Nintendo Switch

[Deleted member 232162]

Dock is included; screen is shit resolution, though it apparently quite small (less than 7").

I still think HW is unjustifiably expensive for what you get (especially since it is a fat tablet with a small screen and plastic goobins hanging off of the side to dock two halves of a controller). But this gen of consoles were made to a cost. They have to be profitable from HW sales alone, from day one.

That being said, xbox exclusives have been a joke so far. Sony hasn't quite delivered any "must buy" exclusives (other than the usual Sony emo-wank nonsense). Nintendo hasn't progressed at all. But I still feel, of all the consoles released so far, the Switch is the only one worth buying. Just not at $300.

I think in the hands of someone who isn't overly obsessed with pixels, the handheld aspect will be quite great. Yeah it's 720p, yeah it's sort of small, but it'll do just fine. Providing the games are great, people will look past the hardware limitations.

Xbox/PS4 exclusives aside, there are quite a few games I'd consider "must buy/play" for gamers (in general) in terms of consoles only. I suppose that's subjective too though.

 

[Domingo]

Mario Kart 8 is showing an April 28th release date. That gives me enough time to evaluate my Nintendo shill friends' opinions. Street Fighter doesn't have a release date yet. I figure I can miss out on that one for a while as I was actually tournament-level at it way back when. A few weeks won't make any difference.

Right now it's coming down to replacing my phone (with a questionable battery) and getting a Switch.

 

[Derangel]

to be fair, the gamebryo engine is garbage and always will be.

It wasn't always garbage. For what it offered it was a decent engine back in the days of Morrowind and Dark Age of Camelot. Not perfect, but still fairly impressive. Bethesda's continued insistence on using it and updating it has made it show it's age and introduced a lot of other issues. It was an engine designed to run on early 2000s PCs and the original Xbox. It should have been retired a long time ago. It also doesn't help that I'm not entirely convinced that Bethesda is all that good when it comes to the technical side of game development, considering just how insanely broken every single game they release is.

 

[CannibalTrout]

How do the game installs work on the switch? I just read that it only has 32gb built in storage? I understand that it also has SD for expansion, but I'm curious how quickly the 32gb will get eat up making an SD card another necessary purchase.

 

[MavericK]

How do the game installs work on the switch? I just read that it only has 32gb built in storage? I understand that it also has SD for expansion, but I'm curious how quickly the 32gb will get eat up making an SD card another necessary purchase.

It has cartridge games like the 3DS, in addition to internal storage for digital titles.

 

[MavericK]

Yeah it's 720p, yeah it's sort of small, but it'll do just fine. Providing the games are great, people will look past the hardware limitations.

I just wish that with Nintendo we didn't have to do that again...and again...and again...and again...

 

[Deleted member 83233]

I just wish that with Nintendo we didn't have to do that again...and again...and again...and again...

That can go multiple ways. During the XB/GC/PS2 era, all three were plenty powerful, and the GC even lead in some ways with the XB leading in others power-wise. (PS2 trailed) However, even with the wider 3rd party support, and power parity I still played most of my games on the PC, and used the GC to play Nintendo games. Same with the previous generations too. I had a PS1/N64 and a nice PC. Ditched the PS1 eventually, and just had PC+N. (Had a SNES, Amiga, and 386 too ) It really hasn't mattered to me how powerful or wide the 3rd party support has been on ANY of their platforms. Sure, more is better, but I will always have multiple ways to play games in my house. I know my way isn't the only way, but I think a lot of other people see it similarly.

 

[Domingo]

I normally never buy physical media (if I can help it), but swapping tiny cartridges is at least much easier and more convenient that swapping disks. With 256GB SD cards sitting at another $100, that isn't a very cost effective route.

I really, really don't want this machine at all. Damn you Nintendo and your 5-6 great franchises.

 

[MavericK]

That can go multiple ways. During the XB/GC/PS2 era, all three were plenty powerful, and the GC even lead in some ways with the XB leading in others power-wise. (PS2 trailed) However, even with the wider 3rd party support, and power parity I still played most of my games on the PC, and used the GC to play Nintendo games. Same with the previous generations too. I had a PS1/N64 and a nice PC. Ditched the PS1 eventually, and just had PC+N. (Had a SNES, Amiga, and 386 too ) It really hasn't mattered to me how powerful or wide the 3rd party support has been on ANY of their platforms. Sure, more is better, but I will always have multiple ways to play games in my house. I know my way isn't the only way, but I think a lot of other people see it similarly.

I get that...the GC was indeed pretty great (got a lot of mileage out of mine in college), but was hampered significantly by the tiny disc size. Really since the N64 (and to some extent the GC), Nintendo has not been at parity with other manufacturers when it comes to hardware specs, though, which was kind of my overall point. I just dream of how great it would be if Nintendo released a PS4-like console with that power, 1080p/4K, with next-gen graphics for their new games. Instead they yet again opt for gimmicks over performance. They have the money, they could do a full-spec console, but for whatever reason they are stuck trying to be different rather than just giving their fans what they have wanted for a long time - first-party titles with great graphics, great performance, no fluff.

I may pick one of these up, eventually...maybe next Xmas or something. The motivation for a pre-order or day one purchase is just not there. I want to see how this paid online service BS plays out as well, and see if they end up dropping the price of accessories.

 

[Derangel]

I normally never buy physical media (if I can help it), but swapping tiny cartridges is at least much easier and more convenient that swapping disks. With 256GB SD cards sitting at another $100, that isn't a very cost effective route.

I really, really don't want this machine at all. Damn you Nintendo and your 5-6 great franchises.

On the plus side, SD card prices are dropping steadily. Not as fast as they were a year or two ago, but they still trend downward. On the plus side it sounds like the Switch will have external HDD support sometime after launch.

 

[Domingo]

On the plus side, SD card prices are dropping steadily. Not as fast as they were a year or two ago, but they still trend downward. On the plus side it sounds like the Switch will have external HDD support sometime after launch.

While true...that's even more $. My biggest gripe with the Switch is that it feels like every single convenience item is making that price tag get higher and higher. This is after the Xbox One S (with 500GB HD and a 4-star game) was going for $200 on Amazon this Christmas. That's enough to tack on an extra controller and a year of XBL just to match the cost of the Switch.

 

[Deleted member 83233]

I get that...the GC was indeed pretty great (got a lot of mileage out of mine in college), but was hampered significantly by the tiny disc size. Really since the N64 (and to some extent the GC), Nintendo has not been at parity with other manufacturers when it comes to hardware specs, though, which was kind of my overall point. I just dream of how great it would be if Nintendo released a PS4-like console with that power, 1080p/4K, with next-gen graphics for their new games. Instead they yet again opt for gimmicks over performance. They have the money, they could do a full-spec console, but for whatever reason they are stuck trying to be different rather than just giving their fans what they have wanted for a long time - first-party titles with great graphics, great performance, no fluff.

I may pick one of these up, eventually...maybe next Xmas or something. The motivation for a pre-order or day one purchase is just not there. I want to see how this paid online service BS plays out as well, and see if they end up dropping the price of accessories.

Yeah. I can partially agree there. I mean, I definitely wouldn't say no to a nice, powerful, svelte little Nintendo system that was as powerful (or more) than the competitors. That would definitely be cool. Just in my case, the only games I every buy for a Nintendo system are pretty much Nintendo games, and sometimes the odd 3rd party (or these days indie) game. In which case, they're usually pretty spot-on with the hardware requirements necessary to make their own games look good. I do see the appeal of a powerful console, like what you've just described. I've loved all of their systems though, gimmicky or not, and really can't complain about how the Switch turned out. I love to sit on the couch or lay in bed with a 3DS or Wii U pad before I go to sleep sometimes, and play something in comfort or while someone else is using the TV. I also like to play things while I'm out and about. If I can pick up where I left off on a home game on a portable, that's kinda cool. I definitely don't see myself in any of the contrived scenarios they present in their videos, but I still think the Switch looks cool, and I think I'll enjoy one. I'll pick one up as soon as it doesn't require any extra effort on my part.

 

[swatbat]

I normally never buy physical media (if I can help it), but swapping tiny cartridges is at least much easier and more convenient that swapping disks. With 256GB SD cards sitting at another $100, that isn't a very cost effective route.

I really, really don't want this machine at all. Damn you Nintendo and your 5-6 great franchises.

While I normally agree with you it is on platforms that actually have an online presence and nintendo's is there just to tell you that nintendo hates you. With steam, amazon, sony, ea, microsoft, gog, and everyone else I'm thinking of you just sign in on the new system and redownload whatever you want to. Nintendo ties the games to the console. If it dies you need to have nintendo repair it to transfer them. If you want to upgrade to a better model you have to have the old one to transfer the stuff to it. What they need to do is have the nintendo account work like everyone else. Let my games be tied to it, give me some cloud storage for saves, etc. The virtual console games need to play over everything. Let me convert my wii and wii u virtual console games to ones that are tied to an online account. If they will run on a 3ds or whatever they end up replacing it with let me run them on it.

With the switch which I think I'll end up getting at some point for the few nintendo franchises I'm prob going to go with carts. That way if something happens to the console I still have my games. I had to replace a few optical drives on friends wii systems so they could keep their downloads.

While true...that's even more $. My biggest gripe with the Switch is that it feels like every single convenience item is making that price tag get higher and higher. This is after the Xbox One S (with 500GB HD and a 4-star game) was going for $200 on Amazon this Christmas. That's enough to tack on an extra controller and a year of XBL just to match the cost of the Switch.

Agree with the above. With the switch I get what appears to be slower hardware, an online system that will by all chances be a joke compared to the 360's launch online service(let alone the current offering), and a portable mode that I don't really care about. Even if I did for around the house you have game streaming options on the other consoles. Instead we have a system that in all reality I'm buying for zelda(and I can run that on my wii u), mario, mario kart, smash brothers, and a few other titles I hope will be good. Right now mario kart is a remake of the wii u version, mario looks a little off(not sure how I feel about mario with normal sized people looking weird in a normal city), zelda which is going to be on the existing system etc. The last mario rpg game was very bad and wario ware seems to be mia.

This is on top of us knowing that the xbox one has and will continue to have better third party support.

Bad thing is I was looking forward to this console even after the wii u which was a joke. I grew up on nintedo and sega. My original gameboy survived trips through at least 8 countries. I have real nes controllers converted to usb for playing old school games on my laptop. I've actually had the nes, snes, n64, gamecube(with the expensive component cables), wii, and wii u. I had the gameboy, the pocket, the color, the advanced sp, the ds, the ds lite, and the 3dsxl. I want nintendo to be good. I'd love this system to have gamecube and wii virtual console so I could play the mario rpg games from them along with a few others.

 

[cybereality]

So for the non-charging grip controller, one of the videos I saw a Nintendo rep said you can plug the USB-C power cable directly to the tablet with the Joy-Cons connected and still play. So, in the event the controllers died mid-session, you could at least pull the tablet out of the dock and play on the system (but not on your TV) so that is an option.

Also, the dock has a USB 3.0 port inside of it, but Nintendo has not confirmed as of yet if external hard-drives are supported. If so, that would be a good storage option and external hard-drives are cheap. For the go, you can use MicroSD cards and Nintendo confirmed to to 2TB cards will work (though none are on the market yet).

 

[Derangel]

So for the non-charging grip controller, one of the videos I saw a Nintendo rep said you can plug the USB-C power cable directly to the tablet with the Joy-Cons connected and still play. So, in the event the controllers died mid-session, you could at least pull the tablet out of the dock and play on the system (but not on your TV) so that is an option.

Also, the dock has a USB 3.0 port inside of it, but Nintendo has not confirmed as of yet if external hard-drives are supported. If so, that would be a good storage option and external hard-drives are cheap. For the go, you can use MicroSD cards and Nintendo confirmed to to 2TB cards will work (though none are on the market yet).

I've seen it reported that external hard drive support is coming sometime after launch.

 

[chameleoneel]

2 million worldwide for launch, is not fake scarcity. That's a pretty decent launch, compared to past console launches.

Small? Switch is actually on the large side, for a handheld. It's kinda pushing it, really. But its needs some size, to present more complex, console style games.

Underpowered? It's very powerful. It's not a PS4. And im glad that it isn't. The market does not need another me too set top box console. We have two of those. And if you wanna spend a few more bucks, you can build a PC.

What a large market segment IS ripe for, a smart, high power handheld. Which puts less limits on game design and can adapt easily, to your play scenario. It's what the Wii-U should have been.

It may not be perfect. I think the main specs are just right. Stuff like motion control, may end up being a waste. We'll see. People seem excited about that boxing game.

For storage, I think they struck the correct balance. Cartridges for now, with installs small enough, to allow a few games.

By Black Friday, larger SD cards will be cheap enough to not make your stomach hurt. And they probably wont have too robust of a digital store until then, anyway.

External HDD defeats the point of portable.
More internal storage would drive up the cost. IPhones with significantly more storage, cost as much as a Switch, just for the storage upgrade.

 

[Derangel]

2 million worldwide for launch, is not fake scarcity. That's a pretty decent launch, compared to past console launches.

Small? Switch is actually on the large side, for a handheld. It's kinda pushing it, really. But its needs some size, to present more complex, console style games.

Underpowered? It's very powerful. It's not a PS4. And im glad that it isn't. The market does not need another me too set top box console. We have two of those. And if you wanna spend a few more bucks, you can build a PC.

What a large market segment IS ripe for, a smart, high power handheld. Which puts less limits on game design and can adapt easily, to your play scenario. It's what the Wii-U should have been.

It may not be perfect. I think the main specs are just right. Stuff like motion control, may end up being a waste. We'll see. People seem excited about that boxing game.

For storage, I think they struck the correct balance. Cartridges for now, with installs small enough, to allow a few games.

By Black Friday, larger SD cards will be cheap enough to not make your stomach hurt. And they probably wont have too robust of a digital store until then, anyway.

External HDD defeats the point of portable.
More internal storage would drive up the cost. IPhones with significantly more storage, cost as much as a Switch, just for the storage upgrade.

2 million is Nintendo's goal for the ENTIRE MONTH. Not launch day, not launch week , ALL month. If they only have 2 million for the entire month of March that is scarcity.

 

[chameleoneel]

Yeah,

2 million is Nintendo's goal for the ENTIRE MONTH. Not launch day, not launch week , ALL month. If they only have 2 million for the entire month of March that is scarcity.

compared to past launches, that's pretty ok. The PS3 is the one with the awful launch.

 

[Derangel]

Yeah,
compared to past launches, that's pretty ok. The PS3 is the one with the awful launch.

Looking at numbers, holy crap. I forgot how few PS3's Sony had out there at launch. I remember the big launch event they held somewhere (New York?) and people being pissed about how few units they sold there. Any idea what 360 numbers were? I can't find solid launch month numbers, just 90 day and six month figures.

 

[Verge]

2 million is Nintendo's goal for the ENTIRE MONTH. Not launch day, not launch week , ALL month. If they only have 2 million for the entire month of March that is scarcity.

Well they had about 2500 NES classics for all of holiday season, and they've probably stopped production to direct attention to the switch. Is it a real console, not sure, but it's definitely worse than the ps3.

 

[Domingo]

Considering not all of the games they mentioned are even launch-day titles, I don't mind if the floodgates don't open right away. It doesn't seem as though there are any real launch-day only bundles (just the store ones that bundle games), so you won't be missing out on any deals if you don't get one right away.

 

[Derangel]

Considering not all of the games they mentioned are even launch-day titles, I don't mind if the floodgates don't open right away. It doesn't seem as though there are any real launch-day only bundles (just the store ones that bundle games), so you won't be missing out on any deals if you don't get one right away.

Nintendo has promised to announce more launch window (though they extend that term to include Mario, so that's a pretty big window) in the coming weeks so I'm hoping that will include some more launch or at least launch month titles. Most system launches kind of suck (with some obvious exceptions) anyway, but it would be nice if the launch day itself had some more standout titles. That said, Snipperclips looks like it will be a great local coop title and Has-Been Heroes looks like it has some promise so launch month isn't terrible. I'm hoping Bomberman is good as well, but impressions from the New York event have not been exactly positive.

 

[Domingo]

Of the titles shown so far, Mario Kart, Street Fighter, and Arms are definites for me. None of those are launch day titles. Not sure I really like the new Mario game, but they rarely disappoint.

 

[Derangel]

I'm sure I'll pick up MK8 Deluxe, I do love MK8 and playing more of it with new characters and, hopefully, new tracks entices me. I'm unsure about Mario as well. The real world stuff just looks weird and I'm not sure why they went that route. The other worlds look pretty cool and I like the hat moves, but we'll see how it goes.

 

[Blackstone]

Is there any analysis as to how powerful this machine is compared to the Wii U?

 

[Terpfen]

Is there any analysis as to how powerful this machine is compared to the Wii U?

There probably won't be until the thing is released and teardowns begin. But it should be a pretty good step up. Compare Mario Kart 8 Deluxe to the original, and compare Splatoon 2 to Splatoon. Obvious improvements in resolution, FPS, and rendering, especially MK8D.

 

[Domingo]

LOL, looks like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is bringing back item reserves. Let the camping begin. There's gonna be no stopping a player with 2 red shields now

 

[Derangel]

Two huuuuge (at least for me) Switch related announcements from the Fire Emblem Nintendo direct:

Fire Emblem Warriors is releasing this Fall!

AND

A brand new Fire Emblem game will be releasing next year!

 

[cybereality]

Is there any analysis as to how powerful this machine is compared to the Wii U?

Zelda runs at 900P on Switch but only 720P on WiiU (both at 30fps), so we know Switch is at least *somewhat* more powerful.

 

[cageymaru]

Zelda runs at 900P on Switch but only 720P on WiiU (both at 30fps), so we know Switch is at least *somewhat* more powerful.

Here is a link to an article.
https://www.engadget.com/2017/01/18/zelda-breath-wild-switch-wii-u-differences/

 

[CannibalTrout]

More internal storage would drive up the cost. IPhones with significantly more storage, cost as much as a Switch, just for the storage upgrade.

The cost of that extra storage for the production volumes were talking here is like dollars. Apple just charges you $100+ each jump because they can, not because it actually costs them any significant amount.

 

[CannibalTrout]

I wish Nintendo would just make a normal style system that is on par with Xbox and PS to attract all the 3rd parties to port games over to it and then Nintendo can add in their own exclusive 1st party games which I think would draw a bigger crowd than any Xbox or PS exclusive title.

And then implement some ability in a next gen DS to allow it to plug into the Nintendo and upscale to 1080p and use normal console controller.

I mean what gamer would pass up a nintendo system that ran with the power of a PS4 Pro so all non exclusive xbox/ps4 games were ported to it and could run full speed/resolution, had all the 1st party nintendo titles + some sort of connection option with a next gen DS.

I dunno, but that sure sounds like it would be a no brainer cash making monster to me.

 

[Deleted member 232162]

I just wish that with Nintendo we didn't have to do that again...and again...and again...and again...

Yeah I get it, but it's just how it is, and the price we all will pay to play the latest Zelda and Mario. I certainly won't not get the system just because I do feel that way, life's a little too short to not enjoy what I want to enjoy. I do wish things were different though...no doubt.

 

[MavericK]

Yeah I get it, but it's just how it is, and the price we all will pay to play the latest Zelda and Mario. I certainly won't not get the system just because I do feel that way, life's a little too short to not enjoy what I want to enjoy. I do wish things were different though...no doubt.

Yeah...eventually I may get it for Zelda. If they release a Monster Hunter for it, then it probably becomes a must-buy for me.

 

[Derangel]

I wish Nintendo would just make a normal style system that is on par with Xbox and PS to attract all the 3rd parties to port games over to it and then Nintendo can add in their own exclusive 1st party games which I think would draw a bigger crowd than any Xbox or PS exclusive title.

And then implement some ability in a next gen DS to allow it to plug into the Nintendo and upscale to 1080p and use normal console controller.

I mean what gamer would pass up a nintendo system that ran with the power of a PS4 Pro so all non exclusive xbox/ps4 games were ported to it and could run full speed/resolution, had all the 1st party nintendo titles + some sort of connection option with a next gen DS.

I dunno, but that sure sounds like it would be a no brainer cash making monster to me.

Making yet another PS4 or XB1 console would be the dumbest possible move Nintendo could make. In the entire history of the modern video game market there has NEVER been a successful third console that was just the same as the others. Gamecube or Dreamcast? Nope. Saturn? Fuck no. Neo Geo, 3DO, Jaguar, and so on and on and on all through the history of the industry. There has never been and will never be room in the market for three consoles that do the exact same thing. All you are doing is wishing Nintendo would die because that would be the effect of them doing what you want. You are asking for something that is completely unrealistic and ignores the reality of the video game market.

What gamer would pass up a system like you describe? Probably the 100 million or so that already own a XB1 or PS4 and have no use for something that is just another version of what they already have. Nintendo needs to find the right hook to get people interested, that is the only one for a 3rd system to have any real impact on the market. The reason the Wii U was such an amazing companion system was because it wasn't just another console, you weren't getting the same experience on it as the other consoles and you were getting games that required a lot more creativity to work around the limitations. I have a PC, I have a PS4, I have a XB1. I don't want just another console. That's boring. Give me something interesting, not the same old shit.

 

[Deleted member 232162]

Yeah...eventually I may get it for Zelda. If they release a Monster Hunter for it, then it probably becomes a must-buy for me.

Not to get too off-topic, but you play the God Eater games? Excellent alternatives!

 

[MavericK]

Here is a link to an article.
https://www.engadget.com/2017/01/18/zelda-breath-wild-switch-wii-u-differences/

Less than 1080 at 30 FPS is pretty meh...was hoping for at least 60 FPS, I'm pretty sure the even the 3DS can do 60 FPS on Super Smash Bros (much lower res, though)...

Not to get too off-topic, but you play the God Eater games? Excellent alternatives!

I have seen them but not played...might have to check them out, I hadn't really heard much about whether or not they were good.

 

[Q-BZ]

I wish Nintendo would just make a normal style system that is on par with Xbox and PS to attract all the 3rd parties to port games over to it and then Nintendo can add in their own exclusive 1st party games which I think would draw a bigger crowd than any Xbox or PS exclusive title.

And then implement some ability in a next gen DS to allow it to plug into the Nintendo and upscale to 1080p and use normal console controller.

I mean what gamer would pass up a nintendo system that ran with the power of a PS4 Pro so all non exclusive xbox/ps4 games were ported to it and could run full speed/resolution, had all the 1st party nintendo titles + some sort of connection option with a next gen DS.

I dunno, but that sure sounds like it would be a no brainer cash making monster to me.

I partially agree with you.

I definitely, ideally would love to have Nintendo operating on a strong, robust hardware platform. Gimmicks being optional bonuses. Their console hardware decisions have befuddled me repeatedly. I've felt this way for years.

I can't speak for everyone but speaking for myself: I don't even care about third party.

People buy Nintendo systems to play Nintendo games when it really comes down to it.

It's up to Nintendo to have enough consistent quality first and second party software output during the course of the year otherwise nothing else matters. If this happens, they will do well. I hope they do.

http://screenrant.com/zelda-breath-wild-story-details/

^^ See that? That's what Nintendo is about. Give us Marios. Give us Zeldas. Give us Metroids. Give us Fire Emblems. Games we can't get anywhere else.

Holy shit, a new Zelda game. I can't play that anywhere else. Unless it's an epic disaster, that's going to move hardware.

If Nintendo doesn't us wait an eternity to get more of these sorts of games then they can watch the money train roll in and I hope it happens.

 

[MavericK]

People buy Nintendo systems to play Nintendo games when it really comes down to it.

It's up to Nintendo to have enough consistent quality first and second party software output during the course of the year otherwise nothing else matters. If this happens, they will do well. I hope they do.

http://screenrant.com/zelda-breath-wild-story-details/

^^ See that? That's what Nintendo is about. Give us Marios. Give us Zeldas. Give us Metroids. Give us Fire Emblems. Games we can't get anywhere else.

True, although the Wii U seemed to lack even a decent showing of first-party titles. The only two games I ever really wanted to play on Wii U were Pikmin 3 and Super Mario 3D World. They fucked up Star Fox, and there was never any Metroid Prime successor.

 

[CannibalTrout]

True, but it was nintendo themselves that moved out of that market for some reason by not keeping up with the hardware of the other makers. I mean if I could play all my graphics intensive games with equal performance/quality that I play on the PS4, but on nintendo hardware and then add in their own 1st party games, what would be the point of the PS4? IMO Nintendo has way more in their pocket for 1st party exclusive titles that would draw crowds than any of the other systems in history combined, and then add it the ability to draw the people that want the high end graphics/etc that the other systems promote. Then why not try to deal back into that market? Obviously the route they are going now doesn't seem to be working too swell for them. I don't see the switch changing that for them. I hope im wrong cause I love me some Nintendo games.