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Will Nintendo ever put a premium console out again?
- Thread starter Xplainin
- Start date
Hudo
Member
Man, the DSi was pure sex in terms of industrial design. Really on point.This was their last premium product
HaveButOneLife
Banned
No need, hardware isn't important. Third party games may not look as good as the other consoles but they still make pretty first party games. "Who cares as long as their games are fun?" is what I think.
Andodalf
Banned
It was outdated mobile tech at launch. There was hope that it was Tegra x2 but it was the older tegra x1
Cert.in.Death
Member
Never say never. But frankly, they won’t do it unless they themselves have a design desire that requires proficient resources to achieve. And based on their output, that design philosophy hasn’t a need to adapt, despite some of their franchises who yearn for it being shelved (Metroid, Star Fox, etc.).
Walter Matthau
Member
I’m ok with Nintendo not trying to win the graphics war, but their hardware and accessories should be higher quality considering what they charge for them. “Panel lottery” and “drift” shouldn’t be associated with products priced at a premium.
SirTerry-T
Member
No, the Megadrive/Genesis soundchip had no issues, it was just a different soundchip. Both chips had their pros and cons.
Astral Dog
Member
I consider the Switch a PREMIUM handheld, but a TV only console? No i don't see Nintendo pushing their luck against Microsoft and Sony anytime soon
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Jeeves
Member
It doesn't fit into their strategy and it's not what most of their fans want. It was nice to see the Gamecube hardware being competitive with its contemporaries because hardware advancements were still meaningful back then.
Now? What's really the functional difference between the Switch when viewed as a home console compared to PS5 and XSX? Higher resolution and faster load times? Maybe more draw distance or something? These are nice, but they don't really change the types of experiences available to us. What would fundamentally change if they went this route is that they would become more risk-adverse due to higher development costs, resulting in fewer games and less surprising games, which is pretty much the opposite of what any fan wants. Also, any time something other than a tent pole franchise under-performs it could spell the end for that whole series due to higher financial loss.
It seems clear to me that these days the cons of cutting edge console hardware far outweigh the pros.
Now? What's really the functional difference between the Switch when viewed as a home console compared to PS5 and XSX? Higher resolution and faster load times? Maybe more draw distance or something? These are nice, but they don't really change the types of experiences available to us. What would fundamentally change if they went this route is that they would become more risk-adverse due to higher development costs, resulting in fewer games and less surprising games, which is pretty much the opposite of what any fan wants. Also, any time something other than a tent pole franchise under-performs it could spell the end for that whole series due to higher financial loss.
It seems clear to me that these days the cons of cutting edge console hardware far outweigh the pros.
DrumNBassDanTTV
Member
Again?
But No they wont.
But No they wont.
Coolwhhip
Neophyte
You never know what the future brings. Maybe they will team up with Sony or some other tech giant in the future.
nowhat
Member
Based on previous experience, I'm sure Sony would be absolutely thrilled to work with Nintendo on a console.
Silvawuff
Member
Having a powerful console isn't their market. It's mass appeal through pricing, with a drip feed of first party games supplemented with whatever between the long droughts of exclusives. I hope they learn their lesson with screen-scratch/drifting though and actually stress-test their hardware and components.
I Love Rock 'n' Roll
Member
That's why i will never be back to Nintendo.
synchronicity
Member
Do what you love.
H
hariseldon
Unconfirmed Member
Basically this. Nintendo don’t need to be at the leading edge these days, especially as there are diminishing returns and smaller gaps in quality between generations. Games can look wonderful on the Switch, clever use of art styles can do wonders. See Mario Kart, Mario Odyssey and BOTW.
H
hariseldon
Unconfirmed Member
I bought a Switch because I have a PC and the Switch was something different. The PS and Xbox offered nothing vs the PC.
Coolwhhip
Neophyte
The difference will get bigger wont it? I doubt they can make a handheld PS4 in 2 years.
BitDust
Member
No chance they go back to the formula that split all their software resources. They reached their dream developing for a single platform. What they really need to do by 2021 is release a SwitchTV/PRO that can push around 4TF in a very small package, sharing the same library with the current Switch but with enough power to receive the upcoming 3rd party games like Fifa21 (not legacy) Assassin's Creed Valhalla/ Origins/Odyssey and so on. This way they can extend the console life span till the next Nintendo hybrid around 2024 where portable technology will reach new heights in an affordable way.
Shouldn't it be possible? The ps4 would be 9 years old by that time. The switch I thought was in between the ps3 and ps4 already.
Mr Hyde
Gold Member
I think the Switch is already a premium device. You get two consoles for the price of one, a superior handheld that outclasses everything that's come before and then some, with the option to make it a stationary that is slightly underpowered from its competitors.
Nintendos own library of games are fantastic with a consistent quality to them, they've designed their IPs around the hardware, with outstanding artstyle and innovative gameplay at the forefront, and it's payed off big time. They are doing numbers Sony and MS can only dream of.
And the indie and AA support it's been given is stellar as well. The overall third party support is solid, but I'd like it if more developers would create games specifically for the Switch hardware, like Astral Chain, than bringing over existing ports and downgrading them.
The Switch simply offers something unique that none of the competitors can offer, and no amount of power or raw tech can change that. That is premium value for me.
Nintendos own library of games are fantastic with a consistent quality to them, they've designed their IPs around the hardware, with outstanding artstyle and innovative gameplay at the forefront, and it's payed off big time. They are doing numbers Sony and MS can only dream of.
And the indie and AA support it's been given is stellar as well. The overall third party support is solid, but I'd like it if more developers would create games specifically for the Switch hardware, like Astral Chain, than bringing over existing ports and downgrading them.
The Switch simply offers something unique that none of the competitors can offer, and no amount of power or raw tech can change that. That is premium value for me.
Kokoloko85
Member
Im good with what there doing
Dr Bass
Member
Hobbyists have been able to rip the games and confirm it for themselves.
Here's Wipeout on Playstation 1
And Wipeout on N64
Yeah I seem to remember theoretical limits for PSX being 360k polys a second and n64 ending up around 150k a second. As a huge Nintendo fan I remember being disappointed with that back then. But I got both systems and dug them both a lot. I think you’re right personally. But the n64 could do more advanced rendering with the polys it had.
-Arcadia-
Banned
Nintendo has found their place. They’ve been delivering lovely, amazing games on low-cost (for console) hardware for generations now, and 2/3 times, it’s been an unprecedented, gangbusters success.
I was just saying how beautiful I found Animal Crossing, last night, and I say this as an Xbox One X 4K/HDR TV owner. Nintendo makes it work.
That said, if there were no such thing as gaming politics or sales or restrictions, I’d sure love to be playing a Zelda that looks like some of Rise or the Tomb Raider’s mind-blowingly gorgeous tombs. But that’s Zelda, and it still looks wonderful anyway. Most of Nintendo’s output doesn’t really scream as something that needs cutting-edge technology.
I was just saying how beautiful I found Animal Crossing, last night, and I say this as an Xbox One X 4K/HDR TV owner. Nintendo makes it work.
That said, if there were no such thing as gaming politics or sales or restrictions, I’d sure love to be playing a Zelda that looks like some of Rise or the Tomb Raider’s mind-blowingly gorgeous tombs. But that’s Zelda, and it still looks wonderful anyway. Most of Nintendo’s output doesn’t really scream as something that needs cutting-edge technology.
cireza
Member
The only console they released that felt powerful and balanced is the Gamecube in my opinion.
Switch Lite feels like a decent handheld if you manage to ignore all the stuff that runs below native res with blur. And you get a shitty yellowish screen. That's how premium Nintendo gets nowadays.
Switch Lite feels like a decent handheld if you manage to ignore all the stuff that runs below native res with blur. And you get a shitty yellowish screen. That's how premium Nintendo gets nowadays.
michaelius
Banned
Exactly I feel like Switch is successor to Sony line of high end handhelds very unlike previous Nintendo offerings
Victoria3D
Banned
If that were true Nintendo would release their games on other platforms.
synchronicity
Member
Well, I think they like things a bit insular - more control and value of the "brand".
Neil Young
Member
Nope. They have created the ultimate business model where they can treat their consumers like shit, provide a sub par product, and still generate huge profits. Premium console? Shit, I'm still waiting for them to provide an actual update to the Switch's...well, anything really. Or maybe, just maybe do SOMETHING about the colossal shit show that is the E Shop. But I know they won't because that would cost money. And I also realize that I'm part of the problem as I keep buying their shit (but I think the Switch will be my last as I feel that 3rd party games have caught up to Nintendo's "quality" and surpassed them in many cases).
Dave_at_Home
Member
Nintendo could make a more premium Switch I suppose. It would be interesting to see an Nvidia GPU with D.L.S.S. in a Switch Pro or something.
kiphalfton
Member
Nothing wrong with wanting more than "decent" resolution and frame rate. How about "high" resolution and frame rate?
Don't be scared. It's okay to want more out of life and have standards.
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SilverCelestial
Neo Member
I have to agree. What the Switch lacks in power it more than makes up for with it's other features.
For me, the best thing about the Switch is it's convenience. The ability to pick and play instantly with no boot times or lengthy updates, coupled with the fact I don't have to hog the family TV (or hole myself away in a seperate room to use a different TV) is a godsend. It means I can come home from work and sit with my family of an evening while still fitting in a bit of couch gaming. As a result, I have far more opportunity to actually play games than I would on the other consoles.
The Switch perfectly suits a large demographic of busy adults - itself a minor irony considering Ninty is often touted as a kids console.
Personally I hope Nintendo avoid the technological rat race and continue on the path of quality handhelds / hybrids to host their stellar IP.
Orin should be pretty close if not reach ps4 performance next year , I don't think it is unreasonable for the next nintendo device to be on par or better than ps4, especially if amd getting their act together pushes nvidia
Skelterz
Member
By premium do you mean powerful? Because aside from the issue of joycon drift (which doesn't get everybody) The switch feels pretty premium to me.
Turns out nintendo is doing what it’s always done designing a machine for the 1st party offerings, Yeah sure when PS5 and XSX comes out will we get 3rd party stuff? Probably not, but you didn’t buy a switch to play Call of duty or Tomb raider anyway
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Turns out nintendo is doing what it’s always done designing a machine for the 1st party offerings, Yeah sure when PS5 and XSX comes out will we get 3rd party stuff? Probably not, but you didn’t buy a switch to play Call of duty or Tomb raider anyway
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Ritsumei2020
Report me for console warring
I think they wised up at some point. N64 was more powerful than PS1 and sold less. Gamecube was more powerful than PS2 and sold less. Wii was less powerful than PS360 and sold more. At this point they figured that they could sell more console with less power. Switch is likely to sell more than Xbox one, despite the power gap.
I mean, from a business point of view, its genius. They dont have to compete with much larger corporations like Microsoft for power, because they cannot win that battle. Instead they embraced their niche, and enjoyed solid results.
I mean, from a business point of view, its genius. They dont have to compete with much larger corporations like Microsoft for power, because they cannot win that battle. Instead they embraced their niche, and enjoyed solid results.