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Nintendo Switch Presentation - January 12th

S4NDM4N

Neo Member
Bundles?
Price?
Additionally, it really surprises me how many people think the Switch will be ~$299. The minimum I think it'll be is $349 with smart money saying it'll be $399 for a base model and $449 for a large storage model. Yes, this is a Nintendo system, but it's also a tablet, and it wouldn't surprise me if they attempted to price it in tablet range. I would be pleased as punch if it were $299, but I'm not holding my breath.

I agree with you.
Decent tablets are expensive and this needs to be up there in terms of specs. They cant make it a budget piece of tech because it wont play AAA games with adequate performance.
The Nvidia Shield tablet was $299 at launch for the 16gb model. Its cheaper now because it discontinued. The Switch needs to have better specs and larger storage than the Shield tablet and it will also pack in the controllers and dock. So i think 350-400 is likely, and like you said, maybe more for a model with more storage.
Yes this makes it more difficult to shift units but if they want to make a profit on each unit then it will need to be priced at minimum 300.
 
I agree with you.
Decent tablets are expensive and this needs to be up there in terms of specs. They cant make it a budget piece of tech because it wont play AAA games with adequate performance.
The Nvidia Shield tablet was $299 at launch for the 16gb model. Its cheaper now because it discontinued. The Switch needs to have better specs and larger storage than the Shield tablet and it will also pack in the controllers and dock. So i think 350-400 is likely, and like you said, maybe more for a model with more storage.
Yes this makes it more difficult to shift units but if they want to make a profit on each unit then it will need to be priced at minimum 300.

You guys are nuts!

$300 is the maximum the Switch will be. It's DOA otherwise, and the hardware doesn't warrant such a high price anyway.

Even $300 with no (good) pack in game would be DOA. Nintendo are crazy but not that crazy.
 
I agree with you.
Decent tablets are expensive and this needs to be up there in terms of specs. They cant make it a budget piece of tech because it wont play AAA games with adequate performance.
The Nvidia Shield tablet was $299 at launch for the 16gb model. Its cheaper now because it discontinued. The Switch needs to have better specs and larger storage than the Shield tablet and it will also pack in the controllers and dock. So i think 350-400 is likely, and like you said, maybe more for a model with more storage.
Yes this makes it more difficult to shift units but if they want to make a profit on each unit then it will need to be priced at minimum 300.

The controllers are pieces of plastic. The dock is a piece of plastic. No way this is 350 400. This machine looks like it was designed to hit a 250 price.
 

S4NDM4N

Neo Member
The controllers are pieces of plastic. The dock is a piece of plastic. No way this is 350 400. This machine looks like it was designed to hit a 250 price.

id like that of course, it just seems too cheap for a high quality gaming tablet. If they price it at 250 then my worry is that the quality wont be great and it wont be able to handle big budget games. i also think its probably better not to speculate too much and get my hopes up for a cheaper price because i could end up disappointed.
 

Principate

Saint Titanfall
So ps4pro is DOA?
Who even knows how well the PS4Pro will ultimately but the two are in completely different positions so aren't comparable in the first place. One is a mid-step successor to the by far the most successful console system. The other is the successor to the by far the least successful system.
 

KingSnake

The Birthday Skeleton
I agree with you.
Decent tablets are expensive and this needs to be up there in terms of specs. They cant make it a budget piece of tech because it wont play AAA games with adequate performance.
The Nvidia Shield tablet was $299 at launch for the 16gb model. Its cheaper now because it discontinued. The Switch needs to have better specs and larger storage than the Shield tablet and it will also pack in the controllers and dock. So i think 350-400 is likely, and like you said, maybe more for a model with more storage.
Yes this makes it more difficult to shift units but if they want to make a profit on each unit then it will need to be priced at minimum 300.

Sure, if Nintendo wants to sell at launch as many Switches as Shield tablets have sold at launch. In which case that 2 mio. expectations from Nintendo is highly optimistic.
 
id like that of course, it just seems too cheap for a high quality gaming tablet. If they price it at 250 then my worry is that the quality wont be great and it wont be able to handle big budget games. i also think its probably better not to speculate too much and get my hopes up for a cheaper price because i could end up disappointed.

Im hopefully because Nintendo is relying in this 3 things:

1) A gimmick that uses just plastic (not like the WiiU gamepad)
2) A screen that is standard ( not like 3ds )
3) Mobile tech is dirty cheap thanks to the massive mobile phone industry.
 
There was a rumour about EA demanding that Nintendo consider third party pack ins for their support. I don't recall if it was debunked or not.

One road Nintendo could go down to build substantial third party relationships as well as a third party game enjoying demographic on the console would be;

Launch
-Console with game $299 equivalent
Games could be FIFA, Skyrim, Watch Dogs,
That's an interesting idea. I bet a lot of people would jump on the Switch for Fifa/ big sport license multiplayer on the go. (Yea, and now I remember the presentation video on that basketball field).
Anyways, do you have a link about that EA rumour, I missed it?
 
I wonder how enticing having a Switch bundle with FIFA or Skyrim or other third party games would be?

I can see specific bundles for each region.
 

MouldyK

Member
Would you like a Multiplayer Component of a game to receive Graphical Updates throughout the lifespan of a Generation?

Think like if Splatoon 2's Multiplayer got 8 new maps and upgraded Visuals to boot...

...but the older Maps also got upgraded Visuals aswell.

This has been done before with The Crew and it's Wild Run Update, so I can't see why we can't have a Splatoon 2 which runs through the Generation can't upgrade it's Visuals along the way if it wanted to.
 

KAL2006

Banned
Nintendo will reuse assets or move over games that were planned for the Wii U

They did this for Wii which is why Wii had a incredible first year when it came to software

Games moved over
Kirby
Twilight Princess
Fire Emblem Radiant Dawn
Battalion Wars 2
Mario Party 8

Games reusing same engine or some assets
Mario Strikers Charged
Metroid Prime 3
Mario Kart Wii
Mario Super Sluggers

Ports
Pikmin 1 and 2
Donkey Kong Jungle Beat
Metroid Prime 1 and 2
Mario Power Tennis
Resident Evil 1, 0, 4




Because Switch doesn't seem to be a huge upgrade in graphics to Wii U I'm expecting we will get the same thing again which should help with the Switch game library.

Games moved over
Super Mario 128
Pikmin 4
Retro New IP
Zelda Breath of the Wild

Games reusing the same engine or some assets
Mario Kart Switch
Spla2oon
Mario Tennis Switch
Mario Maker 2
Fire Emblem Warriors
Hyrule Warriors 2

Ports
Super Smash Bros
Paper Mario Color Splash
Donkey Kong Country Returns 1 and 2
Xenoblade X
Star Fox Zero
Poochy and Yoshi Wooly World
Pikmin 3
New Super Mario Bros Wii + U
Mario 3D World
Zelda Collection (TP, WW, SS)
 

Shikamaru Ninja

任天堂 の 忍者
You really want the Switch to be a flop. Nintendo doesn't.

Even though I think the sweet spot is $249, I think their first 9 months through holiday season can easily sell the hardware at $299 if the games are there. Using the WIi U as a litmus test, is completely abolving the flawed product design and placing its failures on price.
 

Shiggy

Member
Even though I think the sweet spot is $249, I think their first 9 months through holiday season can easily sell the hardware at $299 if the games are there. Using the WIi U as a litmus test, is completely abolving the flawed product design and placing its failures on price.

It will be hard to convince customers to buy the Switch if it mostly just has Wii U ports or Wii U-like games at the beginning, and is even more expensive than the Wii U and other systems.

With the hardware at hand, 250 Euros seems like a suitable (maximum) price. 299 Euros would just indicate a laid-back approach that will make both customers and especially third parties not particularly comfortable.
 

Kouriozan

Member
Even though I think the sweet spot is $249, I think their first 9 months through holiday season can easily sell the hardware at $299 if the games are there. Using the WIi U as a litmus test, is completely abolving the flawed product design and placing its failures on price.

Might work with Splatoon, Mario Kart and 3D Mario, indeed.
especially third parties not particularly comfortable.

It was always a lost cause, anyway.
 
I think you all will be very surprised when the price gets announced. Nintendo wants to bring this to the majority not the minority!

Switch I will not be surprised will be marketed at 149.99 basic console then add on from there!
 

Peru

Member
I think you all will be very surprised when the price gets announced. Nintendo wants to bring this to the majority not the minority!

Switch I will not be surprised will be marketed at 149.99 basic console then add on from there!

They said it's not selling at a loss. We know there's a fair bit of tech in it. There's 0% chance you're right.
 
Nintendo will reuse assets or move over games that were planned for the Wii U

They did this for Wii which is why Wii had a incredible first year when it came to software

Because Switch doesn't seem to be a huge upgrade in graphics to Wii U I'm expecting we will get the same thing again which should help with the Switch game library.

)

It should be a bigger upgrade than it was with the gamecube-wii transition. Its probably stronger by a good amount and has a completly new architecture in comparison to Wii U, so i hope that they at least overhaul the engines. Assets should be available in higher resolution.

I hope Nvidia did a good job:
The development encompassed 500 man-years of effort across every facet of creating a new gaming platform: algorithms, computer architecture, system design, system software, APIs, game engines and peripherals. They all had to be rethought and redesigned for Nintendo to deliver the best experience for gamers, whether they’re in the living room or on the move.

@price: i think it will be 299 with a game. I hope it will be 249 with a game. 349 would hurt Switch Sales. They would have to pack in more games.
 

Taker666

Member
Price includes all variables:

PS4 = more powerful but you can not take it on the go
Switch = less powerful but you can take it on the go

And time has shown that most people do not care about power

Time has also shown that the handheld market won't buy handheld systems above $200

..and that home console owners who don't care about handhelds will see little value in having off tv play/taking it on the go.

The key for Nintendo is to price it in such a way that handheld consumers who don't care about home consoles see it as a great/fair price for just a handheld...and home console consumers who don't care about handhelds see it as a great/fair price for just a home console.

Don't get the price right and you alienate both markets and will only appeal to a limited niche who want to buy both a home and handheld device. $250 is the maximum I'd risk in Nintendo's position...with $199 being the sweet spot in regards to being cheap enough for handheld consumers...and cheap enough as a secondary weaker home console for home console gamers (I don't expect a $199 price..but that's what they really need to hit for the handheld market to bite en masse).
 
Ok, you think that but I did say as basic console. Given how cheap the power is in the switch I may well be correct!

I think you will find that Nintendo wants to sell to as many as possible, once they have the install base they can make their money ! Don't forget its cartridge not disc! So they will get there money in sales alone if enough are sold.

I fully believe that Switch will be upgradeable too.
 

KAL2006

Banned
$250 just makes too much sense

As it's a hybrid it is the right balance of a price point. A 3DS XL costs $200, a normal console from Sony and MS costs $300. So for something that's a hybrid they should atleast get a price point that's between those.

Due to the power of the system and its sub Xbox One graphics and more closer to Wii U this should be priced to undercut the Xbox One S and PS4 Slim

The Wii at $250 was a huge hit while Wii U was a flop at $300

No exotic hardware or expensive gimmick like 3D screen, new motion control technology, Tablet screen that streams data at a high bandwidth and etc. It's made out of basic mobile technology and commonly used components that go down in price very fast. Dock is just a HDMI output and charger. Cheap 720p 6" screen etc. No camera or mic.

For an eventual Switch Go that's targeted for just Handheld gamers that's smaller than a regular Switch they can price it at $200. This would only be possible to do if the regular Switch didn't cost much more.


Due to the above reasons leave me to believe Switch will be $250 with no games bundled. Why the lack of game bundles you ask, well Switch doesn't really have a proper gimmick so there is no need to have a game that shows a gimmick like Nintendoland or Wii Sports. Correct me if im wrong but SNES or GameCube or N64 didn't have free bundled games.
 
MoonFrog said:
So, games that would go to a less powerful, more portable 3DS successor would go to Switch anyway? And games that won't go to Switch aren't being scared away by form factor or specs/budget concerns? Why would this be?
Any 3DS successor was going to be significantly more powerful and invite bigger budgets anyway. Anything they could've afforded to make for an imaginary portable with power between Wii and Wii U will still look pretty snazzy on the same budget on Switch. Form factor should only be relevant in as far as if it ends up being a problem for userbase growth.
 

Shikamaru Ninja

任天堂 の 忍者
Oh, if you want it, they will do it I guess. I mean, they even made a new Miitomo update only for you considering that everyone else deleted the app months ago.

They are committed to the app. The ability to direct message and customize you room is a significant update. Only thing that's left is to add a few rudimentary mini-games. It's a growing product.
 

MoonFrog

Member
Any 3DS successor was going to be significantly more powerful and invite bigger budgets anyway. Anything they could've afforded to make for an imaginary portable with power between Wii and Wii U will still look pretty snazzy on the same budget on Switch. Form factor should only be relevant in as far as if it ends up being a problem for userbase growth.

Which is important to this question. I meant it in a broad sense, i.e. portability concerns, such as size but also battery life, etc. I take your point about specs, though, insofar as it doesn't bleed over into the above.
 

Air

Banned
This thing will not go over $300. I think Nintendo learned from the Wii u. There's even an interview with miyamoto talking about how the high price was a barrier for people to play AND there was the 3ds fiasco. I'm pretty sure Nintendo would feel a ton of anxiety launching at that price and I don't think the current leader of the company would jeorpodize the success of their console by pricing it so high, especially given his earlier interviews were spot on about the issues for Wii u. This tablet is supposed to have mass consumer appeal, and while using great GPU tech, mostly everything else about it is classic Nintebdo philosophy: low cost high return. Nothing about what has been show signifies this thing cost more than $250 to make. Nintendo is weird, but they're not dumb. 2 bad decisions involving price isn't going to lead to a 3rd bad decision involving price, especially after you can see they're willing to change things they failed at before for the switch
 

KingSnake

The Birthday Skeleton
Honestly I had enough with the Miis already. I would prefer if the Miis or Miitomo have nothing to do with Switch, but I know that's very unlikely. And it's not a deal breaker.
 

Neoxon

Junior Member
Honestly I had enough with the Miis already. I would prefer if the Miis or Miitomo have nothing to do with Switch, but I know that's very unlikely. And it's not a deal breaker.
There's also Miiverse to consider. But yeah, the Miis likely aren't going anywhere.
 

Shiggy

Member
They are committed to the app. The ability to direct message and customize you room is a significant update. Only thing that's left is to add a few rudimentary mini-games. It's a growing product.

But for whom? Do they think people will go back to using it? The app in itself with its loading times and the huge space requirements are making it a broken product.
 

oti

Banned
But for whom? Do they think people will go back to using it? The app in itself with its loading times and the huge space requirements are making it a broken product.

Maybe the are preparing the App to me used more frequently once Switch hits. Or Super Mario Run.
 

BGBW

Maturity, bitches.
Honestly I had enough with the Miis already. I would prefer if the Miis or Miitomo have nothing to do with Switch, but I know that's very unlikely. And it's not a deal breaker.

You'll turn on the Switch and one of the first things you'll be asked to do is make a Mii.

(or import with a QR code)
 
I think you all will be very surprised when the price gets announced. Nintendo wants to bring this to the majority not the minority!

Switch I will not be surprised will be marketed at 149.99 basic console then add on from there!

This is just unrealistic, as was expecting switch to cost north of 350 bucks.

It'll be 200+ at the very, very least for a basic model and 300 at most.

There is nothing extraordinarily expensive in there, no 3D screen or Wii U Gamepad to drive up the cost, but it's still a...sort of... high end device.

If I had to guess, I think they want to hit 250 bucks, but the strengthening yen might put a stop to that.
 

MacTag

Banned
It will be hard to convince customers to buy the Switch if it mostly just has Wii U ports or Wii U-like games at the beginning, and is even more expensive than the Wii U and other systems.

With the hardware at hand, 250 Euros seems like a suitable (maximum) price. 299 Euros would just indicate a laid-back approach that will make both customers and especially third parties not particularly comfortable.
Wii U is stil $299.
 

TunaLover

Member
Honestly I had enough with the Miis already. I would prefer if the Miis or Miitomo have nothing to do with Switch, but I know that's very unlikely. And it's not a deal breaker.
I don't have anything against Miis, I just don't like when they include them in games that have nothing to do with them, they were cool on Nintendoland, Miiverse, but totally out of place on Smash, Sonic, Mario, etc... IMO.
 

MoonFrog

Member
You'll turn on the Switch and one of the first things you'll be asked to do is make a Mii.

(or import with a QR code)

And the device will be rebranded sWiitch, the idea being switch the W, which is the uppercase letter, so that it reads sMiitch, the lost utopia of the Mii folk. Not less Miis, more Miis! Miis are the new Mario and they override the old Mario. How do you make 3D Mario sell? Turns out the answer was the fat plumber was old news! 3D Mii World, sWiitch launch.
 
Honestly I had enough with the Miis already. I would prefer if the Miis or Miitomo have nothing to do with Switch, but I know that's very unlikely. And it's not a deal breaker.

Yeah, it's a little too late for that. In addition to still being featured in Miitomo and MyNintendo, they've made playable appearances in the last few Mario Kart games and are even now in Smash Bros., complete with three different movesets each with their own set of unique customizable specials. They're even still getting their own games like Miitopia. They're obviously still important characters for Nintendo.
 

KingSnake

The Birthday Skeleton
I don't have anything against Miis, I just don't like when they include them in games that have nothing to do with them, they were cool on Nintendoland, Miiverse, but totally out of place on Smash, Sonic, Mario, etc... IMO.

Yeah, I second that. They can be used in future Miitopias or whatever, but I would rather not have them play such a central role in everything. I would also prefer to use my username and an avatar of my choice for all the online games like I do on all the other places where I play games rather than Mii name and my Mii face.

Edit: but I know that this is a hope in vain.
 

MoonFrog

Member
Yeah, I second that. They can be used in future Miitopias or whatever, but I would rather not have them play such a central role in everything. I would also prefer to use my username and an avatar of my choice for all the online games like I do on all the other places where I play games rather than Mii name and my Mii face.

Edit: but I know that this is a hope in vain.
The Mii aesthetic is pretty ugly as is the name. So plastic, so generic, so cutesy in a bad way and I'm a man with a bad case of polymorphous perversity :p.
 

maxcriden

Member
I mean, HD development could well be a problem again for handheld developers at Nintendo and at third parties. But yeah, I'm fairly confident that Zelda and Mario will make next year as will whatever ports they end up doing and some smaller titles (concept game, perhaps Pikmin 4, that sort of thing).

Since Intelligent Systems was already discussed, I just want to mention separately, if it's any reassurance, that if you take a look at the DS or 3DS HD upscale threads, a lot of the 3DS games already have high poly models and look reat in HD as is. So some of the developers probably are a hop, skip and a jump way from their games being ready for Switch.

They've all gotten up to speed with HD dev. Nintendo, MonolithSoft, HAL, IntSys, Retro, NDCube. Only Ninty collaborator without an HD game out right now is Next Level Games.

Outside companies have too. ATLUS isn't new to it anymore either. Nobody you'd care about at launch is lagging behind.

You're the last one to need any reassurance on this topic, but I just also want to point to my reply to MoonFrog above, here, insofar as I think I saw Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon on one of those upscalers and it looked amazing as is. Wouldn't surprise me if that was one of the most HD-ready first (second?) party games on 3DS.
 
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