The launch lineup doesn't give me "soft launch" vibes, but the following bullets do:
- OS by all accounts, seems incomplete
- No proper online functionality
- Seemingly no other apps (Netflix, browser, etc) besides core gaming functions.
I could easily see shifts in how they move forward with these areas based on consumer feedback. It'd be nice if they were transparent about everything though.
The launch of 3DS is certainly not what made the console work.Worked for the 3DS.
I am bumping this 6-week.old thread to say.
ABSOLUTELY
I just went to gaming stores here in Germany and it's like Launch hasn't happened
.- no consoles (of course)
.- no merchandising,
.- barely any games (some Zelda and 12 switch copies)
.- barely any perihperals,
.- no visual advertisement, like posters,
.- no area in the store allocated to switch
I can understand the console being outsold, but the in-store landscape is pretty telling, nintendo didn't even care about sending promotional materials or.... anything.
Nah, soft launches do exist. One good example of it is a film that releases in a limited number of theaters before opening wide to the general audience.No, because there is no such thing as a soft launch. You either launched or you didn't. Now a launch can be really well planned and prepared for, or it can come across like it was hobbled together at the last second by people who have no idea what they are doing. The Switch launch unfortunately was closer to the latter.
I don't see why they couldn't have delayed it another 6-8 months to get everything ready for a big Xmas launch, they've been coasting on fumes and tiny sales numbers for the last 2 years anyway so nobody expects any kind of output for the Wii U.
I'd argue that a flat launch is far more damaging for the brand than another year with little to no market presence, they're not exactly in a situation like Sony with the PS3 where 3rd parties will keep them going until they are firing on all cylinders. Well, unless they want to resort to a 3DS style drastic price cut to get customers attention.
I'm not sure if having a lot of software/variety corresponds to a strong launch...
Maybe i'm defending Nintendo a bit too much here or putting too much emphasis on their own games but I would rather have a limited launch library that I can maximise the most time and enjoyment out of than a variety of games that collectively I won't enjoy as much.
The PS4 launched with a fair few games that could be played on the XB1 vice versa. But is that really what I want? Do I want to spend my time playing FIFA, CoD, Battlefield etc or engulf myself in an experience.
Okay sure, Zelda can be played on the WiiU, but if I was an outsider, I probably might enjoy having a limited library but a really great launch experience with a few selected titles.
It's hard to judge but hey...
I've always gone for the experience with Nintendo and it's never betrayed me.
Nah, soft launches do exist. One good example of it is a film that releases in a limited number of theaters before opening wide to the general audience.
However, soft launches are typically associated with things like a limited amount of marketing, releasing in smaller markets before hitting larger ones, and the like. This isn't the case of the Switch so it's not a soft launch; it's just a case of Nintendo not having everything in place before they launched.
I almost guarantee there will be a 1-2 Switch bundle in the fall and a big marketing push.
that would imply that things will go better in this regard, and I don't think it's the case
I can't think of most anyone who couldn't guarantee this for any console tbh.
That's an argument for the Switch being released sooner than Nintendo had originally intended, but it's not one for it being a soft launch. Soft launches are characterized by, among other things, having a limited number of units available for sale at the beginning. 2 million units in the first month is not limited, so it's just a regular launch.I always believed the console was originally intended for late 2017 based on the fact that dev kits were sent out so late. So..I do agree that this is a soft launch. This will be a completely different system by this time next year. I also think we will see some ports of the more popular Wii U games to pad out the time between big releases. I'm happy with my purchase, but I'm just hoping they don't botch the virtual console. If I purchased it on the Wii U or 3DS, at least give me a good discount on the Switch version.
Seriously. Launching worldwide on the same day, this is somehow... the hardest launch of all.A real "soft launch" would be NES releasing in New York as a test.
Soft launch or not, the launch was a success for Nintendo. Seems like they know what they're doing, I hope anyway.
I was at my local "everything" store (like target and groceries).
They don't have the system (ok fine) no really switch section at all. Literally three games (zelda, 1 2 switch and just Dance) which are next to the Wii U games under a heading that says wii u games.
It's really strange actually.
I am bumping this 6-week.old thread to say.
ABSOLUTELY
I just went to gaming stores here in Germany and it's like Launch hasn't happened
.- no consoles (of course)
.- no merchandising,
.- barely any games (some Zelda and 12 switch copies)
.- barely any perihperals,
.- no visual advertisement, like posters,
.- no area in the store allocated to switch
I can understand the console being outsold, but the in-store landscape is pretty telling, nintendo didn't even care about sending promotional materials or.... anything.
that would imply that things will go better in this regard, and I don't think it's the case
I'd say it all has to do with Zelda. It got a massive push last year at E3, and they couldn't sit on it for 15 months or so. Putting it out as a Wii u only game wouldn't have worked out too well - they're not even making the system any more and the last game they put out for it was 6 months ago. So instead they launch it with a new system, bolstering the Zelda brand, Switch brand, and Nintendo brand as a whoile with the grandest piece of software they've ever developed.
Worked for the 3DS.
They made the mistake of not having enough units for launch. Up until two weeks ago I was trying to find one and would have bought on the spot for zelda. Now my hype died down and I don't give a shit since there is nothing other than zelda on it that I want to play.