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THQ Nordic kinda disappointed by the Switch's power

N

Nere

Member
Another major difference between THQ Nordic and its forebear is the relationship with Nintendo. The previous THQ was synonymous with the kids, family and casual gaming market - something that was dominated by Wii and DS prior to the rise of smart devices. After the failure of uDraw, the firm opted to focus on adult games and Nordic seems to have taken a similar stance. As it currently stands, there are very few Nintendo-bound titles in its line-up.

This is partly due to the firm's belief that 3DS will soon be replaced by Switch - depsite Nintendo's assertions to the contrary - and the relatively low power available in the platfrom holder's new console. Pollice notes that even Battle Chasers, a 2D turn-based RPG game based on comics by notable artist Joe Madureira, has been "a challenge to get running smoothly on Switch" and open-world sci-fi RPG Elex is "just too demanding right now."

"We've been in touch with [Nintendo] about Switch for more than a year, so we've been looking at it for our current line-up and... we look wherever it's possible. It's a bit sad that they haven't gone out with a more beefy hardware but it is what it is, so we just have to work our way around it."
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So this came up on a recent interview with THQ Nordic's product director. They mention that they don't have many games for the Switch coming up due to it's limited power. Is the Switch underpowered for a turn based 2d game? http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articl...-build-a-successful-brand-out-of-a-failed-one
 
S

ScaryShark

Banned
It must be some kind of magic potion that allows companies to make games for systems that don't have the latest and greatest power.
 
S

Scrawnton

Member
I don't think multiplats is the answer for Switch when it comes to its success. It's not going to run PS4 games in any acceptable manner. I'm okay with Nintendo first party games, indie games, and the occasional bigger budget game from Japan.

THQ should capitalize on Switch's success with Darksiders ports.
 
MisterR

MisterR

Member
OptimusLime said:
Guys, is it popcorn time? I dont want to make a bag unnecessarily if this thread is just going to die out.
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It will mostly just be a ton of Nintendo fans telling these devs they don't know what their talking about and they could easily put their games on Switch.

Edit: damn, they beat me to it already.
 
L

lutheran

Member
Why they wouldn't just view it as easily the most powerful handheld/hybrid device ever made and make a great game that fits that is beyond me. I play most of the triple A pc games on my weak ass Alienware Alpha at medium settings and they look fantastic and play just fine and the specs on some of those games are way higher than my specs. If you feel your game will sell well on the Switch do what you have to do to get it to run.
 
Q

QuantumSquid

Member
well, it is weak compared to the Xbox One and PS4. they sacrificed a lot to make it portable, and whether or not that sacrifice was worth it depends on who you ask.
 
P

Plum

Member
The Switch is as powerful a platform of its price and form factor could viably be. The dev isn't disappointed with the Switch's power, they're disappointed that Nintendo didn't make something entirely different.
 
Jawmuncher

Jawmuncher

Member
To be fair being dissappointed in itself is a good sign to an extent. Since it shows that Nordic is very interested in the platform. They did bring Darksiders Warmastered to the WiiU well after the fact of that system being considered alive after all.

Sounds like they really would have wanted to bring something like Darksiders 3 to switch, but can't unless major sacrifices to be made. As was said earlier this is probably the case for a lot of western developers. However Nordic we know at least comes from a place where they would put their money where their mouth is if given the chance.
 
M

-Mutsukki-

Member
Nere said:
That is what I thought when I see Breath of the wild and Odyssey.
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I would even get the Switch out of the equation, if Paper Mario can run on Wii U I can't see why Battle Chasers wouldn't on Switch. I really have to wonder what's so demanding about it
 
D

Deleted member 465307

Unconfirmed Member
BY2K said:
To be fair, most western third-parties probably are, too.
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I'm guessing this is the case, too. Switch is an impressive piece of hardware, but if you're typically designing for much larger hardware with much higher TDPs, then Switch will be a struggle. Any developer with a recent history on mobile, 3DS, Vita, last gen, or Wii U is probably feeling okay about Switch's power, but the big Western third parties really embrace console and PC gaming. At least, that's my impression of the past few years.
 
R

Red Devil

Member
OptimusLime said:
Guys, is it popcorn time? I dont want to make a bag unnecessarily if this thread is just going to die out.
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Sure, might need some soda too.

Plum said:
The Switch is as powerful a platform of its price and form factor could viably be. The dev isn't disappointed with the Switch's power, they're disappointed that Nintendo didn't make something entirely different.
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Huh, so the title is misleading?
 
J

Jangowuzhere

Banned
TimmiT said:
For a handheld Switch has pretty powerful hardware so not sure what more they expected?
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It's not that much more powerful than something like a nvidia shield.

I think me and many others would have preferred if Nintendo ditched the gimmicky crap (joycons) and went for better hardware.
 
NoKisum

NoKisum

Member
TimmiT said:
For a handheld Switch has pretty powerful hardware so not sure what more they expected?
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I assume, since Nintendo is calling the Switch a "console," they expected the system to be at least on par with the XB1/PS4 in terms of power.

Not saying it's a sensible view, though.
 
B

Bluth54

Member
Nere said:
That is what I thought when I see Breath of the wild and Odyssey.
Click to expand...

I would imagine that designing a game for a specific piece of hardware (or in the case of Breath of the Wild a weaker piece of hardware) makes it a lot easier to get good results on that hardware than designing it for much more powerful hardware than having to port it to much weaker hardware.
 
OptimusLime

OptimusLime

Member
MisterR said:
It will mostly just be a ton of Nintendo fans telling these devs they don't know what their talking about and they could easily put their games on Switch.

Edit: damn, they beat me to it already.
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Aw yeah, I love these!

3t63g.gif
 
R

Red Devil

Member
Jangowuzhere said:
It's not that much more powerful than something like a nvidia shield.

I think me and many others would have preferred if Nintendo ditched the gimmicky crap (joycons) and went for better hardware.
Click to expand...

Do you think it's the Joy-Cons the reason why the Switch isn't more powerful? Wow...
 
J

JStein0222

Member
I don't love the idea of having "to work our way around" hardware. Like, what even is that? We're making games for other systems, so we can't just copy and paste to Switch?
The Switch offers something different. That's fine.
 
K

KodaRuss

Member
Anyone would want more power for sure but hopefully the sales for the system are strong enough that third parties wont be able to ignore it.
 
E

ecosse_011172

Junior Member
Jangowuzhere said:
It's not that much more powerful than something like a nvidia shield.

I think me and many others would have preferred if Nintendo ditched the gimmicky crap (joycons) and went for better hardware.
Click to expand...

How are the joycons "gimmicky crap"?

Portable multiplayer out of the box is a pile of shit, is it?
 
L

LotusHD

Banned
Jangowuzhere said:
It's not that much more powerful than something like a nvidia shield.

I think me and many others would have preferred if Nintendo ditched the gimmicky crap (joycons) and went for better hardware.
Click to expand...

Uh lol, I'd rather they do this than just mimic the other consoles (and risk not surpassing them), portability gives them a way to easily stand out. Additionally, this is pretty non-gimmicky compared to Nintendo's previous consoles.
 
M

-Mutsukki-

Member
Bluth54 said:
I would imagine that designing a game for a specific piece of hardware (or in the case of Breath of the Wild a weaker piece of hardware) makes it a lot easier to get good results on that hardware than designing it for much more powerful hardware than having to port it to much weaker hardware.
Click to expand...

Hm... that's bad optimization though. Battle Chasers doesn't seem demanding at all, but if it somehow is without it needing to be, it isn't doing it's best. Then again I'm really only speculating here, I hate that this sounds like I'm shitting on 2D games, but I really want to know what hinders it.
 
K

Kovacs

Member
Given that THQ Nordic are currently charging an extra £15 for Switch titles over other platforms, and now this. It would not surprise me to hear a statement in the next few months saying that they'll no longer develop for switch as it isn't economically viable.

It feels like they are setting themselves up for the 'we tried' that we feared from EA when they went radio silent about FIFA.
 
C

cuate

Banned
Jangowuzhere said:
It's not that much more powerful than something like a nvidia shield.

I think me and many others would have preferred if Nintendo ditched the gimmicky crap (joycons) and went for better hardware.
Click to expand...

they're not gimmicky crap. the switch is selling more than fine so no, you're in the minority.
 
S

Sami+

Member
I mean, was it even possible for Nintendo to make it more powerful while maintaining the portable form factor? I'm more of a console guy but I think this is honestly the best route for them provided they're genuinely making the most out of the form factor and not purposely putting out outdated, weak hardware with a gimmick like they did with the 3DS and Wii U.
 
C

Conkerkid11

Member
Never heard of Elex before. Game looks pretty damn dated. Dunno if I trust their opinion, considering what BotW and Odyssey are pulling off.
 
N

NSESN

Member
Jangowuzhere said:
It's not that much more powerful than something like a nvidia shield.

I think me and many others would have preferred if Nintendo ditched the gimmicky crap (joycons) and went for better hardware.
Click to expand...

Without the Joycons it would be cheaper no more powerful, it is almost impossible to make a more powerful handheld without it burning children hands.
 
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