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[Two Pikachus]

Picking a pack-in game to take a lot that has some kind of brand/hype potential a la what Sega did with the first Sonic game wouldn't be a bad idea.

Honestly, I'm hoping for Mario Kart 8 Switch (assuming this is what people expect it is).

1. Everyone loves Mario Kart. It would be a great way to lure in potential buyers.
2. This would be a great way to get people used to the multiplayer functionality.
3. It's a tiny investment since the game is pretty much complete, being an enhanced port of MK8. They wouldn't have to feel like they're losing a bunch of potential sales since it's already sold through on the Wii and fewer development resources were put into a pack-in title.
4. I really don't want to have to rebuy Mario Kart 8 on this thing and I don't have any faith Nintendo will offer me an cheap option as a current MK8 owner >_>

 

[WordAssassin]

If you don't think that's plugged into the unit, look for it while things are in motion in the video.

Yeah, that's the cord for his headphones. You can see it above the Switch unit too.

 

[RedSwirl]

Don't think I've posted in this Nintendo Switch thread, but I'm gonna try to sum up my thoughts on what the end user experience is going to be, game-wise.

I think the Switch might end up being the ultimate last bastion of traditional Japanese games. I'm talking about the ones that haven't either slid to mobile or managed to survive in the AAA PlayStation Zone.

It's both Nintendo's next handheld and its next console, and that matters because all the 3rd party support the 3DS got is going to transition to the Switch. If Nintendo is lucky, Vita developers are gonna move over to the Switch too since Sony isn't making another handheld. It's tailor-made for those developers who've had to split resources between PS4 and Vita versions of games like Dragon Quest Builders or Odin Sphere or Atelier or some shit. I don't think western AAA third party support is gonna be much better than it was for the Wii U, but the support of what otherwise would have been handheld games is gonna make the Switch look good from a console perspective.

Regarding the experience of the end-user, think about all the people who keep asking "what happened to all the console JRPGs and other Japanese gamse?" The answer is that after the PS2 era they all went to the DS and PSP, but a lot of people don't pay attention to handheld games because they just don't have the space or time for dedicated handheld gaming. If those kinds of people get a Switch and never take it out of the TV dock that'll be perfectly fine. I think Nintendo is okay with that. From that perspective, the Switch is gonna take all those games that fled to the handhelds over the past couple generations and bring them back to consoles. Hopefully the Vita indie developers move over to the Switch too.

If all that pans out, the Nintendo Switch could end up resembling the Super NES more than anything else in terms of the software library. It might be the middle class console for middle class games. That just depends on whether it can actually find a place in the middle between AAA Xbox games and quick mobile games.

 

[Seil]

Yeah, that's the cord for his headphones. You can see it above the Switch unit too.

No dude, that thing is plugged into the bottom of the unit, and moves with it. The thick cord.

His headphone cord is in the background of it, but that's a different plug.

 

[Schnozberry]

I would argue that $300-400 is a huge life choice, yes. If it's not to you, then congrats! It's more about what I feel is a missed opportunity. It's about the hypothetical future where I know what could have been, where I wish I could instead have spent that same $300-400 on a system that is on par or better than the PS4/XOne. It's about feeling like having no real choice, like feeling coerced, kind of like phone or TV bundles, where there's one this base that you really want (Nintendo software), but are forced to take on tons of channels you don't care (portability, inferior hardware) for a really high price, and having no alternate choice.

This is the problem with comparing things that actually exist with things that will never exist. Nintendo's software output will not exist on PS4/XB1 level hardware, so you are not missing out on anything but the opportunity cost of the other tangible items that you could purchase with your $300 that you sunk into a Switch.

Personally, I think $300 is a fair entry price for buying a piece of premium hardware that gets me access to all the talented software teams that Nintendo has in it's first and second party umbrella.

 

[Malus]

Then...don't buy it? This "Nintendo is forcing me to buy their machines!" sentiment is absolutely ridiculous.

He'd probably be happier buying it and not being fully satisfied than not buying it at all. It's just a compromise.

 

[OCD Guy]

I would argue that $300-400 is a huge life choice, yes. If it's not to you, then congrats! It's more about what I feel is a missed opportunity. It's about the hypothetical future where I know what could have been, where I wish I could instead have spent that same $300-400 on a system that is on par or better than the PS4/XOne. It's about feeling like having no real choice, like feeling coerced, kind of like phone or TV bundles, where there's one this base that you really want (Nintendo software), but are forced to take on tons of channels you don't care (portability, inferior hardware) for a really high price, and having no alternate choice.

If you feel that strongly then don't buy it.

I get that you say you still want to play Nintendo games, but don't like the hardware that you would need to purchase in order to play the latest Nintendo games.

I said before the reveal that I'd be buying the "NX" whatever it was, and regardless of the gimmick as I love Nintendo games.

It seems like your main concern is the power, you feel like they've sacrificed power for the portable element, which is something you don't care for. All I'd say at this stage is we don't even know the specs, and we've not seen the games running properly yet.

Yes it's safe to say that it won't be a Scorpio in terms of power, but the Wii U was ridiculed for it's specs but some of the games looked great, Mario Kart 8 despite it's jaggies and rubbish AF, Captain Toad looked awesome, and by all accounts the Switch is a lot more powerful.

You can ignore the portable element completely, so maybe wait and see what the games are actually like.

I just feel that NeoGaf is having a meltdown and judging everything by twitter rumours, and a video with pre-recorded gameplay of what are rumoured to be ports of Wii U games.

 

[trixx]

Yeah as a Wii U owner i'm thinking more in line with Atomic. Off-screen tv play ultimately be a bigger draw than portability. A lot of people think splatoon on the go is a big deal but the average person probably isn't interested in serious gaming on the go, and I love splatoon.

I really hope development time is reduced and third parties are on board. For Westerners off-screen play is probably going to be the bigger feat than portability. Whereas Japan, likely be portability

 

[WordAssassin]

No dude, that thing is plugged into the bottom of the unit, and moves with it. The thick cord.

His headphone cord is in the background of it, but that's a different plug.

No it isn't. It's his headphones. Watch the video. There is a thin cord coming from his actual headphones into a large plastic oval, likely volume control, and then the cord continues on down his shirt. It is not plugged into the Switch.

Edit: OH SHIT you're right I'm looking at the wrong cord!!!

 

[Seil]

No it isn't. It's his headphones. Watch the video. There is a thin cord coming from his actual headphones into a large plastic oval, likely volume control, and then the cord continues on down his shirt. It is not plugged into the Switch.

I'm watching it right now... repeatedly... There are two cords in this picture, his thin headphone cord running down his shirt, and the thing plugged into the unit that clearly moves along with the unit as he moves it...

The cord is going to the right of his knee, so it's coming from his left.

 

[I Wanna Be The Guy]

Honestly, I'm hoping for Mario Kart 8 Switch (assuming this is what people expect it is).

1. Everyone loves Mario Kart. It would be a great way to lure in potential buyers.
2. This would be a great way to get people used to the multiplayer functionality.
3. It's a tiny investment since the game is pretty much complete, being an enhanced port of MK8. They wouldn't have to feel like they're losing a bunch of potential sales since it's already sold through on the Wii and fewer development resources were put into a pack-in title.
4. I really don't want to have to rebuy Mario Kart 8 on this thing and I don't have any faith Nintendo will offer me an cheap option as a current MK8 owner >_>

This....may actually be a better idea than a showcase new IP as a pack in.

 

[SinCityAssassin]

$249-$299 baby, believe in your dreams.

 

[WordAssassin]

I'm watching it right now... repeatedly... There are two cords in this picture, his thin headphone cord running down his shirt, and the thing plugged into the unit that clearly moves along with the unit as he moves it...

The cord is going to the right of his knee, so it's coming from his left.

You're totally right, I was so focused on the headphone cord I didn't even notice and now that I see it it's super super obvious and I feel like an idiot.

 

[Linkhero1]

I wonder if they'll include a pack-in game. I'm guessing they won't in order to keep the price low, but if they do I want a brand new IP that takes full advantage of the form factor. A fun game that just can't be played anywhere else.

If their launch lineup is strong, they may not need one. I wouldn't mind one but I don't see it happening.

 

[PdotMichael]

Don't think I've posted in this Nintendo Switch thread, but I'm gonna try to sum up my thoughts on what the end user experience is going to be, game-wise.

I think the Switch might end up being the ultimate last bastion of traditional Japanese games. I'm talking about the ones that haven't either slid to mobile or managed to survive in the AAA PlayStation Zone.

It's both Nintendo's next handheld and its next console, and that matters because all the 3rd party support the 3DS got is going to transition to the Switch. If Nintendo is lucky, Vita developers are gonna move over to the Switch too since Sony isn't making another handheld. It's tailor-made for those developers who've had to split resources between PS4 and Vita versions of games like Dragon Quest Builders or Odin Sphere or Atelier or some shit. I don't think western AAA third party support is gonna be much better than it was for the Wii U, but the support of what otherwise would have been handheld games is gonna make the Switch look good from a console perspective.

Regarding the experience of the end-user, think about all the people who keep asking "what happened to all the console JRPGs and other Japanese gamse?" The answer is that after the PS2 era they all went to the DS and PSP, but a lot of people don't pay attention to handheld games because they just don't have the space or time for dedicated handheld gaming. If those kinds of people get a Switch and never take it out of the TV dock that'll be perfectly fine. I think Nintendo is okay with that. From that perspective, the Switch is gonna take all those games that fled to the handhelds over the past couple generations and bring them back to consoles. Hopefully the Vita indie developers move over to the Switch too.

If all that pans out, the Nintendo Switch could end up resembling the Super NES more than anything else in terms of the software library. It might be the middle class console for middle class games. That just depends on whether it can actually find a place in the middle between AAA Xbox games and quick mobile games.

None of the recent Nintendo consoles were bastions of Japanese mid tier developers.

People should accept that the time of the Playstation 1 and 2 are over when development was cheap and there was also an audience who bought such games (Wii had many million sellers but the total software sales were low).

 

[Iced Arcade]

I'm pumped to be able to take it to work for slow days and the ability to take it to play a bit before bed etc.

Bought the wii and is soured me from nintendo and skipped the wii u. This actually seems like a likable/useful device.

 

[SinCityAssassin]

If their launch lineup is strong, they may not need one. I wouldn't mind one but I don't see it happening.

A strong launch is one thing, but not offering a sample of what your console can offer gratis wouldn't be a good move.

 

[10k]

Been a busy day. Just catching up on the thread. What did I miss?

But are you guys seriously hanging on that one tweet and to say that a lady with blue hair decides what's right or wrong on the internet ?

Her claim is taken into consideration, nothing more.

 

[I Wanna Be The Guy]

Strong launch lineups aren't always enough. *hugs Vita*

 

[10k]

Strong launch lineups aren't always enough. *hugs Vita*

So much potential

I was blown away by Uncharted and Wipeout. RIP.

 

[random25]

Strong launch lineups aren't always enough. *hugs Vita*

They need to be games that many people will care about.

 

[Two Words]

I still don't get how Nintendo thinks this thing is going to be any sort of success.

Their marketing paints a picture where people leave their house to play Zelda in the park, bring their game console to a roof party, squeeze in time for Skyrim on a taxi, and play NBA 2K at a basketball court. People are not living this lifestyle.

 

[Speely]

Because I am still in hype mode after Nintendo revealed a console that fits me perfectly, let me share how I plan to use it.

Home:
Docked for long, dedicated gaming sessions with a Pro controller.
Docked for local MP w friends without a NS.
Undocked in bed, on the john, on the porch.
Undocked when I want to play while watching a show, or someone else does.
With friends who come over with their own NS and wanna play a competitive game where screen cheating is an issue.

Out:
On my bus commute.
On my lunch break.
At a cafe or bar where my friends who also game often go. Local MP anywhere.
During boring conference calls that I have to attend but have nothing to do with me.

Spoiler

I wish

I can see this thing fitting into my lifestyle perfectly. So glad it's Nintendo that did this. They are the perfect combo for a PC gamer.

 

[I Wanna Be The Guy]

So much potential

I was blown away by Uncharted and Wipeout. RIP.

Vita shall live on in spirit through the Switch.

 

[Zee-Row]

Do you think Streetpass is returning to the Switch?

 

[Maxinas]

I still don't get how Nintendo thinks this thing is going to be any sort of success.

Their marketing paints a picture where people leave their house to play Zelda in the park, bring their game console to a roof party, squeeze in time for Skyrim on a taxi, and play NBA 2K at a basketball court. People are not living this lifestyle.

It's an ad to sell their product. You want them to show a 3 minute video of an ache covered 30 year old mildly obese man sinking into his couch just blankly starting at the NS screen? Ads are almost never realistic.

 

[AquaWateria]

I'm watching it right now... repeatedly... There are two cords in this picture, his thin headphone cord running down his shirt, and the thing plugged into the unit that clearly moves along with the unit as he moves it...

The cord is going to the right of his knee, so it's coming from his left.

Wait what does this mean?

 

[Omega Kirby]

It's definitely going to be $300, so better start saving up.

 

[New002]

I would argue that $300-400 is a huge life choice, yes. If it's not to you, then congrats! It's more about what I feel is a missed opportunity. It's about the hypothetical future where I know what could have been, where I wish I could instead have spent that same $300-400 on a system that is on par or better than the PS4/XOne. It's about feeling like having no real choice, like feeling coerced, kind of like phone or TV bundles, where there's one this base that you really want (Nintendo software), but are forced to take on tons of channels you don't care (portability, inferior hardware) for a really high price, and having no alternate choice.

You have some options:

1. Don't buy it

2. Don't buy it at launch and wait for a price drop...or several

3. By it used later on, maybe even from the B/S/T thread here

4. Skip the other options, buy it at launch, and hate Nintendo

 

[Mr_Antimatter]

I still don't get how Nintendo thinks this thing is going to be any sort of success.

Their marketing paints a picture where people leave their house to play Zelda in the park, bring their game console to a roof party, squeeze in time for Skyrim on a taxi, and play NBA 2K at a basketball court. People are not living this lifestyle.

Heck, a lot of folks spent the last decade bashing Sony for trying this in their games. 'Console like experience' was like the number one bash used against psp/vita games by a lot of folks, yet here we have a console seemingly designed around that.

I'm actually quite interested to see how games are targeted here. Too handheld like may alienate console gamers, while too console like may not mesh well with mobile play styles.

 

[Bubba_Sparks]

One thing that just hit me is the lack of multimedia focus in this trailer. If you're going to offer a portable machine I hope it supports FaceBook, Instagram, NetFlix, Multimedia storage, etc. Otherwise you have to lug this thing around with your other devices.

I feel like tablets and cellphones offer a more practical solution to most consumers. They aren't great gaming machines, but they offer enough to get by. On the other hand, their robust functionality makes them ideal for travel as they allow you to do so much more on the go.

I don't think playing Zelda at the park while not paying attention to the dog your supposed to be walking is a great marketing image. Same goes for most of the other example they gave in the trailer. The only reasonable one was the guy playing it on the plane.

EDIT: I think they have the form factor right. I just don't know about the execution. It really seems like something Microsoft, Samsung, Google or Apple have the expertise to pull off properly. If it ends up being really limited in functionality outside of gaming that would be a huge problem. It would be a nice surprise if they came out and said, "Surprise, it's running Android!" So you could have access to the Google Play Store. Though that probably isn't going to happen.

 

[Seil]

Wait what does this mean?

The original question was whether you can plug it into power directly to charge and play, rather than use the dock for charging.

You can see the device with what's almost guaranteed to be the charger plugged into it within the trailer. So the exchange was about pointing that out.

You're totally right, I was so focused on the headphone cord I didn't even notice and now that I see it it's super super obvious and I feel like an idiot.

Lol, well at least you saw it in the end. It's sometimes easy to get too fixated on something and not notice the surroundings.

 

[Kodiak]

So I want to ask you guys:

Do you expect the Switch to be...

1) Wii U 2.0... better marketing, better sales, but an overall similarly limited library and mostly appeals to hardcore fans.

2) An actual mainstream hit that manages to recapture some of the massive sales of the SNES / Wii?

I know this depends on a ton of factors, including price, game library, and battery life, but what is your gut telling you right now?

 

[random25]

I still don't get how Nintendo thinks this thing is going to be any sort of success.

Their marketing paints a picture where people leave their house to play Zelda in the park, bring their game console to a roof party, squeeze in time for Skyrim on a taxi, and play NBA 2K at a basketball court. People are not living this lifestyle.

It's just showcasing what the Switch can do. You can change the scenes to more ordinary scenarios and the message will still remain the same.

 

[vareon]

I still don't get how Nintendo thinks this thing is going to be any sort of success.

Their marketing paints a picture where people leave their house to play Zelda in the park, bring their game console to a roof party, squeeze in time for Skyrim on a taxi, and play NBA 2K at a basketball court. People are not living this lifestyle.

The purpose of this ad seems to be showing that their console can be brought anywhere and retains its full console features (multiplayer, etc). We'll see in the coming months if they can add more value to this.

 

[OCD Guy]

Ads are almost never realistic.

Exactly.

They always portray "dat perfect lifestyle" regardless of what it is, people eating a pizza, driving a car, playing a board game. It's always corny as fuck with good looking people.

Does no one remember the original PS4 adverts lol? Does this honestly portray the typical Neogaf member CLICK ME

 

[SinCityAssassin]

I still don't get how Nintendo thinks this thing is going to be any sort of success.

Their marketing paints a picture where people leave their house to play Zelda in the park, bring their game console to a roof party, squeeze in time for Skyrim on a taxi, and play NBA 2K at a basketball court. People are not living this lifestyle.

Play Zelda at a school bench, bring it to a house party, play it in a car, the sports one was weird.

Boom, 3/4.

PSVR has a taco bell commercial where a man comes from the future to stop PSVR from preoccupying humanity for so long that they ignore an alien mass abduction.

That's not what VR does.

 

[DMONKUMA]

So I want to ask you guys:

Do you expect the Switch to be...

1) Wii U 2.0... better marketing, better sales, but an overall similarly limited library and mostly appeals to hardcore fans.

2) An actual mainstream hit that manages to recapture some of the massive sales of the SNES / Wii?

I know this depends on a ton of factors, including price, game library, and battery life, but what is your gut telling you right now?

I feel like it would be option 1, and that's not my gut tell me....it's my soul!

 

[That Damn Kid]

http://imgur.com/a/5L9JV

Made some Pokemon Go themed skins just now

 

[Ran rp]

If you don't think that's plugged into the unit, look for it while things are in motion in the video.

doesn't look like you'll be able to charge and use the kickstand at the same time.

 

[Kodiak]

It's just showcasing what the Switch can do. You can change the scenes to more ordinary scenarios and the message will still remain the same.

Yep, for me it's not about taking the Switch to the park. It's about being able to play it on the couch while my girl watches Netflix, or in bed.

The problem with the Wii U is that it had limited range. The Switch removes that problem entirely. This is a full realization of "handheld console".

I don't even mind if the battery life is bad. Most scenarios that I would use the switch include having a power outlet close by.

My main concern is having enough stuff to play on it so that it's a regular part of my life. The Wii U had huge gaps between worthwhile games.

 

[10k]

Vita shall live on in spirit through the Switch.

And that's something I'm hyped for.

 

[Kodiak]

And that's something I'm hyped for.

If the switch has an SD card slot, it will have fixed my #1 problem with the Vita. Put a 256GB bad boy in the Switch and I'm good to go.

 

[runnin_blue]

I still don't get how Nintendo thinks this thing is going to be any sort of success.

Their marketing paints a picture where people leave their house to play Zelda in the park, bring their game console to a roof party, squeeze in time for Skyrim on a taxi, and play NBA 2K at a basketball court. People are not living this lifestyle.

If they wanted to show real scenarios, they would have shown someone playing Switch on the dunny whilst taking a shit. Or someone smoking a ciggie in their backyard whilst playing Zelda.

Advertising and reality don't usually mix well.

 

[Nags]

I still can't believe they didn't announce any games. Has me worried about the launch line up.

 

[Seil]

doesn't look like you'll be able to charge and use the kickstand at the same time.

It also makes it uncomfortable if you like to lay back in bed and rest the device on your belly (want to say stomach but also don't think it'd be comfortable to rest the thing directly on an internal organ...) or something. People who do this rejoiced when they saw the top headphone jack! But then the charger exists to bring them crashing back down...

 

[Linkhero1]

A strong launch is one thing, but not offering a sample of what your console can offer gratis wouldn't be a good move.

Not sure if that's necessarily true in the case of the Switch. As far as I can tell, there's no real gimmick like with the Wii and Wii U. It was appropriate to bundle Wii Sports with the Wii because it demonstrated what the Wii was all about. I'm all for them giving away free games though.

 

[PdotMichael]

It's like 2016 for over 10 months now. You guys should start living the urban lifestyle!

 

[CharminUltra]

It's definitely going to be $300, so better start saving up.

Already started. Plus one meal every other day isn't as bad as it sounds. I will even lose weight.

 

[Will the Thrill]

So a bit random but Pikmin 4 is totally gonna be on this thing right? (Probably with a Wii U version as well)

Wasn't it announced a while ago as in development but then like nothing since?