667 replies to this topic

[Nicholas Steel]

I'm excited for the apparent lack of dual screen, Motion Controls & Touchscreen support as this means all the games will have a responsive control scheme (doesn't look like the buttons will be colour coded though) and won't ask you to look away from the main screen to see info pertinent to the gameplay! It also means I don't need to dirty the screen with my fingers or fumble for a Stylus.

 

I am worried about the storage capacity of the device.

 

Does the Pro Controller feature a headphone jack as well for when you play on a TV? Or will you need to run a headphone cable across the lounge room?

 

I have notable reservations about 3rd party support. Remember how EA released the exact same Soccer game with only a roster update on the Wii? Remember all the companies ditching the Wii and Wii U after a year or so and even then not really releasing many good games on the systems? Saying they'll support the console when it launches is now meaningless after those fiascos.

Edited by Nicholas Steel, 21 October 2016 - 01:34 AM.

[TheLegend_njf]

I have notable reservations about 3rd party support. Remember how EA released the exact same Soccer game with only a roster update on the Wii? Remember all the companies ditching the Wii and Wii U after a year or so and even then not really releasing many good games on the systems? Saying they'll support the console when it launches is now meaningless after those fiascos.

 

It really boils down to how easy this console is to work with. The Wii and Wii U were so much different than their competitors that you know the main focus will be on the competitors while Nintendo gets the bad ports, similar to PC. However, I believe there is still a bigger demand for 3rd party support and lets face it, PC gamers know how to cry more to get what they want so developers are often pushed to "try" and make their ports as pc friendly as possible.

 

However, as far as Nintendo goes, if their hardware is too much of a stray from the norm and if "Nintendo buyers" don't care too much for these type of games for them to make a profit, they won't be long abandoning the Switch to focus on their main platforms. 

[Dawnlight]

I'm curious with how powerful Tegra is. I've only known that processor from tablets such as the nVIDIA shield. Is it really a GPU that's worth talking about for what this system offers?

Edited by Dawnlight, 21 October 2016 - 08:47 AM.

[Moonbread]

It's powerful enough.  If it's really easy to port to, and it sounds like it is, then it's fine.  Look at the list of developers (and also Konami who's there for some reason?) they've got on board.  Even if all of them may not put the hugest hits on the Switch, they'll each probably put at least a few major things on there at the very least.  I'm sure a lot of them are thinking about the success they could get with high quality portable ports.

 

One thing the trailer did REALLY well is show how convenient this system is and I feel like some people are really missing that?  It didn't bother with a boring-ass 2 hour conference of some dudes talking about specs and "the highest quality pixels."  They prioritized showing off what the average person actually cares about- a unique mechanic and games.  Almost every single console generation, the best seller isn't the most powerful one (the PS4 is sort of an exception, but I still think it's due to the real reason consoles sell), it's the one that has the most appealing library of games, and I think having an appealing way to play them will only add onto that.  Anyway, the trailer highlighted people in their 20s and 30s and revolved around how real life obligations and other things eat into their time too much, and looks to solve that.  Looking back at the Wii, it was incredibly successful because it was marketed at everyone and it made other people feel welcome to the hobby (rather than just the "hardcore" crowd), but it eventually declined due to the rising popularity of smartphones and what they were capable of, especially for people with busy lives.  But the Switch isn't advertising itself as a replacement for mobile games.  It's offering itself as something better when you need it.  A lot of mobile games are catered toward stuff like a 5 minute bus commute, or maybe a 15 minute break at work, something simple enough to help whittle the time away.  But if you're on a several hour road trip or plane ride?  People will prefer something like Skyrim to keep them occupied, something that can be played hour after hour that's loaded with content.  In a sense, it's appealing to people who had to kinda drop the hobby because being an adult sucks when one of your days off is really just a day to do laundry and buy groceries without work interfering.

[Dawnlight]

I think this gimmick will appeal to everyone WAY more than what the Wii U Fail-pad could ever do (my least favorite Nintendo controller). I think it's a gimmick people will actually like. Now that console and handheld gaming are no longer segregated from each other, the library of potential games are much bigger. Imagine Gen 8 Pokemon on this thing. 

 

For someone like me, who goes to a lot of cons, this device would be perfect for meetups. No need to haul a big brick with tons of cables around anymore.

[Nicholas Steel]

It definitely looks like the death of motion controls and touch screen functionality. You can't access the tablet screen while it is docked/while playing on the TV and barring any motion enabled controllers there's no mtion control support either while the tablet is docked. So it wouldn't make sense to support these features in games since they'd only work when not playing on the TV.

Edited by Nicholas Steel, 21 October 2016 - 12:32 PM.

[Koh]

The other main thing besides region locking, is what would the console exclusives look like.  The wait and see approach has definitely been working for the past two console generations, considering how slow and almost empty their exclusives have been for the systems.  Getting an entire system for just one or two games is completely asinine, and so far the only thing on this I'd want to try is the new Zelda, but I'm not getting a whole system just for that.  So what else will they offer us?

 

As for third party, and especially multiplatform titles, no one's going to want to buy this thing just for Skyrim, which has been out forever now, HD version or not. The best question to ask here is:  What exclusives will the 3rd parties offer?  If everything they do is multiplatform, that won't help the Switch, especially if there are going to be Steam versions of the same thing.  

 

All these questions, only time will answer for us.  If history is any indication, we should have our answers...one year into the console's life.

Edited by Koh, 21 October 2016 - 03:43 PM.

[Matthew]

Reading more about the switch has me pretty excited for it. I'm disappointed because I got a Wii U last christmas, and now it's going to be obsolete, but I guess it's on me for expecting that generation of console to still have been a worthy investment.

[Anthus]

The other main thing besides region locking, is what would the console exclusives look like. The wait and see approach has definitely been working for the past two console generations, considering how slow and almost empty their exclusives have been for the systems. Getting an entire system for just one or two games is completely asinine, and so far the only thing on this I'd want to try is the new Zelda, but I'm not getting a whole system just for that. So what else will they offer us?

As for third party, and especially multiplatform titles, no one's going to want to buy this thing just for Skyrim, which has been out forever now, HD version or not. The best question to ask here is: What exclusives will the 3rd parties offer? If everything they do is multiplatform, that won't help the Switch, especially if there are going to be Steam versions of the same thing.

All these questions, only time will answer for us. If history is any indication, we should have our answers...one year into the console's life.

All sources I've seen claim it's region free.

Also, the Wii/ U did have a ton of first party exclusives. There were multiple entries in every one of Nintendo's franchises, except a Wii U Metroid, or F-Zero, and we even got a new IP in the form of Splatoon, plus three Smash games.

The Wii U's biggest problem isn't its comparitively smaller library, but more or less the fact that Nintendo dropped the ball on informing consumers what exactly it was, and why they should upgrade. Some people still think the Wii U is an addon to the Wii.

And for your other point, I think the reason people buy Nintendo systems still is for the first party IPs. But having other third party support surely bolsters the deal if they can play it all on one box.

Let's just hope they don't reveal always-on DRM.

[Koh]

Well the thing is, most people already have computers capable of decent levels of gaming. So if multiplatform titles are all that come out and they're all on PC, why buy a new console when they can just get the game on PC? This is the aspect I was referencing.

[The Satellite]

The dock only charges and outputs to TV, it seems.

[LinktheMaster]

Well the thing is, most people already have computers capable of decent levels of gaming. So if multiplatform titles are all that come out and they're all on PC, why buy a new console when they can just get the game on PC? This is the aspect I was referencing.

Again, I see the portability being the main bonus this has over both the PS4/XBO as well as PCs. In order to get a decent gaming laptop, you need to spend at least $800 or so, and that's for a fairly low end one. I've already seen so many people excited at the possibility of a portable Skyrim, for example. Something like that may not be enough for you, but I think it will be for a decent amount of people - if Nintendo can keep 3rd party support. As a couple people have stated, I don't think that will be too difficult as long as the system is powerful and easy enough to port titles to. Despite what a lot of people think, 3rd party titles do sell somewhat okay on Nintendo consoles, but with the Wii and Wii U, either they weren't powerful enough for those multiplatform titles, or it would have cost so much to do the port with its vastly different architecture that it wasn't worth the time and money. If Nintendo has been able to lower that barrier of entry, then I think third party support will at least be better than the Wii U.

[The Satellite]

On another note, that little hatch on the top of the system next to the headphone jack says "GAME CARD" on it. If there's someone who somehow still doesn't think cartridges aren't involved, there's all the proof you need. Apart from the actual cartridge being shown inserted but still.

[Koh]

I don't object to the support being better, but what I'm saying is, if the people don't already own the system or plan to get it, it won't matter, because the majority of them already have PCs capable of gaming decently.  Going mobile or not, they're highly unlikely to buy an entire system just for that, when they already have a fully functional one just waiting for the game, see?  Of course if you're already getting the system for Nintendo's 1st party stuff, the multiplatform things would just be a bonus for you.

Edited by Koh, 21 October 2016 - 07:03 PM.

[Dawnlight]

I really hope it's the death of mandatory game installs on the Switch because of the use of cartridges. I own a PS4 and Xbox ONE and that's my biggest complaint about those two systems. I don't want to be forced to upgrade my storage for physical media. That should only be reserved for digital. And not to mention, some game installs do take quite a bit.