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[RichiRamjag]

The latter ideally. If they had to do a hybrid make less profit on it and add more power. They're certainly making a shittonne of profit on the accessories.

What an ignorant thing to say considering the specs and the form factor.

It's really not. The issue is second hand reports of translations vs. proper translations. They have never said anything about a separate 3DS successor- all they have said is that this will not immediately replace the 3DS.

Which is smart when you consider that install base.

Rather than keep talking about switch successors or the 3ds, they need to be informing people about the switch then. I don't get how people can keep saying their messaging is good when you hear twenty different answers in regards to the system and it's future. If people don't have a general consistent idea in regards to the switch, then nintendos failed on the messaging front.

 

[Sponge]

Once Pokemon is on it that alone will help bring in a bigger audience.

 

[RichiRamjag]

Double post.

 

[Falchion]

It is obvious that Nintendo and nvidia are already working on a vita sized or smaller handheld that basically will be a switch.

I would not be surprised if the Switch dev specs require the user interface of the games to be usable on smaller screens.

I am not that sure about the "ouya" Switch. Because the lack of touch screen would be a problem.
(Unless they make a wiiu style ouya Switch lol)

Yeah this would make sense because it would keep the combined development that they've been harping on but also provide a more portable offering to people who loved the 3DS.

 

[Inferno313]

As much as that's a nice sentiment, it's all rather moot if Nintendo isn't pushing this as their 3DS successor and instead build a specialized handheld successor when said successor is staring at them blank in the fucking face.

My prediction is that there WILL indeed be a new, pocket-sized, dedicated gaming handheld in the next two years. But, it will be apart of the same overall platform as the Switch, having access to the same library of titles. When Iwata was first talking about the NX project, and merging the handheld and console divisions, he talked about the relationship between the iPhone and the iPad as an example of what Nintendo would like to do going forward; how they're different devices, with different form factors, but overall part of the same platform with the same library of apps and games (for the most part). It's possible that that idea evolved into what the Switch is now, but I think it's a good clue as to what they're looking to do going forward.

 

[Jawmuncher]

Snake for smash confirmed

 

[Refreshment.01]

Are they completely oblivious to that fact that there's nothing really new about it other than it's a console/portable in one. Motion isn't new. Rumble isn't new. Touch isn't new. GamePad gaming isn't new. None of these things are going to sell a

A product can be innovative due to how clever it's enginerring is.

What about the Joycon? It's a Transformable Controller: Works like a SNES pad, a Splited Controller, a 2 Handed Traditional Modern Controller (Grip) and a Free Degrees of Freedome Controller. It's modularity is enhanced over the Wii, for example the R Joycon has that built in IR Camera. Attaching the Joycon to cheap dummy shells to replicate inputs of different or more complex controllers is a possibility.

Since the Switch is designed with modularity and peripheral attachement in mind there's a lot of potential combinations and use cases. The device itself can be used potentially in like 4 different modes: TV, Tabletop, Handheld and as a Tablet. The user has this versatility out of the box.

The creation of the Joycon added to the hybrid console portable device is what makes it different. We can't see those things in isolation.

The latter ideally. If they had to do a hybrid make less profit on it and add more power. They're certainly making a shittonne of profit on the accessories.

As you know increasing the processing units withing the SOC means more surface with higher power consumpion and cooling demands. Translating in a more substantial cooling solution, increase in battery requirements. Thus Device size and price increases. Some people were shocked when the price was unveiled to be 300.

The Switch seems a rather balanced device. Look at other electronic devices and compare it's features and power in similar size and price range.

Not just that, but it's over-engineered to the extent that it jacks up the price prohibitively for most of Nintendo's audience. Much like the Wii U in-fact. Unlike the Wii U, whether the hardware allows for price drops over time, well, we'll see.

The Nintendo audience that is cost limited is been served by the 3DS through out 2017.

i do wonder if you thought the Wii with it's 250 price range and substantially outdated hardware was prohibetely expensive for most of Nintendo audience?

Yeah this would make sense because it would keep the combined development that they've been harping on but also provide a more portable offering to people who loved the 3DS.

It's been said a million times already: The Switch architecture is flexible, so expect other Form Factors within the same architecture according to market conditions and the Switch performance. At this stage people claiming 2 totally different devices are creating noisy to generate confusion.

For example, with a node reduction Nintendo could bring back the Clamshel Form Factor while retaing Joycon and Game compatibility with the original Switch, while creating a device more portable friendly. It could even come with Joycon that use Circle Pads and a Crosspad.

 

[Skittzo0413]

Rather than keep talking about switch successors or the 3ds, they need to be informing people about the switch then. I don't get how people can keep saying their messaging is good when you hear twenty different answers in regards to the system and it's future. If people don't have a general consistent idea in regards to the switch, then nintendos failed on the messaging front.

I'm not trying to say their messaging is good overall, as it really has never been. But interviewers keep asking them about the 3DS, so what are they supposed to say?

It's pretty clear and consistent that they want this to eventually replace the 3DS, and they aren't doing so right away in order to squeeze out whatever remaining revenue they can from the 3DS. Nothing they have said has really contradicted this.

 

[Pagusas]

We all know a "Switch mini" or something is coming eventually, the switch isn't just hardware, it's the mindset of standardizing development for a single platform instead of separate development for handhelds and consoles. They will find a way to get a $180 switch out there eventually with a 4" perminant screen to replace the DS, and it will play all Switch games.

 

[Jonboy]

This is a fascinating article. Probably one of the most interesting ones I've read on the Switch. I was getting ready to post it myself but then found this thread. Not sure the title does the article justice for all of the nuggets that are in there.

I'll say - as someone who has a Switch preordered - the majority of these quotes don't sit well with me. After reading that, I'm not sure they've learned the right lessons from Wii/Wii U. Who am I to say though? I'm no expert. We'll see how it plays out.

 

[Okami Haundo]

I'm not trying to say their messaging is good overall, as it really has never been. But interviewers keep asking them about the 3DS, so what are they supposed to say?

It's pretty clear and consistent that they want this to eventually replace the 3DS, and they aren't doing so right away in order to squeeze out whatever remaining revenue they can from the 3DS. Nothing they have said has really contradicted this.

I really don't understand what people are expecting here Skittzo. It's definitely a good thing to look for an amalgamation of facts, but it seems like we're losing context in that search. People are acting as if they're trying to hint at 3DS staying around forever when we're really just getting vague statements about a product that's still being sold.

 

[Skittzo0413]

I really don't understand what people are expecting here Skittzo. It's definitely a good thing to look for an amalgamation of facts, but it seems like we're losing context in that search. People are acting as if they're trying to hint at 3DS staying around forever when we're really just getting vague statements about a product that's still being sold.

It's very weird, I agree. People seem to be actively looking for outlets for negativity. Then again I think that's just a symptom of the internet.

I think it's best to just remember the DS and the third pillar talk whenever Nintendo is talking about their future plans. Meaning, what they are saying now always has the potential to be 100% PR bullshit.

 

[JCX]

I'm kinda disappointed in FE Echoes still coming on just 3DS. Would be nice to have some more n3DS/Switch exclusives to bridge the gap.

 

[James Scott]

It's the most exciting prospect of the Nintendo Switch. Instead of deciding what game is right for a given platform, all games go on the same platform.
Nintendo also had to support a system whose install base was very low for 4 years vs an 60M+ one.
Hopefully this also results in additional sales for the platform since for the full Nintendo experience you had to pay $500 last gen and most decided 3DS was enough.

 

[Guevara]

I hope the 3DS winds down quickly and Nintendo can just focus on the Switch: both in games, and in their communications.

 

[calc84maniac]

"If"

Lol. Outside of an inability to keep their enthusiasm in check, I don't why a handheld gamer would buy a Switch anytime soon. Especially if they happen to own a wii u already.

First of all, I don't know why you're putting the Wii U into the equation because that's not relevant to a "handheld gamer". If they play Nintendo consoles too, that's a double whammy in favor of the Switch.

Secondly, anecdotally me. I'm primarily gaming on Vita and 3DS these days and I'm buying a Switch.

 

[Refreshment.01]

I think it's best to just remember the DS and the third pillar talk whenever Nintendo is talking about their future plans. Meaning, what they are saying now always has the potential to be 100% PR bullshit.

Or we can look at the facts, instead of poorly translated claims:

• The last main Nintendo release for Wii U is Zelda.
• 3DS and the Switch are absorbing Wii U's library.
• The Wii U is "officialy" discountinued from manufacturing.
• Nintendo is supporting the 3DS for 2017.
• The majority of Nintendo's internal development resources are focused on Switch Software of all calibers.
• The 3DS is been manufactured for now.
• Different from the DS "3rd Pilar" situation, the Switch is not backwards compatible with 3DS like the DS was with the GBA. So there's incentive for Nintendo and users to have that device ready available in the near future to access that exclusive library and have access to Nintendo's ecosystem at a lower price point.

With those facts in place why there needs to be confusion?

In march 2017 the device been replaced is the Wii U and the 3DS is been supported through out 2017 for valid reasons that both pertain consumers and the busyness side of the company.

 

[Deleted member 752119]

Rather than keep talking about switch successors or the 3ds, they need to be informing people about the switch then. I don't get how people can keep saying their messaging is good when you hear twenty different answers in regards to the system and it's future. If people don't have a general consistent idea in regards to the switch, then nintendos failed on the messaging front.

Yeah, the reveal ad and super bowl commercial were pretty damn good, the presser and various other statements not so much.

It's just going to be a problem as long as they're remain so insular in Kyoto and don't give NOA and NOE more power to control messaging in their territories. Kyoto is just a very unique place, even compared to Tokyo and business their are notoriously insular and isolated globally.

Sony has thrived in large part because of seeing the gaming market going western and giving their North American and European branches a lot of power in game design and marketing. Nintendo didn't, and as much as I still love their games, they long ago lost touch with the market and their messaging is usually a mess as so much of it comes from elderly businessmen in Kyoto that speak little English and lots gets lost in translation. NOA/NOE can do little to correct it as they have little power and just have to regurgitate the talking points they are given.

Some of it here isn't translation issues though. They just aren't bold enough to kill off the 3DS and say that Switch is it going forward. They want 3DS to keep selling for a while as Switch is getting started, and if Switch bombs they want to be able to put out a new portable platform that they can just tout as a 3DS successor. That scenario is unlikely, but they're trying to hedge their bets for all possibilities. Which muddles messaging here when having all Nintendo's games in one platform is the main selling point of Switch for a lot of folks vs. having to buy two platforms to get all the games before. They should go all in and highlight that in their marketing IMO. If Switch happened to totally bomb (it won't) despite that, then so be it. It would just show there wasn't a market for dedicated Nintendo hardware anymore--if all their games in one place can't sell hardware, nothing can.

 

[Piers]

Too bad anything other than smart devices is seen as enthusiast handheld gaming these days.

 

[KingSnake]

I'm glad that at least somebody from Nintendo acknowledge how valuable this thing is and spoke it out loudly. It's good that Koizumi cares about Switch.

 

[rochellepaws]

As much as that's a nice sentiment, it's all rather moot if Nintendo isn't pushing this as their 3DS successor and instead build a specialized handheld successor when said successor is staring at them blank in the fucking face.

It's too big to be a handheld, it doesn't fit in your pocket or the front pocket of your bag. Suggesting this could replace handhelds is like suggesting smartphones are obsolete because of tablets.
Maybe they'll release a more compact Switch in the future but at the moment it definitely isn't in that category now.

 

[Skittzo0413]

Or we can look at the facts, instead of poorly translated claims:

• The last main Nintendo release for Wii U is Zelda.
• 3DS and the Switch are absorbing Wii U's library.
• The Wii U is "officialy" discountinued from manufacturing.
• Nintendo is supporting the 3DS for 2017.
• The majority of Nintendo's internal development resources are focused on Switch Software of all calibers.
• The 3DS is been manufactured for now.
• Different from the DS "3rd Pilar" situation, the Switch is not backwards compatible with 3DS like the DS was with the GBA. So there's incentive for Nintendo and users to have that device ready available in the near future to access that exclusive library and have access to Nintendo's ecosystem at a lower price point.

With those facts in place why there needs to be confusion?

In march 2017 the device been replaced is the Wii U and the 3DS is been supported through out 2017 for valid reasons that both pertain consumers and the busyness side of the company.

That's sorta what I'm implying. All the misleading (or mistranslated) PR in the world can't change the fact that we're already seeing the benefit of a combined Nintendo output onto one machine:

9 (at least somewhat) high profile first party titles that we know of releasing on a single system between March and December. And that's before we know anything they're planning to announce at E3.

 

[Astral Dog]

As much as that's a nice sentiment, it's all rather moot if Nintendo isn't pushing this as their 3DS successor and instead build a specialized handheld successor when said successor is staring at them blank in the fucking face.

There is not going to be a "specialized" 3DS successor

 

[Mega]

As much as that's a nice sentiment, it's all rather moot if Nintendo isn't pushing this as their 3DS successor and instead build a specialized handheld successor when said successor is staring at them blank in the fucking face.

I don't understand why this is a concern to anyone. DS was 100% the GBA successor. Ditto for 3DS --> Switch. The 3DS new release schedule will dwindle rapidly beyond 2017.

The rest is PR talk because they can't yet come out and say 3DS is dead while simultaneously making declarative statements on an unreleased, unproven console that may flop. If and when Switch sales begin to outpace Wii U and 3DS, you'll see the obvious and predictable remarks that Switch is the successor to all past Nintendo platforms.

 

[JoshuaJSlone]

It's too big to be a handheld

Found you, Donald.

 

[VistraNorrez]

At every public event I've attended in the past few years, I've seen plenty of people take out iPads or other large tablets, not minis, to take pictures or shoot video. Those are considered portable devices. Debating the Switch's portability is silly.

 

[SuperEpicMan]

I don't think they will make a portable only version, it kinda ruins the point of it.

What I would expect though, is maybe incremental hardware updates like the DS Lite and New 3DS. As well as a Pro docking station maybe, which would act as the rumoured supplementary computing device from a while ago.

 

[rochellepaws]

At every public event I've attended in the past few years, I've seen plenty of people take out iPads or other large tablets, not minis, to take pictures or shoot video. Those are considered portable devices. Debating the Switch's portability is silly.

There is a difference between something large and portable like a tablet which is brought out of the house for a specific purpose and something small and easily carried which can be brought every time. People don't just carry iPads around with them by default but they would their phone.
I'd always have my 3DS in a pocket in my bag even if I don't intend to use it on that journey, streetpass encourages it to be used like that. It'd be difficult to do that with the switch because of the design, size and battery life. I don't think it's intended to be used like that.

 

[sora87]

I hope so too, ditch the 3DS and get all those third party jrpgs on the switch.

 

[asagami_]

I don't think they will make a portable only version, it kinda ruins the point of it.

What I would expect though, is maybe incremental hardware updates like the DS Lite and New 3DS. As well as a Pro docking station maybe, which would act as the rumoured supplementary computing device from a while ago.

Actually I would love two modes to "update" the Switch: first a new dock which enables play new games, later a full Switch console which absorbs the new technology.

 

[Aiustis]

There is a difference between something large and portable like a tablet which is brought out of the house for a specific purpose and something small and easily carried which can be brought every time. People don't just carry iPads around with them by default but they would their phone.
I'd always have my 3DS in a pocket in my bag even if I don't intend to use it on that journey, streetpass encourages it to be used like that. It'd be difficult to do that with the switch because of the design, size and battery life. I don't think it's intended to be used like that.

I agree. Mine is currently sitting in the bottom of my bag. I really don't like the idea of a handheld that requires detachable peripherals.

 

[eighty(one)]

I get the feeling some 3DS fans just don't want anything to do with a Nintendo console for some reason and are still holding out hope for something completely separate. Maybe they think the 3DS game series, like Monster Hunter, will not come to Switch or something.

I wonder if those clinging to the DS/3DS are doing so, because it's been the status quo. Maybe they grew up during the DS line and that was/is the only way they can fathom a portable to be.

I myself grew up during the OG Gameboy, so 2/3/1/456 screen - don't care, as long as I like the system and games.

I wonder if those fans are like the people that clung to flip phones as the iPhone changed conventions, because they couldn't wrap their head around a concept that seemed foreign from tlwhat they know. They don't like change.

Funnily enough, the Switch screen is large enough it can be halved by games I'm sure. Heck the 2DS, under its casing is a singular screen. If 2DS can play like a 3DS, maybe Switch can too.

 

[VistraNorrez]

There is a difference between something large and portable like a tablet which is brought out of the house for a specific purpose and something small and easily carried which can be brought every time. People don't just carry iPads around with them by default but they would their phone.
I'd always have my 3DS in a pocket in my bag even if I don't intend to use it on that journey, streetpass encourages it to be used like that. It'd be difficult to do that with the switch because of the design, size and battery life. I don't think it's intended to be used like that.

What about the design and size would make it less portable? Adult commuters use bags. No problem for the Switch. Children carry around backpacks for school. Because of things like tablets and Laptops, more people than ever carry around cases and bags for their electronics. People do carry around tablets by default. In colder climates, people wear jackets that have deep pockets. My winter jacket would have no problem holding a Switch. I probably wear it for about 5-6 months a year.

In the 90s I had a little bag for my Game Gear. And let's not forget the GG had a 2 hour battery life. It never limited the portability of the device for me.

If you want to game on the go. It's not even remotely difficult to bring your devices around today. It's incredibly socially acceptable to have multiple electronics on you.

 

[mrklaw]

good. First recent comment that seems to back up Iwata's statements about a single platform. That is also backed up in the investor Q&A that was quoted elsewhere about Nintendo combining their handheld and home software teams into one team.

 

[Deleted member 752119]

What about the design and size would make it less portable? Adult commuters use bags. No problem for the Switch. Children carry around backpacks for school. Because of things like tablets and Laptops, more people than ever carry around cases and bags for their electronics. People do carry around tablets by default. In colder climates, people wear jackets that have deep pockets. My winter jacket would have no problem holding a Switch. I probably wear it for about 5-6 months a year.

In the 90s I had a little bag for my Game Gear. And let's not forget the GG had a 2 hour battery life. It never limited the portability of the device for me.

If you want to game on the go. It's not even remotely difficult to bring your devices around today. It's incredibly socially acceptable to have multiple electronics on you.

Definitely true, but the size is a deterrent for some though. Hell, I have a long flight from the US to Italy in May and don't know that I'll take Switch. By the time you put it in a case to keep the screen safe and have some space for a charger, game carts, maybe a battery pack etc. it requires quite a bit more bag space than a 3DS and charger did.

It's definitely still portable for sure, but that's a lot of bag space relatively speaking when I'm going to be trying to travel light since we're hopping trains to a bunch of different cities instead of just flying into and out of one place where the bags just get left in one hotel room the whole time. Thus I'll probably just end up taking my Kindle Voyage and reading on the flight. It's tiny, and I won't even need to take a charger as there's no way I'd read nearly enough to kill it's crazy long battery life. Where as before the Kindle and 3DS took up less bag space than just the Switch/case/charger would.

 

[Skeletos311]

good. First recent comment that seems to back up Iwata's statements about a single platform. That is also backed up in the investor Q&A that was quoted elsewhere about Nintendo combining their handheld and home software teams into one team.

I just read that this morning too. I'll have to bookmark it for whenever people around here want to claim Nintendo fanboys are making it up.

 

[AzaK]

Not just that, but it's over-engineered to the extent that it jacks up the price prohibitively for most of Nintendo's audience. Much like the Wii U in-fact. Unlike the Wii U, whether the hardware allows for price drops over time, well, we'll see.

Yeah I also feel it's completely over-engineered. The motion gaming thing died a LONG time ago yet they spent so much money on, and time advertising the joycons. They should have ignored motion and "HD rumble" and put in more power to lowered the price.

 

[AzaK]

A product can be innovative due to how clever it's enginerring is.

What about the Joycon? It's a Transformable Controller: Works like a SNES pad, a Splited Controller, a 2 Handed Traditional Modern Controller (Grip) and a Free Degrees of Freedome Controller. It's modularity is enhanced over the Wii, for example the R Joycon has that built in IR Camera. Attaching the Joycon to cheap dummy shells to replicate inputs of different or more complex controllers is a possibility.

Yeah sure, but how many people will actually play that way. Or even want to? It seems like trying to solve a problem that doesn't exist.

Since the Switch is designed with modularity and peripheral attachement in mind there's a lot of potential combinations and use cases. The device itself can be used potentially in like 4 different modes: TV, Tabletop, Handheld and as a Tablet. The user has this versatility out of the box.

Again, is that worth the price of entry when most people will likely play 1 way. As a handheld taken away, or docked almost all the time.

[quote
As you know increasing the processing units withing the SOC means more surface with higher power consumpion and cooling demands. Translating in a more substantial cooling solution, increase in battery requirements. Thus Device size and price increases. Some people were shocked when the price was unveiled to be 300.
[/quote]

Yes but the could have not forgone the IR, motion stuff and use that money for other things. Or just taken less profit. I mean Zelda can't even hit 1080.

For example, with a node reduction Nintendo could bring back the Clamshel Form Factor while retaing Joycon and Game compatibility with the original Switch, while creating a device more portable friendly. It could even come with Joycon that use Circle Pads and a Crosspad.

All I want is a Nintendo box under my TV with a standard controller and as much power put into is as about $300 can muster. This, I guess, is my key peeve.

 

[brad-t]

Definitely true, but the size is a deterrent for some though. Hell, I have a long flight from the US to Italy in May and don't know that I'll take Switch. By the time you put it in a case to keep the screen safe and have some space for a charger, game carts, maybe a battery pack etc. it requires quite a bit more bag space than a 3DS and charger did.

Huh? Here it is next to the 3DS XL:

Games would go in the carrying case you mentioned. Adapter is about the same size as the 3DS adapter. The amount of additional space it takes up compared to the 3DS seems pretty negligible.

Yeah sure, but how many people will actually play that way. Or even want to? It seems like trying to solve a problem that doesn't exist.

I've absolutely avoided buying handheld systems before because of their 1) small screens and 2) inability to play on a TV when I want to. ARMS looks awesome and is uniquely enabled by the Joy-Cons, and who knows what else in the future? I'm not saying I represent the whole market, but it's premature to say so confidently that there's no desire for it in the marketplace.

Saying Nintendo should reduce the price by "taking less profit" is just fanfiction. The tight margins on the Wii U severely hurt their business.

 

[JoshuaJSlone]

I don't think they will make a portable only version, it kinda ruins the point of it.

I can imagine one that's a solid smaller piece without detachable controllers, but I wonder how much they'd really save by making it completely undockable by doing something like removing the fan. Otherwise it's probably still going to have most of what it needs for a docked mode, even if it doesn't come bundled with one.

 

[Angel Whispers]

Pherhaps some have grown accustomed to the dual screen configuration and don't see a future for games like Etrian Odyssey on the Switch, with good reason, other than that, I see the Switch model being Nintendo's single future.

It really isn't a case of that at all. I wrote previously that the Joy-Con was important because while you still had a familiar button layout, the motion and HD rumble elements were critical to preserving the Wii legacy - That's important, not only because it was their most successful home product, but because that's access to a library of over 1500 games, and none would be possible without motion controller inputs.

The DS is their most successful product, home or portable - It has a stylus and dual screens. The 3DS has seen an upturn in hardware sales at almost six years into its lifecycle. That's access to a combined library of about 3000 games, all with second screen support, and to the same end, it's in their interests to preserve the DS legacy. You could add the Wii U library to that, too. Remember, there's are generations of people who would've had a Wii and/or DS as their first console, or revisited video games with one of them, if not both. A 7 year old who played a Wii or DS in 2004 or 2006 would be 20 or 18 in 2017.

It's also worth noting that replacing the 3DS does NOT mean it will have a separate library, and time and time again, many in these type of threads fall into the trap of assuming it would mean just that, when it wouldn't be the case. The more likely outcome would be a shared library across a range of home and portable products. You could expect trade-offs between it and the home console, such as a longer battery life and the ability to play Switch games in portable/tabletop mode alone - I think it's fair to say that there will be a dual screen product in Nintendo's future. If there isn't a solution to this on the Switch (and there isn't much to suggest that there is), then I would be quite confident of it. It would also be consistent with the vision Iwata presented before his death.

BTW, When Apple made the iPhone, they didn't release the iPad or iPod Touch or Apple Watch at the same time. They had a product to start. I suspect that the Switch was born in a similar spirit, and a Dual Screen Switch/(New) 3DS successor will follow when the tech is there - the design principles behind the Switch point to this. In short, one shared library, more product diversification.

 

[JoshuaJSlone]

The only real difference between having one screen or two screens is that there's a non-screen section in the middle. 2DS flat out just uses one screen on which it displays the contents of both screens. Two screens is logical enough for a clamshell design since current mass market screens can't fold, but designing a product around needing to have two screens seems kind of pointless.

It would also make a shared library much trickier. It would be foolish to design a game around two screens if it's also got to work on a sister machine that's only got one, so even moreso than on the existing DS/3DS library it'd probably end up being a map/menu screen. Something easy that's not going to take much time to implement or waste processing power.

 

[Angel Whispers]

The only real difference between having one screen or two screens is that there's a non-screen section in the middle. 2DS flat out just uses one screen on which it displays the contents of both screens. Two screens is logical enough for a clamshell design since current mass market screens can't fold, but designing a product around needing to have two screens seems kind of pointless.

It would also make a shared library much trickier. It would be foolish to design a game around two screens if it's also got to work on a sister machine that's only got one, so even moreso than on the existing DS/3DS library it'd probably end up being a map/menu screen. Something easy that's not going to take much time to implement or waste processing power.

Well, Not really... I was deliberate in saying "If there isn't a solution to this on the Switch", I would be confident that a dual screen product would exist. Perhaps it does. Perhaps it doesn't. But you're assuming that future games would need to be designed around two screens, when I said nothing of the sort. You're also assuming that the dual screen concept wouldn't see any advancements, too. The back library is an obvious benefit and enough reason for it to exist, and a combined library of about 3000 games (even more, if you add the Wii U) can't be erased. But if you can imagine a product which builds on the tabletop/portable concept, it's easy to see more possibilities - For example, a dual screen device with 360-degree hinges could allow for separate-screen multiplayer modes without a TV set. It would allow for 1-2 Switch-style social gaming experiences on the move. Successive Video Game Generations/revisions might add features. They could offer a lower point of entry to the Nintendo library, or the trade-offs between each could offer enough incentives for people to own multiple form factors - Taking the iDevices example again, one might own the phone for calls and mobile Internet, and the tablet for drawing, or the iPod Touch because they don't want to be tied down to a 24-month contract, but would take the lower point of entry over the trade-off in performance. Also, hardware is very important for their business, so, there's an obvious void which would need filling, if we entertained the idea that the Switch would be the sole way to play Nintendo games from this point onwards. Considering that they have frequent revisions (see DS, DS Lite, DSi, DSi XL, 3DS, 3DS XL, 2DS, New 3DS, New 3DS XL), I still don't see that they wouldn't continue to make their entire library accessible through product diversification, tbqh.

 

[grim-tales]

As much as that's a nice sentiment, it's all rather moot if Nintendo isn't pushing this as their 3DS successor and instead build a specialized handheld successor when said successor is staring at them blank in the fucking face.

I agree with this. It does seem a bit strange Nintendo were talking about a 3DS successor for 2018 or something, what is it if not Switch :s

 

[Interfectum]

I agree with this. It does seem a bit strange Nintendo were talking about a 3DS successor for 2018 or something, what is it if not Switch :s

It's Switch. Nintendo isn't going to say 3DS is dead or replaced until it stops making them so much money. It's like the only consistent money maker they have right now, why would they slit it's throat before Switch even comes out?

 

[Pagusas]

Huh? Here it is next to the 3DS XL:



Games would go in the carrying case you mentioned. Adapter is about the same size as the 3DS adapter. The amount of additional space it takes up compared to the 3DS seems pretty negligible.



I've absolutely avoided buying handheld systems before because of their 1) small screens and 2) inability to play on a TV when I want to. ARMS looks awesome and is uniquely enabled by the Joy-Cons, and who knows what else in the future? I'm not saying I represent the whole market, but it's premature to say so confidently that there's no desire for it in the marketplace.

Saying Nintendo should reduce the price by "taking less profit" is just fanfiction. The tight margins on the Wii U severely hurt their business.

hmm, now I understand why some people are saying the Switch screen is a little on the samll size. That bezel is huge.

 

[grim-tales]

It's Switch. Nintendo isn't going to say 3DS is dead or replaced until it stops making them so much money. It's like the only consistent money maker they have right now, why would they slit it's throat before Switch even comes out?

That's a good point, fair enough
Maybe they'd make a smaller version in the future, idk

 

[TimEKish]

They will start pushing it as a 3DS successor when 3DS sales die down and when they can release a smaller and cheaper model.

This. Remember "The Third Piller"?

 

[BGBW]

GAF taught me the PS4 was not a successor to the PS3 because Sony continued to push the PS3 despite the PS4 coming out.

 

[JoshuaJSlone]

Well, Not really... I was deliberate in saying "If there isn't a solution to this on the Switch", I would be confident that a dual screen product would exist. Perhaps it does. Perhaps it doesn't. But you're assuming that future games would need to be designed around two screens, when I said nothing of the sort.

1. Game totally ignores the second screen. Would be the case for older Switch games for sure, so it'd be like GBA on DS. Second screen superfluous.
2. Game uses the second screen in relatively simple ways to not harm easy compatibility with single-screen Switch. Second screen only mostly superfluous.
3. Game uses the second screen in an important way. Either loses compatibility with single-screen Switch or is much worse there.

As long as single-screen Switch is a non-negligible part of the userbase, I wouldn't expect much of #3, leaving a two screen device where one of the screens is usually superfluous.

The back library is an obvious benefit and enough reason for it to exist

Ehh, it should be easy enough to make almost any DS or 3DS game work decently on a 16:9 screen, especially a larger one of significantly higher resolution. How to do so best would vary by game. In some cases you might want them scaled equally and side by side. Sometimes one scaled up more while the secondary screen is displayed smaller. In the case of some maps, even having it be a smaller transparency that partially overlaps the other screen could work decently.

But if you can imagine a product which builds on the tabletop/portable concept, it's easy to see more possibilities - For example, a dual screen device with 360-degree hinges could allow for separate-screen multiplayer modes without a TV set.

I remember this concept being considered between the announce and reveal of DS, when all we knew was "dual screen". I guess I fail to see that as a very big add, though.

They could offer a lower point of entry to the Nintendo library

I'm not sure how something would be Switch compatible, add extra features Switch doesn't have, and end up cheaper enough to attract a new audience.