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[CrazedProfessional]

With the Switch launching with what appears to be the best of the Wii U or at the very least, enhanced remakes. There is an interesting approach of Nintendo repackaging what their core audience may have missed because they skipped the Wii U or simply stuck with the 3DS entirely.

The Xbox One and PS4 are doing similar experiences post launch to bolster their library during release droughts with emulated BC and such. However, the Switch seems to be the first console to be able to repackage all-star prior gen content and launch with it without seeming cheap or exploitative because a lot of gamers most definitely missed these games basically making them new experiences.

The potential of launching with Switch and WiiUmastered software makes this software launch potentially massive and it doesn't even factor in Nintendo's portable output. It seems like the Wii Us failure can ultimately lead to incredible Dreamcast like momentum during the launch period of the Switch.

What does Gaf make of this very unique launch output situation?

 

[barneystuta83]

As long as they aren't the only games, yes.

Particularly with the Wii U.

While many will think the Wii U was/is a failure, some of the games are outstanding. And everyone loves a bit of Mario Kart.

The system is not in enough homes today so having those games to boost the launch library is a good thing.

And those enthusiasts who bought a Wii U will likely double dip on the Switch version also.

 

[the androgyne]

I'm surprised so many people are ok with this at all, with most seemingly lauding it! Me, i can play these games already and just imagine new hairstyles thanks.

 

[Nostremitus]

Well... The Wii U did sale like shit, so this is an opportunity for Nintendo to make a little more money on the work they put into it while also providing the people who either skipped Wii U or are portable only the option to play them.

It's fine as long as there are other games as well.

 

[KratosEnergyDrink]

Wii U has many great games, Switch gets, if any, only a handful from these Wii U games. Besides that, Switch Splatoon, Mario Kart etc. could be the successors not ports.

 

[Memorabilia]

What are the Wii U / Switch ports/remasters that have been confirmed?

 

[JBwB]

As long as they're not full priced games then sure why not.

 

[Klart]

No. WiiU already showed already that those late Mass Effect or Batman ports weren't a good idea. Even later ports like Skyrim won't do any good either. Well it's portable, I'll give 'm that, but it's not enough.

I really like the console/handheld concept though. Wish Sony would make a Vita2/PS4 like that.

But the reveal could have done with more "new" games. We've all seen Zelda. We all know Skyrim. Splatoon looked like the same old Splatoon (a really good game, but nothing new). Mario looked fun.

 

[SlickShoes]

Normally I would say no, but the Wii U had some great games that I never got to play because the system was never worth buying to me at £200.

I'm more than happy to buy the switch and have lots of remastered Wii U games to play. The Wii U also sold like complete shit everywhere, Nintendo know this and they know that if the switch is a hit then most people buying it never even played any of those great Wii U games, some of them won't even know they exist.

 

[Psychoward]

nope

 

[Neifirst]

Remasters seem to be the order of the day this generation. A quick look at metacritic scores for PS4 in 2013 & 2014 shows that the top rated games were, in order:

1. Grand Theft Auto V (Nov '14)
2. The Last of Us Remastered (July '14)
3. Diablo III (Aug '14)
4. Rayman Legends (Feb '14)
5. Fez (Mar '14)

Port, port, port, port, port

This is arguable of course, but I don't think PS4 got its first real AAA next-gen game until Bloodborne in 2015.

Switch will launch with a brand-new Legend of Zelda title.


Sony has succeeded because its console was a great value proposition and a lot of people were hungry for new tech. If Nintendo gets its pricing right and the niche they've identified has a suitably big audience, it can be similarly successful. It's certainly going to be a different experience than PC, VR, and the other home consoles!

 

[robotrock]

Remasters seem to be the order of the day this generation. A quick look at metacritic scores for PS4 in 2013 & 2014 shows that the top rated games were, in order:

1. Grand Theft Auto V (Nov '14)
2. The Last of Us Remastered (July '14)
3. Diablo III (Aug '14)
4. Rayman Legends (Feb '14)
5. Fez (Mar '14)

Port, port, port, port, port

This is arguable of course, but I don't think PS4 got its first real AAA next-gen game until Bloodborne in 2015.

Switch will launch with a brand-new Legend of Zelda title.

I think Killzone Shadowfall at launch was totally a real AAA next-gen game

 

[Hasney]

From the messages from friends I got yesterday that seem to be on the Switch hype train but didn't get a Wii U, it makes sense. Hopefully we get a discount at the very least, but re-releasing games from a failed platform to give people the chance to play them seems like a good idea.

 

[Nestunt]

They should make Zelda exclusive

 

[Stiflers Mom]

It's a good idea if they are appearing along new Switch only games.

More games is always a good thing.

 

[Neifirst]

I think Killzone Shadowfall at launch was totally a real AAA next-gen game

True, it & Knack just didn't review all that well, and I'm not sure either of them was a real driver of sales. A lot of people identified Resogun as the premier exclusive title for quite a long time. I guess I should have been more specific in that respect!

 

[Obscuritas]

They are totally viable cause, yeah, they don't cost too much and there is already an audience for those popular games (Splatoon, Mario Kart, Mario Maker?, Smash Bros).

 

[SMD]

As a Wii U owner, I'd want something new. But from Nintendo's perspective, I can see why it makes a lot of sense. They barely sold the machine and it's home to some fantastic titles. The sort of person who owns a Wii U will end up buying a Switch regardless. So those who are coming back or are totally new to Nintendo would've missed out on a lot of viable games.
Nintendo's main problem was always filling release schedules. So having small teams working on repurposing Wii U and 3DS games for the first 6-12 months while releasing 3 or 4 major titles would be a good way to start off the Switch era.

 

[Bumhead]

Given how few people bought a Wii U, I'd say this is totally fine for the launch of the Switch.

Having Mario Kart available Day 1 will sell systems, even if it's only a port of Mario Kart 8. They could do worse than throw Splatoon up there as well to help continue to build interest ahead of an inevitable full blown sequel.

Those 2 would be launching alongside a brand new Zelda and presumably at least some form of new Mario game. That would represent a very strong launch for the Switch.

 

[OrbitalBeard]

Bringing enhanced versions of the best Wii U games to Switch is a great way to manage droughts during the console's first year. I'm totally fine with it.

 

[Shotgun Kiss]

I'm surprised so many people are ok with this at all, with most seemingly lauding it! Me, i can play these games already and just imagine new hairstyles thanks.

*You* can play those games already, but not many people have a Wii U. I can see the Nintendo Switch becoming a huge success; certainly far bigger than the Wii U. Meaning that the majority of people who buy one won't have owned a Wii U, and therefore won't have played the Wii U's games. It's win-win, as it gives people a chance to play great games that they would have otherwise missed, and it allows Nintendo to recoup a lot of money that was invested into Wii U games that didn't perform as well as they deserved.

Not only that, but the ability to play enhanced versions of Wii U games on the go is appealing to even many Wii U owners.

 

[Widge]

What does Gaf make of this very unique launch output situation?

I can take last gen's games in a bag with me and play standing up on the train. Nothing else offers me that bar some poor halfway house boutique options.

In that respect, they become absolutely new games.

 

[Par Score]

Totally viable if those games were by-all-rights incredible exclusives for a platform that sold poorly.

So in the Wii U -> Switch case, absolutely.

 

[kitsuneyo]

There needs to be a discount for owners of digital MK8, Smash Wii U, and Splatoon.

Bringing enhanced versions of the best Wii U games to Switch is a great way to manage droughts during the console's first year. I'm totally fine with it.

Me too. I'm sure we'll get plenty of enhancements to Splatoon, and we can already see some of the changed to MK.

 

[Crossing Eden]

I think Killzone Shadowfall at launch was totally a real AAA next-gen game

Pretty sure he means in terms of not just being a tech demo.

 

[SMD]

Though I would totally buy a disk add on for the dock that lets me play Wii U games.

 

[Cappa]

With the Switch launching with what appears to be the best of the Wii U or at the very least, enhanced remakes. There is an interesting approach of Nintendo repackaging what their core audience may have missed because they skipped the Wii U or simply stuck with the 3DS entirely.

The Xbox One and PS4 are doing similar experiences post launch to bolster their library during release droughts with emulated BC and such. However, the Switch seems to be the first console to be able to repackage all-star prior gen content and launch with it without seeming cheap or exploitative because a lot of gamers most definitely missed these games basically making them new experiences.

The potential of launching with Switch and WiiUmastered software makes this software launch potentially massive and it doesn't even factor in Nintendo's portable output. It seems like the Wii Us failure can ultimately lead to incredible Dreamcast like momentum during the launch period of the Switch.

What does Gaf make of this very unique launch output situation?

For people that never owned a Wii U yes.

For everyone else, no.

 

[Klart]

*You* can play those games already, but not many people have a Wii U. I can see the Nintendo Switch becoming a huge success; certainly far bigger than the Wii U. Meaning that the majority of people who buy one won't have owned a Wii U, and therefore won't have played the Wii U's games. It's win-win, as it gives people a chance to play great games that they would have otherwise missed, and it allows Nintendo to recoup a lot of money that was invested into Wii U games that didn't perform as well as they deserved.

Not only that, but the ability to play enhanced versions of Wii U games on the go is appealing to even many Wii U owners.

Yes, so the appeal of the Switch are those WiiU games for all those people who won't have owned a Wii U, and therefore won't have played the Wii U's games.

Right.

One wonders why they didn't just buy a WiiU for all those WiiU games in the first place.

The majority of people who buy a Switch will have owned a Wii U; it's the Nintendo fanbase. There's a new Mario 3D, Mario Kart, Zelda & Splatoon. Nothing out of the ordinary. Just fun Ninty games for Ninty people.

 

[kapowza]

if they don't cost £40 each, yeah

if they do, gtf

 

[zoukka]

Forget and bury the Wii U.

 

[benny_a]

The majority of people who buy a Switch will have owned a Wii U; it's the Nintendo fanbase. There's a new Mario 3D, Mario Kart, Zelda & Splatoon. Nothing out of the ordinary. Just fun Ninty games for Ninty people.

Nintendo's objective is obviously to be broader than the Wii U.

They said they will have failed if Wii turned out to be a Gamecube again, why would theirr ambitions with this one to repeat half a Gamecube. It's a play to get people to jump into a platform and bring a long critically acclaimed games for those that skipped the Wii U.

 

[SlickShoes]

The majority of people who buy a Switch will have owned a Wii U; it's the Nintendo fanbase. There's a new Mario 3D, Mario Kart, Zelda & Splatoon. Nothing out of the ordinary. Just fun Ninty games for Ninty people.

In that case this thing will sink.

People didn't buy a Wii U for a myriad of reasons, current gen consoles are now actually cheaper than it as well. The thing has been dead for years despite having some good games.

Nintendo will be shooting higher than attracting back the few people that bought a Wii U.

 

[Rappy]

Yes, so the appeal of the Switch are those WiiU games for all those people who won't have owned a Wii U, and therefore won't have played the Wii U's games.

Right.

One wonders why they didn't just buy a WiiU for all those WiiU games in the first place.

The majority of people who buy a Switch will have owned a Wii U; it's the Nintendo fanbase. There's a new Mario 3D, Mario Kart, Zelda & Splatoon. Nothing out of the ordinary. Just fun Ninty games for Ninty people.

Forget and bury the Wii U.

If the porting process is cheap and easy to do then it is completely viable. People didn't buy a Wii U because it was expensive and those few games were ALL it had so most people didn't see it as a good value. The Switch would be able to advertise "Look at all these Switch games AND these amazing games from the past you didn't play because the hardware was overpriced from a value perspective!". Bayonetta 2 is considered one of the best action games of all time by some, but yeah we should totally forget that it exists.

 

[the androgyne]

*You* can play those games already, but not many people have a Wii U. I can see the Nintendo Switch becoming a huge success; certainly far bigger than the Wii U. Meaning that the majority of people who buy one won't have owned a Wii U, and therefore won't have played the Wii U's games. It's win-win, as it gives people a chance to play great games that they would have otherwise missed, and it allows Nintendo to recoup a lot of money that was invested into Wii U games that didn't perform as well as they deserved.

Not only that, but the ability to play enhanced versions of Wii U games on the go is appealing to even many Wii U owners.

It's not going to be a huge success out the gate, the people who will buy it out the gate are the same idiots like myself that bought a Wii U out the gate (and then supported their dying platform by buying all these games).

"The majority of people who didnt buy a Wii U" didnt buy it because those games weren't enough the first time to "invest" in gimmicky overpriced and underutilised hardware. I don't see this time being any different. Those games are also half price now and Wii U's will be clearance stock soon enough, if they cared.

For gods sake people can't even tell if these games are fucking sequels or not, and the games are years old already; there is literally nothing to get excited over. Shit if i wanted to play Mario Kart on a handheld i can do that already too and it isn't that far off 8 as it is (obviously not talking graphics).

Considering this whole "unified development" shit they've been touting for 3(?) years, i feel more than a little ripped off that the "combined might of their development teams" managed to come up with King fucking Boo and double items.

Of course they'll have more later and ill sound like a nutcase once it's shown, but right now there is no other way to spin this. Lazy ass bunch of money grabbers.

 

[Shotgun Kiss]

Yes, so the appeal of the Switch are those WiiU games for all those people who won't have owned a Wii U, and therefore won't have played the Wii U's games.

Right.

One wonders why they didn't just buy a WiiU for all those WiiU games in the first place.

The majority of people who buy a Switch will have owned a Wii U; it's the Nintendo fanbase. There's a new Mario 3D, Mario Kart, Zelda & Splatoon. Nothing out of the ordinary. Just fun Ninty games for Ninty people.

You're thinking too black & white; being able to play Wii U games is not "the" appeal of the Switch. It's one of many. Obviously, the big appeal is the fact that it functions as both a console and a handheld. And that's a pretty damn big draw. Considering how badly the Wii U flopped, I honestly don't know how you could think that the Switch won't be bought by plenty of people who never owned a Wii U. And enhanced Wii U ports are brand new games to those people.

I see zero reason to complain about this. These ports aren't going to be requiring all that much development resources, so there's no good reason to believe that we're getting these in place of other games instead. They're a bonus. A bonus to some people who are happy to have improved versions of games they love, a bonus to people who want to be able to play these games on a handheld, and certainly a bonus to people who never played the originals. If you don't number among those people, then just don't buy them.

 

[GodfatherX]

We are presuming a lot by saying these are remakes or enhanced editions

I think it's just as feasible they are sequels in the same engine as the prior titles. Just because they are in the same engine/art style ect doesn't mean they can't be sequels. Know we are used to nintendo basically coming up with completely different art styles or play mechanics for sequels but that isn't s requirement

Mario kart 9 as an example could build on the foundation of 8
- expanded roster including even more non traditional mk character
-all new circuits and tracks, maybe include s best of from mk8
- new mechanic and/or items

Splatoon basically doing the same, both could be done with much smaller teams then the last games in the series because they are building on the existing engine

Would expect the same with smash, no reason for an entire overhaul, tweak systems and moves, characters stages ect.

Any other company we would consider these sequels, it shouldn't be different because nintendo

 

[rochellepaws]

I'm not a fan of it but there's apparently a significant group of tech junkies who buy consoles at launch with a few games and sell them later before the actual good games come out on it.
I've already seen people talking about selling the PSVR in order to be able to afford the Switch, the concept is ludicrous to me.

 

[Klart]

You're thinking too black & white; being able to play Wii U games is not "the" appeal of the Switch. It's one of many. Obviously, the big appeal is the fact that it functions as both a console and a handheld. And that's a pretty damn big draw. Considering how badly the Wii U flopped, I honestly don't know how you could think that the Switch won't be bought by plenty of people who never owned a Wii U. And enhanced Wii U ports are brand new games to those people.

I see zero reason to complain about this. These ports aren't going to be requiring all that much development resources, so there's no good reason to believe that we're getting these in place of other games instead. They're a bonus. A bonus to some people who are happy to have improved versions of games they love, a bonus to people who want to be able to play these games on a handheld, and certainly a bonus to people who never played the originals. If you don't number among those people, then just don't buy them.

Agreed that the double function is appealing. I'd love a PSVita2/PS4 like that.

As a console on it's own, it wouldn't do very good at all I think. So it will have to sell as a handheld. Ninty has had a lot of success on that level, but that success was declining & I dunno whether they can get that back up in the current market. Stuff like Pokemon & Yo Kai Watch (in JAP) might. I can't really see it becoming a huge success, though.

 

[GodfatherX]

Mk8 will be almost 3 years old by the time switch releases, splatoon almost 2 years, perfectly acceptable time span for sequels of both using same/modified engine

 

[Skux]

They already did. It's called the PlayStation 4.

 

[correojon]

I always wonder why Nintendo doesn´t take more advantage of their engines to release more games, like they did with Majora´s Mask and Galaxy 2. I think the Splatoon and MK games shown in the release could be just that, new games running under Splattoon´s and MK8´s engines, so I´m happy with that. Hope it becomes a trend so we can get more games each gen, or just more content in the shape of new levels/circuits...besides, the times Nintendo has just iterated the resulting games have been amazing!

 

[Shiggy]

People are only ok with it because they did not have the Wii U. For that reason, it's also ok for me.

 

[GhostTrick]

It's not if that's your main argument. Otherwise, it works if it's basically appetizers for launch.

 

[cw_sasuke]

Yes, especially if your previous system was a failure like the WiiU. Many people missed out on those games.

 

[13ruce]

Because of the Wii U selling so bad and from what i noticed from the trailer there is noticeable new content in mario kart so yes it surely is viable.

 

[SomedayTheFire]

Is porting from PowerPC to ARM as easy as the idea makes it sound?

I don't particularly think this is a viable avenue to travel down. Bring some of the heaviest hitters, Splatoon, Skyrim, etc. but for the most part no. Remasters are a nice to have rather than a need to have for every single system.

 

[Cerium]

Smash, Mario Kart, and Splatoon were no brainers. You've got to have those out and fast.

Splatoon looks like it has enough content to justify a sequel tag if they want, and Mario Kart has new characters and systems so who knows what's up with that. I expect Smash will have some new quirks and maybe characters when it is inevitably announced.

 

[Peléo]

They are amazing to fill in the software gaps. It's much better to have old games than no games. Plus, it's pretty clear they will receive significant new content. And now you have the option of playing them on the go.

Can't see why people dislike them.

 

[Jawmuncher]

I won't be buying them, but not against the idea. Especially if they add new content. Since I doubt Nintendo sells them for a cheaper price.

 

[KAL2006]

Well the Switch doesn't seem to be much more powerful than Wii U so I dint see an issue with steiaght ports. Also nor many people owned a Wii U for example I didn't own one ajd would live to play some of the top games from Wii U.