintendo ended up doubling down on what worked for them and so lost their thunder during the PlayStation era and only recovering now. I lump the Wii and Wii U together as I suspect that the Wii U was initially the complete package that was going to be the console they launched alongside the PS3/X360 to compete but Iwata convinced them it was better just to sell it separately.
Why all this is relevant? It explains why so many of their greatest IPs now feels they have became "niche". They were prepared game wise but the market had other ideas and thus they had to react differently.
Re: Nintendo Reports Rapid Growth For Metroid, Xenoblade Chronicles, And More
@Bigmanfan The problem with Metroid is Nintendo fans assume its a "boring" shooter and shooter fans have Halo which did multiplayer when it is neither.
Re: Nintendo Reconfirms Release Windows For Major Upcoming Switch Games
This is a difficult choice. Probably:
1. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
2. Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition
3. Pokémon Legends: Z-A
4. Mario and Luigi: Brothership
I rarely buy HD port of games without new content and don't care to fitness box.
Re: Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition Is Eating Up Views On YouTube
Can't wait to play. I'll be there Day One.
Just a respond to what I've read here. For those thinking Xenoblade Chronicles X is insignificant and just a write-off for a certain age group. I disagree.
X is probably more popular then the first game.
Chronicles sold a bit over 900k on the Wii. Half as much on the 3DS and the Definitive Edition sold 2x as much on the Switch.
X almost sold 850k on the Wii U alone.
Just for comparison sake, Breath of the Wild sold 1.7m on the Wii U so if the Switch version was never released, we would think no one wants open-world Zelda and that it was...a flop.
Oh, and Monolith Soft used a lot of what they learnt from X to help create Breath of the Wild so the game is by no means insignificant in contribution.
As for story, I think X is related but not yet explained and the DE will do just that. Afterall, it is describe in Chronicles that the people live on two giants fighting each other. In X, two "alien species" fought against each other and caused the destruction of Earth. So the story could be tired together in some way, either as alternative dimension/perspectives of a retelling of the same history.
Re: Kojima Productions Reportedly Gains Full Control Of Death Stranding IP
@Rozetta They're not as bad as you think. Heavy Rain is one of my favorite games of all time. Also, Metroid is a classified as a first person adventure which is heavy on environmental storytelling. I also the Life is Strange series.
Re: Retro Studios "Thrilled" To Reveal Its Work On Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
@Gorlock Only saw this comment now but yay!
Re: It's Official, 'Switch 2' Will Be Backwards Compatible
@dskatter Switch Software means both Switch physical carts and Switch digital downloads. They've already stated that account will be bought over and this has not been anything new. Your Nintendo Account is linked to the Wii U/3DS Nintendo Network account if you want it to. Also there would have been no need to mention Nintendo Switch Online if they were just referring to digital.
Re: Nintendo Switch Sales Hit 143 Million As Hardware And Software Figures Decline
I've only contribute 1 sale to the Switch ecosystem as I bought my both first Switch and my current OLED second hand. The sales decline is expected and they are doing better then Jan-March 2024. Sales should start picking up again in the holidays and after the Switch 2 is revealed as people will make their decision to upgrade/not upgrade for whatever reason. Typical Nintendo portable consoles sell 20+ million after the previous console has launched so expecting 180 million sales isn't far fetched.
Re: Nintendo Reconfirms Release Windows For Major Upcoming Switch Games
@somnambulance Do it. I basically have.
Re: Nintendo Reconfirms Release Windows For Major Upcoming Switch Games
I basically have all of them pre-ordered except Emio and DKC Returns HD and the two (Legends: Z-A & MP4) which you can't pre-order yet.
Re: Here Are The Top Ten Best-Selling Nintendo Switch Games As Of June 2024
@Bunkerneath It also doesn't count digital sales which account for about 60% of their sales now.
Re: Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (22nd June)
I'm almost done with Trials of Mana. Up to Chapter VI which is basically end game and haven't decided what class I'll like to go as yet so taking a break and listening to metal music.
Re: Retro Studios "Thrilled" To Reveal Its Work On Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
@Gorlock Its more a first person adventure then a shooter. I had no problems with Prime Remastered as it is quite slow paced and basically auto targets.
Re: Retro Studios "Thrilled" To Reveal Its Work On Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
@RiasGremory I mean the end screen where they show the planet/environment and the 2025 logo looked pretty amazing to me.
Re: Retro Studios "Thrilled" To Reveal Its Work On Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
@JohnnyMind Prime is now my second favourite series after Pikmin.
Re: Retro Studios "Thrilled" To Reveal Its Work On Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
@OldGamer999 The Switch uses Maxwell which is the same class or slightly better then the PS4's GCN2. It's just clocked slower and closer to a PS3. FLOPs largely just do the heavy lifting and does not determine anything but graphics. If you had more power, you have more work to do to make use of it which others have said means more time spend on polygons and less time on creatively gameplay and physics which is what counts. Nintendo went stale this generation precisely because they went back to the GameCube days of high tech low power consoles which is now mainstream today. Mario Galaxy is an example of how creativity trumps power. It still looks great today. All power does is give it frame rates and resolution which doesn't add any value.
Re: Retro Studios "Thrilled" To Reveal Its Work On Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
@Athropos Exactly. Mario Galaxy is a prime example of this. Nintendo went stale this generation precisely because they went back to the GameCube days of high tech low power consoles which is now mainstream today.
Re: Round Up: Every Switch Announcement At Ubisoft Forward (June 2024)
@Ryu_Niiyama Yeah. Basically. Digital board games bore me to death in terms of gameplay and physical takes up a lot of space. I use Monopoly as an example because it has Community Chest and Chance cards which usually comes in a large stack. It would be useful to just have one of each card and scan for information and effects when needed. They can always update them too and it would be great for some complex board games with a lot of reading or parts/cards. Pokémon Cards would be another great idea with it. They can sell Limited Edition NFC-cards which makes them rare and you can use it to collect, edit and pre-load a deck of Pokémon onto a screen when you play in competitions.
Re: Round Up: Every Switch Announcement At Ubisoft Forward (June 2024)
@Ryu_Niiyama A unique idea. So you have physical board games and digital board games. What if some parts work together to reduce waste and improve interactivity? Think for Monopoly instead of Community Chest and Chance card printed, you had like an NFC card that interacted with a screen to provide you the same. That's just an example. I actually want to make this idea into a reality. Think there's a market or it.
Re: Xbox's Phil Spencer Reiterates Plan To Put "More Of Our Games On More Platforms"
@rjejr As for RPGs, I'm into really niche stuff back from the SNES and PSP days. Star Ocean, Trials of Mana, Tales of Berseria, The 3rd Birthday, Valkyria Chronicles, Valkyrie Profile, Chrono Trigger, The Legend of Heroes, Trails in the Sky are just some of my favourites.
Could never get into Dragon Quest or Final Fantasy or even Kingdom Hearts.
Re: Round Up: Every Switch Announcement At Ubisoft Forward (June 2024)
Why is no one doing Hybrid Board Games? I really should take that idea to market.
Re: Xbox's Phil Spencer Reiterates Plan To Put "More Of Our Games On More Platforms"
@rjejr Unfortunately no. They had a few new IPS with fun gameplay but it looked pretty much your generic fantasy game. I'm like you and like really bright games but I also enjoy games with good gameplay. Plucky Squire and Lego Horizons are definitely on my list of to get games.
This was what was in the showcase:
Games:
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Doom: The Dark Ages, State of Decay 3, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, METAL GEAR SOLID Δ: SNAKE EATER, Microsoft Flight Sim 2024, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, FragPunk, Winter Burrow, MixTape, Avowed, Atomfall
DLC:
Starfield Shattered Space, FO 76 Skyline Valley, World of WarCraft The War Within, Seat Of Thieves: Season 13, Diablo IV Vessel Of Hatred, ESO Online Gold Road
Things I found at least mildly interesting:
Expedition 33, South of Midnight, Flintlock: The Siege Of Dawn, Age of Mythology Retold, Perfect Dark, Fable, Life is Strange: Double Exposure, Mecha Break, Wuchang Fallen Feathers, Gears Of War E-Day
Re: Xbox's Phil Spencer Reiterates Plan To Put "More Of Our Games On More Platforms"
@RiasGremory Not really. Minecraft has sold 300 million copies and the game only came out 2011. Call of Duty has sold 425 million since 2003 which makes it as big as Super Mario series which is @ 430 million but started in 1985. And that's just 2 IPs. You have hits like World of Warcraft which currently has over 7 million subscribers, Starcraft which is big in eSports, etc. They are far ahead of Nintendo in terms of broadness and scope. Underestimate them would be Nintendo's peril.
Re: Xbox's Phil Spencer Reiterates Plan To Put "More Of Our Games On More Platforms"
@Burning_Spear Because you're missing how strong their IPs are especially now that they own Bethesda and Activision Blizzard. Literally CoD sells as much as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe over 2 to 3 platforms. Yeah, it required more platforms but if Mario Kart is huge, they're even bigger. Access is a big part of what's makes IP strong. Imagine if they one day decided, let's not make CoD multiplat after the game expanded to 100 million gamers per game.
Re: Xbox's Phil Spencer Reiterates Plan To Put "More Of Our Games On More Platforms"
@Burning_Spear Microsoft is probably in a stronger position then Nintendo was with the Wii U. Minecraft for example is now one of the world's biggest games. Selling hardware on multiplat alone actually makes them scary as hell. Can you imagine if Nintendo released no games and still sold 25 million Wii U units in 3 years? Now imagine them porting most their games to the Wii and getting 60 million like Sony. They're pulling insane numbers by doing little.
Re: Xbox's Phil Spencer Reiterates Plan To Put "More Of Our Games On More Platforms"
@Jeronan I disagree. Where are you getting that the consoles are sold at a lost? Its not been this way since the PS4. You can search up how much the parts cost and retail for. Most of Sony's profits actually come from hardware in their own reports.
Re: Xbox's Phil Spencer Reiterates Plan To Put "More Of Our Games On More Platforms"
@TheFatPlumber I see it the other way round. They are weakening Nintendo IP with casual games that hide behind an adult story. If they can sell more units then a Wii U with only third party, then it only shows Nintendo is in need of catching up.
Re: Xbox's Phil Spencer Reiterates Plan To Put "More Of Our Games On More Platforms"
@jedgamesguy It actually makes them strong because they can sell consoles on multiplats alone.
Re: Xbox's Phil Spencer Reiterates Plan To Put "More Of Our Games On More Platforms"
@rjejr I watched the whole Showcase and it had some good games. People underrated Xbox IPs but a lot of them focus on gameplay.
Re: Xbox's Phil Spencer Reiterates Plan To Put "More Of Our Games On More Platforms"
@JH64 That's literally makes them scary strong. No exclusive and still selling 21 million is stronger than Wii U with exclusives.
Re: LEGO Horizon Adventures Is Coming To Switch, Confirmed For Holiday 2024
Saw it live. Definitely getting on the Switch. Pretty cool. I still haven't finished Horizon: Zero Dawn as I got bored but will try to get through it now.
Re: Rumour: Reliable Insider Says Kingdom Hearts 4 'Might' Come To Switch 2
This is why I rarely come to Nintendo Life anymore. Stop reporting fake rumours from nameless people who can't even be sure if something is coming. Think about it. Does this make sense to you? Would a leaker who has sources "think about" whether a game is going to make said platform? Its either a Yes or a No and if they had sources, they'll report that.
Re: Nintendo Switch Surpasses 140 Million Sales As Company Acknowledges Successor
@Kapten_N I think it'll be $400 as well but not everyone has the OLED or considers it. The sequel is more a replacement for the OG Switch more so then the OLED which some people might still hold onto and not upgrade immediately.
By the time Super Switch comes out which will likely be March 2025. The console would be close to meeting the 13.5 million units they need already. That means next year, the bar is only about 7 million Switch or so for three models.
No one will be upset and you can believe what you want but if you think Nintendo will do a price drop just to sell a couple of millions units then go ahead.
I just don't see why they feel there is a purpose to do so. What benefits does that even bring?
Re: Nintendo Switch Surpasses 140 Million Sales As Company Acknowledges Successor
@Kapten_N I'm going to add that a "price drop" would have also signalled to fans that you want to EXTEND the life of the product known as a Switch. That or its to meet sales targets when it falls short and recover some money.
It means, I now feel ripped off if I already bought the product especially if recently.
It means, I have to wait a bit longer if it wasn't the product I was looking for.
It also means they are trying to fight AGAINST market trends which is saying your product is declining. That's is actually anti-consumer.
Its like anti-aging cream for companies.
You're basically saying, no I'm not going to let the Switch die even if you're not buying it.
Edit:
If the Super Switch comes out and the Switch sales drops off a cliff. Its good news for them. It means people REALLY like their new product a lot.
If the Super Switch comes out and the Switch sales continues to sell solid numbers. Its good news for them too. It means people still like their old product despite their new product.
Even if a disaster happens and the Super Switch comes out and the Switch sales gain momentum again (like the Wii did when the Wii U came out). It means people are saying they like their old products better meaning their new one has failed which is still fine and recoverable if they don't do a price drop.
Why?
Because you've not corner yourself.
If your new product failed and you've just dropped the price of the old one. How is that going to work out for you?
That's how companies die by making dumb decisions like that.
Re: Nintendo Switch Surpasses 140 Million Sales As Company Acknowledges Successor
@Kapten_N Price cuts are harmful for product because you're basically saying your product is "worth less" now then it did before. When you account inflation into it, that make it even worst because there is a huge price difference with the new product. You end up not selling either.
The reverse mentality to what you said actually works better as they will be driving consumers to buy the Super Switch by not dropping the price of the Switch cause its only $100 more. If the difference is $150, they might re-think.
Think of it this way:
Would you get a New 3DS XL in 2020 for US$150 or a Switch for $300 and then actually continue to buy games for it like you would? What about $50 in 2025?
I wouldn't buy it and if I did, then what's the point of the Switch as a sequel again? (Which I should add they have stated is another pillar.)
All that causes is to make me rethink if I want to get any consoles cause one feels expensive compared to the other and the other feels dated.
That is the last thing they want.
I don't know if you saw my edits, but if they wanted a price drop they would have done so in 2023 when the Switch sales halved so it not just about moving units. They obviously knew this and have been cutting production of the OG Switch and Lite.
Their goal this year is 13.5 million units.
If the OLED takes 9.5 million of those which is a consistent number, it doesn't leave much room for the Switch and Lite. Why would they need a permanent price drop to sell like maybe 2.5 million Switch in a whole year and 1.5 million Lite?
The Wii U at full price sold better then that.
If you want a sequel to a product, the goal is to actually not drop the prices. That's why Nintendo evergreen titles outsell titles that drop in price after its been on market for X years.
Because what you're basically saying is our product is worth the price even after X years in but now we believe we have a better product which is worth even more not because its "new".
Whether the consumer buys it and which one is up to them. You're not trying to blackmail them into either one.
Re: Nintendo Switch Surpasses 140 Million Sales As Company Acknowledges Successor
@Kapten_N Anyway, my point is that the Switch has sold enough. Their focus should be on the Super Switch and they aren't rushing to sell more Switch units or clear stock. They can take 5 years to sell that 15% or so. It depends on what their goals are with the 1st Switch Generation but 180-185+ would be a minimum target I would say which seems pretty achievable to me without a cut. They can always release new models like an OLED Lite and then do a price cut but I see no point to doing when the Lite is being outsold by the premium OLED.
Edit:
Just to add some numbers:
FY3 Switch -------- Lite ----------- OLED
Total 93,470,000 23,540,000 24,340,000
==================================
2024 03,860,000 02,520,000 09,320,000
2023 06,140,000 02,620,000 09,220,000
2022 13,560,000 03,700,000 05,800,000
2021 20,320,000 08,510,000
2020 14,830,000 06,190,000
2019 16,970,000
2018 15,050,000
2017 02,740,000
Notice how the OLED is their best selling model now and is doing better then last year or launch year. They know consumers are ready for a premium product so no need to drop the price when the next one (which is more a Switch replacement) comes out.
Edit 2: My prediction for 2025. They have said they want to sell 13.5 million units.
FY3 Switch -------- Lite ----------- OLED
==================================
2025 02,500,000 01,500,000 09,500,000
Re: Nintendo Switch Surpasses 140 Million Sales As Company Acknowledges Successor
@Kapten_N Well the typical strategy of most companies is to have a 3rd console out when the 1st generation is dead. We see this with PlayStation which stopped selling in 2005 and PlayStation 3 launched in 2006.
Similarly, the PlayStation 4 came out in 2013 when they finally stopped selling the PlayStation 2.
PlayStation 5 seems like an exception as it came out in 2020 when the PlayStation 3 stopped selling in 2015 but we know the PlayStation 4 Pro came out in 2016.
Simply put, this is the release strategy of most gaming companies to pick off stragglers who may not have upgraded yet.
Nintendo is very similar in that regard and actually likes to release a lot of models. The DS stopped selling in 2017 and the 3DS in 2021 which was when the Switch and OLED Models came out.
And actually the GameBoy lasted 9 years before the Color. Color, Advance, DS were all about 3 years apart. DSi was 4 from the DS but the 3DS was also 3 from the DSi.
Re: Nintendo Switch Surpasses 140 Million Sales As Company Acknowledges Successor
@Kapten_N Also I believe the 3DS is basically a more powerful portable GameCube and the DS was a more powerful portable N64. The Switch thus is a more powerful portable Wii U (since the Wii was the exception to the generation case and added as a stop gap console).
Re: Nintendo Switch Surpasses 140 Million Sales As Company Acknowledges Successor
@Kapten_N Not as far as I know. I bought a second New 3DS XL right after the launch of the Switch because I thought I lost my 3DS XL and it was the retail price.
As for selling "that good", I'm just going with recorded stats and came to a 15% extra which is a lower percentage by Nintendo handheld standards. (It works out to be ~23.5 million in 3+ years after the Super Switch launches which is an average of 8 million a year for 3 years).
The GBA sold 30 million of their 82+ million after the launch of the DS and the DS was backwards compatible with the GBA.
The Game Boy and Game Boy Color sold almost 24 million of their 118+millon after the launch of the Game Boy Advance.
The DS sold for 6 more years after the 3DS came out though the last two was more like clearing stock and that moved over 25 million units whilst the 3DS did 17 million after the Switch launched.
So I've actually set the Switch to a pretty modest number. Also selling 180+ million Switches seems "a lot" still but would be about how much they have sold last generation total (181,140,000) and unless they declined again, they have actually done WAY better every generation except the SNES generation.
Re: Nintendo Switch Surpasses 140 Million Sales As Company Acknowledges Successor
@FirstEmperor I count the GBC as a separate generation as well. 2x is not really a modest upgrade for a 90s handheld. I think the Wii wasn't even 2x as powerful as the GameCube so there you go but is consider a new generation. The Motion Controls was originally plan for the GameCube as was the 3D screen. It just never came to be till the 3DS and Wii. So honestly, its just how they want to market their product but I agree that Nintendo has only declined twice.
Re: Nintendo Switch Surpasses 140 Million Sales As Company Acknowledges Successor
@EriXz People don't take handhelds seriously and numbers are all about how you cut the pie anyway. Like one can say Nintendo generations lasts longer so really you could argue the Wii U was a Wii Pro and the 3DS a DS Pro and thus both sold accordingly. The difference being that Nintendo released exclusive content on their Pro devices and always have....even the New 3DS had their own exclusive but it was still a "3DS" by marketing choice.