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[Malakai]

“A little,” Söderlund admitted to EDGE in their October issue when asked whether Nintendo Switch has blindsided the games industry – especially after the disappointing consumer reaction to Wii U.

“It’s doing really well, which I love. But I’ll be honest, when they first showed it to me years ago, I didn’t get the concept, I was puzzled by it. But then I was like, it’s Nintendo. They probably understand something that I don’t [laughs]. They usually do.

“I have a four-year old son and it’s like it’s connected to him. He will use it as a portable machine, he will plug it into the TV, but more importantly, he uses it like, ‘Do you want to play with me?’ Then he takes off the Joy-Con and we play Mario Kart together. He’s using it as intended, which just tells me that it’s working right.

Source

 

[Jonneh3003]

What's not to get? It's a handheld that you can dock.

 

[chrominance]

I appreciate his candor in talking about the Switch. At the same time, it's a little worrying that he didn't know what to make of it at first. The reveal trailer did a really good job of explaining what it was all about, I feel.

 

[AlanOC91]

What's not to get? It's a handheld that you can dock.

A LOT of people shared the same feelings when it was announced.

Only with its currently big success has talk like that vanished.

 

[veloxStrix]

What's not to get? It's a handheld that you can dock.

And going with the handheld you can dock idea seems pretty puzzling after the immense success of the Vita and the Wii U.

I appreciate his candor in talking about the Switch. At the same time, it's a little worrying that he didn't know what to make of it at first. The reveal trailer did a really good job of explaining what it was all about, I feel.

...when they first showed me years ago...

 

[mocolostrocolos]

What's not to get? It's a handheld that you can dock.

Actually, is a console you can take outside.

 

[PMS341]

What's not to get? It's a handheld that you can dock.

Söderlund on videogames: "...didn’t get the concept, I was puzzled by it..."

 

[10k]

The guy is a dishonest moron who mismanages his studios so this doesn't surprise me.

Just remember, his sons middle name is Luigi so that means he loves Nintendo.

 

[Broken Joystick]

Glad he seemingly came round and understood what Nintendo was going for.

 

[Mael]

What's not to get? It's a handheld that you can dock.

It's more than that.
It's a handheld you can dock with multiplayer out of the box.
Remember how good it was to share a game on DS with someone who had the system but not the game?
It's this but expanded.
if you had any interest in handheld gaming you couldn't possibly have missed the potential of the system.
e: it was always going to be big as a party system at least.

 

[oti]

Don't be too harsh on him. Even Level-5 didn't "get" the Switch initially. Everyone's surprised by its success. At last the scope of it.

 

[Eolz]

“A little,” Söderlund admitted to EDGE in their October issue when asked whether Nintendo Switch has blindsided the games industry

The reason why people wonder where the big third party support is, and why there's some weird tests. They still don't believe it works and will sell on the long term.

 

[Malakai]

What's not to get? It's a handheld that you can dock.

¯\_(&#12484_/¯ I guess everybody in the West was really doubting the portable aspect of the Switch.

 

[ryushe]

What's not to get? It's a handheld that you can dock.

Actually, is a console you can take outside.

WHICH ONE IS IT!?

 

[ShdwDrake]

I think the big thing everyone is missing was "...years ago".

 

[LizardKing]

Switch is probably the best piece of hardware Nintendo ever designed. It's certainly right among the top.

 

[jman2050]

What I find interesting is that the Switch's success in retrospect both validates exactly what Nintendo was trying to do with Wii U and underlines what a massive misfire in execution that entire product was.

 

[ScientificPizza]

this thread is going to be filled with people being like "what's not to get" as if we didn't have months of posts of people ask "but what *is* the switch" after it was revealed

 

[Dark Cloud]

As SOON as we saw it officially revealed in October of last year I knew what it was and it was going to be a hit.

 

[120v]

i think that's his way of saying he thought it was kind of a shitty concept at first. of course he "understood" it

 

[Jonneh3003]

It's more than that.
It's a handheld you can dock with multiplayer out of the box.
Remember how good it was to share a game on DS with someone who had the system but not the game?
It's this but expanded.
if you had any interest in handheld gaming you couldn't possibly have missed the potential of the system.
e: it was always going to be big as a party system at least.

All the more reason why I don't quite understand his confusion.

 

[starmud]

Honestly tho, when was the last game by EA that made you feel they weren't creatively dead? I'm not surprised they don't know how to respond to "different" ardsde

I can't recall anything imaginable or fresh from them this current gen. It's gotten worse as boxes have become modern...

 

[Jonneh3003]

this thread is going to be filled with people being like "what's not to get" as if we didn't have months of posts of people ask "but what *is* the switch" after it was revealed

That was just a group of people looking to categorise a new concept. It's both a handheld and a console in design.

 

[Mael]

What I find interesting is that the Switch's success in retrospect both validates exactly what Nintendo was trying to do with Wii U and underlines what a massive misfire in execution that entire product was.

The Switch couldn't be more different from the WiiU if it tried.
the WiiU was ALWAYS tethered to a screen in the end, it was never portable and frequently required BOTH screens.
If Switch was what Nintendo was trying to do with the WiiU, they should have canned the WiiU and done a more straightforward Wii HD instead.

 

[Malakai]

Don't be too harsh on him. Even Level-5 didn't "get" the Switch initially. Everyone's surprised by its success. At last the scope of it.

Actually, at least with Level-5 target audience of children, not being there at the start of the Switch life actually make some level of sense due to the Switch's price point.

 

[LizardKing]

The guy is a dishonest moron who mismanages his studios so this doesn't surprise me.

Just remember, his sons middle name is Luigi so that means he loves Nintendo.

 

[Souzetsu]

Makes me wonder if he ever got the concept behind the Wii U.

 

[asagami_]

WHICH ONE IS IT!?

It's the evolution of the arm how we play games.

I don't have the Switch, but I LOVE the idea. A handheld you can connect to your TV, a console you can bring out anywhere. Switch inherited the Wii and DS philosophies, which is impressive by itself.

 

[FZZ]

A lot of video game execs in the industry honestly seem to not understand video games

 

[Mael]

All the more reason why I don't quite understand his confusion.

He doesn't give a shit about portables so of course he missed this.
His confusion stems from the total utter contempt the industry in the West has for anything portable.
Just look at how the industry treat mobile and handheld customers compared to more regular console and pc gamers.

 

[oti]

Actually, at least with Level-5 target audience of children, not being there at the start of the Switch life actually make some level of sense due to the Switch's price point.

I don't know. Imagine if there was an Inazuma game on Switch since launch or after launch. I'm sure tons of people would've bought it, not just kids. Level-5 really dropped the ball on Switch, but so did everyone.

 

[OryoN]

Let's be honest here; you have to lack a bit of vision if you can't immediately see the appeal/point of the console from a conceptual standpoint, whether now or upon the initial reveal. It's as straightforward as any new and exciting concept can get.

 

[Vic20]

A touching tale of a man who's cold heart was warmed by money!

 

[Jafku]

The Switch couldn't be more different from the WiiU if it tried.
the WiiU was ALWAYS tethered to a screen in the end, it was never portable and frequently required BOTH screens.
If Switch was what Nintendo was trying to do with the WiiU, they should have canned the WiiU and done a more straightforward Wii HD instead.

I think what they are trying to say is if the Wii U introduced off screen play, then the Switch perfected the concept

 

[Otnopolit]

I don't think he's saying he didn't understand what the Switch could do, instead I think he didn't see the appeal and thought it wouldn't sell well. Glad he is proved wrong! If he wants better financial quarters they best invest in it with a little more than a little dash of a franchise or two.

 

[Perfect Cha0s]

A LOT of people shared the same feelings when it was announced.

Only with its currently big success has talk like that vanished.

Yup, lots of people on this very board thought the idea was crazy and couldn't work. A lot of that discussion took place back when we didn't have many details, though.

 

[LizardKing]

What I find interesting is that the Switch's success in retrospect both validates exactly what Nintendo was trying to do with Wii U and underlines what a massive misfire in execution that entire product was.

The Switch couldn't be more different from the WiiU if it tried.
the WiiU was ALWAYS tethered to a screen in the end, it was never portable and frequently required BOTH screens.
If Switch was what Nintendo was trying to do with the WiiU, they should have canned the WiiU and done a more straightforward Wii HD instead.

Yeah the Wii U concept was a continuation of the DS concept, not what they did with Switch. It was meant to have a second screen using touch for gameplay ideas based around that. Off tv play kind of became a by product of that but it was really not the concept of the Wii U.

 

[Gotdatmoney]

I hope this doesn't get blown into something ridiculous because that's a very honest and level headed statement.

 

[CrAzY FiNgErS]

I Would like to see at least original Wii levels of support from EA, but Switch is only promised Fifa so far. I think games like NFS, Burnout, and NBA Jam would do great on the system. I have been wanting a new NBA Jam for awhile now, but I doubt EA would oblige on Switch or any other system. Even though Jam is available on Xbox One via BC, I am a PC and Nintendo owner, so it's a no go for me.

 

[fastballspecial]

What's not to get? It's a handheld that you can dock.

EA was confused by its inability to print easy money at the time.

 

[TheLegendOfCap]

Its interesting seeing people say "its a handheld you can dock" because the first thing i thought of when i saw the concept is "its a console you can take wherever you want"

The versatility of it is what makes it so appealing. In fact, sometimes my friends have to remind me i can that take it with me places. Or sometimes i go "i wish i brought a second controller so you can play this with- oh wait i do have one"

Its great. I hope more companies understand now.

 

[titiklabingapat]

Doesn't bode well for future EA support outside of sports title.

 

[DMONKUMA]

A few years ago

I could understand why then.

 

[trixx]

the concept was shown to him Years ago. He likely didn't understand the initial concept and probably even up to reveal. I didn't understand it either until I bought one, then it clicked(pun intended)

 

[Caayn]

Can't blame him. We even had comments about the very concept of the Switch after the reveal trailer, now imagine if you were just shown sketches/ideas years ago. Now add to this that it was pitched by Nintendo when the WiiU had a somewhat similar concept that didn't manage to succeed.

 

[Masterspeed]

He probably hasn't had enough rooftop parties to get it.

 

[Mael]

I think what they are trying to say is if the Wii U introduced off screen play, then the Switch perfected the concept

I feel like offscreen play is more of an afterthought compared to what they tried to do countless time with the synergy between handheld and console that they did before.
I feel like it's the worst implementation so far compared to other times they did this on Gc and even Wii.
the continuation between WiiU and Switch feels like they just one part that people liked out of the WiiU and expanded on that.
And even then Switch does that with every single prior Nintendo console.
There's the 2 controllers out of the box from the NES, each controller is a SNES controller, there's the analog stick/rumble from the N64, network and small form factor from the GC, motion controls from the Wii and offscreen play from WiiU.
I'm not even the one saying that, it's part of Nintendo's initial marketing with the Switch.

Yeah the Wii U concept was a continuation of the DS concept, not what they did with Switch. It was meant to have a second screen using touch for gameplay ideas based around that. Off tv play kind of became a by product of that but it was really not the concept of the Wii U.

I love the WiiU , it brought me XenoX, Mario Maker and more but seriously WiiU was way too late.
It was something that people expected of the original Wii before we knew of the wiimote.
It failed for a reason.

 

[Plum]

And going with the handheld you can dock idea seems pretty puzzling after the immense success of the Vita and the Wii U.

...neither of which are handhelds you can dock.

 

[Leafhopper]

What's not to get? It's a handheld that you can dock.

Well it's not a handheld. It's portable console.

 

[DroneBrother]

WHICH ONE IS IT!?