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What keeps the Switch going?

Ritsumei2020

Report me for console warring
I was just talking about weak hardware. I'm not pirating anything, I just don't play Nintendo games.

And one could also buy the game and emulate it anyway, if so inclined.

Lol you said you ‘emulate’ games without buying them or the console,

How is that not piracy lol?
 

JumpMan1981

Banned
But dont kids want new toys?
I don't know what your childhood was like but I am sure for most they would have gotten a couple of new games a year if they were lucky.
Most parents aren't rushing down the local Gamestop to make sure the kids get every single new release on launch day.
So a kid who got a Switch for Christmas 2018 might still be satisfied with just the odd new game now and then.

It's kind of funny to see grown adults with their own disposable income and their own freedom to spend it as they see fit assuming that 12 year olds are watching E3 and getting hyped for new releases and putting in pre-orders etc. They aren't fretting over framerates.

Parents will see the initial console cost as something of an investment knowing that games can be bought later.
More likely kids are just getting games for birthdays and xmas whenever relatives can afford it.
So a new game is a new toy.
 

RoboFu

One of the green rats
The same games that always keep Nintendo console going.

I have no interest in buying a console for a game (or two) I'm going to emulate in a matter of months from release, even if it's a great game like Mario or Zelda.

Anything else is unappealing. Not so for many gamers (and I guess many, many kids).

lol can’t understand why so many other people want Nintendo consoles.. yet cannot live without the games so must pirate them.
 
Lol you said you ‘emulate’ games without buying them or the console,

How is that not piracy lol?
Talking about it doesn't make it happen, you know?

I'm not debating the legal issue, just stating that generally Nintendo games are based on weak tech that's easy to emulate.

Is emulating piracy? Yes, it is (or could be). I'm not advocating it by the slightest. I just don't play (buy or emulate) Nintendo games.

And you're just arguing for the sake of it, you perfectly understood my post the first time.

RoboFu RoboFu you get the point
 
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Ritsumei2020

Report me for console warring
Talking about it doesn't make it happen, you know?

I'm not debating the legal issue, just stating that generally Nintendo games are based on weak tech that's easy to emulate.

Is emulating piracy? Yes, it is. I'm not advocating it by the slightest.

And you're just arguing for the sake of it, you perfectly understood my post the first time.

No it was ambiguous, the way you phrased it,

So you don't want to buy games that are easily emulable? Cause you could potentially emulate them? But you dont? Makes perfect sense lol.
 

Methos#1975

Member
I don't know what your childhood was like but I am sure for most they would have gotten a couple of new games a year if they were lucky.
Most parents aren't rushing down the local Gamestop to make sure the kids get every single new release on launch day.
So a kid who got a Switch for Christmas 2018 might still be satisfied with just the odd new game now and then.

It's kind of funny to see grown adults with their own disposable income and their own freedom to spend it as they see fit assuming that 12 year olds are watching E3 and getting hyped for new releases and putting in pre-orders etc. They aren't fretting over framerates.

Parents will see the initial console cost as something of an investment knowing that games can be bought later.
More likely kids are just getting games for birthdays and xmas whenever relatives can afford it.
So a new game is a new toy.
Yep. Growing up when we got a new console it was usually as a joint gift for me and my brother and then we only get a few new games for bdays and Xmas. Thank God for rental places back in the day. I had to read about how awesome the Genesis and SNES were for years before getting either since my parents thought a NES good enough.
 

kiphalfton

Member
games obviously. otherwise what's the point? it just shows you don't need top specs or graphics. as long as the games are there and they are fun. getting a Switch is a must for me. there are so many good exclusives. i can't really say the same about PS5 or Xbox at the moment so i'm in no rush to get either of those consoles. what's the point in having a 9-12TF console with no games to play?

Really, you're comparing consoles that aren't even a year old to a console that is over 4 years old. And let's ignore the fact the switch had awful output its first year, and released fewer games than PS5 during that window. Yep, ignoring those things now aligns with what you wrote.
 

JumpMan1981

Banned
Yep. Growing up when we got a new console it was usually as a joint gift for me and my brother and then we only get a few new games for bdays and Xmas. Thank God for rental places back in the day. I had to read about how awesome the Genesis and SNES were for years before getting either since my parents thought a NES good enough.
Pretty much the same here.

If the Switch was a thing when I was growing up then almost certainly I would be playing Breath of the Wild exclusively for a year and then getting Mario Odyssey and Mario Kart/Smash Bros to last me another year.

I think I only had about 5 Gameboy games ever!
In fact, the Gameboy had been out for over 4 years before I even got one!
 
No it was ambiguous, the way you phrased it,

So you don't want to buy games that are easily emulable? Cause you could potentially emulate them? But you dont? Makes perfect sense lol.
So if it was weirdly phrased my bad.

It does make sense, if you're not really interested in those games. I said that anything else besides Mario or Zelda is unappealing, and even then, those games could be easily emulated down the road, because Nintendo hardware is generally weak.

It was a failed attempt at being edgy against Nintendo.

Yet you and some others just inferred from this that "I can't live without those two games so I pirate them".
 

Ritsumei2020

Report me for console warring
So if it was weirdly phrased my bad.

It does make sense, if you're not really interested in those games. I said that anything else besides Mario or Zelda is unappealing, and even then, those games could be easily emulated down the road, because Nintendo hardware is generally weak.

It was a failed attempt at being edgy against Nintendo.

Yet you and some others just inferred from this that "I can't live without those two games so I pirate them".

Yes the games could be easily be pirated down the road,

Not by you of course. By others. Lol.
 
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tkscz

Member
Its no secret the Switch is obsolete nowadays. People here have pointed out many games run at 500p or below, often at 15fps or so,

So why does it keep selling? If people stopped buying Switches, Nintendo would hurry up with their new console. What are people even buying to play on the Switch lol?

This is only a question when you only think people who buy games are all Gaffers. The average person who buys a switch doesn't care about resolution or frame rates. The system has appeal. Play the popular games on a gaming handheld that you can then attach to your tv.

People buy them for their kids as it has Fortnite, Apex Legends, Mario, etc etc. And adults still enjoy Nintendo's games and the handheld hybrid has a strong appeal. Average people don't even know or care about hardware specs, tell them about FLOPS and GHz and they'll have no idea what you're talking about. Hell, working in IT, people still believe a bigger screen = better picture resolution be damned.
 

JORMBO

Darkness no more
It is popular with kids, has a lot of good games that can't be played elsewhere and is portable. Nintendo also has a very loyal fanbase they have built up over several decades. There are plenty of people that don't care about the latest and greatest tech and just want to play the games they like.

For this year I have bought or will buy: Mario Collection, Mario Bowsers Fury, Bravely Default 2, Skyward Sword, SMTV, Metroid Dread, DanganRonpa Collection, Pokemon Diamond/Pearl. Still plenty of things to play on this thing.
 
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Alandring

Member
Its no secret the Switch is obsolete nowadays. People here have pointed out many games run at 500p or below, often at 15fps or so,

So why does it keep selling? If people stopped buying Switches, Nintendo would hurry up with their new console. What are people even buying to play on the Switch lol?
To be honest, I don't understand either. I completely understand why people bought a Switch in 2017, 2018 or 2019. Even in 2020, with the Covid-19 and Animal Crossing. But now? You have the same games that was available in previous years. You still pay the same price for the console (or even more, what a joke). Who are the people who suddenly wake up in June 2021 and say "oh! I should buy a Switch!" ?
 

Onironauta

Member
People who didn't own one yet are still buying it. Unlike gaffers the average Joe buys consoles years after launch, be for him or for his children.
It's not like a Switch successor came out, of course it will keep selling for a while.
 
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Amin_Parker

Member
Pretty much the same here.

If the Switch was a thing when I was growing up then almost certainly I would be playing Breath of the Wild exclusively for a year and then getting Mario Odyssey and Mario Kart/Smash Bros to last me another year.

I think I only had about 5 Gameboy games ever!
In fact, the Gameboy had been out for over 4 years before I even got one!

This is only a question when you only think people who buy games are all Gaffers. The average person who buys a switch doesn't care about resolution or frame rates. The system has appeal. Play the popular games on a gaming handheld that you can then attach to your tv.

People buy them for their kids as it has Fortnite, Apex Legends, Mario, etc etc. And adults still enjoy Nintendo's games and the handheld hybrid has a strong appeal. Average people don't even know or care about hardware specs, tell them about FLOPS and GHz and they'll have no idea what you're talking about. Hell, working in IT, people still believe a bigger screen = better picture resolution be damned.
meeHjPq.jpg


I just bought the Switch version of Ys IX: Monstrum Nox and let me tell you, that game is a phenomenal version of the game even though we all know there is a PC version available I still preferred to buy the Nintendo Switch version and the reason for that is for portability and the fact that I could care less about framerate or resolution. I was never that type of gamer to begin with, I don't really care that much about graphics as long as the game is fun and enjoyable to me. And guess what guys there are millions upon Millions upon millions of other Gamers out there who feel the same exact way.
 

Zannegan

Member
Its no secret the Switch is obsolete nowadays. People here have pointed out many games run at 500p or below, often at 15fps or so,

So why does it keep selling? If people stopped buying Switches, Nintendo would hurry up with their new console. What are people even buying to play on the Switch lol?
Because this is an extreme exaggeration. Mainstream buyers may not care so much about tech, but if "many Switch games" were that bad, it wouldn't have the success it's having now.

No one is hoping for an update more than me, but the Switch has competent hardware (considering that it's in a handheld form factor and was released four years ago), and its game library is full of fun, interesting gems. Why does any gaming hardware sell?
 

JimboJones

Member
At my house:
Minecraft, Mario Odyssey, Mario Kart, Pokémon Let’s Go Pikachu, Zelda BOTW, Tracks, Stardew Valley, Animal Crossing, Super Mario 3D Allstars.

Fortunately kids rarely have a problem replaying a game they’ve already finished, so I don’t feel like there is a game drought there at all, for them.
People on this forum think unless you have a new mega hit game out every week then your platform is dead and will collect dust.
Also a new game after a month is ancient history, may as well have been found buried alongside a caveman.
 

Woopah

Member
People are putting too much emphasis on kids, the key to Switch's success is it's wide appeal.

But $300 is not exactly a cheap price for a toy?
It's not cheap, but it's pretty well established now that consoles can still be successful at $300
I dont agree at all. Its the portability of the Switch thats the hook. I mean imagine if the Switch wasnt portable, it was a docked only console, but had the same specs and the same games, do you really think it would of sold as much as it has?, exactly.
The issues with that argument are:

1. If it was docked only it wouldn't have the same specs
2. If the portablility was the main hook then the cheaper Lite would be the most popular model. But in reality the hybrid is far more popular. It's the exclusives and the flexibility of the Switch that are the two main hooks.

To be honest, I don't understand either. I completely understand why people bought a Switch in 2017, 2018 or 2019. Even in 2020, with the Covid-19 and Animal Crossing. But now? You have the same games that was available in previous years. You still pay the same price for the console (or even more, what a joke). Who are the people who suddenly wake up in June 2021 and say "oh! I should buy a Switch!" ?
Every time a game comes it adds to the console's appeal. They might not buy it just for one game, but a new game release might push them from "maybe I want the console" to "now I definitely want the console".

So any of the various Switch games that came out so far this year could have pushed people into getting one.
 

Kenpachii

Member

Pretty sure this was right after release which makes sense. i wouldn't doubt that most switch buyers now are casuals or parents buying it for there kids because safe space.

Oled version will probably be bought up by 16-35 year olds.
 
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Ceadeus

Member
I don't think I ever seen Nintendo going safer than this. And interesting third parties are nowhere to be seen, unlike at the 3DS era.

It's a good but underpowered system. It's library is good but features sooo many ports that without those, it would not be the same.

The clusterf*ck that the eShop is does not help either. With shovelware crap being added every week, it's just impossible to keep track of the better games and sale.
 

Marty-McFly

Banned
I don't think I ever seen Nintendo going safer than this. And interesting third parties are nowhere to be seen, unlike at the 3DS era.

It's a good but underpowered system. It's library is good but features sooo many ports that without those, it would not be the same.

The clusterf*ck that the eShop is does not help either. With shovelware crap being added every week, it's just impossible to keep track of the better games and sale.
I'm not sure about this. You say safe and then they market Metroid Dread as their main holiday game to push with the OLED model when the franchise has not traditionally been a high seller and a 2D Metroid is about as hardcore as they can go.

I think they just have an enormous back catalogue of IP and are sitting on a ton of content that they strategically release to stimulate sales and rope in different demographics when they see an opportunity. The Switch really has something for everybody and Nintendo wants to caters to the largest demographic possible.
 
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Brand appeal (40 years of fans who play their games and their kids), quality first-party games, lack of competition in the portable space, not everyone cares about having the best tech. Good mix of circumstances.
 

FStubbs

Member
People on this forum think unless you have a new mega hit game out every week then your platform is dead and will collect dust.
Also a new game after a month is ancient history, may as well have been found buried alongside a caveman.
As a PS4 owner I can tell you even the PS4 wasn't getting a new megahit game every week.

And now my Switch library > my PS4 library. Most games that are on both platforms are better on Switch because I can play portable or docked, I can get a cart instead of a disk, and the graphics on Switch are usually good enough.
 
You focus on the games it's not meant to run. I may be wrong, but I'm pretty sure people don't get the switch to play Doom or the witcher 3 (I would not).
Anecdotally, I've seen more Switch / Switch Lite units available in-stores than any other console for the past 14 months..

Oy ye, it's that supreme thirst, baby!
It also outsold all other consoles.
 

Chastten

Banned
J83BRV4.jpg


Games? Just got this lot in yesterday and it'll keep me plenty entertained during summer.

It's the perfect little console for a lot of people, has great games and fantastic third party support if you don't mind the lack of the standard annual western shit. And the portable form factor is awesome.
My 10 year old nephew bought one a week ago and he's already played like 50+ hours of minecraft and some plants vs zombies shooter on it. Sure, he could already play that, arguably better, on his PS4 or PC, but the portability of the thing is a huge plus.

As for performance. I have around 80 games on it now, and I have yet to find a game that truly underperforms. I guess Hyrule Warriors 2 in co-op mode ran like crap? But it was perfectly fine in single played mode. I've never cared that much about technical stuff. I mean, I can play stuff at 2560x1440 100+ fps on PC but I just can't be arsed most of the time. I already spend tons of time behind the computer when working or editing pictures.

it always baffles me that people on Neogaf can't see that different people can have different priorities. To me, the biggest issue with the Switch that I'd like to see upgraded is the battery life. Current Switch with the current level of (Japanese) third party support could easily entertain me for another 10 years.
 

sunnysideup

Banned
*gamers who want to play on the go. (this will segment will be eaten up by future steam deck hardware)
*parents
*kids
*Nintendo fans
 

th4tguy

Member
Good games and being able to play portable. Also the fact that I can walk into a store and actually buy one at retail price helps a lot.
 

Coolwhhip

Neophyte
Do we know how Switch is doing now that the pandemic is calming down? Nintendo is notorious for riding out their success for too long (Wii) and then struggling to get the momentum going again. Will probably happen with Switch too.
 

sunnysideup

Banned
Good to know that Steam Deck will finally eat up all mobile games/platforms, including phones. Switch is FUCKING DONE!
Im talking about systems dedicated to gaming

Not fucking mobilephones.

Steam deck is going to kickstart a new type of handheld segment in the pc space.

Steam deck is going to get a lot of third party copy cats.
 

justiceiro

Marlboro: Other M
It's the fast food of video games. It's not the best, but is the more convenient.

I don't get people who say it's outdated "now". It launched just like that.
 
As a parent I wholeheartedly disagree with the parents being listed as the driving factor behind the Switch sales. The games on it are expensive, the peripherals are too expensive as well, they have tons of room for kids to ask expensive extra stuff (amibos, that cardboard thing, etc.).

No, as a parent the switch is a nightmare!
 
Steam deck is going to kickstart a new type of handheld segment in the pc space.

Steam deck is going to get a lot of third party copy cats.

There are already a million variations of "handheld PCs" people can get right now, the market is flooded with them and that doesn't help consumers pick what the best one to get is. As far as wide appeal, laptops - which are portable enough - and smartphones (which you can play almost any emulator on them, also connect various bluetooth devices, etc.) are about as cemented in the awareness of common individuals as any brand could possibly be.

I think it will fail unless it's smartly, and aggressively marketed in way that raises consumer awareness about it to a high degree.
 

Silvawuff

Member
I'd say it's a mix of the first party games and the portability factor. We also had a pandemic, and they had a lot of beefy titles that you could easily sink time into (Animal Crossing, BotW, Mario whatever) that had mass gaming appeal for people stuck at home. I don't think we'd have seen the numbers we did without a global plague pushing things along.

I also think the Wii U suffered because their marketing for it sucked. Is it a new console? Is it an addon to the Wii? Is it a Wii upgrade? Is it a controller? I also think at the time, mobile gaming was really starting to blow up, and the customer base that found mass appeal for the Wii were quickly swapping over to quick 'n easy (and often F2P) mobile games.
 
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