Vincent Grayson
Member
Call it what you want, the Switch in my house is nearly 100% handheld, save when we're playing 12Switch. I've yet to put it in the dock, and I can't see much reason to ever do so.
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The Switch is not primarily a handheld. Will Nintendo make another pure handheld?
- Thread starter Deft Beck
- Start date
minor effort
Banned
Even if they don't shrink the screen or overall body of the Switch down, I could still imagine a clamshell version of the Switch without the removable controllers, if they feel there's a market there for younger players.
Some parts of the removable controllers, namely those straps included, aren't the most elegant pieces of technology for younger players that Nintendo has released. Those metal locking mechanisms have some fairly jagged edges. Even I've managed to slice my thumb open trying to pry that strap off.
CrazyHorse
Junior Member
Hopefully.
No, literally the entire point of the Switch is that it covers both their portable and console markets with one device so Nintendo doesn't have to stretch their support as thin as they do normally. Both portable and console markets last gen for Nintendo did extremely poorly and it isn't sustainable to keep pushing two under performing devices. They need to be focused, the Wii U and 3DS combined did HALF what the DS did on its own.
The only thing Nintendo needs to do is keep the 2DS as a low cast portable until the Switch's price can get lowered enough to take that market over.
The only thing Nintendo needs to do is keep the 2DS as a low cast portable until the Switch's price can get lowered enough to take that market over.
GinoFelino
Member
'Switch is not a handheld'
I can't believe this narrative is still a thing
I can't believe this narrative is still a thing
Mobile devices other than the switch have TV-out though, this isn't some new novel thing Nintendo is doing here. I can latch a controller to my phone and use it on the go or connect my phone to the TV and play games that way. The system is already a pure handheld. A glorified dock doesn't change that.
Yup, same here. I have about 1 hour of switch play in the dock. Handheld is 99% of the time for me.
There is very little reason for Nintendo to split their development between handheld and console again.
Sure it's a handheld if you don't mind dropping over $300 on a handheld. I'm not. Between what seems like required accessories and extra protective cases needed to bring it out of the house it's too much for me to drop on a handheld.
Nintendo abandoning dedicated handheld market seems insane given they dominate that market and always have.
Nintendo abandoning dedicated handheld market seems insane given they dominate that market and always have.
I've used it as a handheld 99.9% of the time. I did a TV test once but I've had it in hand ever since.
So yeah... whatever. Fun fact: This anecdote is what I use when the subject of warping comes up. My switch is warped but it couldn't have possibly been because of the 30 minutes it was inside the dock that one time.
$30 for a case and glass cover. $27 more if you want a battery and a proper cable. Far from prohibitive.
So yeah... whatever. Fun fact: This anecdote is what I use when the subject of warping comes up. My switch is warped but it couldn't have possibly been because of the 30 minutes it was inside the dock that one time.
$30 for a case and glass cover. $27 more if you want a battery and a proper cable. Far from prohibitive.
Jorok Goldblade
Member
Back in 2004, Nintendo announced the DS. They told their fans that it wasn't a successor to the Gameboy Advance, but rather a Third Pillar to exist alongside the GBA and the Gamecube.
In 2005, they announced a new form factor for the GBA, the Gameboy Micro.
The Gameboy Advance would stick around on the market through 2010, but by 2006 it was clear that the DS was Nintendo's true handheld successor. First party support was basically over by the end of '06, and third party by '07.
You shouldn't read "Switch is not a handheld" as a statement of fact or even as a statement of intent. The 3DS line will stay on the market as long as people are buying it. It's simply PR speak by a company trying to have its cake and eat it too, by not torpedoing their successful product.
We've been here before.
Bonus: Here's a mouse f***ing a Gameboy
In 2005, they announced a new form factor for the GBA, the Gameboy Micro.
The Gameboy Advance would stick around on the market through 2010, but by 2006 it was clear that the DS was Nintendo's true handheld successor. First party support was basically over by the end of '06, and third party by '07.
You shouldn't read "Switch is not a handheld" as a statement of fact or even as a statement of intent. The 3DS line will stay on the market as long as people are buying it. It's simply PR speak by a company trying to have its cake and eat it too, by not torpedoing their successful product.
We've been here before.
Bonus: Here's a mouse f***ing a Gameboy
Waluigilicious
Member
That market can compete with mobile only for so long.
Nintendo have made the smartest decision ever by now concentrating on hybrid and mobile.
Icedburden
Member
At this point, it feels like they positioned their PR with the "it's a home console" just in case it failed. Even though it is not yet a 'success', it's trending up after two months. If Nintendo can compel consumers with something until the holidays hit, they're on to something.
Nintendo E3 direct is going to be huuuuuuge in terms of the switchs short term future.
Nintendo E3 direct is going to be huuuuuuge in terms of the switchs short term future.
Huge Succeeded
Banned
Repeat after me
The Switch is a hybrid that serves Nintendo's entire audience
The Switch is a hybrid that serves Nintendo's entire audience
The Switch is a hybrid that serves Nintendo's entire audience
Nintendo isn't going to make another 3DS
Any chance that they were going to went straight out the window as soon as the Switch was an apparent success
but moreover, jesus christ GAF, you are really getting tenuous re:Switch
it's a hybrid. Y'all know what that means, right?
According to the needs of the user, it can function
-exactly like a contemporary console-
-exactly like a contemporary handheld-
-exactly like any combination of either at any ratio-
so explain to me
why on fuckin' earth Nintendo needs another platform to serve the exact purposes the Switch already serves.
The Switch is a hybrid that serves Nintendo's entire audience
The Switch is a hybrid that serves Nintendo's entire audience
The Switch is a hybrid that serves Nintendo's entire audience
Nintendo isn't going to make another 3DS
Any chance that they were going to went straight out the window as soon as the Switch was an apparent success
but moreover, jesus christ GAF, you are really getting tenuous re:Switch
it's a hybrid. Y'all know what that means, right?
According to the needs of the user, it can function
-exactly like a contemporary console-
-exactly like a contemporary handheld-
-exactly like any combination of either at any ratio-
so explain to me
why on fuckin' earth Nintendo needs another platform to serve the exact purposes the Switch already serves.
Agreed but I do believe there will be hardware iteration for the Switch. Faster, higher res, etc. that plays all the same great games, only better. When that happens, the Switch vanilla will drop in price where the premium experience can take its price point.
Nintendo is using the console that you can bring with you line to keep the marketing simple and easy for people to understand. The Switch is a handheld.
Nintendo isn't targeting young gamers yet with the Switch, but they have targeted families, and some parents have already purchased one for their kids. The idea that Nintendo needs to make a separate Switch is silly when kids have grown up using tablets and smart devices for the past several years.
At the lower end, they just announced the 2DS XL which will carry the 3DS til 2018 at least. Nintendo isn't making a pure handheld no time soon.
Nintendo isn't targeting young gamers yet with the Switch, but they have targeted families, and some parents have already purchased one for their kids. The idea that Nintendo needs to make a separate Switch is silly when kids have grown up using tablets and smart devices for the past several years.
At the lower end, they just announced the 2DS XL which will carry the 3DS til 2018 at least. Nintendo isn't making a pure handheld no time soon.
Minsc
Gold Member
Smaller Switch and better battery life probably won't be happening, that's the first problem. As soon as you make the Switch smaller, you make the battery smaller, so you reduce the battery life (I guess you could argue the reduced screen size would take less power too, but at best then you'd be back at square 1). I guess if 2-3+ years down the road there's a revised chipset released that runs more efficiently to use, but who knows. They might also want to use the new chipset's feature to drive more demanding settings or games too, so the improved efficiency may not be directly comparable on newer titles.
That aside, I can't really see them releasing a smaller revision that doesn't allow for versatility of gaming experiences capable on the Switch (still looking forward to a pinball suite announcement that uses a vertical tablet mode, would be pretty sweet, especially with HD rumble), unless they have the perfect name lined up, like how it worked with the 3DS and 2DS, names made perfect sense. I don't think they can use the Switch name with a device that lacks a bunch of the functionality of the current Switch.
NOLA_Gaffer
Banned
But I'm certainly hopeful they can make it smaller. The thing is goddamn massive.
Jaded Alyx
Member
There were no switch mini rumours. The only talk about a switch mini came from threads like this where people talk about what they would like.
TetraGenesis
Member
Yeah, it's pretty much outwardly absurd.
minor effort
Banned
Maybe, but back in May 2011 as Nintendo was still promoting their glasses-free 3D as the hottest feature on their new handheld, nobody saw a system called the "2DS" in a wedge form factor in the system's future. Much less multiple "2DS" systems. At that point the mere suggestion probably would have been laughed off.
It's not like Nintendo is a stranger to releasing iterations of systems with features missing, as long as it plays a majority of the system's software. Remember the Wii Mini, lacking WiFi and GameCube support? Remember the DSi, omitting the GBA port? The GB Micro dropped support for GB/GBC.
Maybe a clamshell Switch would make portrait mode games awkward and lack the local multiplayer that makes the Switch appealing, but this early on in the system's life I'm not ready to say Nintendo playing with any of the system's conventions is out of the question.
StereoVsn
Gold Member
Yeap. They need to address the large portion of the 3DS market, namely kids. That can be done by a more durable Switch-Mini with integrated controls (no detachable joycons), and a cheaper price.
They really need a $200 device that's somewhat durable and that doesn't have controllers kids will lose/break. That would address that 5 - 11 market which is pretty big for Nintendo. My kid is 5, I would never get her the current Switch model (I might get it and let her play). My friends have kids ranging in age from 5 to 10+ and none of them would buy a Switch for the kids. Most of them do have 3DS.
Okami Haundo
Member
I think it could make sense as a dedicated portable device. I wouldn't think of that as a "Switch Mini" though, it'd be more in-line with the 2DS than anything else. I expect that we'll get a normal redesign to the core Switch SKU in a few years as well.
I can't see a scenario where Switch Mini isn't a thing Nintendo sells at some point.
It's too easy to do. I think it still has docking capabilities-- all it needs for that is the usb c port on the bottom, it doesn't have to come with a dock-- and the equivalent of the joycon controls permanently attached to the sides.
If you want to dock it, buy the standalone dock or use one you have for the OG Switch. If you want to do that and then use joycons or pro controller, go ahead, they'll work just fine. They can sell a cheap stand for it if they don't want to include the kickstand that lets you set it on a table for easy play with external controllers.
What do Nintendo and consumers get out of it? A smaller form factor and a lower price. It gets cheaper without the dock, and cheaper without whatever functionality can safely be removed from the joycons given that they are permanently installed. Games like 1-2 Switch can just have a 'external joycons required' warning on them or similar; it's a similar limitation to the 2DS when it came out ('3D not supported').
The fact that it would be so straightforward for this product to exist without any real compromises indicates to me they very much thought this through as the next evolution of their pure handheld device after n3ds/n2ds.
It's too easy to do. I think it still has docking capabilities-- all it needs for that is the usb c port on the bottom, it doesn't have to come with a dock-- and the equivalent of the joycon controls permanently attached to the sides.
If you want to dock it, buy the standalone dock or use one you have for the OG Switch. If you want to do that and then use joycons or pro controller, go ahead, they'll work just fine. They can sell a cheap stand for it if they don't want to include the kickstand that lets you set it on a table for easy play with external controllers.
What do Nintendo and consumers get out of it? A smaller form factor and a lower price. It gets cheaper without the dock, and cheaper without whatever functionality can safely be removed from the joycons given that they are permanently installed. Games like 1-2 Switch can just have a 'external joycons required' warning on them or similar; it's a similar limitation to the 2DS when it came out ('3D not supported').
The fact that it would be so straightforward for this product to exist without any real compromises indicates to me they very much thought this through as the next evolution of their pure handheld device after n3ds/n2ds.
Inferno313
Banned
Why is their so much hand-wringing about whether the Switch is actually a handheld or actually a console?
It's actually both, it's a genuinely successful hybrid that does a great job at being either. That's what's so great about it.
It's actually both, it's a genuinely successful hybrid that does a great job at being either. That's what's so great about it.
I'm struggling to think of a way that they would introduce another handheld that doesn't conflict with the switch.
The ds hardware and graphics are so outdated now that they could release a new handheld with really nice graphics, but at that point, wouldn't it basically be the switch without docking abilities? As others have mentioned, they wanted things to be more universal and less split, so isn't the switch their two platforms combined?
It's both the home console and the portable console, why would you want another?
The ds hardware and graphics are so outdated now that they could release a new handheld with really nice graphics, but at that point, wouldn't it basically be the switch without docking abilities? As others have mentioned, they wanted things to be more universal and less split, so isn't the switch their two platforms combined?
It's both the home console and the portable console, why would you want another?
The Elite
BOSS
This is Switch is not primarily a console. Will Nintendo make another pure console?
Smaller. I can see it. I don't think they get rid of detachable joy-cons though.
I took it to England and back and used it as a handheld yet people still tell me it's not.
I don't get it.
I think Nintendo could make a great marketing campaign out of the debate between console vs. handheld while selling it as both.
Smaller. I can see it. I don't think they get rid of detachable joy-cons though.
I took it to England and back and used it as a handheld yet people still tell me it's not.
I don't get it.
I think Nintendo could make a great marketing campaign out of the debate between console vs. handheld while selling it as both.
Milly Osworth
Member
1. Not a handheld how?
2. Switch is a big hit
3. Another platform would destroy the whole "Nintendo can focus on one thing" party
No.
2. Switch is a big hit
3. Another platform would destroy the whole "Nintendo can focus on one thing" party
No.
StereoVsn
Gold Member
3DS/2DS is done next year. Nintendo needs a device that they could sell to parents for their kids which is a)relatively cheap b)durable and c)doesn't have easy to lose accessories. Nintendo needs something that will fit into that niche as that's a big part of their market.
Duxxy3
Member
It's less portable and it's expensive. For nearly 30 years, portables have been small and cheap.
If there was a $150 switch, that was more portable, I think it would absolutely replace the 3DS/2DS. Price of games are also much higher than previous generations.
StereoVsn
Gold Member
That's another issue. $60 is 50% more then the usual $40 price (discounting Atlus tax).
Graphics Horse
Member
You only have to change a few words from the latest 2DS trailer to get the proposed Switch Solo* trailer.
(Called Switch Solo because it will come out alongside the Han Solo movie with a co-marketing deal)
There will not be a handheld that has a distinct library of games from their console. No doubt there will be some kind of kid-focused Switch that is portable only, but that's about it. The only way for Nintendo to continue as a hardware maker is with a shared game library across their hardware. They cannot support two separate machines anymore, that's why they spent the last few years restructuring the company.
StereoVsn
Gold Member
This would be absolutely brilliant. Packaged in with a Han Solo Lego Adventure game. I don't see it happening though.
The only thing I worry about is that "traditional handheld" experiences like Fire Emblem, Ace Attorney, Mario & Luigi, 2D platformers, 2D Zelda, Harvest Moon/Story of, and the various old DS and 3DS series will have a hard time on an HD console. I prefer those exeriences to full console releases by a wide margin and I fear that people will look at the cost of an HD Story of Seasons or Mario & Luigi and go "fuck this" and design something that will bring in a larger audience.
Either people don't believe in spending $300 on a Switch or don't believe the Switch to be a handheld/3DS replacement. Nintendo is not going to take all the money and effort it took to sell people on the Switch concept and using the joycons just to make a device that removes it all.
The 3DS launched at $250 and the Vita launched at $250/$300.
I do think they are going to come out with a dedicated handheld, but it will run the same games as the Switch. If they shrink the tx1 To 16nm they can easily come out with a cheaper, smaller, fanless portable only form factor. A big reason the Switch exists is so Nintendo can unify their development.
perfectchaos007
Member
I use my Switch as a handheld 95% of the time so I couldn't care less
It is a handheld device.
Huge Succeeded
Banned
Gotta love this silly little bit of revisionist history. I still own several handhelds that are bigger than my Switch.
Gotta love how people are acting like the Switch is huge, too. You take the joycons off and it's smaller than your favorite tablet. I pocket the thing every day.
This forum feels like the twilight zone sometimes.