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[jimi_dini]

Ok, let's play along.

How would you justify one less income stream? What would make me buy two copies of MK? Two copies of DK? Two copies of NSMB?

How many people are actually buying 2 copies of the game for handheld + console right now?

And how many of those are there actually available?
Two copies of New Super Mario Bros? NSMB/Wii + NSMB/DS are not the same game at all. Super Mario 3D Land + World are also not the same game. Those are 2 completely different games.

Xenoblade Chronicles on 3DS + Wii, that would be a point. But it's also a niche game. And Nintendo could have saved money in case they could have simply released it back then on handheld + console at the same time without any real effort on their side.

By combining those platforms, they can sell one of their games for handheld + console, which means for every game there is a larger audience available than right now.

Just think about this: Super Mario 3D Land on Wii U. And Super Mario 3D World on 3DS. If you own both, you could play both of those on 3DS + Wii U. I think this would be a great feature for people, that own both. And it would also be nice for people, who own only 1 of either Wii U or 3DS.

Let's say you absolutely love Super Mario 3D Land, but you also only own a 3DS. Now you see that Nintendo released another game like this and you want it. Currently you have to buy a Wii U to be able to play it. Which means the customer has to spend way more money. And there's a chance, that the customer will not buy it because of that.

 

[GhostTrick]

This. Why not focus on delivering a good entry in each major franchise per a generation to be supported by a sensible DLC plan?

Exactly. Mario Kart 8 was imo a good step in that direction. Put the big team on work then release new content with a small team on it, 1 year later. Keeping these games alive.

 

[bachikarn]

We were "positive"... til Nintendo shipped us the WiiU. Was not exactly what they promised us. Lets hope Nintendo actually hears what publishers say and understand why they say it.

So what exactly happened? Did Nintendo cut the specs or did something else happen?

 

[Theanine3D]

Ok, let's play along.

How would you justify one less income stream? What would make me buy two copies of MK? Two copies of DK? Two copies of NSMB?

One of those two income streams hasn't exactly been very successful lately, in case you haven't noticed. Neither have their handheld vs console versions of games been selling at even comparable rates. Smash 3DS sold almost double what the Wii U version sold. for example.

You shouldn't need to buy two copies of Mario Kart, two copies of Smash. Not when the experiences are nearly exactly the same. Why on earth would you defend milking?

Something some people don't realize - not everyone can support two platforms at once. When I bought my Wii U, I had to stop buying 3DS games for a good while, just couldn't afford it. That wouldn't have been the case if I could have played all those 3DS games on my Wii U (ala a hybrid)

 

[Socordia]

They are not gonna do a hybrid they are making nearly half of their revenue trough hardware right now and if you are not buying digital there is still two mario kart or whatever mario for you.

 

[Interceptor]

If I was Nintendo and I was building a hybrid as my super clever ground breaking gimmick this go around Id totally tell you that it wasn't a hybrid.

The WiiU is already a crappy version of a hybrid. Crappy because it can be used as a handheld, just not far from the home base and it is disparate from their actually handheld hardware and software. All they need is to take that idea the logical step further and they are there.

Aside from the fact that it´s indeed not a hybrid the idea itself is so unbelievable inappropiate and so 90s. A base station with ram and extra grpahics? What? Why not just stream it to your TV? It´s an awefull idea all around. Incredible expensive and... ah whatever. It´s not a hybrid.

 

[Maztorre]

It is getting hard to find a cell phone that isn't 1080p.

Totally a hybrid.

Also any doubt it is going to be android based? They get a pile of apps like Netflix without needing to do much.

I really doubt it will be a hybrid and they've denied a hybrid solution after they announced it. It'll most likely be a device family that runs the same software across multiple home/portable form factors running the same OS.

 

[Elman]

I'm expecting the ARM-powered handheld and home console "hybrid" that was rumored earlier. Assuming they can be sold separately and play the same games, with the home console having higher fidelity, NX could be interesting platform.

First, let's assume the following:

1. Nintendo does not want to exit the hardware business
2. Nintendo wants to make a profit on each unit sold while making the unit price accessible to the mainstream market
3. Nintendo wants to iterate hardware more frequently while maintaining backwards compatibility, similar to the mobile market
4. Nintendo wants to target the growing sector of the market (mobile) while still providing an option for the home console core
5. Nintendo wants its platform to be accessible to indie and AAA developers, as well as established and new mobile developers
6. Nintendo wants its mobile and home devices to be unified and play the same games/use the same services

Considering #2 through #6, it makes sense for Nintendo to use an ARM-based platform for its dedicated mobile and handheld devices. Intel will likely be too expensive for mobile x86 and AMD has nothing in mobile that can compete in terms of performance/watt. Going for a customized non-ARM and non-x86 design is right out, as it hurts ease of portability for mobile developers and could result in compatibility complications between the two NX devices.

So we've established that the NX "platform" and its devices should be ARM-based. The home console targets the core looking for a cheaper entry price to play beloved Nintendo franchises. The dedicated handheld succeeds the 3DS, where it is essentially unchallenged by Sony and Microsoft. Both devices play the same games within the same ecosystem (game saves included) with the home console providing higher fidelity. Both devices might even emulate Android games, which was also rumored. Those that can afford both devices can enjoy "Remote Play" in its purest form. So far, this sounds like the "hybrid" platform we've been hearing about.

But there's still one problem: mobile phones. Can a dedicated Nintendo handheld survive another generation against the ubiquitous smartphone?

 

[GhostTrick]

Aside from the fact that it´s indeed not a hybrid the idea itself is so unbelievable inappropiate and so 90s. A base station with ram and extra grpahics? What? Why not just stream it to your TV? It´s an awefull idea all around. Incredible expensive and... ah whatever. It´s not a hybrid.

As a lot of people said, an hybrid is a terrible idea. It would be a bad handheld because of requiring too much battery... and a terrible console because of being too weak.

 

[Warm Machine]

Aside from the fact that it´s indeed not a hybrid the idea itself is so unbelievable inappropiate and so 90s. A base station with ram and extra grpahics? What? Why not just stream it to your TV? It´s an awefull idea all around. Incredible expensive and... ah whatever. It´s not a hybrid.

There wouldn't be a base. Just HDMI streaming from the handheld to the TV via an HDMI dongle.

As a lot of people said, an hybrid is a terrible idea. It would be a bad handheld because of requiring too much battery... and a terrible console because of being too weak.

Those new Nvidia Tegra chips are better than WiiUs and use very little power.

 

[Interceptor]

There wouldn't be a base. Just HDMI streaming from the handheld to the TV via an HDMI dongle.



Those new Nvidia Tegra chips are better than WiiUs and use very little power.

For the handheld? Maybe. Still not a hybrid. The hybrid you wish for is in the OS. No need to speculate. We know this.

I'm expecting the ARM-powered handheld and home console "hybrid" that was rumored earlier. Assuming they can be sold separately and play the same games, with the home console having higher fidelity, NX could be interesting platform.

First, let's assume the following:

1. Nintendo does not want to exit the hardware business
2. Nintendo wants to make a profit on each unit sold while making the unit price accessible to the mainstream market
3. Nintendo wants to iterate hardware more frequently while maintaining backwards compatibility, similar to the mobile market
4. Nintendo wants to target the growing sector of the market (mobile) while still providing an option for the home console core
5. Nintendo wants its platform to be accessible to indie and AAA developers, as well as established and new mobile developers
6. Nintendo wants its mobile and home devices to be unified and play the same games/use the same services

Considering #2 through #6, it makes sense for Nintendo to use an ARM-based platform for its dedicated mobile and handheld devices. Intel will likely be too expensive for mobile x86 and AMD has nothing in mobile that can compete in terms of performance/watt. Going for a customized non-ARM and non-x86 design is right out, as it hurts ease of portability for mobile developers and could result in compatibility complications between the two NX devices.

So we've established that the NX "platform" and its devices should be ARM-based. The home console targets the core looking for a cheaper entry price to play beloved Nintendo franchises. The dedicated handheld succeeds the 3DS, where it is essentially unchallenged by Sony and Microsoft. Both devices play the same games within the same ecosystem (game saves included) with the home console providing higher fidelity. Both devices might even emulate Android games, which was also rumored. Those that can afford both devices can enjoy "Remote Play" in its purest form. So far, this sounds like the "hybrid" platform we've been hearing about.

But there's still one problem: mobile phones. Can a dedicated Nintendo handheld survive another generation against the ubiquitous smartphone?

Agree with most of it aside 6. Mobile and dedicated systems will be strictly seperated. Different software, same IPs, unified account.

 

[biglittleps]

There wouldn't be a base. Just HDMI streaming from the handheld to the TV via an HDMI dongle.



Those new Nvidia Tegra chips are better than WiiUs and use very little power.

They are not cheap(Nvidia needs high profits) thats why Sony/MS moved to AMD (Nintendo too according to rumour) and have heating problems compared to others.

 

[wsippel]

So I just looked into NERD once again, to see if some employee finally revealed what they've been up to. Turns out there are a lot more employees now, but the Linkedin profiles still only say that they're working on a "very exciting top secret project". Really starting to wonder if they've been working on something NX related all along. It's a bit late in the game for this to be 3DS or Wii U stuff if it's really as awesome and innovative as those guys say.

I don't know what it means to "emulate" Android. Like try and run Android apps? Didn't Blackberry try and do that recently too? How would games run through an emulation layer?

That would be my guess. Though if NX is ARM based, and it probably is, you don't really need to "emulate" Android, but people tend to use the term regardless. All you need is a bunch of runtime and compatibility libraries and wrappers. It's even easier if the NX OS is a UNIX or UNIX-like, which it should be. Performance should be pretty much native.

 

[bachikarn]

So the idea of NX being a platforms means that games will run on both the portable and console flavor? Doesn't that effectively cut an income stream? Or do people not think they would allow cross buy?

 

[GhostTrick]

There wouldn't be a base. Just HDMI streaming from the handheld to the TV via an HDMI dongle.



Those new Nvidia Tegra chips are better than WiiUs and use very little power.

Tegra X1 is rated at 512gflops. And it's in a console form factor for now. It's better than Wii U of course, yet far from even Xbox One.

 

[Socordia]

So the idea of NX being a platforms means that games will run on both the portable and console flavor? Doesn't that effectively cut an income stream? Or do people not think they would allow cross buy?

For digital yes(they talk about ipad and iphone afterall) for retail get a discount towards mario kart wiiu if register mario kart 3ds or vice versa at best.at worst nothing for you,

 

[Plinko]

I do think putting out a system in 2017 will be too late and they're going to push away a LOT of fans because of how poorly the Wii U will be supported during that time, but I will say that a 2017 date gives it a good shot to be more powerful (at whatever rate) than a PS4.

I don't believe for a second that Sony is now on a 5-year cycle with consoles. I expect the PS5 in 2019 at the earliest.

If Nintendo gets out a powerful system in 2017, people won't have had an opportunity to buy a new console at launch in 4 years. They also most likely won't be seeing any news about PS5 at that point, either, especially if it's in the spring and PS5 is scheduled for a Holiday 2019 release.

Presumably, the desire may be there for another system in the mass market. If they can show the system has power and a fantastic launch lineup, they've got a shot to make a real splash in the market.

They absolutely can't do with the NX what they did with Wii U--a system that has power decreased dramatically by a gimmick. It can't happen. It crushed their market (along with poor marketing, naming, third-party support et al). They have to either go more powerful or an incredibly cheap option to try and draw in casuals again (which I think is a dangerous road to go down).

 

[Oregano]

So the idea of NX being a platforms means that games will run on both the portable and console flavor? Doesn't that effectively cut an income stream? Or do people not think they would allow cross buy?

It only cuts the revenue stream for people who own both and would buy both. Considering just the massive disparity in install base between Wii U and 3DS it's not a large amount of people. You also open up the possibility for people to spend more on DLC or on other games.

 

[wheeplash]

Just gonna leave this here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdFToeR_DJk

 

[LeleSocho]

It is getting hard to find a cell phone that isn't 1080p.

This doesn't mean anything, using this mentality to prove that an hybrid nice looking graphics' console is viable in todays market is technically wrong on different levels.

 

[Sadist]

So the idea of NX being a platforms means that games will run on both the portable and console flavor? Doesn't that effectively cut an income stream? Or do people not think they would allow cross buy?

Or, even better; Nintendo only has to develop one version of a game; so they won't have to invest money in a second version of a game (like Mario Kart, Smash, Animal Crossing, Splatoon etc.) and have the extra teams to work on different projects.

 

[Plinko]

Or, even better; Nintendo only has to develop one version of a game; so they won't have to invest money in a second version of a game (like Mario Kart, Smash, Animal Crossing, Splatoon etc.) and have the extra teams to work on different projects.

This is the absolutely massive benefit they would be getting. By looking at the release schedule over the past few years, they clearly can't support two systems at once.

 

[Interceptor]

So the idea of NX being a platforms means that games will run on both the portable and console flavor? Doesn't that effectively cut an income stream? Or do people not think they would allow cross buy?

Knowing Nintendo and Iwatas approach to "new ways to discount software" they will offer an upgrade solution like the one with Wii -> Wii U for VC. They are not cutting an income stream but they will be able to support a handheld and a home console with a steady lineup for the first time ever. Buy on Handheld and upgrade for $5 to play it on your console. Can´t imagine a full crossbuy with Iwata.

 

[JMDSO]

This is the absolutely massive benefit they would be getting. By looking at the release schedule over the past few years, they clearly can't support two systems at once.

And they could possibly offer the handheld version of the game at a discounted price if you buy the console one, or vise versa. Or even a full cross buy system.

 

[Plinko]

And they could possibly offer the handheld version of the game at a discounted price if you buy the console one, or vise versa. Or even a full cross buy system.

Exactly.

 

[mike4001_]

Would be a possibility some kind of 1080p handheld you can plug into your TV and also use with a normal controller ?

Could also play their Android games.

Would make sense and is (kind of) new.

 

[Oregano]

I think they should do full & mandatory cross buy simply to maintain third party support consistent across form factors.

Smash Bros wasn't Cross Buy because both games still required their own separate development. Mario vs DK: Tipping Stars clearly shows they're open to the idea.

EDIT:

Would be a possibility some kind of 1080p handheld you can plug into your TV and also use with a normal controller ?

Could also play their Android games.

Would make sense and is (kind of) new.

The power required to run games at 1080p still isn't quite there for mobile devices. A lot of mobile games are upscaled.

 

[GhostTrick]

I think they should do full & mandatory cross buy simply to maintain third party support consistent across form factors.

Smash Bros wasn't Cross Buy because both games still required their own separate development. Mario vs DK: Tipping Stars clearly shows they're open to the idea.

Yup. Even making pay a dollar would be pure greed and would kill any benefits from that system. And lets be fair: Considering the utter failure Wii U was, they cant afford to not be extremly consumer friendly.

 

[mike4001_]

The power required to run games at 1080p still isn't quite there for mobile devices. A lot of mobile games are upscaled.

High end chips should be capable of it.

Also the console woun´t be out for 1,5 years.

But then again you have the cost factor for a high-end chip + display ... probably a bad idea

 

[Sadist]

This is the absolutely massive benefit they would be getting. By looking at the release schedule over the past few years, they clearly can't support two systems at once.

Yup. And if they really take this route it would be great for consumers who have a hard time choosing which system to get. Both systems will get the same games and if you're more of a console kind of guy but you want to play Fire Emblem or Pokemon...it doesn't matter. Both will offer it.

This idea would be nice for Capcom as well. When Monster Hunter X G(U) gets announced next year (you know this will happen) they can port it over to NX and offer it both on handheld and console. Capcom won't have to deal with all the "But I want Monster Hunter on a console!" port begging. Cheaper to develop than MH Tri Ultimate for sure.

 

[Locamotable]

Just gonna leave this here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdFToeR_DJk

i lol'd

 

[JMDSO]

Is it easy to develop for a console and a handheld if the architecture is the same?

 

[Mithos]

Capcom won't have to deal with all the "But I want Monster Hunter on a console!" port begging. Cheaper to develop than MH Tri Ultimate for sure.

But I want a Monster Hunter for NX that really looks like its made for it and not just a portable version running 1080p. ;P ;P

I like the idea, but that means they will have effectively merged console and handhelds. It wouldn't be a hybrid, but on a high level it's be the same thing. One platform that you can play on your TV with better graphics or on the go.

Sounds like PC, in a way.

 

[bachikarn]

Or, even better; Nintendo only has to develop one version of a game; so they won't have to invest money in a second version of a game (like Mario Kart, Smash, Animal Crossing, Splatoon etc.) and have the extra teams to work on different projects.

I like the idea, but that means they will have effectively merged console and handhelds. It wouldn't be a hybrid, but on a high level it's be the same thing. One platform that you can play on your TV with better graphics or on the go. The difference is that you have to buy separate physical hardware, but the games play on both.

I'm just not quite sure I buy it though because the loss of a revenue stream. I think when Nintendo talks about joining their divisions, it was more that they would have common tools etc so guys who work on a handheld game could easily then move on to help with a console game. It allows them to merge their divisions and skill set, but not the actual systems.

 

[Elman]

Agree with most of it aside 6. Mobile and dedicated systems will be strictly separated. Different software, same IPs, unified account.

I sincerely hope that isn't the case. That's barely any better than Nintendo's current situation.

In fact, I don't see how this even makes sense. How is the NX a "gaming platform" if the devices can't play the same games? You make it sound like Nintendo should be chasing Sony's PS4/PS3 + Vita solution. Look how that worked out.

 

[Nosgotham]

I really want it to be a hybrid but it doesn't make much sense for Nintendo. I think it would be too big of a bet for them that could seriously hurt their revenue

 

[Biker19]

An SDXC card with UHS-II speed comparable to the highest known capacity of a BluRay Disc (100GB) is triple the read speed of even the fastest speed BluRay. And that's using the SD standard; a custom design could potentially read data even faster. Capacities can exceed BluRay, with the largest SD card being 2TB, but such cards are supremely cost-prohibitive.

At 100GB, SDXC cards at the highest speeds cost less than $1 each to manufacture. Again, a custom configuration could come out to be much cheaper, so long as it's close enough to an existing standard.

A return to "cartridges on consoles" will be great to see in the future. No need to worry about lasers going down inside consoles or any moving parts due to using discs, etc.

 

[Linkstrikesback]

Ok, let's play along.

How would you justify one less income stream? What would make me buy two copies of MK? Two copies of DK? Two copies of NSMB?

You make two different games on the same console architecture instead of two different games on different consoles?

I don't quite see what's confusing. Especially not when you listed an example of a game with multiple entries on the same console (DK country). NSMB as well if you count NSLU as a second game.

 

[SeanR1221]

Just gonna leave this here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdFToeR_DJk

Man that's difficulty to watch.

I honestly don't know what Nintendo should or can do at this point. Most posts on this topic just focus on whatever that particular person wants for Nintendo and doesn't think of the big picture on how they can be competitive again.

Mobile/amiibos/the universal deal are all great revenue ideas. But for the NX? I honestly don't know how they can pull gamers from Sony and Microsoft.

 

[takriel]

3D World can be debated, but it is a damn good game (that I still replay on occasion). Smash 4, while awesome, kinda falls short to that of Melee (which was a happy accident to say the least). And Zelda U isn't even out yet. Though you are on the money with Pikmin 3. Maybe throw in Mario Kart 8 & Tropical Freeze as well.

Of course, you're absolutely right. How could I forget MK8? Haven't played the DK games though, so can't say anything about that.

 

[jimi_dini]

Just gonna leave this here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdFToeR_DJk

nothing more needs to be said.

 

[Interceptor]

I sincerely hope that isn't the case. That's barely any better than Nintendo's current situation.

In fact, I don't see how this even makes sense. How is the NX a "gaming platform" if the devices can't play the same games? You make it sound like Nintendo should be chasing Sony's PS4/PS3 + Vita solution. Look how that worked out.

As for which Nintendo IP will be used, we do not intend to make any exceptions.Potentially, any Nintendo IP could be used in our smart device software....

Please also note that, even if we use the same IP on our dedicated video game
systems and smart devices, we will not port the titles for the former to the latter just as they are. There are significant differences in the controls, strengths and weaknesses between the controllers for dedicated game systems and the touchscreens of smart devices. We have no intention at all to port existing game titles for dedicated game platforms to smart devices because if we cannot provide our consumers with the best possible play experiences, it would just ruin the value of Nintendo’s IP.

One type of software for the NX family (Dedicated gaming console/handheld), one type of software for mobiles.
Same IPs to cross promote.

 

[Sadist]

But I want a Monster Hunter for NX that really looks like its made for it and not just a portable version running 1080p. ;P

Capcom will be to busy counting your money while you bought the upscaled version because you prefer MH on the big screen

I like the idea, but that means they will have effectively merged console and handhelds. It wouldn't be a hybrid, but on a high level it's be the same thing. One platform that you can play on your TV with better graphics or on the go. The difference is that you have to buy separate physical hardware, but the games play on both.

I'm just not quite sure I buy it though because the loss of a revenue stream. I think when Nintendo talks about joining their divisions, it was more that they would have common tools etc so guys who work on a handheld game could easily then move on to help with a console game. It allows them to merge their divisions and skill set, but not the actual systems.

Correct on the first part. But really I believe that Nintendo will pursue this option to give consumers a choice; if you like NX Handheld, you buy that formfactor. If you like Nintendo consoles better, you're going to get the NX Console. I think this will be a case of one or the other, not and-and.

And yes, that could be entirely possible as well because we're talking Nintendo here. But keep in mind, the dissapearance of a second version specificly tailored for handheld or console does give them some wiggleroom in their development budget/availabillity of their teams. Those can be used for other projects to invest in more releases year over year. Which creates another revenue stream if it's succesful.

 

[Trago]

I do find it strange that reception from third parties is positive considering how virtually none of them supported the Wii U strongly.

And since most of us have guessed that their hardware likely won't be comparable to even current gen, what's the catch? Why even consider porting anything to this machine?

 

[Fj0823]

I find a bit insulting that Nintendo is just launching a new product now, the U was released very recently.

And what do they have for all the loyal fans who bought it? A nice big cup of "Fuck you give us money"

The way Sony handled the low PS3 sales is imho the best way to go, you probably won't recover completely, but your brand will remain strong. People will have confidence in their purchase.

With Nintendo I don't feel confident, I'm very budget limited, and a company that just pumps another product when the one lots of people bought isn't doing so hot is not what I need

 

[SerTapTap]

How is one library across both platforms "cutting an income stream"?

Old system:

I buy animal crossing, Mario and Luigi and Pokemon on 3DS
I buy Mario Kart, Splatoon and Zelda U on Wii U

New system: I buy Animal Crossing, Mario and Luigi, Pokemon, Mario Kart, Splatoon and Zelda NX on a unified system.

Where is the loss here? The only loss is their weird up/down ports of games like Smash and Hyrule Warriors which are pretty rare. And portable/console only buyers suddenly getting access to the full library seems like it would easily compensate with more sales.

 

[Oregano]

Yup. Even making pay a dollar would be pure greed and would kill any benefits from that system. And lets be fair: Considering the utter failure Wii U was, they cant afford to not be extremly consumer friendly.

I think there's more pragmatic reasons for it though. There will be people willing to double dip just on the basis of getting the ideal experience; the lower the barrier of entry the higher amount of people willing to do that.

Or to put it hypothetically "How many more people would buy a Wii U if it could play all their 3DS games at 720p for free?"

High end chips should be capable of it.

Also the console woun´t be out for 1,5 years.

But then again you have the cost factor for a high-end chip + display ... probably a bad idea

Well I don't think Nintendo is going to go completely bleeding edge either way. I see them aiming the handheld at Wii U level performance at most and at a mass market price(<$200).

Yup. And if they really take this route it would be great for consumers who have a hard time choosing which system to get. Both systems will get the same games and if you're more of a console kind of guy but you want to play Fire Emblem or Pokemon...it doesn't matter. Both will offer it.

This idea would be nice for Capcom as well. When Monster Hunter X G(U) gets announced next year (you know this will happen) they can port it over to NX and offer it both on handheld and console. Capcom won't have to deal with all the "But I want Monster Hunter on a console!" port begging. Cheaper to develop than MH Tri Ultimate for sure.

I think they need to do the cross-platform strategy for the exact purpose of maintaining third party support. We saw Capcom skip Wii U for MH4U despite clearly having the capability and being happy with the performance of MH3U. Opportunity Cost needs to be effectively zero.

 

[jeffers]

So I just looked into NERD once again, to see if some employee finally revealed what they've been up to. Turns out there are a lot more employees now, but the Linkedin profiles still only say that they're working on a "very exciting top secret project". Really starting to wonder if they've been working on something NX related all along. It's a bit late in the game for this to be 3DS or Wii U stuff if it's really as awesome and innovative as those guys say.



That would be my guess. Though if NX is ARM based, and it probably is, you don't really need to "emulate" Android, but people tend to use the term regardless. All you need is a bunch of runtime and compatibility libraries and wrappers. It's even easier if the NX OS is a UNIX or UNIX-like, which it should be. Performance should be pretty much native.

what were they at, and whats it seem like now?

 

[GameGuru59]

An SDXC card with UHS-II speed comparable to the highest known capacity of a BluRay Disc (100GB) is triple the read speed of even the fastest speed BluRay. And that's using the SD standard; a custom design could potentially read data even faster. Capacities can exceed BluRay, with the largest SD card being 2TB, but such cards are supremely cost-prohibitive.



At 100GB, SDXC cards at the highest speeds cost less than $1 each to manufacture. Again, a custom configuration could come out to be much cheaper, so long as it's close enough to an existing standard.



... Yes. Yes you can.



Technically, you probably could, but in this day and age, I don't know why you'd want to.



Fairly easy, so long as it isn't too custom of a design.



However they want.

Wow, great post. It'd be awesome for Nintendo and the industry in general to move back to carts. Scratches on disks would be a thing of the past, as would worn out motors in consoles. I had no idea the tech had advanced so far.

 

[Trago]

How is one library across both platforms "cutting an income stream"?

Old system:

I buy animal crossing, Mario and Luigi and Pokemon on 3DS
I buy Mario Kart, Splatoon and Zelda U on Wii U

New system: I buy Animal Crossing, Mario and Luigi, Pokemon, Mario Kart, Splatoon and Zelda NX on a unified system.

Where is the loss here? The only loss is their weird up/down ports of games like Smash and Hyrule Warriors which are pretty rare. And portable/console only buyers suddenly getting access to the full library seems like it would easily compensate with more sales.

This is why I'm more interested in the specs of the handheld than the console. I'm not very knowledgable on mobile hardware, but I imagine having hardware required to scaled down versions of console games would be pretty expensive right?