The Nintendo Switch Console Thread

[JohnGrey]

I really don't get why Nintendo won't sell a dock-less version of the Switch.

For the same reason that RFA and Nintendo in generally are still referring to this as a home console with portable abilities instead of a dockable handheld: it's not competitive as a handheld, in that it's eclipsed in every handheld console metric by the 3DS. As I've stated before, they know that a category consolidation product is defined by the category it serves the worst, and that's portable. If they let the product narrative be that the Switch is the 3DS successor without a fight, it'll get creamed. That's also why they no stated plans to kill the 3DS and it's still receiving first-party titles and third-party support even six years on, they've no confidence in the draw of the Switch hardware.

They're hoping to draw off pieces of many different audiences to have a modest success: the tiny segment of portable gamers that want triple-A on the go, even if it means your device dies a third of the way through a transatlantic flight; people that loved the Vita concept and aren't hostile to Nintendo as a brand (perhaps a tenth of the 15m install base); fanboy Wii U owners that will buy a Nintendo console not matter how rubbish it is (8m max if the general install base downward trend continues, but likely considerably less); some portion of the casual audience that abandoned Nintendo in droves because they gained the ability to game on their phones.
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Actually not bad.

If/when I get one I will definitely get 2 docks for the reasons I mentioned above.

Just waiting for more titles to catch my eye.

US$90 for a cheap plastic mould, a US$1.50 USB3.0 hub, and a US$5 USB-C PD controller? You're correct, it's not bad, it's robbery.

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

For the same reason that RFA and Nintendo in generally are still referring to this as a home console with portable abilities instead of a dockable handheld

I do think that is the wrong approach, but then again Nintendo makes a lot of those weird decisions.

: it's not competitive as a handheld, in that it's eclipsed in every handheld console metric by the 3DS.

What metric, short of number of available games? They have practically the same battery life, but the screen on the Switch blows the ones on the 3DS away, and every hands on experience says the Switch build quality is amazing, which is something you can't say of the plastic toy that is the 3DS.

 

[JohnGrey]

What metric, short of number of available games? They have practically the same battery life, but the screen on the Switch blows the ones on the 3DS away, and every hands on experience says the Switch build quality is amazing, which is something you can't say of the plastic toy that is the 3DS.

It's substantially larger, has a worse thermal profile, a non-replaceable battery (which is especially important because of the inevitable recharge cycle degradation; think about your mobile's battery life one year on), far more points of mechanical failure with the Joy-Con interfaces and the open face on the screen (capacitive, which means glass), as opposed the DS/3DS protective clamshell (important since you're taking it on the go), the restrictive price versus its chief competitor (recall that the Vita a US$250 launch price and still couldn't compete), and has an enormous day 1 library versus the Switch, which will have maybe five, only one of which (Zelda) has broad appeal and that's mitigated by its release on the same day on the Wii U.

So, yeah, I don't find the Switch a competitive value proposition, especially whilst the 3DS is still being manufactured and sold, has two hugely popular Pokemon titles recently released, and is still receiving first and third-party releases.

 

[Jovian9]

Actually not bad.

If/when I get one I will definitely get 2 docks for the reasons I mentioned above.

Just waiting for more titles to catch my eye.

I'll be grabbing an extra as well. I have my 4K setup in the basement with my Xbox One S and PS4 slim. But I keep my Wii U on our main living room tv. Being able to get an extra dock and 'switch' that system back and forth will be awesome.

 

[Cnasty]

I'll be grabbing an extra as well. I have my 4K setup in the basement with my Xbox One S and PS4 slim. But I keep my Wii U on our main living room tv. Being able to get an extra dock and 'switch' that system back and forth will be awesome.

Yes it will but its obviously robbery!!!!!!!

 

[Jovian9]

Yes it will but its obviously robbery!!!!!!!

The dock price at $90 doesn't bother me. The joy-cons (both for $80) only slightly bother me. It's the pro controller for $70 that is ridiculous. They need some kind of "accessory bundle" where I can get them all at a discounted price. I'm picking up $240 of extra stuff here.

 

[MRU]

The dock price at $90 doesn't bother me. The joy-cons (both for $80) only slightly bother me. It's the pro controller for $70 that is ridiculous. They need some kind of "accessory bundle" where I can get them all at a discounted price. I'm picking up $240 of extra stuff here.

And for $60 more (price of the overpriced street fighter 2 port) you could buy another Switch ....


Honestly, the accessories prices are too much given the fact we know Nintendo do not sell their hardware at a loss, so the $300 (€320 here) for the Switch is giving them profit.

Given you get the actual console in the package, €200 for just the joycon and a dock + €80 for the pro controller are considerably overpriced ...

Factor in the need for a MicroSD and a Class 10 U3 at 128 will cost around €120 or 256 for €200 ... sure you can buy Class 10 U1 cards cheaper but read and write speeds are lacklustre and will impact game loading speeds dramatically, and less said about reliability of cheap cards (usually end up being fake) the better.


The Switch is gearing up to be a hideously expensive proposition ..

Indeed a Switch with a decent fast 128gb will cost more than a PS4 Pro with 1tb storage.

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Separate to that and bewildering observation ...

I also note that the Wii U launched with 23 USA and 26 EU titles and folks years later claim that it had a weak lineup and that's why it failed, along side a too expensive launch price and yet these same folks are now bláise about the Switch launching with a mere 5 games but that is somehow 'enough' ??? I do not understand the rationale that goes on in forums at times ...

 

[2nyRiggz]

Sesperate to that and bewildering observation ...

I also note that the Wii U launched with 23 USA and 26 EU titles and folks years later claim that it had a weak lineup and that's why it failed, yet these same folks are bláise about the Switch launching with a mere 5 games but that is somehow 'enough' ??? I do not understand the rationale that goes on in forums at times ...

Exactly what I was looking at and I'm thinking people really got a soft spot for Nintendo because this launch lineup is extremely weak. No other console maker would of been able to live this down and the backlash would of been great. I'm surprised to see the gaming journalist just brush it off like they are.

I'm excited for it as well but I got to call it like I see it.

Bless

 

[MRU]

I'm excited for it as well but I got to call it like I see it.

Bless

Exactly ...

 

[Jovian9]

Oh I agree. The number of games launching with this is weak. But for me personally; if 10 games launch and I'm only interested in two or two games launch and I want them both....either way I'm good.

Let's hope this doesn't affect support of the Switch though. I like to think that since it's launching early in the year that the holidays is when the game lineup needs to be looking great. Early in the year will be die hard Nintendo console buyers. Holidays will be anyone and everyone looking for a system. So there better be more games by then.

 

[George Dawes]

This just about sums it up for me

 

[Taustin Powers]

90 $ for the dock is absolutely insane, considering what's in it.

I just don't see the Switch doing very well. Not even a handful decent 1st party titles releasing in the first year, 3rd party titles consist largely of old game ports, the hardware and accessories are too expensive considering the price level and performance of the competition. It's too weak for a home console. And kids do their mobile gaming on smartphones and tablets these days. No need for another device to lug around.

Once again, Nintendo's value proposition is a hardware gimmick. This worked for the Wii many years ago. But I think the demographic that made it a success has long since moved on.

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

One can hope that Nintendo has a few tricks up its sleeve in the comming weeks. For instance, they have a Fire Emblem direct stream today, and since they have officially stated Fire Emblem is now a major IP for the company, I am having a hard time thinking that the stream is only going to be about the upcomming mobile phone game that has been announced. They could at the same time announce a major game for the Switch, and make a lot of people happy.

Then again, it is Nintendo..

 

[MRU]

. But I think the demographic that made it a success has long since moved on.

Sadly Nintendo hasn't ...

Honestly as much as I have a special place for Nintendo as a principal part of my own gamer history (gaming for 35+ years), outside of die hards and fans, I can not see the switch outselling the Wii u even. If the first year trajectory of games is anything to go by.

If it is very weak year, and as I predict Mario slips into TBC 2018, then not even Mario will save it from a similar fate. He couldn't save the Wii u despite being a great game with heaps of critical appraisal.

Like it or not, games like COD and Battlefield do matter, and even with Assasin's Creed 3 and COD 2, the Wii u floundered because despite having the popular titles, the Wii u hardware was too late and felt like it was playing catch up to hardware that had been around for years and had massive install base.

With switch only offering modest power increase over Wii u, there will be little to no chance of third party multi-platform games other than ports of old titles.

So whilst in theory it's a nice idea full console games on a handheld, the reality is we won't (and I bet my left testical on it) be seeing the likes of GTA V, Watchdogs, Dark Souls, Metal Gear and such. Developers won't be downsizing their vision, they will be developing for the biggest market and install base wise that's PS4 & XB1, which even excluding Pro & Scorpio are way more powerful hardware wise.

The pool of folks willing to shell out $300 + for a secondary system has proven in the Wii u's case to be limited. I see no reason why that will change.

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

If it is very weak year, and as I predict Mario slips into TBC 2018, then not even Mario will save it from a similar fate. He couldn't save the Wii u despite being a great game with heaps of critical appraisal.

Nintendo has officially stated that Mario development is practically finished, so its just translation, bug fixing, optimization, etc. left.. And with 11 months to go, I think they should be able to do so just fine. My guess is that they shot for Mario being done for the release, but didn't make it.

With switch only offering modest power increase over Wii u, there will be little to no chance of third party multi-platform games other than ports of old titles.

I am hoping that despite Nintendos portrayel of the machine as a home console, there will be quite a bit of new releases that are targeting the mobile demographic, as a modern replacement for the 3DS. Personally I wouldn't mind a lot of awesome 2D RPG's for the Switch. Even playing them on my TV screen would be awesome.

 

[MRU]

Nintendo has officially stated that Mario development is practically finished, so its just translation, bug fixing, optimization, etc. left.. And with 11 months to go, I think they should be able to do so just fine. My guess is that they shot for Mario being done for the release, but didn't make it.
.

Where have they stated this officially ?

 

[Taustin Powers]

I've been gaming for about 25 years, started with the Gameboy and then the SNES. While I have heard the name mentioned before, I have no idea what the Fire Emblem games are about (genre? systems? mobile game?). So I cannot imagine a Fire Emblem reveal being a huge draw for most people, much less a "system seller".

 

[tippytap90]

As long as Nintendo is a success in Japan they really don't care. I am excited about the console but the lineup looks lacklustre right now, despite how excited I am about Breath of the Wild and Mario Kart 8.

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

Where have they stated this officially ?

SMO producer Yoshiaki Koizumi allegedly said so during the Switch Experience live stream (Day 1, 3 hours in somewhere). Sadly I don't speak japanese to confirm that.

 

[MRU]

SMO producer Yoshiaki Koizumi allegedly said so during the Switch Experience live stream (Day 1, 3 hours in somewhere). Sadly I don't speak japanese to confirm that.

I'll remain sceptical but cautiously optimistic

But yeah, 'localisation' is something that happens during development, the days of games developed in one region for one format NTSC/PAL and then later released in other territories and converted to different format resolution and language are gone. It's why we can now have region free consoles as resolutions and tech is fixed ...

Likewise Language regionalisation usually happens during development. I highly doubt a nearly finished game would take 11 months to then finalise localisation, especially given the sparsity of the consoles game line up for the majority of the year ...

No I suspect we will hear the promise of winter/holidays 2017 (which remember includes Jan/Feb 2018) followed in November by a Tree House event announcement that it's moving to Spring Q1 2018 and then total shock it later slips to Fall or Winter 2018.

This is sadly a very typical pattern for Nintendo and I don't see any signs of change to the contrary.

Given by their own admission it's looking like their full new online system won't even be ready in Europe till 2018, if part or features of Mario odyssey have an online social component tied to this new online account, then invariably it will necessitate release date slippage.

 

[the8thark]

The Good

• The hardware looks slick and well done. I can't see the touch screen used much because you can't touch screen while docked.
• The launch line up is quite good. And the first year looks good too. One big hitter every month and a few smaller games. No point front loading them all at launch. No one will play anything past BotW for a month or so.
• Region free is very nice if you're travelling overseas or want to import.
• BotW looks like it's well worth playing on the Switch.
• The whole experience looks really fun.

The Bad

• The Price. Sure 29980 Yen or $299 US. But move to the UK and Australia and the price is disgusting. $469.95 in Australia. Not affordable at all compared to other consoles. But compared to things like the iPad Mini it's tolerable. Currency conversions and taxes don't make up the difference. Factoring that all in outside the US and Japan the Switch is way too expensive. The accessories are similarly expensive.
• The Limited Editions of games. The BotW Master Edition is a mess. Outside the US, you don't get all of the loot. Australia misses out on the Switch case. The UK miss out on the Switch case and the map. A region free console having regional limited editions of games (screwing over some regions) is just not acceptable.
• 1,2 Switch should have been a pack in game. It's great as a pack in. As a full priced separate game? No one will buy it. I certainly will not.
• The online system. This might or might not release worldwide at launch.

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I also note that the Wii U launched with 23 USA and 26 EU titles and folks years later claim that it had a weak lineup and that's why it failed, along side a too expensive launch price and yet these same folks are now bláise about the Switch launching with a mere 5 games but that is somehow 'enough' ??? I do not understand the rationale that goes on in forums at times ...

It's a case of quality over quantity. One good game beats a ton of crap. Not a single console selling game at the WiiU launch. I was there at the WiiU midnight launch and not one game I wanted, so I didn't get a WiiU. I'm a Nintendo fan as well. But now eveyone wants BotW.

Games people wanted at the WiiU Launch = 0
Games people want at the Seitch Launch = 1

Switch wins.

 

[LordQ]

I bought the Wii U only for Smash Bros and Zelda; Mario Kart 8 and NintendoLand were an added bonus. There is no way I will buy a Switch unless it has a completely new Smash Bros (not that rumoured port with 2 new characters) and that happens every 6-7 years so...

The concept looks awesome though. Give me Final Fantasy VII Remake and Resident Evil 7 and I might consider it!

 

[MRU]

It's a case of quality over quantity. One good game beats a ton of crap

I'm a Nintendo fan as well.

12 Switch
Bomberman R

Yep a real case of quality over quantity there.

As I said, a case of hardcore fans being bláise ...

 

[JohnGrey]

12 Switch
Bomberman R

Yep a real case of quality over quantity there.

As I said, a case of hardcore fans being bláise ...

Come now! You're forgetting JD 2017 and Skylanders Imaginators (because Nintendo is targeting ADULTS now instead of children).
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I bought the Wii U only for Smash Bros and Zelda; Mario Kart 8 and NintendoLand were an added bonus. There is no way I will buy a Switch unless it has a completely new Smash Bros (not that rumoured port with 2 new characters) and that happens every 6-7 years so...

The concept looks awesome though. Give me Final Fantasy VII Remake and Resident Evil 7 and I might consider it!

If it's using the same engine that Squenix is using for FFXV, the character model shaders alone would physically snap the Switch in two. The PS4 has to run XV in Lite configuration just to average 30fps, and that's with consistent frame-pace stutter and medium textures. Resident Evil VII is a possibility as a medium-quality port I suppose, but given what I've seen of Capcom's upcoming support (Snipperclips and Ultra Street Fighter II), I won't hold my breath.

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

Zelda facts from Nintendo:

• Both launch on the same day, March 3.
• Both have a frame rate of 30fps.
• Both versions of the game offer the same content.
• On a TV, the Nintendo Switch version of the game renders in 900p while the Wii U version renders in 720p.
• The Nintendo Switch version has higher-quality environmental sounds. As a result, the sound of steps, water, grass, etc. are more realistic and enhance the game’s Open-Air feel.
• The physical copy of the Wii U version will require 3GB of available memory on the Wii U system or an external drive.
• Some icons, such as onscreen buttons, differ between the two versions.
• A Special Edition and Master Edition of the Wii U version are not available.

And a Reggie interview with some hope on the VC:

In a recent interview, Nintendo of America’s Reggie Fils-Aimé talked about the upcoming console and some of its features. Speaking about Virtual Console, Reggie clearly states that the introduction of a Nintendo account, the company has now the capability to tie consumers’ purchases to their particular account.