I totally disagree with that. A dockless SKU would be ideal for a family. I don't need 3 docks, one is enough.
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SuperData: Nintendo sells 2.4m Switch consoles in 1st month; above original forecast
- Thread starter axisofweevils
- Start date
Precisely, and they obviously aren't doing this from day 1, they will wait long enough for their core message of it being a Hybrid device to take hold, and not let it dilute that hybrid message that has given them this success currently.
Skittzo0413
Member
That's a fair point, and I agree that I don't think it will be at the same level as the Gameboy or DS in that area, but there will definitely be cases of kids yelling "Mom Danny is hogging the Switch why can't I have my own!?!?" moreso than with the Wii or PS4.
I just feel like the price is being very overstated though in general, as consumer electronics have been far pricier than this for a while now. And whenever the price inevitably drops (I'm thinking 2018) it will only be a more popular "multiple unit per household" item.
That's more for multiple TV's for one Switch. I really doubt they'd risk selling a dockless Switch such that the consumer wouldn't be guaranteed to have a dock. I also don't think the dock adds much to the manufacturing cost (so a dockless SKU wouldn't be that much cheaper) but I may be wrong there.
I could understand theoretically a dockless sku for households that want multiple Switches. I don't see a form factor change or undockable/joyconless unit anytime soon though, that I've seen some people proposing. People don't understand the whole appeal of the system by proposing that. A few years down the line I'm sure there will be changes, expecting changes or price cuts while the systems fly off the shelves at a record pace is silly though. If the system keeps selling exceptionally well they not only have no incentive to price drop, they also have no incentive to bundle a game. We'll have a better idea in a few months.
I think they will eventually make a smaller Switch without removeable joycons; there could be a dock for it but sold separately. It would target the same market as the 2DS currently does. I wouldn't expect it for a couple of years though, and not until the 3DS is off the market.
jts
...hate me...
A dockless SKU would be a very practical and quick way to get it maybe to $250, but they can do better than that with a dedicated design.
Built-in controls instead of Joy-cons saves a lot of unnecessary production complexity and materials, plus a more manageable size for kids like a 4-5" display (PSP was 4.3", Vita 5") also helps in 2 different ways (cost and accessibility).
Can still play with optional Joy-cons.
My biggest doubt is actually if they can make it work with current dock (as an optional) or if they would remove output capability altogether (or 3rd option: new dock). Personally I think it would be great if it were compatible with current dock but with a smaller footprint I don't see how the analog sticks would fit inside the dock. Unless they switch back to the slide pads, but I'm not sure if they can be made clickable.
There's an exciting amount of possibilities for the Switch going forward. I think different sizes/designs are a given, all of their handhelds pretty much see different designs, and last last 2 (DSi and 3DS) were sold in multiple sizes. It's how you reach different market needs and prices.
I'm actually working on a mock-up of what I have in mind. Boring Saturday I guess.
It adds to the price, that is why.
Yea sure, but not soon is what I was saying. rhe original guy was saying soon for new designs and price reductions. That's madness.
The way I see it is that the Switch will sell extremely well in it's first year, but will the software be there in year 2 to keep up that sales success? If it isn't then I can see a lower price handheld SKU coming towards November next year to give the sales a boost and make up for the declining 3DS sales next year.
If sales of Switch are still strong in 2018 then I could see them holding back until early-mid 2019 because there would be no need there for it any sooner as the demand is still there for the complete package.
If sales of Switch are still strong in 2018 then I could see them holding back until early-mid 2019 because there would be no need there for it any sooner as the demand is still there for the complete package.
They obviously not going to release one this year, and maybe not even next year. They gonna wait till 3DS really is done for, and the Switch is established in the marketplace and it's core messaging is engrained into the consumer mindset.
So they can release one that 1) replaces 3DS proper and 2) does not confuse the consumer base as to what the Switch concept is all about anymore.
I could even see them basically tie it together with a die shrink to make the main SKU faster ala Ps4 Pro/Scorpio style mid-gen refresh, and keep the smaller Handheld only SKU the old specs, so they can shrink it's size down to be more portable without it burning away in your hands
The Horror the horror
Banned
Average consumers, the same consumers who had to figure out the hard way that Wii U games couldn't be played on their Wii, will choose the cheaper Switch SKU while under the same general impression that it will do what all the commercials and their friends said it would do, namely play games on the TV or as a handheld. Why would they distribute a product that doesn't deliver on its promise out the box?
jts
...hate me...
What I mean by soon is that if they needed it could be done fast, no need to wait for efficiency gains. With the cut down complexity and materials alone they could get to the $200 tag if it was necessary to dump the 3DS out of the product mix.
Not simply without a dock no, I think such a SKU will be a reality sooner or later, but I mean a dedicated design.
I'm pretty that sure after DSi + DSi XL and then 3DS + 3DS XL + 2DS, they will not go back to a one size fits all approach. It's only one size for now, while it's new and while they still have other products on the market. Lots of sales to be had by filling different sizes and price ranges.
I'm failing to see where is the proof that the "mass market", the people that mostly play games on phones, is buying Switches, or will buy Switches in any meaningful quantities.
And by that I mean people like my aunt who never owned a console in their life before, but got a Wii.
Skittzo0413
Member
Yeah I agree with this. It greatly muddies the message behind the console, which was probably the Wii U's biggest flaw (a muddy message).
I also think by year 2 the dock will be very cheap to produce and not add much to the manufacturing cost (maybe $10 at most?). So a dockless SKU likely wouldn't be much cheaper.
I'm sure it would sell Vita/declining handheld numbers if there's no detachable Joy-Cons.
Unlike the 3D screen for the 3DS which was not a system seller for the system. There is value in having detachable Joy-Cons with local multiplayer in Tabletop mode anywhere on the go.
You start removing features like that and people will see it as a barebones Switch like the Vita TV.
jts
...hate me...
They auntie phone market is gone and well gone, but there's a mass market within legitimate gaming as well. The PS4 is not tracking too far behind the Wii. There's a lot of people in this world.
frankie_baby
Member
Perhaps a cheap "handheld switch" could be expanded into a full switch, even with integrated controls it would still be able to connect to seperate controllers and its own dock could be produced for anyone that wants to connect it to a tv, they could even do one with the same form factor as the current switch just with integrated joycons and use the existing dock
People are buying it for 1 fantastic game, for the desire to be in on the big item of the season, and in the blind faith that Nintendo will finally turn things around after a decade of unsatisfying home console software output.
Buying for the joycons, lol
There is a difference between a muddy message from the gettgo, to one that is initiated years into the products lifecycle, when the messaging has been reinforced already.
jts
...hate me...
Any equivalent USB-C to HDMI hub costs minimum $50 from respectable brands. The Apple one costs $70 with just HDMI + 1 USB-A and USB-C passthrough. The Switch dock adds 2 more USB-A on top of that.
So yeah they could give it away, but technically they could also give the Switch away if they felt like it.
It's the job of marketing to make it work. Call it "Switch Go", or whatever, use a smaller packaging with a sticker saying "Dock sold separately", and launch it with an advertising campaign whenever Animal Crossing, Pokemon or Nintendogs is ready.
Nintendo launched 2DS with no 3D, after years of selling a 3D handheld. It's no different.
Nintendo 2DSwitch Micro U Cube
Switch Basic
The Nintendo Switchless
Vita TV
I'm pretty sure the better comparison is all the people who got the DS, a system that did have a traditional button input system (four face buttons, two shoulder buttons, and a D-Pad) plus a touchscreen. A lot of people had a DS as their first video game system ever, and those people are in their late teens and early 20s now and might want a meaty gaming experience on the go but not enjoy the limitations of smartphones compared to handheld systems.
GiantBreadbug
Member
This is false, sorry
Nintendo Switch Back
Nintendon't Switch
Gameboy S
Nintendo Vita
It'd be the opposite of the Vita TV, the Vita TV would be a hypothetical docked-only Switch.
(I still think that the Vita TV could've worked if Sony had made it a better product. A device that's marketed as your TV box that can't access Netflix or Amazon Video is ridiculous. A device that's supposed to be a console version of PS Vita that can't play two thirds of the Vita's library is insane.)
Gotdatmoney
Member
Nintendo might sell a dockless Switch (they absolutely will) but there is no way they wasted their time with all the joy con shit to cut off that market after like 2 years or so.
The reason why I think they will sell a switch without a dock is when they do the revision they wont want double dippers turned off by having to pay for another dock. It also will drive adoption amoung younger audiences if thr can slash $30-50 off the price just for the dock.
The reason why I think they will sell a switch without a dock is when they do the revision they wont want double dippers turned off by having to pay for another dock. It also will drive adoption amoung younger audiences if thr can slash $30-50 off the price just for the dock.
I don't understand this switchless, dockless, joyconless, Switch people think will appear. I mean it is technically possible, but think about it for a moment.
The logo are the joycons.
The name is Switch.
The messaging would be really strange to get rid of the very core aspects of the Switch hardware. The components will gradually drop in price anyway, there is no need to try and cut 100$ off the current price. It is selling well, and the dock and joycons add to the value which people are willing to pay.
I believe that the more like a handheld and less like a console the Switch is, the less likely Nintendo is able to charge over $200 for it.
The logo are the joycons.
The name is Switch.
The messaging would be really strange to get rid of the very core aspects of the Switch hardware. The components will gradually drop in price anyway, there is no need to try and cut 100$ off the current price. It is selling well, and the dock and joycons add to the value which people are willing to pay.
I believe that the more like a handheld and less like a console the Switch is, the less likely Nintendo is able to charge over $200 for it.
The point which I was making earlier in another post is that it would be a barebones Switch like the Vita TV which had no touchscreen and a lot of games unavailable to play because of no touchscreen use.
Because I'm certain we're still talking about a handheld only Switch and it would be better to still have it be able to connect to a TV than not.
The Horror the horror
Banned
2DS is an exception and they called it that way because it no longer played games in 3D.
What would they name this new Switch, because with a dockless sku there's nothing to Switch to/from out of the box. That's my whole point, why would you sell a product that doesn't deliver on its promises out of the box?
No offense but all this sounds like Wii U amateur hour all over again.
Switch from handheld to tabletop. Switch from single player to multiplayer. Switch to the TV*
*dock sold separately
It's not. It's the mass market offensive next year with Animal Crossing and Pokemon.No offense but all this sounds like Wii U amateur hour all over again.
milanbaros
Member?
What is the weekly production at the moment, do we know? I suspect it is only around 150-200k.
You're wrong, you can use the TV-out abilities it's just the connector is sold separately, hence basic.
3DSwitch,Xbox One S(witch), PS(witch)4
Nintendo chose the name for a reason, they intend to stick with the concept. Its not a generic name like Gamecube or wtf name like Wii.
jts
...hate me...
They can't make a smaller Switch and keep the Joy-cons. And it's Nintendo, they will make a smaller, more accessible version.
We don't. It's the big mystery atm. The WSJ report states 16 million in the next 12 months, so 308k/week, but that is not confirmed (and production and shipment are also not aligned 1 to 1 as well, so we won't see all of it as soon as feasible). We will probably learn more on April 27th.
So you're saying in your idea that the system is no different than the current Switch, it's just that the
The Horror the horror
Banned
Yeah, they keep repeating these mistakes they'll be switching to third party.