Ninntendo Switch

[Winnow]

WTF is up with the controller? That's the ugliest thing I've seen yet. The only thing correct on that are the placement of the joysticks.

Nintendo's hardware design team must all be previous romper room toy designers.

[Funkmasterr]

Yeah, that controller is pretty bad. I'm hoping the pro controller is usable because I can't see using that thing for any extended period of time. I'm warming up to the idea of buying one after the announcements last night, but I'm still not sure. My concerns still are:

-More details about their online service, and even then concerns that the stability/robustness of it is comparable to PSN/Xbox Live, because if it isn't that's probably a deal breaker for me.
-Even general release windows for some games other than Zelda. They can announce all the games they want but if none of them have dates and Zelda is the only actual new game out for the first 6 months, there's no point in buying one at launch.
-Supply. I'm not playing the "you can't find a Switch anywhere for the first 3 months after release" game. If they pull that shit again that will likely be an automatic deal breaker for me.

Nintendo needs to understand that they've made too many mistakes for them to be able to just disregard the concerns people have here. If they have one more failed console I think that's going to have to be the end of console hardware for them.

[Funkmasterr]

Haha, checked the pre order on best buy out of curiosity, turns out it's sold out for pre order everywhere already. What a joke.

[Aslanna]

-Supply. I'm not playing the "you can't find a Switch anywhere for the first 3 months after release" game. If they pull that shit again that will likely be an automatic deal breaker for me.

Haha, checked the pre order on best buy out of curiosity, turns out it's sold out for pre order everywhere already. What a joke.

This is Nintendo's MO. I'm still not sure if they just suck at getting everything sourced and into production or they do this shit on purpose to create more hype about how sold out their console is to try and create artificial demand.

And it's not a controller.. It's a Joy-Con

For me personally I have no interest for Switch. I didn't grow up on Nintendo so no nostalgia factor there for me. Nintendo seems to just keep making the same games over and over. Once in awhile they come up with something new (Splatoon) but that seems rare.

[Winnow]

I haven't seen the specs but did watch the 3 minute opening intro video showing how they expect Switch to be used. I just don't see it. Seems destined to be about as popular as the PS Vita in the age of oversized phones and tablets.

I know Nintendo is popular due to their games and I freely admit I'm not a fan of any of them so I'm stuck with looking at the hardware Nintendo puts out and can only shake my head.

"Maybe" this could survive a year or two until AR/VR mobile devices are refined and crush it. I think large phones already have taken mobile game machines (gameboy type devices) out of the equation.

One question to ask yourself...if the few Nintendo franchise games you like were available on another platform, is there any way in hell you'd buy this thing?

[Funkmasterr]

To your point winnow, of course I wouldn't buy Nintendo if they put their games out on other consoles. And if this console isn't remarkably successful over it's entire life I think that's what they are going to have to do - it already seems obvious that's what they should do, but they're being stubborn little babies about it because they have enough cash to have a couple of flops without it tanking them.

But I did grow up on Nintendo, and they look to have a better lineup this time around than with the Wii U.

[Aslanna]

Accessory costs:

Pro Controller - $70
Joy-Con -$80
Joy-Con Half - $50
Separate Dock Set - $90

Seems pricey!

Other than Zelda the launch games seem fairly weak too. It doesn't seem like there's any real reason to preorder it and get it day one. For me that would need to include a Pro Controller so that's $370 right off the bat and that includes no games. Pass!

I watched the conference (or whatever it was called) and it was pretty bad. The Joy-Cons are still gimmicky as they are motion control. Hopefully most games wont force that on people and they have Pro controller support. They are also a lot smaller than I thought they would be once you see them in peoples hands.

I see third-party support being weak as well. Mostly old ports. After the Wii U it makes sense developers/publishers are gun shy. Unless the console sells gangbusters out of the gate I don't think most will bother.

Maybe Nintendo just needs to get out of the hardware business. I guess we'll see in a year from now how the Switch is doing.

[Winnow]

This is an example of a company with a ton of money living off the reputation of past successes and some luck (wii).

People hate the new Mario phone game so there's even concern that this company can succeed even if they drop hardware. Sony and Microsoft both have strengths. Nintendo has none except for a fan base that fondly remembers the 90's.

Can't remember who said on this forum that 2018 would be the year for VR in the mainstream. While VR experiences are already amazing, they're right about the time frame for random joe blow to pick one up. The Vive has introduced a much more comfortable/accessible head band and even more importantly, WIRELESS option. 2017 will be the year the VR/AR companies refine these developments as well as up the resolution and in 2018 people will buy up the resulting polished products. (except for PSVR which is stuck with even less than current generation tech for another few years while you'll most likely be able to plug in any Vive/Rift type VR headset you want into Scorpio)

Nintendo's use case for the Switch doesn't make sense to me. When I'm home, I want the most powerful platform, be it console or PC, to play games on in the highest resolution possible (which is fast becoming 4K). When I'm not home, I want convenience which is my ALL-IN-ONE mobile device (cell phone). The latest cpu/gpu capabilities of new phones are plenty to play games. If you're cooped up in a hotel room, a wifi/ethernet connected laptop would be the gaming platform.

The way I see it, next to no one would prefer switch over PS4/Xbox One at home. On the road, who wants to carry around more hardware when cell phones/tablet/notebooks (and soon your favorite AR/VR headset) get the job done?

Side note: Streaming is also another option. Lately I've downloaded less movies/shows because Kodi/Exodus (with Real-DeBrid) is so awesome for any day of release or older movie/tv shows you want to see. While nVidia's new game streaming service is too expensive to use all the time $25 for 10 hours of GTX1060 level gaming (what the fuck are they smoking?), Sony and Microsoft are both working on streaming so you might be able to stream games remotely from your consoles to your phone/tablet/console/headset in the near future.

[Aslanna]

Party (voice) chat is through a smartphone app. Whaaaat?

The 'free games' (game?) are only for that month.

720p on the handheld... 900p when docked.. At least for Zelda. That's not a whole lot of p's!

Also not sure why people are referring to this as "revolutionary".

I am really not getting the hype for this device.

[Funkmasterr]

Party (voice) chat is through a smartphone app. Whaaaat?

The 'free games' (game?) are only for that month.

720p on the handheld... 900p when docked.. At least for Zelda. That's not a whole lot of p's!

Also not sure why people are referring to this as "revolutionary".

I am really not getting the hype for this device.

They are really shitty at communicating, so I'm hoping that something was lost in translation or just the whole picture wasn't given to us in regard to the voice chat, because the phone thing is pretty corny. I don't mind the resolution, quite frankly 720p on a small handheld is perfectly fine and the difference you'd tell from there to 1080 on a screen that size is so negligible it's not even worth talking about. I also hope that the backlash about losing access to the "free" games at the end of the month gets them to change their tune, because that's a fucking joke. If that's how it's going to work (along with the smart phone app), if they think the majority of people are even going to consider paying more than maybe 10-15 dollars a YEAR for that service they're out of their goddamn minds.

There's still a decent chance I'll get one to play first party/virtual console games (I almost bought a Wii U just to play Earthbound), and to use on airplanes, etc. But it's not looking like it will be a big success, and Nintendo is only going to be able to coast on past success for so long.

I don't agree with Winnow's sentiment that phone games are enough. I want a portable version of a full console game, and there is obviously still a big enough market for that to be a viable thing - no phone game has kept my interest for more than a couple of hours (aside from ports of old Squaresoft games that I'd much rather play on a handheld console, or better yet on a Switch with the little stand thing and a pro controller.)

[Aslanna]

They've already clarified the voice chat stuff in regards to the smartphone. That IS how it works! There wont be any sort of party chat on the console itself. You need to use the app.

It's just a joke of a console that only the hardcore Nintendo fans will want. Or the Nintendo apologists. Just another gimmicky 'console' with minimal third party support at launch. I doubt the support will increase, either. No loss to me though. I had zero interest in Nintendo's newest device before it was announced and have just as much interest now. However more power to those people who do buy it. Maybe they won't relegate the Switch to the same fast as the Wii U suffered.

[Winnow]

Unlike PS4 vs Xbox One, there's not much to debate or worry about with this Switch thing.

I've already seen plenty of "will not be coming to Nintendo Switch" by the big name, popular titles you'd want to be playing on a console. It will be relegated to Zelda and a handful of other Nintendo specialist titles. In this case, the developers are thinking along the same lines as we are. It's a monster waste of time to develop anything for this platform.

I may be wrong, but I don't think there's a significant amount of gamers that really care about full blown console games on portable devices. Most people (with money) that are mobile are going to, or heading back from work. Plenty of distractions. That's why low attention span games are popular for mobile. I normally don't even listen to long audiobooks on my drive to work. 30 mins isn't enough, plus dodging traffic. I use short podcasts for those times for news, etc, and then listen to long audiobooks at home when I can focus more on a developing story with a complex plot. Same would hold true for games. I want to settle in so I can spend hours on a like Mass Effect, etc. And that's just single player. And then I want best the possible graphics for the experience. If you're doing anything multiplayer, you're probably screwing your team over if playing mobile with distractions and disconnects.

Nintendo hasn't learned a thing. They put out these low powered budget Romper Room looking consoles and developers don't feel like crapifiying their game to make it work on them. The market for this is very young people, moms and dads that will buy the cheapest option for their kids, and those that can't let go of the past.

[Aslanna]

Still no interest in the Switch.

MS better watch out though.. Switch sales going to catch up to XBO soon!

[Animalor]

I got one for xmas for the kids. It's in my basement now. The Walmart bundle with the Splatoon 2 pack-in. It's a slick little system. Looking forward to playing it more.

[Funkmasterr]

I broke and bought one when I realized how few games there were in the coming months that I wanted to play. Played a handful of hours of Zelda, which has been good, and played the ever loving fuck out of Mario Odyssey over the past few days. I'm actually liking the Switch more than I thought I would - don't get me wrong, there are still some glaring issues (ie: anything to do with the internet), but I'm not ready to totally write them off regarding that until they reveal what will change/be added when they roll the full online service out.

I still wouldn't buy any online focused or graphics intensive multi-platform games on the Switch over my PS4, but I can see it starting to be my go to console for most other things, particularly indies, which I play a lot of.

[Aslanna]

Honestly PS4, Switch, and PC is all you need. Zero need for an Xbox.

[Funkmasterr]

Honestly PS4, Switch, and PC is all you need. Zero need for an Xbox.

Trolling aside, I cancelled my Xbox Live subscription and put my Xbox One in the closet. I just don't use it anymore and there's really nothing that could change that in the near future.

I'd like to build a new PC at some point, it's just way down on the priority list. But it's working for Divinity Original Sin 2, and that's all that matters for now!

[Boogahz]

I actually purchased another card for a year of Live, but I haven't applied it to anything. I have just been splitting time between PSN and PC games. I am still on the fence on Switch. One downside I have had with working from home is that I don't game nearly as much.

[Funkmasterr]

I actually purchased another card for a year of Live, but I haven't applied it to anything. I have just been splitting time between PSN and PC games. I am still on the fence on Switch. One downside I have had with working from home is that I don't game nearly as much.

I haven't been playing as much either, although that's not one of the many things I'd attribute to working from home! I didn't think I'd care about the portable aspect of the switch, but I'm already playing games while waiting for food/takeout, in bed, or even just on the couch while something is on the TV. It's probably equal parts good and bad thing.

[Winnow]

No idea why anyone would buy a Switch. As for Xbox/PS, I have a One X pre ordered but I haven't used either of my consoles for almost 2 years except for Horizon which wasn't really worth it. PC is so much better for graphics, mods, etc and the are so few exclusive games for consoles (artificial exclusives because even PS4 games could easily be PC ever since Sony wised up and got rid of the honeycomb processor) that it makes no sense to get one.

Xbox One X games will look and run very smooth in 4K so that's not a bad choice for those that have a little extra money but can't afford a PC or don't want to deal with one. Sony lovers will have to probably wait at least another year or two until the PS5 but you'll probably still be stuck with the ancient controller layout akin to driving a car with non powered steering with both hands side by side on the wheel.

For any new release, priority for best experience would be 1 - PC (with Xbox Elite controller), 2 - Xbox One X, 3 - PS4

[Spang]

I bought a Switch a little more than a week ago and I've already put in more than 80 hours on "Breath of the Wild". It's been well worth the purchase--I highly recommend getting both.

[Funkmasterr]

Yeah, I've only played games on the Switch since I got it. Just got done putting into over 200 hours into Xenoblade Chronicles 2 - awesome game.

[Chidoro]

Picked one up for my daughter this christmas. It's a great system that deserves the sales it's getting. Was never a huge Nintendo fan but it is a very clever device. I can easily see picking one up for myself when their 1st model refresh comes through. It's almost always played off the dock.
When gaming she's either at her pc or on a couch playing the switch. I am basically the same these days. Hell, I even picked up a 2ds xl and have a bunch of games downloaded on it. Never purchased a One or 4, and my 360 has been a paperweight for years.

I was expecting the worst, but it really is a damn decent device.

[Aslanna]

I also bought one ($246, no tax!). But I am waiting for it to be hacked. Which apparently it has it's just not anything that's been released at this point.

Supposedly a new hardware refresh coming soon to patch those holes. Stock up while you can!

PS: Still ZERO need for an Xbox.