Will the Switch fail?

[Smooth Operator]

It will be the same as it has been for some time now, people who like Nintendo will buy it because of the brand and some extras because of the game recognition.
But other then that anyone who isn't all about Nintendo games will having nothing of interest to look at.

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

it isn't designed at all for an adult audience.


The WiiU's touch screen controller is great for when your dad wants to use the TV to watch sports and doesn't let you play video games on it. You can just turn on your WiiU and leave the room with the controller while playing on the second screen!

...Except that I'm an adult, own my own TV in my own living room, and don't have to worry about people kicking me off my TV. I don't need a portable second screen because I have A FUCK OFF BIG TV SCREEN all to myself.

The Switch's portability is great for when you have to go on a long car ride with your parents and have nothing to do. You can just pull out your switch in the back seat and play it on battery power until the drive is over.

...Except I'm an adult and I'M THE ONE DRIVING THE CAR. I'll never actually need the Switch's portability.

just because you don't need portability doesn't mean other people don't. the world doesn't revolve around your needs.



there are still millions of people who take public transport and catch airplanes etc. and of course, millions of kids will use it on car rides and or when people their parents use the tv as you already pointed out.



but alas, the Switch will fail specifically because you don't need any portability in your life.

That's true, except that as a customer MY needs are the only things that matter to me for a purchase. I'm not saying that the switch will necessarily fail because my specific needs aren't being met, however I'm definitely not the only one who doesn't care for its portability at all (and portability should really be in quotes considering you'll need to carry it in a bag since it's not pocket sized, and it's thicker than a tablet).

Also, am I the only one who is bothered by the fact that the screen isn't fully covered when it's in the docking station?

 

[DarthCoercis]

*shrug* I'm rather tempted to buy one, and it'll be my first console since the ps2 (and I bought that one second hand and only because there were a few games I wanted to play). I've been a pc gamer for most of my life, and the switch is the first console I've genuinely been interested in buying and using on a regular basis. The fact I can throw it in my briefcase and use it while i'm in transit or stuck in a boring meeting is quite appealing to me.

 

[Yoshi178]

I'm definitely not the only one who doesn't care for its portability at all (and portability should really be in quotes considering you'll need to carry it in a bag since it's not pocket sized, and it's thicker than a tablet).

considering the fact that the 3DS has around 61.37 million hardware sales, there's also a hell of a lot of people who DO care for that portability.

http://www.vgchartz.com/analysis/platform_totals/


oh and just FYI, the 3DS isn't exactly pocket sized either. at least not comfortably anyway what with everyone already carrying their Keys, phones and wallets in their pockets.

 

[aozgolo]

Oh you people and your lack of fashionable attire. Cargo pants are so in right now!

I do believe the Switch has the potential to be successful. The hardware is actually a lot more powerful than people might give it credit for. A custom Tegra processor is about as beefy as you can get in that form factor. The versatility of the platform may actually be less apparent than the reveal platform indicates, but there is ample room for Nintendo to really capitalize on a multitude of accessories and expansion capabilities for the console that could make it rather interesting. As an example, the Joy-con controllers could easily be swapped out for custom configurations, and while yes I understand there is some hesitation and criticism over the Joycon design, the implementation of a pro controller is Nintendo being a bit mindful of this and allowing multiple control options.

Ultimately I think it's success however will hinge upon 2 things, the first being the more obvious battery life of the product, the second being how well Nintendo not only courts third party development for the console, but in how effectively it markets the console's potential to those third parties to properly take advantage of.

 

[Saelune]

I'm definitely not the only one who doesn't care for its portability at all (and portability should really be in quotes considering you'll need to carry it in a bag since it's not pocket sized, and it's thicker than a tablet).

considering the fact that the 3DS has around 61.37 million hardware sales, there's also a hell of a lot of people who DO care for that portability.

http://www.vgchartz.com/analysis/platform_totals/


oh and just FYI, the 3DS isn't exactly pocket sized either. at least not comfortably anyway what with everyone already carrying their Keys, phones and wallets in their pockets.

I dont think the Switch is going to be heavily used for portability though. That people keep labeling it as more of a portable system than a home I think is silly.

I dont think Nintendo really thinks it either, considering they arent abandoning the 3DS.

Really it makes me think of how phone gaming hasnt overtaken the 3DS either. Yeah, it can play games on the go but thats not what people mainly use it for.

I think maybe the remote play or whatever thing will just be more useful than it was for the Wii U. Like, if you want to play whatever Switch game, but maybe you have to be in a different room temporarily for some reason. I may use the Switch around the house, but if I am leaving, it is 3DS thats coming with me.

 

[WoJ]

I think people are underestimating the importance of having all of Nintendo's library streamlined on one console. As the last poster noted the 3DS alone has sold 60 million copies. If the Switch serves as a successor to the 3DS then that taps into a huge market right there. I think someone else mentioned it earlier. If the Switch is the only game in town to play Pokemon then that right there will help it tremendously.

As an adult (34 years old) with a wife and young child this console appeals to me tremendously. In the evenings I often have the choice right now to spend time with my family or abandon them to mix in some gaming time. Family usually wins that argument. And quite frankly it's not even really a debate because as much as I love gaming, family takes priority. Having the Switch as something I can undock and mix in an hour or so at night while my wife and daughter are in the same room with me makes doing their own thing makes it instantly appealing. So while I get the argument of "I am an adult and own my own TV", that isn't the case for everyone. Especially people with families. I am also an adult and have multiple TV's in my home to play games on. I don't really want to kick my daughter off the TV so I can play a game. For many people like myself there will be the dynamic of wanting to let children or spouses do their thing while I do mine. I will probably never use the Switch outside of my house, but despite that I love its portability for the reasons mentioned above.

You can say that you can do this now with the 3DS, which is very true. But for me personally (and I suspect others) being able to dock the Switch when there is a chance to play on a big screen. And a streamlined Nintendo library. For over a decade I've needed two systems to get the full Nintendo experience. Now I won't need to, which as me interested in a Nintendo console for the first time since the Gamecube.

 

[Yoshi178]

I dont think Nintendo really thinks it either, considering they arent abandoning the 3DS.

3DS is about to enter it's 7th year on the market. that's a bloody long time. 3DS has been around since march 2011.


given that fact and also the fact that the only recent 2016, and 2017 games coming to the 3DS are Wii U ports with Pikmin 3DS, Dragon Quest 7 & 8 and that Mario sports game no one gives a shit about being the only new games coming to the system (well the Dragon Quest games are only new to western markets technically), then i think it's VERY safe to say that 3DS is well on it's last legs at this point.

 

[Saelune]

I dont think Nintendo really thinks it either, considering they arent abandoning the 3DS.

3DS is about to enter it's 7th year on the market. that's a bloody long time. 3DS has been around since march 2011.


given that fact and also the fact that the only recent 2016, and 2017 games coming to the 3DS are Wii U ports with Pikmin 3DS, Dragon Quest 7 & 8 and that Mario sports game no one gives a shit about being the only new games coming to the system (well the Dragon Quest games are only new to western markets technically), then i think it's VERY safe to say that 3DS is well on it's last legs at this point.

When they drop the 3DS, I will believe it, but it is the Wii U ending, not the 3DS.

 

[Igor-Rowan]

I've went to NeoGaf to read and analyze the patents [whoa boy, my life's exciting] and I've found some interesting stuff. Not gonna bother with the details, I've just the three things that called my attention.[footnote]http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1325344[/footnote]

Spoiler: The Joy-Con

Looks like 43 and 44 are L/R buttons, so the Joy-con, can be split into two SNES controllers, this is important because...

Spoiler: Splitscreen

...4 half controllers (for 4 players) or 2 full ones (where the other Nintendo Controllers may be compatible), that seems like the natural progression of the non-online features of the system: Wi-fi for the undocked system, ethernet and Wi-fi for the docked one.

Spoiler: VR?

Yup, that's what all of the fuss was about if you follow alternative news sites, I honestly don't see that being used at all, just as a cheap way of keeping in the VR race if the thing's actually successful, and that doesn't look like an add-on, more like an accessory such as the Google Carboard. What's interesting is that with the 3DS's 3D technology and the joy-con having an half for each hand this theoretically could work.

Disclaimer: these are just some concepts of what the Swiitch is and might do, it doesn't necesseraly mean it's true as the Wii U patents tell about a second GamePad you could connect to the system, but that was never used.

The design of that thing leaves it open to so many possibilites, yet the traditional setup of controller-system-TV is still there. We just gonna need see that in action, which might explain the absence of it at E3, had the slightest thing went wrong, that would've been a problem considering Zelda was at the center of the event.

 

[Specter Von Baren]

While it's not the popular opinion, I think that the Switch is actually going to correct direction and that any further systems from Sony or Playstation are the ones that will fail in the long run. For most of my life playing games I've preferred console gaming to computers but in recent years I've pulled away from consoles. Games on computers aren't like how they used to be, you don't end up in situations where you need X Y and Z to just play the game, most are just about having a decent computer and having the money to buy the game you want.

I don't see the point in conintuing to make consoles when the fight between computers and consoles is already over and won for computers. The exception to this is mobile consoles, I still use my portables a lot and phones may have better games than they used to but they still aren't up to snuff compared to a dedicated portable console in terms of power and controls. Nintendo going full portable means they're doing the smart thing and investing in the console market that can still compete.

Nintendo has always wanted to be able to make their games the way they want so they're going to hold onto their ability to make consoles as long as they can. Sony and Microsoft are probably going to switch to something like Steam eventually and drop consoles altogether, though they might still make peripherals. And eventually even Nintendo will have to give up consoles as well at some point in the future but for now I think they're making the correct choice if they want to keep making consoles for now.

 

[Igor-Rowan]

snip

Here is the thing: there is a necessity for consoles, while PC does everything, but what it doesn't is be easy to setup and not having to wait (much) to play a physical game you buy. PlayStation 4 and Xbox 1 are downgraded PCs, now highlighted with the Pro and Scorpio, but there still are games for it that you insert the disc and play, we are used to things such as Steam and online stores, but for a casual gamer (usually the target of sales) such things are too much.

Meanwhile on the other side of the spectrum, handheld gaming has taken a hit in the recent years, the casual audience whom the Wii aimed at moved on to devices that do many things, gaming being a fairly limited one, so Nintendo has to fight this in order to keep gaming on that side afloat, or else handhelds run the risk of turning outright obsolete, unlike the need for console that will always exist.

 

[meiam]

I dont think Nintendo really thinks it either, considering they arent abandoning the 3DS.

3DS is about to enter it's 7th year on the market. that's a bloody long time. 3DS has been around since march 2011.


given that fact and also the fact that the only recent 2016, and 2017 games coming to the 3DS are Wii U ports with Pikmin 3DS, Dragon Quest 7 & 8 and that Mario sports game no one gives a shit about being the only new games coming to the system (well the Dragon Quest games are only new to western markets technically), then i think it's VERY safe to say that 3DS is well on it's last legs at this point.

When they drop the 3DS, I will believe it, but it is the Wii U ending, not the 3DS.

What exactly would you consider dropping anyway? As far as I'm aware there's no more nintendo game announced for the 3DS.

 

[Saelune]

I dont think Nintendo really thinks it either, considering they arent abandoning the 3DS.

3DS is about to enter it's 7th year on the market. that's a bloody long time. 3DS has been around since march 2011.


given that fact and also the fact that the only recent 2016, and 2017 games coming to the 3DS are Wii U ports with Pikmin 3DS, Dragon Quest 7 & 8 and that Mario sports game no one gives a shit about being the only new games coming to the system (well the Dragon Quest games are only new to western markets technically), then i think it's VERY safe to say that 3DS is well on it's last legs at this point.

When they drop the 3DS, I will believe it, but it is the Wii U ending, not the 3DS.

What exactly would you consider dropping anyway? As far as I'm aware there's no more nintendo game announced for the 3DS.

Not like this is something I'd wager my life on, I just prefer to see it before I believe it, especially after the myriad of rumors that surrounded the Switch.

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

I'm definitely not the only one who doesn't care for its portability at all (and portability should really be in quotes considering you'll need to carry it in a bag since it's not pocket sized, and it's thicker than a tablet).

considering the fact that the 3DS has around 61.37 million hardware sales, there's also a hell of a lot of people who DO care for that portability.

http://www.vgchartz.com/analysis/platform_totals/


oh and just FYI, the 3DS isn't exactly pocket sized either. at least not comfortably anyway what with everyone already carrying their Keys, phones and wallets in their pockets.

The 3DS is pretty pocket sized. I can fit one in my back pocket no problem.

Not only that but the 3DS folds in half meaning that the screens are protected. The Switch won't have a protected screen when in portable mode, so you can't exactly throw it into any bag and go. You'll either need a special carrying case for it or a backpack that has a padded section where you can put it because if you have anything else near it the screen WILL scratch.

That's another layer of obfuscation between you and playing your game.

In order to play with your 3DS you pull it out of your pocket and play it. In order to play with the switch you'll have to carry it in your backpack, take it out of the backpack, take it out of its carrying case, dig around for the controller attachments, attach the controller attachments, and THEN you get to play your game. And putting it away is the same process.

Maybe not a huge deal if you're riding in the backseat of a car on an hour long drive. Not going to be particularly great for portability if your commute is a 10 minute subway ride.

 

[Yoshi178]

I'm definitely not the only one who doesn't care for its portability at all (and portability should really be in quotes considering you'll need to carry it in a bag since it's not pocket sized, and it's thicker than a tablet).

considering the fact that the 3DS has around 61.37 million hardware sales, there's also a hell of a lot of people who DO care for that portability.

http://www.vgchartz.com/analysis/platform_totals/


oh and just FYI, the 3DS isn't exactly pocket sized either. at least not comfortably anyway what with everyone already carrying their Keys, phones and wallets in their pockets.

The 3DS is pretty pocket sized. I can fit one in my back pocket no problem.

Not only that but the 3DS folds in half meaning that the screens are protected. The Switch won't have a protected screen when in portable mode, so you can't exactly throw it into any bag and go. You'll either need a special carrying case for it or a backpack that has a padded section where you can put it because if you have anything else near it the screen WILL scratch.

That's another layer of obfuscation between you and playing your game.

In order to play with your 3DS you pull it out of your pocket and play it. In order to play with the switch you'll have to carry it in your backpack, take it out of the backpack, take it out of its carrying case, dig around for the controller attachments, attach the controller attachments, and THEN you get to play your game. And putting it away is the same process.

Maybe not a huge deal if you're riding in the backseat of a car on an hour long drive. Not going to be particularly great for portability if your commute is a 10 minute subway ride.

this is seriously some major 1st world problems you're having right here.

also, why would you need to "dig around" for the controller attachments when they are literally attached to the tablet unless you decided to take them off and play with them like Wiimotes.

i don't see many people complain about the GBA, PSP & Vita, iphone, ipad, etc not having protected screens either

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

I'm definitely not the only one who doesn't care for its portability at all (and portability should really be in quotes considering you'll need to carry it in a bag since it's not pocket sized, and it's thicker than a tablet).

considering the fact that the 3DS has around 61.37 million hardware sales, there's also a hell of a lot of people who DO care for that portability.

http://www.vgchartz.com/analysis/platform_totals/


oh and just FYI, the 3DS isn't exactly pocket sized either. at least not comfortably anyway what with everyone already carrying their Keys, phones and wallets in their pockets.

The 3DS is pretty pocket sized. I can fit one in my back pocket no problem.

Not only that but the 3DS folds in half meaning that the screens are protected. The Switch won't have a protected screen when in portable mode, so you can't exactly throw it into any bag and go. You'll either need a special carrying case for it or a backpack that has a padded section where you can put it because if you have anything else near it the screen WILL scratch.

That's another layer of obfuscation between you and playing your game.

In order to play with your 3DS you pull it out of your pocket and play it. In order to play with the switch you'll have to carry it in your backpack, take it out of the backpack, take it out of its carrying case, dig around for the controller attachments, attach the controller attachments, and THEN you get to play your game. And putting it away is the same process.

Maybe not a huge deal if you're riding in the backseat of a car on an hour long drive. Not going to be particularly great for portability if your commute is a 10 minute subway ride.

this is seriously some major 1st world problems you're having right here.

also, why would you need to "dig around" for the controller attachments when they are literally attached to the tablet unless you decided to take them off and play with them like Wiimotes.

i don't see many people complain about the GBA, PSP & Vita, iphone, ipad, etc not having protected screens either

Really, people don't have a problem with unprotected screens?

Spoiler: Literally the screen of every woman I know who keeps her iPhone in her purse

And you'll need to detach the controller part from the screen part during transport because the controller part is thicker and fatter than the screen. If you want to have the screen in a protected case (like you would when carrying around an iPad) you'll have to detach the controller.

And yes, these would be first world problems, as would any problems dealing with electronics, even more-so video games. I guess you really showed me.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

I'm definitely not the only one who doesn't care for its portability at all (and portability should really be in quotes considering you'll need to carry it in a bag since it's not pocket sized, and it's thicker than a tablet).

considering the fact that the 3DS has around 61.37 million hardware sales, there's also a hell of a lot of people who DO care for that portability.

http://www.vgchartz.com/analysis/platform_totals/


oh and just FYI, the 3DS isn't exactly pocket sized either. at least not comfortably anyway what with everyone already carrying their Keys, phones and wallets in their pockets.

The 3DS is pretty pocket sized. I can fit one in my back pocket no problem.

Not only that but the 3DS folds in half meaning that the screens are protected. The Switch won't have a protected screen when in portable mode, so you can't exactly throw it into any bag and go. You'll either need a special carrying case for it or a backpack that has a padded section where you can put it because if you have anything else near it the screen WILL scratch.

That's another layer of obfuscation between you and playing your game.

In order to play with your 3DS you pull it out of your pocket and play it. In order to play with the switch you'll have to carry it in your backpack, take it out of the backpack, take it out of its carrying case, dig around for the controller attachments, attach the controller attachments, and THEN you get to play your game. And putting it away is the same process.

Maybe not a huge deal if you're riding in the backseat of a car on an hour long drive. Not going to be particularly great for portability if your commute is a 10 minute subway ride.

this is seriously some major 1st world problems you're having right here.

A portable gaming device readily available for entertainment is arguably servicing a "1st world problem" to begin with - the problem of having to leave your house at some point, that is.

 

[Yoshi178]

I'm definitely not the only one who doesn't care for its portability at all (and portability should really be in quotes considering you'll need to carry it in a bag since it's not pocket sized, and it's thicker than a tablet).

considering the fact that the 3DS has around 61.37 million hardware sales, there's also a hell of a lot of people who DO care for that portability.

http://www.vgchartz.com/analysis/platform_totals/


oh and just FYI, the 3DS isn't exactly pocket sized either. at least not comfortably anyway what with everyone already carrying their Keys, phones and wallets in their pockets.

The 3DS is pretty pocket sized. I can fit one in my back pocket no problem.

Not only that but the 3DS folds in half meaning that the screens are protected. The Switch won't have a protected screen when in portable mode, so you can't exactly throw it into any bag and go. You'll either need a special carrying case for it or a backpack that has a padded section where you can put it because if you have anything else near it the screen WILL scratch.

That's another layer of obfuscation between you and playing your game.

In order to play with your 3DS you pull it out of your pocket and play it. In order to play with the switch you'll have to carry it in your backpack, take it out of the backpack, take it out of its carrying case, dig around for the controller attachments, attach the controller attachments, and THEN you get to play your game. And putting it away is the same process.

Maybe not a huge deal if you're riding in the backseat of a car on an hour long drive. Not going to be particularly great for portability if your commute is a 10 minute subway ride.

this is seriously some major 1st world problems you're having right here.

A portable gaming device readily available for entertainment is arguably servicing a "1st world problem" to begin with - the problem of having to leave your house at some point, that is.

oh problems with gaming devices definitely are first world problems to begin with for sure.


but i find problems like my system not having enough memory space on it or not having much games coming out for it, 1st or 3rd Party, or even something like not having a proper account system where you can't just transfer over your old digital games to your new device and instead have to pay for the same games twice.

problems like those, at least to me, are MUCH bigger and more concerning problems than things like "i have to carry my tablet around in a bag because it doesn't fit in my pocket", "i have to look through my bag to find my controller attachments and of course "i have to buy a carry case to protect the screen".

may god help you when you have to look for the tv remote to swap to your consoles channel when you play your games.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

I'm definitely not the only one who doesn't care for its portability at all (and portability should really be in quotes considering you'll need to carry it in a bag since it's not pocket sized, and it's thicker than a tablet).

considering the fact that the 3DS has around 61.37 million hardware sales, there's also a hell of a lot of people who DO care for that portability.

http://www.vgchartz.com/analysis/platform_totals/


oh and just FYI, the 3DS isn't exactly pocket sized either. at least not comfortably anyway what with everyone already carrying their Keys, phones and wallets in their pockets.

The 3DS is pretty pocket sized. I can fit one in my back pocket no problem.

Not only that but the 3DS folds in half meaning that the screens are protected. The Switch won't have a protected screen when in portable mode, so you can't exactly throw it into any bag and go. You'll either need a special carrying case for it or a backpack that has a padded section where you can put it because if you have anything else near it the screen WILL scratch.

That's another layer of obfuscation between you and playing your game.

In order to play with your 3DS you pull it out of your pocket and play it. In order to play with the switch you'll have to carry it in your backpack, take it out of the backpack, take it out of its carrying case, dig around for the controller attachments, attach the controller attachments, and THEN you get to play your game. And putting it away is the same process.

Maybe not a huge deal if you're riding in the backseat of a car on an hour long drive. Not going to be particularly great for portability if your commute is a 10 minute subway ride.

this is seriously some major 1st world problems you're having right here.

A portable gaming device readily available for entertainment is arguably servicing a "1st world problem" to begin with - the problem of having to leave your house at some point, that is.

oh problems with gaming devices definitely are first world problems to begin with for sure.


but i find problems like my system not having enough memory space on it or not having much games coming out for it, 1st or 3rd Party, or even something like not having a proper account system where you can't just transfer over you're digital games and instead have to pay for the same games twice.

problems like those, at least to me, are MUCH bigger and more concerning problems than things like "i have to carry my tablet around in a bag because it doesn't fit in my pocket", "i have to look through my bag to find my controller attachments and of course "i have to buy a carry case to protect the screen".

I think questioning the durability/handiness of a handheld device is as valid as any other consumer concern, especially when other handheld devices employ measures - such as screen protection - that the device in question does not.