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[dreamlongdead]

I have no desire to get Switch anytime soon, but I hope its first year is really strong.

I've been an advocate of a simultaneous Mario and Zelda launch, because I think that is truly what Nintendo must do. If Nintendo planned properly, then they will still have momentum post-launch.

It will then be more likely that Nintendo and third party developers release the games that I truly want down the line.

 

[dripdripsplash]

Wait.


When is this releasing again ??

 

[Conkerkid11]

What I don't understand is Nintendo fucked up both the Wii U and 3DS launches and people are still willing to jump right in based on a 3 minute video showing mostly Wii U ports?

We'll find out Friday just how right you are, but either way, pretty much confirmed new Zelda game at launch. That alone is enough for me.

And even if you buy one at launch, what's going to be the problem if it takes them awhile to release some quality titles? Not like they're gonna release a Nintendo Switch Pro somewhere down the line.

https://twitter.com/GoNintendoTweet/status/818506578596872198


Dragon Quest X?

Gonna be a crazy launch if true.

 

[Naked Snake]

Yes, because this reddit post is as good as confirmation from Nintendo.

That reddit post isn't the first time I've read that both Mario and Zelda will be at launch (although I'm personally very skeptical of that, still even having one of them at launch is a huge deal, and hasn't happened since the N64 -- New Super Mario Bros U doesn't count)

I mean, if they have Mario and Zelda at launch then they are probably pretty set for a big one, but the price may yet be a factor. And if Mario and Zelda are at launch I wonder what, if any, big franchise titles they have slated before christmas. I mean, excluding Wii U ports. Many of us already have those Wii U games and I can't say I'm itching to buy them again for what will probably be $50-60 each, new content or whatever they may have.

I'm a big Nintendo fan and I never had a Wii U, and I'm not the only one here. Seeing how the Wii U didn't sell that well a lot of people will be happy about enhanced Wii U ports that they missed out on.

But we should honestly just cease speculation until Friday, this is literally the same conversation every single day for pages and pages and none of it really matters.

I agree, but there is no stopping GAF. If anything speculation is only going to intensify from now until the event.

Meanwhile, this is just some of what you could also buy in the next few months:

Gravity Rush 2
Resident Evil 7
Yakuza 0
Horizon: Zero Dawn
Persona 5
Nioh
South Park: The Fractured But Whole
Neir Automata
For Honor
Ys Origin
Torment Tides of Numenara
Mass Effect Andromeda
Tekken 7
Yooka-Laylee
MLB The Show 17
Dragon Quest Heroes II
Ghost Recon Wildlands
Digimon World Next Order
Halo Wars 2
Lego Worlds
Dynasty Warriors Godseekers
Kingdom Hearts HD Remix
Sonic Mania
Dragon Quest VIII 3DS

Or any of the games you didn't get around to buying from last year.

But I guess if you only own a Wii U or a 3DS I could see why you might be champing at the bit.

I don't own PS4 or Xbox and I don't care about any of the games on that list. Nintendo gamers care about Nintendo games. You're projecting your own preferences on a wider group of customers that have a very different set of priorities than you.

 

[Laevateinn]

This cannot be real... Not getting Switch at GameStop would be a monumental and unprecedented embarrassment.

Nintendo just shot themselves in the foot.

 

[Steve Youngblood]

It's a Nintendo product that's highly desired by the people in this thread.

Taking the thread topic into consideration as well, I don't see this as being too much anxiety.

I mainly just mean that we know very little about anything right now. Cost, launch lineup. actual release date, shipment quantity to all retailers (not just speculation about the number of units each GameStop will get) are all question marks right now. But because there's speculation that individual GameStops might not get a ton of units on launch day, we have people panicking that this thing is going to be impossible to find.

Mind you, it may very well be difficult to get on launch day. Tons of stuff is. Just last summer I noticed that $700 graphics cards released during the summer were hard to obtain for a bit. But still, I just think people are overreacting a bit to this.

 

[Broken Hope]

We'll find out Friday just how right you are, but either way, pretty much confirmed new Zelda game at launch. That alone is enough for me.

And even if you buy one at launch, what's going to be the problem if it takes them awhile to release some quality titles? Not like they're gonna release a Nintendo Switch Pro somewhere down the line.

Considering Zelda is also out on the Wii U Switch is bringing us a new Mario at launch.

 

[HotHamBoy]

Maybe because the concept is infinitely better than the Wii U's, all rumors are pointing to a pretty heavy lineup of good games in the first year (including Pokemon and Zelda), 3rd parties aren't laughing at it like they were the Wii U and it's cheaper than the Wii U. What evidence do you have to suggest that this will be another Wii U situation?

None, but there is nothing wrong with caution, even healthy pessimism. No one knows how this is going to go, but I'm not going to get overly optimistic given Nintendo's recent history and the ever-changing market.

 

[Laevateinn]

Considering Zelda is also out on the Wii U Switch is bringing us a new Mario at launch.

That's great news for the ten people who plan on buying the Wii U version.

 

[DashReindeer]

So, come Friday morning on the West Coast, should I be lining up at Gamespot to try and pre-order this, hitting F-5 on Amazon, or looking at Best Buys or Targets or the like? I'm not sure what my best approach is gonna be, but there's gonna be hell to pay if I can't get a Switch at launch. Been waiting for this for quite some time, and I don't think my little heart could take it if I had to hunt all over the place for one.

I waited 13 hours outside in the dead of Winter to secure a Wii at launch and I was happy to do it, but I was hoping to not have to repeat that for the Switch.

 

[Broken Hope]

That's great news for the ten people who plan on buying the Wii U version.

I know full well some fans will buy both versions.

 

[HotHamBoy]

I don't own PS4 or Xbox and I don't care about any of the games on that list. Nintendo gamers care about Nintendo games. You're projecting your own preferences on a wider group of customers that have a very different set of priorities than you.

No, I'm speaking for the mainstream. You are the one living in a Nintendo bubble. And that's not a judgement against you, I understand why you may not find any interest in those games. But this is a discussion regarding supply and demand.

 

[Conkerkid11]

That's great news for the ten people who plan on buying the Wii U version.

I know you're joking, but... pulled from Wikipedia regarding Twilight Princess:

The game had sold 5.82 million copies on the Wii as of March 31, 2011,[98] and 1.32 million on the GameCube as of March 31, 2007.

 

[OrbitalBeard]

So, come Friday morning on the West Coast, should I be lining up at Gamespot to try and pre-order this, hitting F-5 on Amazon, or looking at Best Buys or Targets or the like? I'm not sure what my best approach is gonna be, but there's gonna be hell to pay if I can't get a Switch at launch. Been waiting for this for quite some time, and I don't think my little heart could take it if I had to hunt all over the place for one.

I waited 13 hours outside in the dead of Winter to secure a Wii at launch and I was happy to do it, but I was hoping to not have to repeat that for the Switch.

I've said this a few times already, but it bears repeating:

I easily pre-ordered a 3DS, Wii U, and New 3DS XL online without any hassle.

Hopefully that's the case again with Switch. It's always tough to pre-order a new console at GS, in-store. This is nothing new, really.

 

[EndlessFloydian]

Only store near me that sells games is Walmart. Gamestop is like a half hour to 40min from me, as with Target Best Buy, etc. No way am I getting up at 8am to beat a crowd.

Amazon it is.

 

[Plum]

None, but there is nothing wrong with caution, even healthy pessimism. No one knows how this is going to go, but I'm not going to get overly optimistic given Nintendo's recent history and the ever-changing market.

Of course, but that's not what I'm seeing in most cynical posts; people seem to imply that this will be another Wii U situation when all signs point to it not being so. Broken Hope, for example, downplays the announcement video as a "3 minute video showing mostly Wii U ports" when one, those are enhanced ports from a console that barely sold and two, that 3 minute video has 23m views and has received masses of praise from people who aren't Nintendo fans. That's not healthy cynicism to me, that's just being willfully blind in order to reach the level of cynicism you, for some reason, desire.

Like I've said; Nintendo has got a LONG way to go to make this a success; I was as worried as everyone else when those clock speeds came out, I just don't think there is any actual evidence to suggest that Nintendo will make all those same mistakes again other than "because it's Nintendo."

 

[Deleted member 752119]

None, but there is nothing wrong with caution, even healthy pessimism. No one knows how this is going to go, but I'm not going to get overly optimistic given Nintendo's recent history and the ever-changing market.

Caution is always good as the market is very fickle.

Switch should do fine though. Worst case is that it should appeal to the combined 3DS/Wii U base and sell in the 50 million range lifetime (allowing for some of that base to not come back).

It will be the only option for dedicated portable fans as well. Even not being as portable as 3DS or Vita, they have little choice once software support for those two is gone. So that should generate sales in the East especially.

Software support will be much better than Wii U as well. That's a given simply from Nintendo having all their games in one place instead of split across Wii U and 3DS. Won't help people attract people that don't care for Nintendo games of course, but it should help keep most of the 3DS/Wii U base, and attract some lapsted Nintendo fans and be more attractive as a secondary/complementary platform to core/hardcore gamers.

 

[Naked Snake]

No, I'm speaking for the mainstream. You are the one living in a Nintendo bubble. And that's not a judgement against you, I understand why you may not find any interest in those games. But this is a discussion regarding supply and demand.

I don't think the mainstream own 3 consoles every generation and buy dozens of games every year.

 

[LordRaptor]

https://twitter.com/GoNintendoTweet/status/818506578596872198


Dragon Quest X?

Good to see that PEGI 18+ only grittier, darker, monster hunter fans of the series have always wanted

 

[casey_contra]

https://twitter.com/GoNintendoTweet/status/818506578596872198


Dragon Quest X?

I find it really interesting that this was posted without the rumor tag. Kevin/GoNintendo seems pretty confident about this...

 

[QuantumBro]

Famous last words. There's a tag in this for you somewhere.

Uh, I hate to break it to you, but the Switch is not going to sell out within 24 hours.

If either of you want to put your money where your mouth is, let's bet on it.

 

[Raging Spaniard]

Seeing how the WiiU performed at retail, I cant blame them.

 

[HotHamBoy]

I don't think the mainstream own 3 consoles every generation and buy dozens of games every year.

That's true, but you only need a PS4 to buy most of the games on that list. And 50+ million people already own a PS4. Are they going to buy a Switch, too? Who was holding out for Nintendo before they got a new console?

 

[EvilMario]

Canada here, so we're stuck with USA / NOA's shit.

Pre-ordering on Amazon as soon as it goes live, then the next day going to try to go into Best Buy and pre-order one I can pick up at midnight / launch day.

 

[Deleted member 752119]

I don't think the mainstream own 3 consoles every generation and buy dozens of games every year.

I think his point is the mainstream mostly already own at least one of the other platforms and are more likely to just buy some of the great games coming out Q1 for what they already own rather than shell out for a Switch and games.

Launching midgeneration is tough as you've mostly lost the chance to get the one console crowd to change platforms and are left with your niche of fans and trying to convince others they need a second (or third or whatever) gaming platform.

I'm a pretty big Nintendo fan, was a fanboy as a kid through NES to N64, and I have a hard time talking myself into getting this at launch with stuff I'm more excited for like Horizon and Mass Effect coming out within the same few weeks.

 

[Pwnedkiller]

I hope Amazon and Best Buy open preorders Friday because waiting out in the cold really early at Gamestop probably won't happen for me.

 

[Steve Youngblood]

Do we know that Amazon is doing Switch pre-orders? I haven't been following the latest twists and turns, but last I remember Amazon did not directly sell Nintendo hardware after they de-listed the 3DS all those years ago.

 

[Jetku]

I took off work Friday in hopes that I preorders will start (I have some carry over days to use, and it makes it a 4 day weekend).

I'm no stranger to waiting in line, but it will be the first time I line up with my baby girl (16 months). I'm in NJ so thankfully it will warm up by Friday, but it's still going to be in the 30s/40s. I hope specific preorder numbers are leaked/announced ahead of time. Hopefully I can just wait in the car until a few minutes before the store opens, but if a line forms, we'll have to get in it.

I prefer to order from GameStop due to past success, and I have ~$300 in credit.

Hope they also have extra controllers up for preorder too!

 

[jchap]

https://twitter.com/GoNintendoTweet/status/818506578596872198


Dragon Quest X?

If that's the launch lineup I'd buy 6 (maybe 7) titles. RIP my wallet.

 

[jabberwocker]

I think his point is the mainstream mostly already own at least one of the other platforms and are more likely to just buy some of the great games coming out Q1 for what they already own rather than shell out for a Switch and games.

Launching midgeneration is tough as you've mostly lost the chance to get the one console crowd to change platforms and are left with your niche of fans and trying to convince others they need a second (or third or whatever) gaming platform.

I'm a pretty big Nintendo fan, was a fanboy as a kid through NES to N64, and I have a hard time talking myself into getting this at launch with stuff I'm more excited for like Horizon and Mass Effect coming out within the same few weeks.

I don't think the intent that really gives a shit about generation, see in the fact is actually releasing a system that is less powerful most likely than the Xbox one.

More about games

 

[OrbitalBeard]

Do we know that Amazon is doing Switch pre-orders? I haven't been following the latest twists and turns, but last I remember Amazon did not directly sell Nintendo hardware after they de-listed the 3DS all those years ago.

They should be,as the Amazon/NoA feud seems to be a thing of the past. Amazon has been selling Nintendo hardware directly for awhile now.

 

[charpunk]

I've said this a few times already, but it bears repeating:

I easily pre-ordered a 3DS, Wii U, and New 3DS XL online without any hassle.

Hopefully that's the case again with Switch. It's always tough to pre-order a new console at GS, in-store. This is nothing new, really.

All of those systems were before the craziness of scalpers coming out in force for anything that says Nintendo on it though. No one gave a shit when the 3ds and Wii u first launched. When I worked in retail, we sold maybe three 3ds units launch day to employees because no customers wanted them. Less than 5 Wii u units as well.

There will probably be a lot more consumer demand for the Switch for people that actually want it on top of scalpers foaming at the mouth because NoA will "underestimate demand" once again. It's going to be a mess.

 

[KingBroly]

I hope Amazon and Best Buy open preorders Friday because waiting out in the cold really early at Gamestop probably won't happen for me.

He mentioned around 20 for most stores, which wouldn't be horrible if true.

 

[~Cross~]

Uh, I hate to break it to you, but the Switch is not going to sell out within 24 hours.

If either of you want to put your money where your mouth is, let's bet on it.

It probably will in a lot of places but probably not because they have a healthy launch supply and because scalpers gonna scalp

 

[Naked Snake]

I think his point is the mainstream mostly already own at least one of the other platforms and are more likely to just buy some of the great games coming out Q1 for what they already own rather than shell out for a Switch and games.

Launching midgeneration is tough as you've mostly lost the chance to get the one console crowd to change platforms and are left with your niche of fans and trying to convince others they need a second (or third or whatever) gaming platform.

I'm a pretty big Nintendo fan, was a fanboy as a kid through NES to N64, and I have a hard time talking myself into getting this at launch with stuff I'm more excited for like Horizon and Mass Effect coming out within the same few weeks.

Yeah I'm mostly just enjoying playing devil's advocate

It's really impossible to predict anything at this point. Things should look clearer in a few days.

 

[OrbitalBeard]

All of those systems were before the craziness of scalpers coming out in force for anything that says Nintendo on it though. No one gave a shit when the 3ds and Wii u first launched. When I worked in retail, we sold maybe three 3ds units launch day to employees because no customers wanted them. Less than 5 Wii u units as well.

There will probably be a lot more consumer demand for the Switch for people that actually want it on top of scalpers foaming at the mouth because NoA will "underestimate demand" once again. It's going to be a mess.

New 3DS XL, which I pre-ordered in January of 2015, was literally in the heart of the Nintendo Scalper storm. And it was probably the easiest of the three platforms I mentioned to secure.

 

[Broken Hope]

Of course, but that's not what I'm seeing in most cynical posts; people seem to imply that this will be another Wii U situation when all signs point to it not being so. Broken Hope, for example, downplays the announcement video as a "3 minute video showing mostly Wii U ports" when one, those are enhanced ports from a console that barely sold and two, that 3 minute video has 23m views and has received masses of praise from people who aren't Nintendo fans. That's not healthy cynicism to me, that's just being willfully blind in order to reach the level of cynicism you, for some reason, desire.

Like I've said; Nintendo has got a LONG way to go to make this a success; I was as worried as everyone else when those clock speeds came out, I just don't think there is any actual evidence to suggest that Nintendo will make all those same mistakes again other than "because it's Nintendo."

Other than Skyrim and the new Mario, what games shown in that video weren't Wii U ports?

Views are great and so is praise, but if it doesn't translate into sales then it's pointless and Nintendo only have to mess up their account system, online or something else for that praise to change.

 

[Boke1879]

I mean this is just smart. If you want one just preorder it. Especially considering this is a nintendo product do it just to be safe.

Even still I'm sure you'll be able to preorder at a place like GS without having to wait in line.

 

[bomblord1]

Seriously considering trying to use my vacation time to take off Friday. Be next to impossible to wake up after staying up to watch the presentation anyway. If it leads to me getting a pre-order that would be even better.

 

[Steve Youngblood]

New 3DS XL, which I pre-ordered in January of 2015, was literally in the heart of the Nintendo Scalper storm.

The regular New 3DS XL or the Majora's Mask Limited Edition? I don't remember having any major issues getting a New 3DS XL at launch. I pre-ordered, but I didn't rush to the store to do it.

 

[charpunk]

New 3DS XL, which I pre-ordered in January of 2015, was literally in the heart of the Nintendo Scalper storm.

Yeah I forgot about the Majoras mask one. I tried to block that out because of the extreme rage I had when best buy cancelled my preorder less than a week before launch.

 

[jabberwocker]

He mentioned around 20 for most stores, which wouldn't be horrible if true.

That's only about 20,000 units. That's not a lot.

 

[OrbitalBeard]

The regular New 3DS XL or the Majora's Mask Limited Edition? I don't remember having any major issues getting a New 3DS XL at launch. I pre-ordered, but I didn't rush to the store to do it.

The regular unit. The MM LE was very difficult to secure, yes. A base N3DS XL was easy to pre-order if you wanted one.

I think if you want a Switch on day one, you'll need to secure a pre-order quickly (they're sure to be gone by the end of the 13th), but I also don't believe low allocation #s for brick and mortar GameStops is indicative of all that much.

 

[Pandy]

Jesus Christ NOA, sort your shit out.

When listening to things like the NVC podcast and posts here, it's always complaining about availability, pre-order capability etc. and it's just shocking.

I have not had one issue here in the UK. Got the amiibo I wanted. Got the NES Classic Mini. Got everything I needed with no issues.

Don't want to jinx myself for the Switch, but up until now I'd agree that Nintendo UK have been really on the ball with all this stuff...

...it probably helps that no UK retailer has actually bothered to stock more than a token Nintendo display for the last 5 years or so.

 

[Papacheeks]

If that's the launch lineup I'd buy 6 (maybe 7) titles. RIP my wallet.

There were? So? You would buy Just dance with the 4 to 5 high profile games?

According to that Pic, there's Zelda, Some sort of Mario game, Mario Kart, Splatoon, Dragon age and some kind of sonic game.

No one gives to shits about lego, NBA, Elder scrolls on a launch system.

 

[jabberwocker]

What scares me about this the most actually are the bundles that are going to show up. Expect game stops cheapest one to probably be like $400 with a bunch of crap you don't want.

 

[QuantumBro]

It probably will in a lot of places but probably not because they have a healthy launch supply and because scalpers gonna scalp

I'm not talking about launch, I'm talking about when pre-orders open. Even if you live in the middle of nowhere you'll be able to preorder a Switch for day 1 within 24 hours of preorders opening.

If you don't believe this will be the case, I'm taking bets.

 

[Deleted member 752119]

I don't think the intent that really gives a shit about generation, see in the fact is actually releasing a system that is less powerful most likely than the Xbox one.

More about games

And the point of the list that was posted is that there a TON of great games coming out on platforms people already own. It's one of the best Q1s ever with all the stuff that got pushed from the holiday season. Add in that the games in that list are the games/genres/artstyles that the mainstream prefers, and I see his point. It's a tough sell to people who already have tons of great games to chose from on the platforms they already own, many of who aren't that interest in the types of things Nintendo does anyway. As I said, I'm a big Nintendo fan, have a couple shelves full of amiibo etc., and still am having a hard time talking myself into getting Switch at launch given the games I want to play on PS4/PC this spring.

Honestly, I think Nintendo knows thisl. They know they'll never win the mainstream gamer market again, be the most popular console among core gamers etc. They've made statements about knowing they can't compete with Sony/MS directly. However, they also know they have a big base of fans that buys games at high attach rates and I think they're fine if they can hit at least 50 millions sales and just profit off their base by putting out tons of games that all of them can buy now that the base isn't split across handheld and console platforms. Not to mention DLC, Amiibo etc. Selling more hardware than that would require something like the Wii that broadens the gaming market and brings in people who currently don't own any dedicated gaming hardware. They'd love to do that, but don't need to to make a tidy profit.

 

[jabberwocker]

I'm not talking about launch, I'm talking about when pre-orders open. Even if you live in the middle of nowhere you'll be able to preorder a Switch for day 1 within 24 hours of preorders opening.

If you don't believe this will be the case, I'm taking bets.

Lol...

 

[Steve Youngblood]

That's only about 20,000 units. That's not a lot.

From http://news.gamestop.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=130125&p=irol-faq

How many stores does GameStop operate, under what names?
GameStop has 6,614 stores in operation, of which 4,434 are located in the United States, 343 in Canada, 413 in Australia/New Zealand and 1,424 are in Europe. Our stores operate primarily under the names of GameStop and EB Games. Our stores sell new and used video game software, hardware and accessories for video game systems from Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft. In addition, the company sells PC entertainment software, related accessories and other merchandise.

Let's just go with NA. (4,434 + 343) * 20 = 95,540. Am I missing something?