Nintendo President Says 3DS Will Continue "In Its Own Form" After Switch Launch

[Aiddon_v1legacy]

Nintendo has never rolled like that, though. See this drop test of the Wii U gamepad:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIQpKh9ma88

You can find videos of people trying to destroy Wii Us and other Nintendo consoles and having to resort to sledgehammers, and even then taking quite a few whacks before they do more than dent the casing.

Hell, there's a Game Boy that got bombed during the Gulf War, and the only thing they needed to replace was the screen. It's at Nintendo World in NYC, and it still plays.

So yeah, when Nintendo makes something handheld, the first thing they ask themselves is "What if someone drops it?"

You can be sure that the Switch will handle a few drops. Hell, if you get mugged, you can probably use it to bludgeon your attacker to death.

And that's why if I make a bomb shelter it's being constructed solely from Nintendo products.

Anyway, this doesn't come as a surprise at all, especially with CAPCOM releasing a new Monster Hunter next year that's sure to light up the sales charts. Nintendo have also made it abundantly clear this is primarily a home console despite the portable aspect. My guess is despite that big innovation there's no way battery life is going to be substantial enough to really call it portable. What this means for Nintendo's next handheld I'm not sure, but it's definitely an indication that Nintendo is not interesting in making one game machine for the foreseeable future.

 

[Saltyk]

Sure, it will. And the Wii U has strong third party support. Then again, so will the Switch.

 

[WeepingAngels]

Did everyone in this thread miss when they announced that the Switch won't play 3DS games? The 3DS will be fine. Its really the Switch taking off that should be worrying people. This is basically Nintendo's "Sega Saturn" if it flops.

So because the Switch doesn't play 3DS games, you think Nintendo will support two handheld devices? No, they won't and the purpose of a hybrid was to make development easier on them because they wouldn't have to support two systems.

 

[Weaver]

The switch has one screen, no 3D capabilities and as far as we know, no touch. Why do people think Nintendo can just make it play 3DS games?

 

[Callate]

It still seems to be cheaper to develop for the 3DS than for the Switch. If nothing else, it's cheaper to develop textures and models for a 400x240 screen (or even two of them) than an HD screen, and for 1-8 GB cartridge sizes versus whatever the Switch ends up using (presumably greater, as I can't imagine game companies falling over themselves to squeeze their work onto a format much smaller than the optical media they're used to). As long as it continues to turn a profit, it makes a decent amount of sense to continue to develop for the 3DS.

 

[Lightspeaker]

If so, where are you going that you don't need your wallet, phone and keys?

This is going to sound a bit unintentionally sarcastic but I'm not sure how else to put it...my coat has more than one pocket and so do my trousers. >_>

The Switch is more handheld than console.

The estimated dimensions for the 'complete' Switch are that it is ~25.3cm long and ~10.6cm high. 3DSXL is 15.6 cm long and 9.3cm high. That is quite a significant increase in size. As I stated earlier, I severely doubt people are going to use this in the way Nintendo are expecting.

They made a hybrid so they wouldn't have to support 2 systems. They won't continue to make new games for the 3DS.

Only likely to happen if and when the Switch is a success. They're not going to dump a currently successful console for one that they don't know is successful yet and without a backup plan. There's a reason the Switch is coming out so quickly and the support for the Wii was dragged out for such a long time.

 

[WeepingAngels]

If so, where are you going that you don't need your wallet, phone and keys?

This is going to sound a bit unintentionally sarcastic but I'm not sure how else to put it...my coat has more than one pocket and so do my trousers. >_>

The Switch is more handheld than console.

The estimated dimensions for the 'complete' Switch are that it is ~25.3cm long and ~10.6cm high. 3DSXL is 15.6 cm long and 9.3cm high. That is quite a significant increase in size. As I stated earlier, I severely doubt people are going to use this in the way Nintendo are expecting.

They made a hybrid so they wouldn't have to support 2 systems. They won't continue to make new games for the 3DS.

Only likely to happen if and when the Switch is a success. They're not going to dump a currently successful console for one that they don't know is successful yet and without a backup plan. There's a reason the Switch is coming out so quickly and the support for the Wii was dragged out for such a long time.

I don't know what world you were living in but the Wii had software droughts a couple of years before it was replaced. People said it was because they were working on Wii U games and we see how that went.

You can choose to judge if the Switch is mostly portable or console by it's size if you want but I think it makes more sense to judge it by where it's hardware is located. It's a tablet with detachable controllers. The dock is a TV out.

They are going to stop making first party 3DS games when the Switch comes out if they haven't already, I have no doubt about it.

 

[Sheo_Dagana]

Did everyone in this thread miss when they announced that the Switch won't play 3DS games? The 3DS will be fine. Its really the Switch taking off that should be worrying people. This is basically Nintendo's "Sega Saturn" if it flops.

Actually, I feel like the Wii U is more of their Sega Saturn, considering how they seemed to have no idea what to do with it and abandoned it to try and stay relevant. If the Switch flops, it'll be their Dreamcast.

I imagine that as long as the 3DS continues to be cheaper to make games for (since that's why the third parties sort of ignored the Vita for the most part) and produce, it will be fine. At least, that's what I'm telling myself. I bought the New 3DS and I'll be fairly pissed if they ditch it just because their newest attempt at 'competing' with Sony and Microsoft is capable of being mobile. I also invested a ton in my Wii U at the start of it's life cycle, only for Nintendo to tell us all to fuck off with the console barely being 4 years old.

 

[WeepingAngels]

Did everyone in this thread miss when they announced that the Switch won't play 3DS games? The 3DS will be fine. Its really the Switch taking off that should be worrying people. This is basically Nintendo's "Sega Saturn" if it flops.

Actually, I feel like the Wii U is more of their Sega Saturn, considering how they seemed to have no idea what to do with it and abandoned it to try and stay relevant. If the Switch flops, it'll be their Dreamcast.

I imagine that as long as the 3DS continues to be cheaper to make games for (since that's why the third parties sort of ignored the Vita for the most part) and produce, it will be fine. At least, that's what I'm telling myself. I bought the New 3DS and I'll be fairly pissed if they ditch it just because their newest attempt at 'competing' with Sony and Microsoft is capable of being mobile. I also invested a ton in my Wii U at the start of it's life cycle, only for Nintendo to tell us all to fuck off with the console barely being 4 years old.

It isn't a pattern for Nintendo to keep making games for a device once it's replacement is out. Even if the Switch fails they will release a newer portable, they won't try to get 5 more years out of the 3DS.

 

[DarklordKyo]

Makes some sense.. A 3DS is a cheaper alternative, at the very least.

And in terms of fragility, there's the 2DS. Otherwise, the Switch is going to be about as flimsy as the 3DS. It's not really a factor for travel.

Also, one thing I never understood. Who actually carries a 3DS in their pocket? If so, where are you going that you don't need your wallet, phone and keys? And where are you taking your DS that you're travelling far enough to warrant playing a games console, but close enough that you don't need a rucksack of any kind?

I put my keys in a pants pocket, my cell phone and wallet in one jacket pocket, and my 3DS in my other jacket pocket. I'm at the point in my life where I don't need to take my jacket off when indoors, and I only take my 3DS places when I'm casually out on the town anyways.

 

[AzrealMaximillion]

Did everyone in this thread miss when they announced that the Switch won't play 3DS games? The 3DS will be fine. Its really the Switch taking off that should be worrying people. This is basically Nintendo's "Sega Saturn" if it flops.

So because the Switch doesn't play 3DS games, you think Nintendo will support two handheld devices? No, they won't and the purpose of a hybrid was to make development easier on them because they wouldn't have to support two systems.

Are you sure? Because every Nintendo console barring the Wii has sold millions less than its predecessor. If the Nintendo Switch doesn't take off, Nintendo won't have a choice.

And do you really think that Nintendo would stop supporting the only thing making them money? Handheld devices? We don't even know if the Switch will have good battery life. You don't see anything weird about Nintendo entering the 9th generation of consoles many, many years before anyone else weird? Come on, you have to admit, Nintendo dropping 3DS support would be one of their most boneheaded moves in a very long time.

 

[WeepingAngels]

Yes I am sure. The 3DS is 5 years old, it's time for a new handheld generation and while Wii U is being replaced at 4 years it isn't really being replaced ahead of the others as both the PS4 and Xbox One are getting hardware refreshes at a time when there is talk that hardware refreshes will be the future of console gaming (there may never be a PS5). The Switch will still be much weaker than the new PS4 and Xbox One.

Nintendo has always been the most successfully in the handheld market and if Switch fails, they will release a different handheld. They can't extend the life of the 3DS any more and going from Switch back to 3DS would make no sense, it won't happen.

What you are suggesting is like if the DS had failed, Nintendo would go back to making GBA games. They wouldn't have done that, they would have released a new handheld.

 

[Lightspeaker]

I don't know what world you were living in but the Wii had software droughts a couple of years before it was replaced. People said it was because they were working on Wii U games and we see how that went.

I live in the world where there were one hundred and sixteen games released between 2012 (the year of the Wii U release) and this year for the Nintendo Wii:
http://www.metacritic.com/browse/games/release-date/available/wii/date

There are 1,653 games for the Wii:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Wii_games

Seven percent of the Wii's entire catalogue was released AFTER the Wii U came out. That's hardly a 'drought for a couple of years before it was replaced'. Companies did not bail on the console all that quickly even after the release of the Wii U; let alone years before.

You can choose to judge if the Switch is mostly portable or console by it's size if you want

...you're seriously trying to claim that an object's size or convenience for carrying around has no bearing whatsoever on whether its portable or not? That its entirely based on its design?

By that argument my bed is portable. Sure its a bit under six feet long, three feet wide and about the same high and weighs a fair bit...but it has wheels, so it can be moved around.

Honestly I'm going to leave it there I think. This is giving me a headache.

I mean, I don't know about others, but I tend not to keep valuables in my coat. You take your coat off in buildings.

Honestly I'm baffled by this. Is it a thing in your country that you all have cloakrooms in every building at the front entrance or something?

Because when I have my coat it...well it tends to stay with me. It goes on the back of the chair I'm sitting in. Or if I'm at work on a peg on the wall near my desk. I have zero issue leaving my wallet with all my money in it and my house keys in my coat because its rarely actually out of my sight.

 

[chozo_hybrid]

It even has a touchscreen.

Where did you see/hear that? The trailer never implied the screen has touch capability.

 

[WeepingAngels]

I don't know what world you were living in but the Wii had software droughts a couple of years before it was replaced. People said it was because they were working on Wii U games and we see how that went.

I live in the world where there were one hundred and sixteen games released between 2012 (the year of the Wii U release) and this year for the Nintendo Wii:
http://www.metacritic.com/browse/games/release-date/available/wii/date

There are 1,653 games for the Wii:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Wii_games

Seven percent of the Wii's entire catalogue was released AFTER the Wii U came out. That's hardly a 'drought for a couple of years before it was replaced'. Companies did not bail on the console all that quickly even after the release of the Wii U; let alone years before.

The Wii U came out in late 2012, most of those 2012 games were out before Wii U launched and very few were first party games. When I think of Nintendo supporting a device, I think about it in terms of first party games. of course Nintendo is going to allow third party games for years to come but that isn't Nintendo supporting it, that's third parties supporting it.

I am saying that after the launch of Switch, there will be no more first party 3DS games started.

...you're seriously trying to claim that an object's size or convenience for carrying around has no bearing whatsoever on whether its portable or not? That its entirely based on its design?

By that argument my bed is portable. Sure its a bit under six feet long, three feet wide and about the same high and weighs a fair bit...but it has wheels, so it can be moved around.

Honestly I'm going to leave it there I think. This is giving me a headache.

It's portable because it's designed to be played anywhere. All the hardware is on board the tablet, not the dock. Compare it to the Wii U which is not portable because the Gamepad has to stay within range of the console. I don't see what is so hard about this.