@Heavyarms55 The question is it going to be a pain-in-the-neck and spread over two different versions of Switch's lifecycle or is it going to all be released on one Switch? That's the question.
Edit: I hate it when games do a Xenoblade Chronicles thing where the first game is on one system and the sequel is on the next especially when the first one isn't portable. Its such a pain to not be able to take all of it around with you.
@Heavyarms55 I see what you mean but I'm okay with stuff that ends in cliffhangers. Leaves more to the imagination in my eyes.
I'm not just a consumer and plan to become a developer/writer too one of these days so I understand the proposition that they are making.
When writing a story, one wants something that will leave a good taste in the mouth and the consumer desiring more but at the same time it must close a chapter. Its actually quite hard to do.
I assume they are saying this to hype up the game.
When I first saw the game, I was wondering if it was going to be a Trilogy or something because this doesn't look like the sort of world you explore in just one game.
@Heavyarms55 @BornInNorway81 @Ryu_Niiyama
I think of it from the perspective that each game is its own stand-alone game but only linked together universe-wise.
Like how you don't really need to play Bayonetta to enjoy Bayonetta 2.
I mean how I wish Nintendo would say the same thing: "We will make 3 Mario Galaxy games if the first one sells well."
Yes, please.
It means we would have been guaranteed a game Mario Galaxy 3 game for the Switch (and beyond).
And even if we don't get the game "because of sales" there is nothing to lose here. We still got the first game.
Even if the game does end on a cliffhanger, we still got a game from it which is better then nothing.
The point is that this is much better then people port begging for Wonderful 101 and a 102 sequel and Bayonetta 3 (which is still coming to fruition.)
Edit: It's not worded well but basically, the developers are in control not the rabbid fans and they are saying they want a win-win for everybody.
@Heavyarms55 Well I don't own the second one and never got very far into the first one. The quality was pretty good but something kept me from continuing the game (could be because it was on the Wii) so I get what you mean with Astral Chain. So far it hasn't happened but I hope they make a lot of Wii Remasters or ports to the Switch so I can play it on the go.
@RevengeFan @illmatic20xx I think it more like Hyrule Warriors where its like side quests to the main game to gain items and rewards and stuff like that.
@Heavyarms55 Interesting. When you mean predecessor do you mean XC1 or XCX? Because I really liked the way XCX works but apparently in the minority here. Also, it is a Platinum action games which is to some, an acquired taste so I suggest you watch the Treehouse gameplay videos if you haven't already. I really enjoyed the game's features from the fact that you can customise your character down to the ability to collect rubbish for money. The awesome bit is how your Legion works so well with you and you can play co-op with a friend if you choose to.
@Heavyarms55 Well a lot of people have said that the first video they presented didn't pull them in and it kind of a "first impression leaves a mark sort of thing".
I was reminded of SMT/Atlus, Xenoblade/Monolith Soft with Platinum gameplay with this game. Would you happen to be or not be a fan of those games as well?
Edit: Originally when seeing Xenoblade Chronicles 2 I felt the same way. Now I've developed a liking for the game and its style after watching a friend play the game.
I dunno, I was intrigued from the first video but it could be because I am starving for good content (on the Switch).
@KBuckley27 @JayJ I can understand why some Nintendo fans don't like it.
@Heavyarms55 @bozz @Ayye-ant @Xaessya @Nerdfather1 Platinum Games is sort of an acquired taste so I can understand why some of you might not feel it. Also the game is so...ridiculous. Its nearly as bad Death Stranding if not worst then Cyberpunk 2077.
Nintendo games are nothing like them in that sense and so it is off-putting. They are perhaps more in line with games like Dragon Quest which bores some people to death because it looks so...generic.
So I understand everyone has a different view on these things.
That said, I think as a whole package, it is put together quite well. The music got to me first followed by the gameplay and how the over-the-top story worked with the game.
Also the game is both a single player and a co-op experience which is awesome. We need more games like that.
The same reasons why I love weird jRPGs is the same reason why I like Astral Chain. Its so awesome to deep dive into their world.
I think that's the best way to describe the "hype".
It is underground yet also ridiculously mainstream at the same time. I would compare games like that to "metal music". That's what make it so special but also such a turn off for people.
Edit: I liked 90% of the games they showed in that E3 Direct so depending on how you look at it perhaps my opinion/tastes are too wide/flimsy.
@Edu23XWiiU Yeah. The Switch is moving into the best years of its life. We aren't even finished with all the 2019 Directs yet. There's going to be more competition incoming in future Directs.
As for the best selling PS4 titles, I got my information from Wikipedia so I don't know how accurate it is.
And yeah, I believe and hope the Switch won't get a revision any time soon either. Not sure if the Switch mini counts as a revision though as it is more a market-expanding device.
@Timsworld2 Well sure....that's why we have different regions for different reasons. Because everyone's culture and views on things are different.
Like its probably normal in Japan to see a 16 year anime girl in a bikini but something like that in the West would be illegal. Got to be 18 or 21 in some regions.
Yeah, its anime, it has no "age" but its the suggestion that they are 16 that is the problem.
In reverse, gore and blood is viewed in a different light in Asian countries compared to western countries.
Thus why we need to "modified, changed or censored" games to begin with because a 16-year old anime high school girl is appropriate in modern Japan but not in say America.
Yes, you can say from an artistical integrate PoV, we shouldn't censor or modify their work but from another perspective, it is our responsibility what we feed our children and culture.
Its the whole guns exist but shouldn't argument, that's why I used it.
Someone was smart enough to invent guns. Yes.
You can say, such is life.
Guns should therefore be legalised to protect me from people of power who now has access to guns.
Or we can just ban everyone from using it...which is hard to do.
Some people will inevitably disagree and we need to for balance sake. Thus why in some regions around the world, guns are legal.
Art works the same way. Its a piece of art.
Yes.
But its also responsible in depicting something that can potentially be harmful to other people.
Like pornography can be art too but some of them promote things like rape or incest and other things like that.
I hate to bring this example up but the world would end-up like China if we didn't have censor boards and stuff like that.
They use to have no movie, games or music rating system at all.
And you can see that as a good/bad thing.
The irony is that China is the result of a highly "individualised" world where people took responsibilities for their own crap. China even want to implement a social credit rating system which also has its advantages and disadvantages.
Either you see China as living the dream or you hate the place.
The point is that no country, system or piece of art is above criticism and with it come censorship and modifications.
Having the balls to do something is not that hard.
Having the balls not to do something is harder.
I mean what do you think would happen if the rest of the world allowed half of the porn Japan produces for example?
Everything taken to an extreme is bad.
It just raises the stakes where people become like daredevils in the name of art. Artistic integrity will become a battle of who can make the weirdest most outlandish and controversial piece there is.
We know this from reality TV shows where with each season getting more and more outlandish in order to occupy the people's attention. That's how it works.
Look at games.
Ultimately as I stated Nintendo wants to focus on making games for everyone and that's it.
Nintendo doesn't want to create a tank with a world-class browser and Netflix because it doesn't benefit them or the consumer in any way.
It doesn't want to update its game consoles every 2-3 years but it is being forced to by greedy consumers who wants the games others are having.
They want the cake and eat it too.
The criticism you level at Nintendo is the same as others...just different reasoning or cause.
Sony is progressive. They are an entertainment company and once a hardware innovator.
Microsoft is Goliath. They are a powerhouse in the software industry unmatched by any other.
Nintendo against them is like small fry. They can't compete in a hardware or software front so can only focus on what they do best.
Make games.
Even if Iwata did it for business reasons, it was for good reasons to protect the industry and stop games from changing from family-friendly gameplay focused entertainment to AI-driven motion capture tech demos that Microsoft and Sony is after.
These other companies do what they do not for consumer benefit for their own sake....staying relevant in the industry.
They stay relevant by giving us more and consumers demand more from them.
The cycle thus continues.
As I said before, artistic integrity will become a battle of who can make the weirdest most outlandish and controversial piece there is.
And we are starting to see this with games:
It used to be about gameplay.
Then it was about multimedia functionality and graphics.
Now we have Death Stranding, Astral Chain and Cyperpunk 2077.
Its so ridiculous but people eat it up like it is normal.
Sure I'm ironically a big fan of all three but what comes after these three games I wonder?
Is it even about artistic integrity anymore or just showmanship and more unhealthy console wars?
@Timsworld2 The DS was region free for the same reason the Switch currently is. It aims to be a developer-friendly because Nintendo needs it.
I personally don't mind either way but I think they should introduce a Switch mini that is region specific and leave the Switch as it is. That way people get the best of both worlds.
Parents have less to worry about buying their kid a Switch and they can always curate their content that way. (Say import American versions of Doom Eternal that can't be played on an Australian Switch mini.)
@Timsworld2 I already stated some of the reasons but you choose to ignore them.
Here's another, what is stopping older children with money from buying their own Switch and accessing games that are normally banned, censored or modified in their region?
Where's my right not to be exposed to some of these said games and play video games in a safe ecosystem?
I mean, you're basically arguing against censorship or having region lock anything at this point saying it has no benefits but to the people doing the censoring or region locking.
You and I might not agree with censorship (region locking) for various reasons but you can't deny it does have its advantages like blocking off most child porn.
It's the same reason why the Switch has no Internet Browser and why Miiverse was more or less censored. You might as well say that is a problem too.
Region locking acts as an ecosystem that prevents purposeful misappropriation of cultural differences in gaming. There are certain things you can't do in America that is perfectly acceptable in Japan and vise versa.
If it's up to the users to decide then why are you against guns in the hand of civilians? Isn't it up to people to decide whether they want to bear arms or not? I mean, what if the cops were the bad guys?
What if these "lazy" developers want to create games but can't afford to license their content to the whole world?
@carlos82 I have no idea how much they have sold but I suspect some of them have sold higher and others lower. Enter the Gungeon has moved 1 million units for example on the Switch and it isn't the highest selling indie game if I'm not mistaken...but I could be wrong.
Crash sold well because it came out when it did and wasn't too delayed.
Third-parties is struggling on the Switch but I suspect that's because they port old games or gimped games to the Switch.
Again I could be wrong and can only hope that Astral Chain is the first third-party game that smashes the 2 million sales barrier. (Seriously, I want to see it hit like the 5-10 million barrier but good luck with that.)
But based on YouTube video views, it doesn't look like that is even that likely.
It's kind of a sad situation for third parties.
Its sad everyone wants a Switch Pro for "third party" (when I suspect its just more greed on their part) and I think Nintendo is possibly done with the Switch after two generations and move into making Nintendo phones or something.
I dunno.
I just want to see more quality games and timely ports tbh.
@Timsworld2 Basically, PlayStation and Xbox don't care about microtransactions and loot boxes existing and they want to make their console easy to use, fix, sell, etc to whoever, whenever because it pushes sales and makes marketing easier.
That's why they do what they do. They take the easy way out.
If it is about the consumer why does Sony continue to censoring games and continue to push the multimedia TV box?
Why the Vita? Why the PS4?
Because I want a box I can't take around with me and a crappy "functional" portable device that mostly played Japanese visual novels?
@Timsworld2 Um no...It doesn't just benefit Nintendo but also for developers...which is what you need on a platform.
As for consumers, do you want to get sued by some random Japanese company over some infringement or only someone from your region?
As I said, it protects you and makes pricing competitive and not be inflated by importing which is what is happening to a lot of Switch games.
It works like international to local law. Your local laws are like region locking which is there to PROTECT YOU whether you feel that way or not. If you don't like it, change the local laws. Of course, if you break the law it's still not good for you but the last thing you want is to get sued by some international agent.
The only "advantage" that you gain from region unlocking is that you can import and play any game you want including games not coming to your region. It's a huge advantage, sure, for most but not the be or and end-all.
If they don't want to bring the game over in the first place, then its mostly not worth playing in my opinion because they are either from indie developers or have too many local copyrights to be worth the risk. That or they are lazy developers.
I don't know where you're from but I wouldn't be surprised if you're a pro-gun American.
The argument you present is the same except you don't realize you are taking it from other people.
Choice.
You're saying I should have a "right to bear arms".
But where's my right to a safe haven? Where's my right to NOT have guns in my country?
Just because something exists doesn't mean it should, good or bad.
Sure, parents should be parents and adults can make their own decisions but the point stands.
Afterall, its just "entertainment" right?
Your choice to import game stops my choice of protecting myself from being exposed to crap businesses and their crappy practices.
Tell me how the Switch without its region locking has helped me in any way?
I live in Australia and here:
I still can't play Japanese games because I don't speak Japanese. I still can't play Cloud-based games like PSO2 Online (huge fan) or Resident Evil 7 or Assassin's Creed Odyssey because I am NOT in Japan and can't access their servers. I am still getting games not being localised due to "cultural issues" or other reasons. Microtransactions and loot boxes which is being made illegal in EU is still a thing.
Meanwhile, my Switch and its games are off less value because of American imports lowering it to <AUD$299 yet I have to pay over AUD$399 for a new one. Good luck being a second-hand Switch retailer.
Basically, I can import American and Japanese region games here at a higher price but they are generally worthless here. This is driving prices of new games up and old games down.
Wow. I can import and play like Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 and some Japanese visual novels or something.
Is it worth it honestly?
I don't know.
My point is that both sides have an advantage and disadvantage.
You think it's not a disadvantage to have so many regional versions of Switches? Repairs and sales would be difficult, etc. So how does that benefit Nintendo?
It's not clear cut black and white as you think it is. Just as it's not about one's "right to bear arms".
The rights bring with it consequences just as mine does.
Sometimes, I'll rather not have access to something (guns, games, etc) then have something potential harmful to a lot of innocent people.
How many innocent lives have been taken in American school shootings and in the streets for example that doesn't happen around the world?
So its all perspective.
From a family perspective, Nintendo did right by its consumers as the family-friendly company that it is but times has changed.
The Wii U flopped though the 3DS did well.
So they responded accordingly with a region free Switch. I wouldn't be surprised if the Super Nintendo Switch sequel will be also region locked again.
@BenAV @Agramonte @Mando44646 @carlos82 Yeah. A lot of data hasn't been released for the Switch though. Like if they include all the wonderful indies I would suspect it would probably change that list quite a bit.
@Edu23XWiiU In all honesty though if the NPD data of all games were released we will see an amazing amount of indie titles that have probably sold well over 1 or 2 million copies making the list seem less...pathetic. I mean I see them in the top of Switch eShop all the time so I no doubt they must have sold quite well. SEGA/Atlus also needs to make an appearance but they haven't exactly launched all that many big games on the Switch yet.
Edit: Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle is a great game by the way. Deserves to be on the list, just that it isn't exactly a big or very unique title in the big scheme of things.
@Edu23XWiiU Ha! Ha! I swear if Astral Chain doesn't sell well over a million or two, it will be very sad.
It might be a bit weeb to some and not everyone's cup of tea but I mean all that effort a developer puts in would be so wasted that I don't think they would want to try it again and that would not be good for quality big third-party games on the Switch.
I'm kind of getting tired of being treated like Nintendo "doesn't matter" anymore. Even the Wii got a nerfed but unique version of Call of Duty for example and people are saying how this and that "isn't possible" for the Switch when the Switch is more powerful then a Wii U and nearly as powerful as the base Xbox One.
Also the best selling third party game on the PS4 is The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt followed by Monster Hunter: World. Neither are my cup of tea but it's not half bad. Thus why I would like Astral Chain to be on the top of that list competing with it.
@Timsworld2
Region locking has its benefits. You people clearly don't do business or have a business mind. It:
a) makes sure the local retailer doesn't get screwed over. That one is self-explanatory.
b) means more control for Nintendo which allows them to bring games over in its supposed formed instead behind locked behind a region. You see this with "Dead or alive Xtreme 3" for the Switch, a game that will NEVER come westward; if you want it, import the expensive Japanese version. In a region locked console, Nintendo will have the right to reject the title from being launched in Japan unless they made the translation available.
c) has some legal grounds to it. It also works in reverse. For example, music and visual content that are copyrighted in one region might not be in another. A Japanese game might make a US release therefore impossible since all those characters are owned by many different Japanese companies but has no legal representation in Western countries. So as long as it's only manufactured in Japan and the sale is taking place in Japan (and then send outside of it), it's perfectly legal...thus the region lock. Region unlock game makes it hard for these companies to "protect their property" and sue someone on grounds of theft thus they will rather NOT release a game because of the hassle.
Edit: Basically, its about the games. When you have a lot of games like the DS and Switch has, it doesn't matter that you are missing out on a few niche titles that will never release stateside anyway. The console will not have certain games because Japanese companies don't want to risk making games on a platform that will not protect their investment. Similarly, Nintendo retains control of what they can and can't release on the platform due to legal issues. Nintendo can force Koei Tecmo to release "Dead or alive Xtreme 3" worldwide or not at all.
Edit 2: It works the same as local vs international law. I mean, why isn't everyone complaining that there are too many countries and regions and we should all be region free (follow international laws)? Because countries like America wants to protect its position and gun rights which the international committee doesn't agree with and it works for them. The idea is that everyone from small "startups" to giant corporations are protected from legalities thus why there are two sets of laws in the first place. Region locking works the same way.
@Turbo857 But then the perspective of the game will have to change back to top-down and it will defeat the point of the 3D Remake....which is to look pretty.
@GameOtaku Translation costs money as others have said....and Seiken Densetsu III is a legendary game also. The price is a bit high I understand but is totally worth it also if you're big on good RPGs.
Edit: I would recommend you and others pick it up on a sale or something. I'm going to be doing the same thing.
@KingdomHeartsFan Yeah. I don't know why they're not implementing but I guess a part of it is that Nintendo is cheap.
Put the social features on the lower selling system means less effort on their part to maintain and run. So I wouldn't be surprised that the Switch Pro and Switch 2 will have new even better social features again and all the core fans will flock out to buy it.
Also what third party games are you looking at besides Kingdom Hearts that is... I wish Square would step up and let us know if 1.5 and 2.5 is coming or not. I don't think 3 can be made the Switch because of expensive carts. That said Ive been enjoying my time with Valkyria Chronicles 4 (and the going to start the first one soon.) They're doing okay in the jRPGs department but I know what you mean.
Nintendo has now become the last gen port machine which is their new strategy.
Honeslty, the N64/Gamecube philosophy had not left them at all in terms of hardware development and software library.
While everyone wants to see a new SNES from Nintendo.
@KingdomHeartsFan Well for me I would have liked to have had more people experience Miiverse and StreetPass then 3DS loyalists? Apparently these things were originally designed for the Switch. So sales is kind of important for me in that sense. It was cool how 3DS was saved and started to move units again but not cool that the people along for the ride were almost exclusives the same "gamer people". I want to make new friends also not the same Nintendo loyalists every time a system near flops. Nintendo really need to get their act together in that regard, I wish somehow their second generation of consoles sell better then their first but so far unlike PlayStation, that has proven difficult. Expensive hardware never seems to work well for them or sell to the same crowd because of how they are made.
PlayStation (1,3,P) satified the core customer base first before finding new ground with casuals (2,4,V) and the uber core.
Nintendo seems to always go in light and aim for stars first and foremost before doubling down on the core market that will buy their stuff for whatever reasons.
@Trajan I see it differently. I think fanboys comes in all shapes and sizes. I can for example just like Nintendo without being a fanboy. I know what product and services I am getting and I understand what I am willing to pay for it then whats the problem? I'm not inflating or artificially making stuff up to justify a purchase I don't need. I know what I want and am getting into. Now if I decided to buy a PlayStation and/or an Xbox as well that's great but what if those consoles that don't suit my wants or needs? Then why am I getting them? I become a fanboy of specs, exclusives and trying to sound objective when I don't need to do that. I have nothing to prove or hide.
@Heavyarms55 I agree with most of what you've said though I was a Nintendo Life observer back in the Wii U days (they started around then) but don't remember reading so much stats and enjoyed their news much better back then. That said, it's such a shame that people are not allowed to like a brand and one brand only. We don't all want generic products that do the same things. There is a reason why platform exclusives are still such a big deal today. PlayStation is doing well compared to Xbox because of its exclusives.
It is these games that are helping the industry grow and for gamers to enjoy multiple brands.
I would actually argue the "fan boys" are those that own multiple consoles and buy the exclusives that come with each system.
I would know I am one of them.
PlayStation is about underground jRPGs and Sony exclusives.
Xbox is largely about shooters.. And Nintendo has their own franchises.
Gaming is an expensive hobby and one that I've turned my back on at times.
If anything a part of me hates that I can't get all my games on one platform of my choice.
Just this generation, it happens to be the Nintendo Switch.
I can't always afford to buy every games let alone every system for all their good quality exclusive games.
Edit: Ill have to say my favourite system of all time is the PSP followers by the SNES. Nothing wrong with Xbox, I actually enjoy their shooters particularly the ones they discontinue just that I'm more a portable underground jRPG gamer. As in I like my games to be fresh and unique every few generations. Sometimes when you think they are running out of ideas, they'll pull a fast one on you and release games like Persona, Disagea and Valkyria Chronicles.
@Desrever I don't feel that way at all. This year is looking to be a massive hit. The DS was very similar in many aspects to the Switch and that system sold the best in its fourth year on market so I wouldn't be surprised if the Switch did the same. There still quality games like Animal Crossing, Shin Megami Tensei V, Bayonetta 3, Shiro Neko Project, Yo Kai Watch, Inazuma Eleven Ares and others that we haven't heard from since. Then there always the off chances we get more surprises like Astral Chain from Platnium. We know Monolith Soft is helping with a new Zelda game, there's still no word of franchises like Pikmin, F-Zero and others. If they make a reappearance that would be great news.
Edit: A lot of people are saying that this system will not top the Wii but it is already ahead of it at the same time frame. It's actually only behind the DS which exploded in sales when the DS Lite was introduced two years in. So if we assume that Nintendo will release a Switch mini, I don't see why the system can't have the same explosive effect. Also exercising common sense in historical sale numbers the Switch should sell best three and fourth year in meaning it'll move at least 40 million units or more in the next two years at 20 million a year meaning it would have sold 72 million units by December 2021. Give it another 15 million for the next two year and we'll have 102 million by 2024, Wii numbers...and these are lower estimates.
I wouldn't be surprised if this year they move 25-30 million units alone. And the same for next year.
@Yogsoggoth "Ugh, the Gamecube didn't sell and it was the most powerful consoles, so Nintendo should always make underpowered consoles argument."
Sorry I went off on a tangent but that's not what I meant at all. I am saying that even an underpowered Nintendo console can sell that many units because it isn't just about specs. I was using the example that they are marketing to a proven market that is still around to buy their stuff.
If we had to group hardware into specs as a generation instead of time what I am saying is that due to the needs of customers Nintendo could sell the Game Boy today and still pull in 100 million units or more.
There are three key markets and thus three types of consumers.
Early adopters buy things from market innovators and leaders who brings something new to the table. The middle is where most the money is generally made and the late adopters are those often looking for a bargain.
The Nintendo Switch is both a late adopters HD device and a market leading device. That's what makes it odd and unique.
Portability has to do with a lot of the success of the Switch even though it is only a HD device.
If the Switch was released many years ago, profit margins would either be much less or they would need to pull modern Apple numbers to get the same results.
Not everyone is an early or mid gen adopter.
I purchased a PS3 second hand for about the same price as my Switch in 2014? (I think it was.) It was my first HD system and I was late to the party. I didn't play my PS3 much and largely used it as an expensive Blu-Ray player.
So in that sense, the Switch is also a bargain for those gaming on the go.
I don't have a 4k TV or computer yet and don't plan to get one for some time so you can make a PS6 for all I care, their specs upgrade has little to no benefit to me. I'm not going to but a 4k TV or computer for the purpose of playing 4k games anymore.
I'm not alone in this regard.
Similarly, there are people who have jump ship to 4k and have no interest in Nintendo's portability system because that is not what they are looking for.
So right now, Nintendo isn't really competing with Sony and Microsoft in that sense that while people still compare their products, they are not marketed to the same group of people nor do either side provide a competing product.
A Switch Pro or a Switch 2 could change all that but I doubt it would make much difference unless it could rival a PS5.
People that are interested in 4k would be looking at the latest and greatest and the most powerful and a 4k Switch would be unfeasible, overkill and also chances are not even as powerful as a PS4 Pro. So are they really going to capture that market? I doubt it.
Most likely a Switch Pro or a Switch 2 will just cannibalise their current Switch market or flop hard.
As for the number, I think they are a best estimate but doable.
Nintendo has sold 32 million units and counting already.
As I said, March 2019-March 2020 is going to be their best year (25-30 million units) and March 2020-March 2021 isn't likely not going to be too bad either (20 million).
So 80 million units by March 2021 isn't that unrealistic a guess.
Even if they sold only 10 million units in the next three years after that it'll do 110 million.
Also my numbers are by 2024 which is 7 years after the Switch's release.
@Dilated @Yogsoggoth
Am I the only one who see a 7 year old Switch without a Switch 2 (maybe a Switch Pro and a Switch mini)?
People keep forgetting about the GameCube, Wii and 3DS is really kinda versing the PS2 and PSP from a specs sense.
The Wii was able to sell 101.63 million units after HD became prominent. Just as the PS2 was still pushing number into the PS3 era.
Nintendo lost that generation by a mile if we compared generation by hardware specs.
Again, the N64 and DS were vs PlayStation One specs wise. Sony had no portable device at the time.
Similarly compare the HD competition the X360 and early XOne and I think the Wii U + Switch will do similar numbers. 120 million is my "best guess" for how many the Switch + Wii U will do. I think recent Nintendo tend to have the flop first and success later but overall still losing out to the competition that is Sony PS3, early PS4 and PSV sales combined.
Not sure who will win out in 4k yet but Sony is off to a good start PS4 Pro.
Also I believe after the Switch Nintendo may go into mobile market with 4k foldable VR phones now a thing.
My point was that I prefer third party games that highlight its features like Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle. Third-party games built for the system. They're...okay. Above average at least and exciting. There's games like Starlink as well but people say it is boring. I have the game and it isn't lighting the world on fire.
Yes, you're right of course, it does have SOME third party and while DOOM is great and overpriced mind you, it is STILL missing out on a lot of third party games especially the impactful ones. Unless it got some thing to the scope of Tomb Raider, Beyond Good and Evil 2 or Cyberpunk 2077 which peaks people's interests, its never going to be able to compete with home consoles from a power front.
If they want third party support, it is better for them to provide a home console system that actually has those third party games and stream it to the Switch like a Wii U 2.0.
Unless it was as powerful as a PS5 or higher, no amount of power will every get you the latest games from AAA developers that actually have hype around them and people actually want to own or play.
We'll still be getting ports of older games.
And if it was that powerful, Sony would have rolled out a Switch-like device not a home console. They're not stupid of course.
Also the DS had far MORE third party support then the PSP, good and bad but so what? Did most people care.
My point is not to diss on Nintendo or Sony but to say that competition is generally fair. A hybrid device will always be behind a home console in power unless Nintendo had really amazing engineers and even then it will have a time and place and the "right" iteration. I would argue that the Switch is a continuum of their GameBoy line and is really providing the same sort of gaming experiences.
That said, hardware isn't everything. There's the OS to consider and software that actually make a new Switch a hit. Nintendo will need an online network that people accept and software features that will stand out from this version of the Switch.
You'll be surprised that the Switch can stay just as successful as it is without an iteration if Nintendo knows what it is doing but I would believe that there is most likely an iteration along the way.
What about the PS2? or the Wii? History isn't always a good indicator but the DS, Wii and PS2 did pretty good did it not?
There was no PS2 Pro, or Wii Pro and all three were the weaker system of their generation.
So by no means does specs (and iterations) drive sales. Nor just games or exclusives. Sometimes out of sheer luck, it is just the right time and the right place. The PS2 was so OG because it was that HD transition phrase and most people didn't make the jump yet.
HD, why? They say. I just want to play 480p DVDs which were awesome and still am. "Once you go to HD though you didn't turn back." They say.
4k has a faster adoption rate then HD TVs and now there's a the crowd that claims to be saying that 4k isn't relevant. Why they say?
Blu-Ray on the other hand isn't selling as well as DVDs. You'll think that it being HD and 4k people would adopt it faster but apparently not.
Of course I could write another essay as to why that is the case but going with this 4k consoles might do better then people would think.
So to be honest with you, I think the reason why Nintendo isn't pulling the number is because they are on the wrong side of revolution not because of hardware. Some people claim they don't know better or are family oriented. Others say they do this on purpose.
Honestly, sometime I do get the feeling that Nintendo is trying to be counter revolutionists with their hardware. Or they are just late to the party.
If we compare the Wii to the PS2, then they actually lost even if you include GameCube numbers into the fay. Over 155 PS2 to 123.37 GC and Wii.
So if the HD competition was able pull over X360(80 million)+early XBO (35+ million) numbers, assuming they come last again for being late to the party, the Switch + Wii U should be able to pull at least 115 million. Meaning the Switch will do Wii numbers again.
Since we are at it, we're already sold 32 million as of March 2019. Assume they sell another 30 million this coming year and 20 the year after that's 82 million by March 2021 and that's 4 year into the party. Assuming a steady 15 million after that for 3 years that's 127 million units sold.
@WOLF13 I dunno. I think they are doing just fine. I would buy a Nintendo console if it could kept up with the competition and actually did one thing play Blu-Ray movies, etc which are honestly a dying trend now.
I personally bought a Wii U but I remember that feeling of disappointment when I first heard about it that it was barely better then a PS3 Pro and didn't play movies.
Ended up getting a used PS3 after getting the Wii U and didn't really play with the Wii U before selling it. I was literally out of gaming for seventh generation during and was going to skip that whole generation but my bro ended up getting a Wii from his gf at the time.
@Savino There was no Wii Pro or Wii U Pro which is a shame really. (I think to be honest the Wii U was the Wii Pro people wanted but didn't. It sold about the amount of one.)
I think it is honestly hard for Nintendo's position to make an iteration. From a marketing perspective its not just about customer demand for better specs but iterations usually spell the "end" of a line and is about a compatibility thing. The last thing you want is to drive your previous customer base away if the unit is selling well and kill momentum. We all know new hardware doesn't automatically mean renewed momentum.
That said, it would make sense to roll out a Switch Mini in 2020 and and/or perhaps a Switch Pro in 2022 if not in 2020. Mid generation migrations would force Sony and Microsoft to up their game with a PS5 Pro and people will either eat it up or get peeved.
The best card Nintendo has right now however is the mysterious one.
No one know what Nintendo will do next. That's a good thing and a bad thing.
They could at any moment rejoin the console wars with a uber powerful console that stream games to the Switch like the Wii U Gamepad did.
They could roll out a dock mid way between that and push all streaming consoles.
They could roll out an iterative stop gap that prepares us for the next generation of console like the DSi.
@TurboTEF I get what you mean but cost is probably a bit too high. Even at $1 for 64GB that'll be like 6 million dollars for a typical AAA game that sells that many copies. That's enough for them to make a new whole game to sell to us which they'll rather do!!!!
@TurboTEF Nintendo has many possibly from a Dock to a full fledge console to iterations which will probably flair better in sales. A full fledge console makes more sense for what you want as the Switch can then be an expensive GamePad. Wii U 2.0 anyone?
Haven't though about what they can do with a dock though. Most likely it will have to be backwards compatible with the original OG Switch meaning it will be limited to USB 3.0 speeds instead of Thunderbolt.
@locky-mavo Then a home console is the way to go. Mobile tech is mobile.
@Manzoli I think Nintendo went the GameCube route again with the Switch and it isn't enough. Mainstream games like CoD are not likely to come to the Switch unless we see 64GB cartridges introduced at a cheap price and the Switch can handle the multiplayer aspect of it without any hiccups.
@NintendoFan4Lyf Most likely it will stick to a modified Maxwell architecture for backwards compatibility reasons especially if this is a Switch Pro we are talking about.
@dystome If 4k graphics are so earthshattering, they can always make a home console again if they need to and have the Switch act as a Wii U 2.0. That'll be interesting.
But most likely they will sell an iteration of the Switch because they know the market is there an people want that over a Home Console.
@westman98 I think they mean fiscal year of 2020 where the Switch will probably drop back to 2018 or 2017 numbers based on supposed lower output of bigger games.
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Re: Review: Super Mario Maker 2 - The Last 2D Mario Game You'll Ever Need
Can't wait.
Hopefully the sequel is great and Mario Maker 3 put 3D elements into the game and we can make our own Super Mario 3D World type of game.
Re: Preview: Astral Chain Is The 2019 Switch Game Everyone Should Be Talking About
@Heavyarms55 Sadly I don't think they plan to port Wii games any time soon. Maybe a Remaster or Remake but that not very likely either.
Re: PlatinumGames' Astral Chain To Be The First Of A Trilogy, Depending On Its Success
@Heavyarms55 The question is it going to be a pain-in-the-neck and spread over two different versions of Switch's lifecycle or is it going to all be released on one Switch? That's the question.
Edit: I hate it when games do a Xenoblade Chronicles thing where the first game is on one system and the sequel is on the next especially when the first one isn't portable. Its such a pain to not be able to take all of it around with you.
Re: PlatinumGames' Astral Chain To Be The First Of A Trilogy, Depending On Its Success
@Heavyarms55 I see what you mean but I'm okay with stuff that ends in cliffhangers. Leaves more to the imagination in my eyes.
I'm not just a consumer and plan to become a developer/writer too one of these days so I understand the proposition that they are making.
When writing a story, one wants something that will leave a good taste in the mouth and the consumer desiring more but at the same time it must close a chapter. Its actually quite hard to do.
I assume they are saying this to hype up the game.
When I first saw the game, I was wondering if it was going to be a Trilogy or something because this doesn't look like the sort of world you explore in just one game.
Re: PlatinumGames' Astral Chain To Be The First Of A Trilogy, Depending On Its Success
@Heavyarms55 @BornInNorway81 @Ryu_Niiyama
I think of it from the perspective that each game is its own stand-alone game but only linked together universe-wise.
Like how you don't really need to play Bayonetta to enjoy Bayonetta 2.
I mean how I wish Nintendo would say the same thing: "We will make 3 Mario Galaxy games if the first one sells well."
Yes, please.
It means we would have been guaranteed a game Mario Galaxy 3 game for the Switch (and beyond).
And even if we don't get the game "because of sales" there is nothing to lose here. We still got the first game.
Even if the game does end on a cliffhanger, we still got a game from it which is better then nothing.
The point is that this is much better then people port begging for Wonderful 101 and a 102 sequel and Bayonetta 3 (which is still coming to fruition.)
Edit: It's not worded well but basically, the developers are in control not the rabbid fans and they are saying they want a win-win for everybody.
Re: Nintendo, Sony And Microsoft Band Together To Fight Tariffs On Video Game Consoles
@PBandSmelly Nearly 1.4 billion people would disagree with you there. China isn't NK and even NK isn't what it seems.
Re: Preview: Astral Chain Is The 2019 Switch Game Everyone Should Be Talking About
@Heavyarms55 Well I don't own the second one and never got very far into the first one. The quality was pretty good but something kept me from continuing the game (could be because it was on the Wii) so I get what you mean with Astral Chain.
So far it hasn't happened but I hope they make a lot of Wii Remasters or ports to the Switch so I can play it on the go.
Re: Nintendo, Sony And Microsoft Band Together To Fight Tariffs On Video Game Consoles
@PBandSmelly Punished? What has China done?
Re: Aonuma Discusses Zelda: Link's Awakening's Dungeon-Making Feature
@RevengeFan @illmatic20xx I think it more like Hyrule Warriors where its like side quests to the main game to gain items and rewards and stuff like that.
Re: Preview: Astral Chain Is The 2019 Switch Game Everyone Should Be Talking About
@Heavyarms55 Interesting. When you mean predecessor do you mean XC1 or XCX? Because I really liked the way XCX works but apparently in the minority here.
Also, it is a Platinum action games which is to some, an acquired taste so I suggest you watch the Treehouse gameplay videos if you haven't already.
I really enjoyed the game's features from the fact that you can customise your character down to the ability to collect rubbish for money. The awesome bit is how your Legion works so well with you and you can play co-op with a friend if you choose to.
Re: Preview: Astral Chain Is The 2019 Switch Game Everyone Should Be Talking About
@Heavyarms55 Well a lot of people have said that the first video they presented didn't pull them in and it kind of a "first impression leaves a mark sort of thing".
I was reminded of SMT/Atlus, Xenoblade/Monolith Soft with Platinum gameplay with this game. Would you happen to be or not be a fan of those games as well?
Edit: Originally when seeing Xenoblade Chronicles 2 I felt the same way. Now I've developed a liking for the game and its style after watching a friend play the game.
I dunno, I was intrigued from the first video but it could be because I am starving for good content (on the Switch).
Re: Preview: Astral Chain Is The 2019 Switch Game Everyone Should Be Talking About
@KBuckley27 @JayJ I can understand why some Nintendo fans don't like it.
@Heavyarms55 @bozz @Ayye-ant @Xaessya @Nerdfather1 Platinum Games is sort of an acquired taste so I can understand why some of you might not feel it. Also the game is so...ridiculous. Its nearly as bad Death Stranding if not worst then Cyberpunk 2077.
Nintendo games are nothing like them in that sense and so it is off-putting. They are perhaps more in line with games like Dragon Quest which bores some people to death because it looks so...generic.
So I understand everyone has a different view on these things.
That said, I think as a whole package, it is put together quite well. The music got to me first followed by the gameplay and how the over-the-top story worked with the game.
Also the game is both a single player and a co-op experience which is awesome. We need more games like that.
The same reasons why I love weird jRPGs is the same reason why I like Astral Chain. Its so awesome to deep dive into their world.
I think that's the best way to describe the "hype".
It is underground yet also ridiculously mainstream at the same time. I would compare games like that to "metal music". That's what make it so special but also such a turn off for people.
Edit: I liked 90% of the games they showed in that E3 Direct so depending on how you look at it perhaps my opinion/tastes are too wide/flimsy.
Re: Here Are The Top 10 Best-Selling Third-Party Switch Games As Of May 2019
@Edu23XWiiU Yeah. The Switch is moving into the best years of its life. We aren't even finished with all the 2019 Directs yet. There's going to be more competition incoming in future Directs.
As for the best selling PS4 titles, I got my information from Wikipedia so I don't know how accurate it is.
And yeah, I believe and hope the Switch won't get a revision any time soon either. Not sure if the Switch mini counts as a revision though as it is more a market-expanding device.
Re: A Book Celebrating The Life Of Satoru Iwata Announced For Release In Japan
@Timsworld2 Well sure....that's why we have different regions for different reasons. Because everyone's culture and views on things are different.
Like its probably normal in Japan to see a 16 year anime girl in a bikini but something like that in the West would be illegal. Got to be 18 or 21 in some regions.
Yeah, its anime, it has no "age" but its the suggestion that they are 16 that is the problem.
In reverse, gore and blood is viewed in a different light in Asian countries compared to western countries.
Thus why we need to "modified, changed or censored" games to begin with because a 16-year old anime high school girl is appropriate in modern Japan but not in say America.
Yes, you can say from an artistical integrate PoV, we shouldn't censor or modify their work but from another perspective, it is our responsibility what we feed our children and culture.
Its the whole guns exist but shouldn't argument, that's why I used it.
Someone was smart enough to invent guns. Yes.
You can say, such is life.
Guns should therefore be legalised to protect me from people of power who now has access to guns.
Or we can just ban everyone from using it...which is hard to do.
Some people will inevitably disagree and we need to for balance sake. Thus why in some regions around the world, guns are legal.
Art works the same way. Its a piece of art.
Yes.
But its also responsible in depicting something that can potentially be harmful to other people.
Like pornography can be art too but some of them promote things like rape or incest and other things like that.
I hate to bring this example up but the world would end-up like China if we didn't have censor boards and stuff like that.
They use to have no movie, games or music rating system at all.
And you can see that as a good/bad thing.
The irony is that China is the result of a highly "individualised" world where people took responsibilities for their own crap. China even want to implement a social credit rating system which also has its advantages and disadvantages.
Either you see China as living the dream or you hate the place.
The point is that no country, system or piece of art is above criticism and with it come censorship and modifications.
Having the balls to do something is not that hard.
Having the balls not to do something is harder.
I mean what do you think would happen if the rest of the world allowed half of the porn Japan produces for example?
Everything taken to an extreme is bad.
It just raises the stakes where people become like daredevils in the name of art. Artistic integrity will become a battle of who can make the weirdest most outlandish and controversial piece there is.
We know this from reality TV shows where with each season getting more and more outlandish in order to occupy the people's attention. That's how it works.
Look at games.
Ultimately as I stated Nintendo wants to focus on making games for everyone and that's it.
Nintendo doesn't want to create a tank with a world-class browser and Netflix because it doesn't benefit them or the consumer in any way.
It doesn't want to update its game consoles every 2-3 years but it is being forced to by greedy consumers who wants the games others are having.
They want the cake and eat it too.
The criticism you level at Nintendo is the same as others...just different reasoning or cause.
Sony is progressive. They are an entertainment company and once a hardware innovator.
Microsoft is Goliath. They are a powerhouse in the software industry unmatched by any other.
Nintendo against them is like small fry. They can't compete in a hardware or software front so can only focus on what they do best.
Make games.
Even if Iwata did it for business reasons, it was for good reasons to protect the industry and stop games from changing from family-friendly gameplay focused entertainment to AI-driven motion capture tech demos that Microsoft and Sony is after.
These other companies do what they do not for consumer benefit for their own sake....staying relevant in the industry.
They stay relevant by giving us more and consumers demand more from them.
The cycle thus continues.
As I said before, artistic integrity will become a battle of who can make the weirdest most outlandish and controversial piece there is.
And we are starting to see this with games:
It used to be about gameplay.
Then it was about multimedia functionality and graphics.
Now we have Death Stranding, Astral Chain and Cyperpunk 2077.
Its so ridiculous but people eat it up like it is normal.
Sure I'm ironically a big fan of all three but what comes after these three games I wonder?
Is it even about artistic integrity anymore or just showmanship and more unhealthy console wars?
Re: A Book Celebrating The Life Of Satoru Iwata Announced For Release In Japan
@Timsworld2 The DS was region free for the same reason the Switch currently is. It aims to be a developer-friendly because Nintendo needs it.
I personally don't mind either way but I think they should introduce a Switch mini that is region specific and leave the Switch as it is. That way people get the best of both worlds.
Parents have less to worry about buying their kid a Switch and they can always curate their content that way. (Say import American versions of Doom Eternal that can't be played on an Australian Switch mini.)
Its a win-win for everyone.
Re: A Book Celebrating The Life Of Satoru Iwata Announced For Release In Japan
@Timsworld2 I already stated some of the reasons but you choose to ignore them.
Here's another, what is stopping older children with money from buying their own Switch and accessing games that are normally banned, censored or modified in their region?
Where's my right not to be exposed to some of these said games and play video games in a safe ecosystem?
I mean, you're basically arguing against censorship or having region lock anything at this point saying it has no benefits but to the people doing the censoring or region locking.
You and I might not agree with censorship (region locking) for various reasons but you can't deny it does have its advantages like blocking off most child porn.
It's the same reason why the Switch has no Internet Browser and why Miiverse was more or less censored. You might as well say that is a problem too.
Region locking acts as an ecosystem that prevents purposeful misappropriation of cultural differences in gaming. There are certain things you can't do in America that is perfectly acceptable in Japan and vise versa.
If it's up to the users to decide then why are you against guns in the hand of civilians? Isn't it up to people to decide whether they want to bear arms or not? I mean, what if the cops were the bad guys?
What if these "lazy" developers want to create games but can't afford to license their content to the whole world?
Re: Here Are The Top 10 Best-Selling Third-Party Switch Games As Of May 2019
@carlos82 I have no idea how much they have sold but I suspect some of them have sold higher and others lower. Enter the Gungeon has moved 1 million units for example on the Switch and it isn't the highest selling indie game if I'm not mistaken...but I could be wrong.
Crash sold well because it came out when it did and wasn't too delayed.
Third-parties is struggling on the Switch but I suspect that's because they port old games or gimped games to the Switch.
Again I could be wrong and can only hope that Astral Chain is the first third-party game that smashes the 2 million sales barrier. (Seriously, I want to see it hit like the 5-10 million barrier but good luck with that.)
But based on YouTube video views, it doesn't look like that is even that likely.
It's kind of a sad situation for third parties.
Its sad everyone wants a Switch Pro for "third party" (when I suspect its just more greed on their part) and I think Nintendo is possibly done with the Switch after two generations and move into making Nintendo phones or something.
I dunno.
I just want to see more quality games and timely ports tbh.
Re: A Book Celebrating The Life Of Satoru Iwata Announced For Release In Japan
@Timsworld2 Basically, PlayStation and Xbox don't care about microtransactions and loot boxes existing and they want to make their console easy to use, fix, sell, etc to whoever, whenever because it pushes sales and makes marketing easier.
That's why they do what they do. They take the easy way out.
If it is about the consumer why does Sony continue to censoring games and continue to push the multimedia TV box?
Why the Vita? Why the PS4?
Because I want a box I can't take around with me and a crappy "functional" portable device that mostly played Japanese visual novels?
Re: A Book Celebrating The Life Of Satoru Iwata Announced For Release In Japan
@Timsworld2 Um no...It doesn't just benefit Nintendo but also for developers...which is what you need on a platform.
As for consumers, do you want to get sued by some random Japanese company over some infringement or only someone from your region?
As I said, it protects you and makes pricing competitive and not be inflated by importing which is what is happening to a lot of Switch games.
It works like international to local law. Your local laws are like region locking which is there to PROTECT YOU whether you feel that way or not. If you don't like it, change the local laws. Of course, if you break the law it's still not good for you but the last thing you want is to get sued by some international agent.
The only "advantage" that you gain from region unlocking is that you can import and play any game you want including games not coming to your region. It's a huge advantage, sure, for most but not the be or and end-all.
If they don't want to bring the game over in the first place, then its mostly not worth playing in my opinion because they are either from indie developers or have too many local copyrights to be worth the risk. That or they are lazy developers.
I don't know where you're from but I wouldn't be surprised if you're a pro-gun American.
The argument you present is the same except you don't realize you are taking it from other people.
Choice.
You're saying I should have a "right to bear arms".
But where's my right to a safe haven? Where's my right to NOT have guns in my country?
Just because something exists doesn't mean it should, good or bad.
Sure, parents should be parents and adults can make their own decisions but the point stands.
Afterall, its just "entertainment" right?
Your choice to import game stops my choice of protecting myself from being exposed to crap businesses and their crappy practices.
Tell me how the Switch without its region locking has helped me in any way?
I live in Australia and here:
I still can't play Japanese games because I don't speak Japanese.
I still can't play Cloud-based games like PSO2 Online (huge fan) or Resident Evil 7 or Assassin's Creed Odyssey because I am NOT in Japan and can't access their servers.
I am still getting games not being localised due to "cultural issues" or other reasons.
Microtransactions and loot boxes which is being made illegal in EU is still a thing.
Meanwhile, my Switch and its games are off less value because of American imports lowering it to <AUD$299 yet I have to pay over AUD$399 for a new one. Good luck being a second-hand Switch retailer.
Basically, I can import American and Japanese region games here at a higher price but they are generally worthless here. This is driving prices of new games up and old games down.
Wow. I can import and play like Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 and some Japanese visual novels or something.
Is it worth it honestly?
I don't know.
My point is that both sides have an advantage and disadvantage.
You think it's not a disadvantage to have so many regional versions of Switches? Repairs and sales would be difficult, etc. So how does that benefit Nintendo?
It's not clear cut black and white as you think it is.
Just as it's not about one's "right to bear arms".
The rights bring with it consequences just as mine does.
Sometimes, I'll rather not have access to something (guns, games, etc) then have something potential harmful to a lot of innocent people.
How many innocent lives have been taken in American school shootings and in the streets for example that doesn't happen around the world?
So its all perspective.
From a family perspective, Nintendo did right by its consumers as the family-friendly company that it is but times has changed.
The Wii U flopped though the 3DS did well.
So they responded accordingly with a region free Switch. I wouldn't be surprised if the Super Nintendo Switch sequel will be also region locked again.
Re: Sega Not Worried About Overwhelming Audiences With Retro Content
I don't care much for Retro Content.
Bring over Sakura Wars to the Switch, Sega!
Re: Here Are The Top 10 Best-Selling Third-Party Switch Games As Of May 2019
@BenAV @Agramonte @Mando44646 @carlos82 Yeah. A lot of data hasn't been released for the Switch though. Like if they include all the wonderful indies I would suspect it would probably change that list quite a bit.
Re: Here Are The Top 10 Best-Selling Third-Party Switch Games As Of May 2019
@Edu23XWiiU In all honesty though if the NPD data of all games were released we will see an amazing amount of indie titles that have probably sold well over 1 or 2 million copies making the list seem less...pathetic. I mean I see them in the top of Switch eShop all the time so I no doubt they must have sold quite well. SEGA/Atlus also needs to make an appearance but they haven't exactly launched all that many big games on the Switch yet.
Edit: Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle is a great game by the way. Deserves to be on the list, just that it isn't exactly a big or very unique title in the big scheme of things.
Re: More Than 52,000 People Voted For Their Favourite Pokémon, Here Are The Results
Anyone appreciate Mega Mawile here?
Re: Here Are The Top 10 Best-Selling Third-Party Switch Games As Of May 2019
@Edu23XWiiU Ha! Ha! I swear if Astral Chain doesn't sell well over a million or two, it will be very sad.
It might be a bit weeb to some and not everyone's cup of tea but I mean all that effort a developer puts in would be so wasted that I don't think they would want to try it again and that would not be good for quality big third-party games on the Switch.
I'm kind of getting tired of being treated like Nintendo "doesn't matter" anymore. Even the Wii got a nerfed but unique version of Call of Duty for example and people are saying how this and that "isn't possible" for the Switch when the Switch is more powerful then a Wii U and nearly as powerful as the base Xbox One.
Also the best selling third party game on the PS4 is The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt followed by Monster Hunter: World. Neither are my cup of tea but it's not half bad. Thus why I would like Astral Chain to be on the top of that list competing with it.
Re: Review: Collection of Mana - Expensive, But Ultimately Worth Every Penny
@GameOtaku I think a part of it is so they can fund staff to make a remake.
Re: A Book Celebrating The Life Of Satoru Iwata Announced For Release In Japan
@Timsworld2
Region locking has its benefits. You people clearly don't do business or have a business mind. It:
a) makes sure the local retailer doesn't get screwed over. That one is self-explanatory.
b) means more control for Nintendo which allows them to bring games over in its supposed formed instead behind locked behind a region. You see this with "Dead or alive Xtreme 3" for the Switch, a game that will NEVER come westward; if you want it, import the expensive Japanese version. In a region locked console, Nintendo will have the right to reject the title from being launched in Japan unless they made the translation available.
c) has some legal grounds to it. It also works in reverse. For example, music and visual content that are copyrighted in one region might not be in another. A Japanese game might make a US release therefore impossible since all those characters are owned by many different Japanese companies but has no legal representation in Western countries. So as long as it's only manufactured in Japan and the sale is taking place in Japan (and then send outside of it), it's perfectly legal...thus the region lock. Region unlock game makes it hard for these companies to "protect their property" and sue someone on grounds of theft thus they will rather NOT release a game because of the hassle.
Edit: Basically, its about the games. When you have a lot of games like the DS and Switch has, it doesn't matter that you are missing out on a few niche titles that will never release stateside anyway. The console will not have certain games because Japanese companies don't want to risk making games on a platform that will not protect their investment. Similarly, Nintendo retains control of what they can and can't release on the platform due to legal issues. Nintendo can force Koei Tecmo to release "Dead or alive Xtreme 3" worldwide or not at all.
Edit 2: It works the same as local vs international law. I mean, why isn't everyone complaining that there are too many countries and regions and we should all be region free (follow international laws)? Because countries like America wants to protect its position and gun rights which the international committee doesn't agree with and it works for them. The idea is that everyone from small "startups" to giant corporations are protected from legalities thus why there are two sets of laws in the first place. Region locking works the same way.
Re: Review: Collection of Mana - Expensive, But Ultimately Worth Every Penny
@Turbo857 But then the perspective of the game will have to change back to top-down and it will defeat the point of the 3D Remake....which is to look pretty.
Re: Review: Collection of Mana - Expensive, But Ultimately Worth Every Penny
@GameOtaku Translation costs money as others have said....and Seiken Densetsu III is a legendary game also. The price is a bit high I understand but is totally worth it also if you're big on good RPGs.
Edit: I would recommend you and others pick it up on a sale or something. I'm going to be doing the same thing.
Re: Here Are The Top 10 Best-Selling Third-Party Switch Games As Of May 2019
This list is really...sad.
But by the end of this year, I hope it shall be awesome with Astral Chain topping that list....just, saying.
Re: Here Are The Top 10 Best-Selling Third-Party Switch Games As Of May 2019
@Edu23XWiiU Probably not that high seeing its a port of older games.
Re: Nintendo Is Waiting For Next Level Games To Let It Know When Luigi's Mansion 3 Is Ready
I thought their aim was to shadow drop it or something.
Re: Nintendo Discusses Plans For E3 2019, Will Release A Video Presentation
Can't wait for more surprises!
Re: Japanese Charts: Switch Console Sales Reach 8 Million, Will Soon Overtake PS4 Lifetime Sales
@KingdomHeartsFan Yeah. I don't know why they're not implementing but I guess a part of it is that Nintendo is cheap.
Put the social features on the lower selling system means less effort on their part to maintain and run. So I wouldn't be surprised that the Switch Pro and Switch 2 will have new even better social features again and all the core fans will flock out to buy it.
Also what third party games are you looking at besides Kingdom Hearts that is... I wish Square would step up and let us know if 1.5 and 2.5 is coming or not. I don't think 3 can be made the Switch because of expensive carts. That said Ive been enjoying my time with Valkyria Chronicles 4 (and the going to start the first one soon.) They're doing okay in the jRPGs department but I know what you mean.
Nintendo has now become the last gen port machine which is their new strategy.
Honeslty, the N64/Gamecube philosophy had not left them at all in terms of hardware development and software library.
While everyone wants to see a new SNES from Nintendo.
Re: Japanese Charts: Switch Console Sales Reach 8 Million, Will Soon Overtake PS4 Lifetime Sales
@KingdomHeartsFan Well for me I would have liked to have had more people experience Miiverse and StreetPass then 3DS loyalists? Apparently these things were originally designed for the Switch. So sales is kind of important for me in that sense. It was cool how 3DS was saved and started to move units again but not cool that the people along for the ride were almost exclusives the same "gamer people". I want to make new friends also not the same Nintendo loyalists every time a system near flops. Nintendo really need to get their act together in that regard, I wish somehow their second generation of consoles sell better then their first but so far unlike PlayStation, that has proven difficult. Expensive hardware never seems to work well for them or sell to the same crowd because of how they are made.
PlayStation (1,3,P) satified the core customer base first before finding new ground with casuals (2,4,V) and the uber core.
Nintendo seems to always go in light and aim for stars first and foremost before doubling down on the core market that will buy their stuff for whatever reasons.
Re: Japanese Charts: Switch Console Sales Reach 8 Million, Will Soon Overtake PS4 Lifetime Sales
@Trajan I see it differently. I think fanboys comes in all shapes and sizes. I can for example just like Nintendo without being a fanboy. I know what product and services I am getting and I understand what I am willing to pay for it then whats the problem? I'm not inflating or artificially making stuff up to justify a purchase I don't need. I know what I want and am getting into. Now if I decided to buy a PlayStation and/or an Xbox as well that's great but what if those consoles that don't suit my wants or needs? Then why am I getting them? I become a fanboy of specs, exclusives and trying to sound objective when I don't need to do that. I have nothing to prove or hide.
Re: Japanese Charts: Switch Console Sales Reach 8 Million, Will Soon Overtake PS4 Lifetime Sales
@Heavyarms55 I agree with most of what you've said though I was a Nintendo Life observer back in the Wii U days (they started around then) but don't remember reading so much stats and enjoyed their news much better back then. That said, it's such a shame that people are not allowed to like a brand and one brand only. We don't all want generic products that do the same things. There is a reason why platform exclusives are still such a big deal today. PlayStation is doing well compared to Xbox because of its exclusives.
It is these games that are helping the industry grow and for gamers to enjoy multiple brands.
I would actually argue the "fan boys" are those that own multiple consoles and buy the exclusives that come with each system.
I would know I am one of them.
PlayStation is about underground jRPGs and Sony exclusives.
Xbox is largely about shooters.. And Nintendo has their own franchises.
Gaming is an expensive hobby and one that I've turned my back on at times.
If anything a part of me hates that I can't get all my games on one platform of my choice.
Just this generation, it happens to be the Nintendo Switch.
I can't always afford to buy every games let alone every system for all their good quality exclusive games.
Edit: Ill have to say my favourite system of all time is the PSP followers by the SNES. Nothing wrong with Xbox, I actually enjoy their shooters particularly the ones they discontinue just that I'm more a portable underground jRPG gamer. As in I like my games to be fresh and unique every few generations. Sometimes when you think they are running out of ideas, they'll pull a fast one on you and release games like Persona, Disagea and Valkyria Chronicles.
Re: Japanese Charts: Switch Console Sales Reach 8 Million, Will Soon Overtake PS4 Lifetime Sales
@Desrever I don't feel that way at all. This year is looking to be a massive hit. The DS was very similar in many aspects to the Switch and that system sold the best in its fourth year on market so I wouldn't be surprised if the Switch did the same. There still quality games like Animal Crossing, Shin Megami Tensei V, Bayonetta 3, Shiro Neko Project, Yo Kai Watch, Inazuma Eleven Ares and others that we haven't heard from since. Then there always the off chances we get more surprises like Astral Chain from Platnium. We know Monolith Soft is helping with a new Zelda game, there's still no word of franchises like Pikmin, F-Zero and others. If they make a reappearance that would be great news.
Edit: A lot of people are saying that this system will not top the Wii but it is already ahead of it at the same time frame. It's actually only behind the DS which exploded in sales when the DS Lite was introduced two years in. So if we assume that Nintendo will release a Switch mini, I don't see why the system can't have the same explosive effect. Also exercising common sense in historical sale numbers the Switch should sell best three and fourth year in meaning it'll move at least 40 million units or more in the next two years at 20 million a year meaning it would have sold 72 million units by December 2021. Give it another 15 million for the next two year and we'll have 102 million by 2024, Wii numbers...and these are lower estimates.
I wouldn't be surprised if this year they move 25-30 million units alone. And the same for next year.
Re: Media Create Boss Says Switch Will Have A Seven Year Life Cycle, Sales To Grow In Third Year
@Yogsoggoth "Ugh, the Gamecube didn't sell and it was the most powerful consoles, so Nintendo should always make underpowered consoles argument."
Sorry I went off on a tangent but that's not what I meant at all. I am saying that even an underpowered Nintendo console can sell that many units because it isn't just about specs. I was using the example that they are marketing to a proven market that is still around to buy their stuff.
If we had to group hardware into specs as a generation instead of time what I am saying is that due to the needs of customers Nintendo could sell the Game Boy today and still pull in 100 million units or more.
There are three key markets and thus three types of consumers.
Early adopters buy things from market innovators and leaders who brings something new to the table. The middle is where most the money is generally made and the late adopters are those often looking for a bargain.
The Nintendo Switch is both a late adopters HD device and a market leading device. That's what makes it odd and unique.
Portability has to do with a lot of the success of the Switch even though it is only a HD device.
If the Switch was released many years ago, profit margins would either be much less or they would need to pull modern Apple numbers to get the same results.
Not everyone is an early or mid gen adopter.
I purchased a PS3 second hand for about the same price as my Switch in 2014? (I think it was.) It was my first HD system and I was late to the party. I didn't play my PS3 much and largely used it as an expensive Blu-Ray player.
So in that sense, the Switch is also a bargain for those gaming on the go.
I don't have a 4k TV or computer yet and don't plan to get one for some time so you can make a PS6 for all I care, their specs upgrade has little to no benefit to me. I'm not going to but a 4k TV or computer for the purpose of playing 4k games anymore.
I'm not alone in this regard.
Similarly, there are people who have jump ship to 4k and have no interest in Nintendo's portability system because that is not what they are looking for.
So right now, Nintendo isn't really competing with Sony and Microsoft in that sense that while people still compare their products, they are not marketed to the same group of people nor do either side provide a competing product.
A Switch Pro or a Switch 2 could change all that but I doubt it would make much difference unless it could rival a PS5.
People that are interested in 4k would be looking at the latest and greatest and the most powerful and a 4k Switch would be unfeasible, overkill and also chances are not even as powerful as a PS4 Pro. So are they really going to capture that market? I doubt it.
Most likely a Switch Pro or a Switch 2 will just cannibalise their current Switch market or flop hard.
As for the number, I think they are a best estimate but doable.
Nintendo has sold 32 million units and counting already.
As I said, March 2019-March 2020 is going to be their best year (25-30 million units) and March 2020-March 2021 isn't likely not going to be too bad either (20 million).
So 80 million units by March 2021 isn't that unrealistic a guess.
Even if they sold only 10 million units in the next three years after that it'll do 110 million.
Also my numbers are by 2024 which is 7 years after the Switch's release.
Re: Media Create Boss Says Switch Will Have A Seven Year Life Cycle, Sales To Grow In Third Year
@Dilated @Yogsoggoth
Am I the only one who see a 7 year old Switch without a Switch 2 (maybe a Switch Pro and a Switch mini)?
People keep forgetting about the GameCube, Wii and 3DS is really kinda versing the PS2 and PSP from a specs sense.
The Wii was able to sell 101.63 million units after HD became prominent. Just as the PS2 was still pushing number into the PS3 era.
Nintendo lost that generation by a mile if we compared generation by hardware specs.
Again, the N64 and DS were vs PlayStation One specs wise. Sony had no portable device at the time.
Similarly compare the HD competition the X360 and early XOne and I think the Wii U + Switch will do similar numbers. 120 million is my "best guess" for how many the Switch + Wii U will do. I think recent Nintendo tend to have the flop first and success later but overall still losing out to the competition that is Sony PS3, early PS4 and PSV sales combined.
Not sure who will win out in 4k yet but Sony is off to a good start PS4 Pro.
Also I believe after the Switch Nintendo may go into mobile market with 4k foldable VR phones now a thing.
Re: Media Create Boss Says Switch Will Have A Seven Year Life Cycle, Sales To Grow In Third Year
@Amrulez Another long post.
My point was that I prefer third party games that highlight its features like Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle. Third-party games built for the system. They're...okay. Above average at least and exciting. There's games like Starlink as well but people say it is boring. I have the game and it isn't lighting the world on fire.
Yes, you're right of course, it does have SOME third party and while DOOM is great and overpriced mind you, it is STILL missing out on a lot of third party games especially the impactful ones. Unless it got some thing to the scope of Tomb Raider, Beyond Good and Evil 2 or Cyberpunk 2077 which peaks people's interests, its never going to be able to compete with home consoles from a power front.
If they want third party support, it is better for them to provide a home console system that actually has those third party games and stream it to the Switch like a Wii U 2.0.
Unless it was as powerful as a PS5 or higher, no amount of power will every get you the latest games from AAA developers that actually have hype around them and people actually want to own or play.
We'll still be getting ports of older games.
And if it was that powerful, Sony would have rolled out a Switch-like device not a home console. They're not stupid of course.
Also the DS had far MORE third party support then the PSP, good and bad but so what? Did most people care.
My point is not to diss on Nintendo or Sony but to say that competition is generally fair. A hybrid device will always be behind a home console in power unless Nintendo had really amazing engineers and even then it will have a time and place and the "right" iteration. I would argue that the Switch is a continuum of their GameBoy line and is really providing the same sort of gaming experiences.
That said, hardware isn't everything. There's the OS to consider and software that actually make a new Switch a hit. Nintendo will need an online network that people accept and software features that will stand out from this version of the Switch.
You'll be surprised that the Switch can stay just as successful as it is without an iteration if Nintendo knows what it is doing but I would believe that there is most likely an iteration along the way.
What about the PS2? or the Wii? History isn't always a good indicator but the DS, Wii and PS2 did pretty good did it not?
There was no PS2 Pro, or Wii Pro and all three were the weaker system of their generation.
So by no means does specs (and iterations) drive sales. Nor just games or exclusives. Sometimes out of sheer luck, it is just the right time and the right place. The PS2 was so OG because it was that HD transition phrase and most people didn't make the jump yet.
HD, why? They say. I just want to play 480p DVDs which were awesome and still am. "Once you go to HD though you didn't turn back." They say.
4k has a faster adoption rate then HD TVs and now there's a the crowd that claims to be saying that 4k isn't relevant. Why they say?
Blu-Ray on the other hand isn't selling as well as DVDs. You'll think that it being HD and 4k people would adopt it faster but apparently not.
Of course I could write another essay as to why that is the case but going with this 4k consoles might do better then people would think.
So to be honest with you, I think the reason why Nintendo isn't pulling the number is because they are on the wrong side of revolution not because of hardware. Some people claim they don't know better or are family oriented. Others say they do this on purpose.
Honestly, sometime I do get the feeling that Nintendo is trying to be counter revolutionists with their hardware. Or they are just late to the party.
If we compare the Wii to the PS2, then they actually lost even if you include GameCube numbers into the fay. Over 155 PS2 to 123.37 GC and Wii.
So if the HD competition was able pull over X360(80 million)+early XBO (35+ million) numbers, assuming they come last again for being late to the party, the Switch + Wii U should be able to pull at least 115 million. Meaning the Switch will do Wii numbers again.
Since we are at it, we're already sold 32 million as of March 2019. Assume they sell another 30 million this coming year and 20 the year after that's 82 million by March 2021 and that's 4 year into the party. Assuming a steady 15 million after that for 3 years that's 127 million units sold.
Re: Media Create Boss Says Switch Will Have A Seven Year Life Cycle, Sales To Grow In Third Year
@brunojenso That reply was for someone else. Sorry, I meant to agree with you there but must have screwed up.
Re: Media Create Boss Says Switch Will Have A Seven Year Life Cycle, Sales To Grow In Third Year
@WOLF13 I dunno. I think they are doing just fine. I would buy a Nintendo console if it could kept up with the competition and actually did one thing play Blu-Ray movies, etc which are honestly a dying trend now.
I personally bought a Wii U but I remember that feeling of disappointment when I first heard about it that it was barely better then a PS3 Pro and didn't play movies.
Ended up getting a used PS3 after getting the Wii U and didn't really play with the Wii U before selling it. I was literally out of gaming for seventh generation during and was going to skip that whole generation but my bro ended up getting a Wii from his gf at the time.
Re: Media Create Boss Says Switch Will Have A Seven Year Life Cycle, Sales To Grow In Third Year
@Savino There was no Wii Pro or Wii U Pro which is a shame really. (I think to be honest the Wii U was the Wii Pro people wanted but didn't. It sold about the amount of one.)
I think it is honestly hard for Nintendo's position to make an iteration. From a marketing perspective its not just about customer demand for better specs but iterations usually spell the "end" of a line and is about a compatibility thing. The last thing you want is to drive your previous customer base away if the unit is selling well and kill momentum. We all know new hardware doesn't automatically mean renewed momentum.
That said, it would make sense to roll out a Switch Mini in 2020 and and/or perhaps a Switch Pro in 2022 if not in 2020. Mid generation migrations would force Sony and Microsoft to up their game with a PS5 Pro and people will either eat it up or get peeved.
The best card Nintendo has right now however is the mysterious one.
No one know what Nintendo will do next. That's a good thing and a bad thing.
They could at any moment rejoin the console wars with a uber powerful console that stream games to the Switch like the Wii U Gamepad did.
They could roll out a dock mid way between that and push all streaming consoles.
They could roll out an iterative stop gap that prepares us for the next generation of console like the DSi.
And so on.
Many possibility are to be had here.
Re: Media Create Boss Says Switch Will Have A Seven Year Life Cycle, Sales To Grow In Third Year
@TurboTEF I get what you mean but cost is probably a bit too high. Even at $1 for 64GB that'll be like 6 million dollars for a typical AAA game that sells that many copies. That's enough for them to make a new whole game to sell to us which they'll rather do!!!!
Re: Media Create Boss Says Switch Will Have A Seven Year Life Cycle, Sales To Grow In Third Year
@TurboTEF Nintendo has many possibly from a Dock to a full fledge console to iterations which will probably flair better in sales. A full fledge console makes more sense for what you want as the Switch can then be an expensive GamePad. Wii U 2.0 anyone?
Haven't though about what they can do with a dock though. Most likely it will have to be backwards compatible with the original OG Switch meaning it will be limited to USB 3.0 speeds instead of Thunderbolt.
I guess they can sell us a Steam-like box?
Re: Media Create Boss Says Switch Will Have A Seven Year Life Cycle, Sales To Grow In Third Year
@locky-mavo Then a home console is the way to go.
Mobile tech is mobile.
@Manzoli I think Nintendo went the GameCube route again with the Switch and it isn't enough. Mainstream games like CoD are not likely to come to the Switch unless we see 64GB cartridges introduced at a cheap price and the Switch can handle the multiplayer aspect of it without any hiccups.
So far, we know that is not the case.
Re: Media Create Boss Says Switch Will Have A Seven Year Life Cycle, Sales To Grow In Third Year
@NintendoFan4Lyf Most likely it will stick to a modified Maxwell architecture for backwards compatibility reasons especially if this is a Switch Pro we are talking about.
Re: Media Create Boss Says Switch Will Have A Seven Year Life Cycle, Sales To Grow In Third Year
@Fuz Says the people who abandoned cartridges for cheap disks.
Re: Media Create Boss Says Switch Will Have A Seven Year Life Cycle, Sales To Grow In Third Year
@dystome If 4k graphics are so earthshattering, they can always make a home console again if they need to and have the Switch act as a Wii U 2.0. That'll be interesting.
But most likely they will sell an iteration of the Switch because they know the market is there an people want that over a Home Console.
Sad but true.
Re: Media Create Boss Says Switch Will Have A Seven Year Life Cycle, Sales To Grow In Third Year
@westman98 I think they mean fiscal year of 2020 where the Switch will probably drop back to 2018 or 2017 numbers based on supposed lower output of bigger games.