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Behold Nintendo Switch (March 2017, Hybrid w/ Dock, Detachable Controllers, Nvidia)

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100% sure this will be a DLC weapon if Monster Hunter 5 hits the Switch
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People have been ragging on Nintendo that the company makes shitty hardware. The Switch's sleek design makes the other consoles look like refrigerators. Somehow Nintendo and its hardware team figured out how to stuff all that power into a sleek looking unit that it portable.

Sleek? Look at the bezels on that thing. It's ridiculous to be dropping in 2017 and considering that "sleek".

Especially since the Joy Cons are attachments held during use so there is absolutely no functional reason like an area to rest your fingers near touch targets should exist.
 

chaosblade

Unconfirmed Member
Sleek? Look at the bezels on that thing. It's ridiculous to be dropping in 2017 and considering that "sleek".

Especially since the Joy Cons are attachments held during use so there is absolutely no functional reason like an area to rest your fingers near touch targets should exist.

The bezels basically look like almost any tablet. More than a phone, but that's normal.
 

Trojita

Rapid Response Threadmaker
I wonder if we might get games that don't use the modular controllers at all, if the screen is truly touch screen. Something like a VN game.
 

Seil

Member
I wonder if we might get games that don't use the modular controllers at all, if the screen is truly touch screen. Something like a VN game.

Games will have to be compatible with TV mode. I can see the touch screen being used for things, but everything's gonna have to be compatible with other control methods.
 
Possible, but a smaller SKU like what I described would draw less power to begin with (smaller screen, less wireless stuff going on), and it would probably be fatter, so it could fit a bigger battery. Tons of assumptions ahead: If the Switch runs at higher clocks or uses more compute units when docked, Nintendo might already start binning the chips. The ones that are not good enough get set aside for a potential pure handheld for, I don't know, late 2018?
That's a good point, I wasn't thinking it all the way through. Would be a completely different form factor (no detachable controllers, fatter, ???), which opens some doors if they can get the thermal part sorted out. Wonder if Nintendo has started looking into apple-style metal unibody designs...

re: binning, I like that idea a lot, especially if the SOC is built on Pascal (and it better be...). The time frame makes sense to me -- maybe even mid-2018 if they really get things humming.
 
I wonder if it is weird for me not to get all that bothered by the 3 hours battery rumor. I mean, I always carry my chargers anyway during my Vita/3DS days and of the times I played them--like, when waiting for a movie to start--I always play nearby a power plug and play while charging.

And despite their "handheld" status, most of the time I played those two were at home anyways, hahah.
I with you. The portable part for me is for being able to play all around the house and not be stuck to the lounge room.

Sleek? Look at the bezels on that thing. It's ridiculous to be dropping in 2017 and considering that "sleek".

Especially since the Joy Cons are attachments held during use so there is absolutely no functional reason like an area to rest your fingers near touch targets should exist.
Everything has a reason.
 

mrklaw

MrArseFace
I wonder if we might get games that don't use the modular controllers at all, if the screen is truly touch screen. Something like a VN game.

I think maybe some will be completely playable with just touch for convenience- but they'll have to also have controller modes for when you're docked.
 

Pancake Mix

Copied someone else's pancake recipe
The plan must be to abandon Wii U right after the promised BOTW releases. Makes sense sadly given how Wii U did.

On the other hand new 3DS software will coexist with this the first year to an extent and on store shelves, even without backwards compatibility.
 
Kickstand mode is godlike and totes unexpected
This 100%. This is what makes it different than just a handheld for me. So when I play at work for example, unlike the 3DS where I get hand cramps, I can just put the kickstand out and take off the controllers like the guy did in the plane and play like that with my hands completely free from each other.
 

Pancake Mix

Copied someone else's pancake recipe
I just can't rap my head around a semi-portable Nintendo product in HD after all these years. The contrast with 3DS the first year will be insane.

Also, I always preferred consoles, but if a semi-portable device is what the big N needs to be competitive, then so be it. More HD-compatible Nintendo hardware is what matters.
 

Mr Croft

Member
I feel like this is the kind of product I could buy my girlfriend that would get her into gaming.

Do people think a 299 price tag?
 

mrklaw

MrArseFace
This 100%. This is what makes it different than just a handheld for me. So when I play at work for example, unlike the 3DS where I get hand cramps, I can just put the kickstand out and take off the controllers like the guy did in the plane and play like that with my hands completely free from each other.

I hope it's possible to charge while standing on the kickstand. Likely my most used configuration and I'll need to be able to power it.

Aside from the battery life of the console - I wonder what the battery life of the joycons are? That could be the limiting factor. If the mainconsole charges them when connected, and the shell controller thing has batteries for longer life..
 

vareon

Member
Games will have to be compatible with TV mode. I can see the touch screen being used for things, but everything's gonna have to be compatible with other control methods.

I actually hope Nintendo would make some touch exclusive games themselves (assuming the screens have multitouch of course). Kinda sending the message to third parties that it's okay to port your mobile games or make some quirky handheld games as opposed to all AAA games.
 

Pancake Mix

Copied someone else's pancake recipe
I feel like this is the kind of product I could buy my girlfriend that would get her into gaming.

Do people think a 299 price tag?

Maybe, but that's the floor for Switch. After 3DS and Wii U hardware losses I think Nintendo will not accept razor blade prices.
 
I'm afraid even September would be too optimistic, if Mario isn't launch, I don't think it's gonna be out until November/December.

It'll have been nearly 4 years since 3D World, they should be pretty far along. I had figured they'd have Mario lead off Q4 with the next Pokemon as the big Black Friday hit in November. But it may be likely that that franchise stays on 3DS for another year or two, since they have a history of staying on portable platforms well into their twilight because they're cheap and available for kids.
 
Question how are the Japanese fans taking this news? I know there forums are as bad as places like gamefaqs but there has to be some normal forums there too lol.
 

JazzmanZ

Member
I'm going to keep expectations on the launch games for the NS in check, It is likely Zelda will launch but Mario Kart, Splatoon and various other games may be spread out 6 months as Nintendo still considers that a launch period.
 
Next year will mark the second two years interim time period between action MH games (not counting non-action spin off and MH3U Wii U port). While MH is already set cultural milestone in Japan, Capcom can't delay the next MH game release so they can keep the interest of their player. Not to mention that the current interim period is filled by the half-mainline MHGen, which while bring lots of gameplay improvement, is inferior to MH3U in term of raw content (lots of old monster, lack of the new one, padded multi monster quests and ultimately being a non G version game). An announcement and release next year is an ideal scenario for Capcom, while 2018 is the very least because otherwise the interim period will be just too long.

Also I can't see Capcom doing a 3DS-Switch release for their next mainline game. It will split their player base especially when considering online functionality in 3DS MH games. If they want to wait for the install base first, Capcom can release MHGen Ultimate first as a Switch exclusive titile. Nintendo help will be crucial as both of them need to build Switch install base as fast as possible.

I think they will do the same than with 3DS. An enhanced port near launch (MHXG) and a new mainline game later. They will probably tease the 5 very early.
 

Phoenixus

Member
Kinda hoping an accessory maker will bring out some kind of iPad-like flip screen protector for the Switch handheld mode. So used to the DS clamshell design. :p
 

casiopao

Member
I hope the tablet form can be charged alone here. Especially using power bank so i won't have problem playing the game outside.^_^
 

Shengar

Member
I think they will do the same than with 3DS. An enhanced port near launch (MHXG) and a new mainline game later. They will probably tease the 5 very early.

That's one of my prediction too. Capcom couldn't wait too long for a new MH release, but at the same time they want the userbase big enough for MH5 to sell to their expectation.
 

Shpeshal Nick

aka Collingwood
I really hope Nintendo doesn't cheap out on storage.

I bought a 128GB Ultrafit USB drive for my WiiU for $40AU almost a year ago. Nintendo could get 128GB of flash right now wholesale for fucking next to nothing.
 

Kathian

Banned
I really hope Nintendo doesn't cheap out on storage.

I bought a 128GB Ultrafit USB drive for my WiiU for $40AU almost a year ago. Nintendo could get 128GB of flash right now wholesale for fucking next to nothing.

So could you though. Storage options makes more sense. Most companies just use storage to slap £50 extra on.
 

casiopao

Member
I really hope Nintendo doesn't cheap out on storage.

I bought a 128GB Ultrafit USB drive for my WiiU for $40AU almost a year ago. Nintendo could get 128GB of flash right now wholesale for fucking next to nothing.

It does not really work right that though. I mean, the most i can see is only 32 gig on the tablet and many the consoles hold moar? I am not really sure too here on the storage capacity here.
 
Because you need to be able to, at the drop of a hat, yank the Switch out of its dock, I'm gonna assume that the only storage Nintendo will allow will be SD cards, and they'll sit somewhere in the actual Switch unit itself, not the dock.

If you have a USB hard drive plugged into the dock, and you're running a game off of it, if you pull the Switch out of the dock you'd probably fuck it up and corrupt your file. I'll never say never, because there are USB ports on the dock so maybe they have a solution for that, but for now I'm assuming that only SD cards will work for digital games, patches, saves, etc. The USB ports on the dock are probably for peripherals like a camera or maybe even a USB sensor bar down the road.
 

casiopao

Member
Because you need to be able to, at the drop of a hat, yank the Switch out of its dock, I'm gonna assume that the only storage Nintendo will allow will be SD cards, and they'll sit somewhere in the actual Switch unit itself, not the dock.

If you have a USB hard drive plugged into the dock, and you're running a game off of it, if you pull the Switch out of the dock you'd probably fuck it up and corrupt your file. I'll never say never, because there are USB ports on the dock so maybe they have a solution for that, but for now I'm assuming that only SD cards will work for digital games, patches, saves, etc. The USB ports on the dock are probably for peripherals like a camera or maybe even a USB sensor bar down the road.

This is what worries me here. As it seems so complicated and i fear Ninty is going to had huge trouble making the storage works here.T_T
 
All those mockups we've seen about replaceable, game-specific JoyCons..GameCube JoyCons, Yokai Watch JoyCons....

I was thinking that 'Nintendo Switch' makes sense somewhat for a device that switches between handheld and home console, but there are plenty of words that would have communicated that purpose more clearly.

I think the name 'Switch' is intended to be more all-encompassing. It can't just mean switching between home and portable.

I think from the name 'Switch' itself, we can deduce that game-specific or genre-specific JoyCons that you can 'switch out' will be a thing at launch.
 
That's not how that works.

Agreed, but he is right about the fact that flash storage has become alot cheaper and more viable as a replacement for Bluray's or Disc media, but that doesn't meant that it is straight forward.

The advantage that Nintendo has in using cartridge's with flash memory is that theoretically you shouldn't have to install the games you buy physically, so even if you wanted to play say RDR2 (probably won't happen on the Switch) and the game is say 85GB then even so in that situation all you'd have to do is pop in the cart and start playing within a matter of seconds (this is assuming Nintendo would use some decently fast flash storage in the cartridge's).

The disadvantage of using cartridge's is cost. Blu-rays back in 2007 cost around $2 per disc to print, now they probably cost around $1.50 per disc (depending on the size and complexity of course) and the standard price for a PS4/XB1 game (physically) is around $60 (USD), So let's say Nintendo's Cartridge's have a maximum size of 128Gb (remember Nintendo will have to pick some specific memory that meets their speed and reliability requirements for game storage) the cheapest I could see them manufacturing that memory for in 2017 is around $5-$10 (USD) per cartridge which is already 2.5x to 5x the cost of what Blu-ray's cost to make in 2007, so unless Nintendo is willing to take the extra hit on each cartridge sold we might see the Switch's games above the standard $60 price tag.

Now if all of the games you bought and played were on physical cartridge's there would be pretty much no need for the Switch to have anymore than 32Gb of internal storage but that's where this problem arises, Digital Games.

There is a reason why Microsoft and Sony opted for minimum of 500Gb of internal storage for their consoles this generation and that reason is twofold: Game installs and digital downloads, now Nintendo shouldn't have to worry about the first problem as that is already covered above but the only way to solve the second is to put a large amount of flash storage on board (which would be expensive) or hell now that I think of it they might even be able to fit a 2.5" HDD in the switch considering how thick it is, either way I'll be interested to see how Nintendo tackles this problem or if they do nothing and stick with 32Gb.

Edit: holy shit that post was long, my apologies.
 

Zedark

Member
All those mockups we've seen about replaceable, game-specific JoyCons..GameCube JoyCons, Yokai Watch JoyCons....

I was thinking that 'Nintendo Switch' makes sense somewhat for a device that switches between handheld and home console, but there are plenty of words that would have communicated that purpose more clearly.

I think the name 'Switch' is intended to be more all-encompassing. It can't just mean switching between home and portable.

I think from the name 'Switch' itself, we can deduce that game-specific or genre-specific JoyCons that you can 'switch out' will be a thing at launch.

I don't know, this sounds like quite a stretch. First off, what term is more precies for the NS' currently announced functionalities? Secondly, I highly doubt they will allow games that support one special controller only, so genre-specific controllers would be as necessary as a steering wheel for racing games, making it effectively a non-issue.
 
I don't know, this sounds like quite a stretch. First off, what term is more precies for the NS' currently announced functionalities? Secondly, I highly doubt they will allow games that support one special controller only, so genre-specific controllers would be as necessary as a steering wheel for racing games, making it effectively a non-issue.

I'm talking about these kinds of mockups. Remember, Nintendo is no stranger to multiple controller options.


I'm no PR expert, but I'm thinking names like Nintendo Dual, Nintendo Shift, Nintendo Bolt, Nintendo Stay'r'Go (hate that one tho) and the many alternatives that have popped up in threads here.

Names more catered to the fact that you can use it two ways, or catered to the fact that you can use it outside. I think there's more meaning to the name than we know right now.

Additional argument EDIT:

Also, the logo for Switch features the controllers/Joycons! Meaning the controllers and the word Switch may be related.
 
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