Nintendo Switch....DOA

[votemarvel]

Yes, really.

People continue to show Microsoft and Sony that they are willing to pay a fee to play online, either company would be foolish to stop it now. They might moan about paying it but they dutifully hand over that subscription money.

Subscriptions to play online are now so ingrained into the console market that it is impossible to get them out. Nintendo have seen how willing console gamers are to pay that fee and so want a piece of the pie.

It would take a move of such massive proportions to get the majority of people to stop paying their Gold or PSN sub and that would be the only way to get the fees dropped.

...and next Valve may get on board because where you gonna turn if you don't like it?

Such is the blind love of Steam among PC gamers that I actually think Valve could get away with it.

Where would I go if Steam did start charging for online play? GoG, Origin, UPlay. Play the Steam games by using customer servers. There are a wealth of options available.

I would like to point out that I do actually have a active Live subscription at this point in time, due to run out in August . I managed to pick up three years worth of Gold for around ?40. Why did I buy it? I had made good friends with many people abroad and wanted to remain in contact with them, at that point in time Live was the only option to do so.

These days I have those friends on Facebook and other chat programs, I even travelled to the States to visit a couple of them. My 360 now sits under the TV in the living room to act as a media extender, a job that it continues to do excellently by the way (far better than the One ever managed).

Anyway I realise that I've neglected to actually comment on the Switch in this thread, so here we go.

I don't think it will be dead on arrival but I think it will swiftly need to decide where it wants to focus, home or mobile. I think developers will quickly reach a point where they can't, or simply won't, put the time and effort in to make sure the games run well when the Switch is undocked.

Will Nintendo allow the third party publishers/developers to make a 'Docked Only' Switch game? That I think will be the point the Switch's future will be decided.

 

[TheMajesticSpaceDuck]

For some people the pros outweigh the cons. For some the Switch is providing something they want. For others not so much. How is this a heated argument? If you want one buy do if you don't don't.

 

[Casual Shinji]

last time i checked the DS4 and basic Xbox One Controllers didn't have Motion and Gyro Sensors in them, they didn't have HD Rumble, nor did they have have a camera on them like the Joy Con does. the Joy Con is more advanced tech than what the DS4 and standard XBone controller have.

Then they'd better have an announcer in every store that sells them to tell the average consumer how totally advanced and worth the price these things really are.

It doesn't matter how advanced the tech inside these things are, it's ridiculous to ask 80 bucks for something that just controls a simple videogame. And yes, both the regular PS4 and Xbox One controllers are also pushing it, but Nintendo is now going even beyond that with amounts to two itsy bitsy remotes.

oh and by the way, the Xbox One Elite Controller is still almost double the price of what 2 Joy Con Controllers are. (at least in Australia it is anyway. over here 2 Joycons cost $120 whereas an Xbox One elite controller costs $200 over here)

That's probably why it's called 'Elite' and not 'regular'.

 

[Yoshi178]

That's probably why it's called 'Elite' and not 'regular'.

it's ridiculous to ask 200 bucks for something that just controls a simple videogame.

 

[Casual Shinji]

That's probably why it's called 'Elite' and not 'regular'.

it's ridiculous to ask 200 bucks for something that just controls a simple videogame.

Yes it is, and some people might want to, but if they don't they have the choice to get the regular, cheaper version. Again, it's called 'Elite' for a reason, as in, 'more fancy and expensive than the regular controller'.

I don't know why you're trying to compare the Elite controller to the joycons, since one is the fancy option and one is the default.

 

[CaitSeith]

Yes, really.

People continue to show Microsoft and Sony that they are willing to pay a fee to play online, either company would be foolish to stop it now. They might moan about paying it but they dutifully hand over that subscription money.

Subscriptions to play online are now so ingrained into the console market that it is impossible to get them out. Nintendo have seen how willing console gamers are to pay that fee and so want a piece of the pie.

It would take a move of such massive proportions to get the majority of people to stop paying their Gold or PSN sub and that would be the only way to get the fees dropped.

...and next Valve may get on board because where you gonna turn if you don't like it?

Such is the blind love of Steam among PC gamers that I actually think Valve could get away with it.

Remember, they didn't get away with paid mods.

 

[votemarvel]

Remember, they didn't get away with paid mods.

That's a fair point.

 

[Mahorfeus]

The Switch is confirmed to come with no software whatsoever, right? I mean, even the Wii came with Wii Sports, which was basically virtual crack to everyone that played it. Maybe it's cost prohibitive, but you'd think that they'd do something similar. I mean, hell, 1-2-Switch would be ideal for that. It doesn't strike me as a game many people would be willing to shell out 50 USD for anyway.

Granted, my future vision is already telling me that I'm going to end up with one of these. I still don't understand why aren't waiting until the holiday season to release it.

 

[votemarvel]

I'm actually keen to see what the modding community can pull off with the Switch. Imagine a system that could, well no better word, switch seamlessly between Nintendo's OS, Windows, and Android.

 

[008Zulu_v1legacy]

I'm sure the 500 units they shipped worldwide for the pre-orders will sell out Day 1. Then Nintendo can say that their consoles sold out on Day 1.

I think that the launch won't be as successful as they hoped, and it will only continue to drop off until they get decent 3rd party (current) games on the system.

 

[Mcgeezaks]

Things clueless console gamers say:

Oh no, a $300 console is less powerful than a $800 computer that requires a new graphics card every 4 months. Whatever shall I do?

And seriously, paywalls behind consoles aren't new.

Anyway, the ~400 dollar price tag is ridiculous, combine that with a online subscription fee makes it very ridiculous. The consoles specs are worse than consoles released over 3 years ago and yet it's +100 dollar more expensive. Yeah no thanks.

 

[aeroblaster]

I don't understand why this "console power" argument still persists.

You should only buy a Nintendo console if you like their first party games. Expecting anything else is pure ignorance on your part. Even Nintendo themselves have fully admitted it's just a mario/zelda/etc franchise exclusivity machine. If you want to play non-Nintendo games, buy a non-Nintendo console rather than complaining the Wii/Wii U/Switch doesn't have the games you want.

Xbox and PlayStation are in a completely different arms-race, and you see the "pro" versions of their consoles as a band-aid solution to console power quickly getting outdated in comparison to PC gaming.

People used to call Nintendo/Xbox/PlayStation the "big three" but that no longer exists.

Nintendo completely dominates the portable market, nothing else even comes close. The 3DS is Nintendo's hidden console that prints money.

Meanwhile Xbox and PlayStation fight each other while also trying to remain relevant with the looming threat of PC making them obsolete.

Nintendo is going to be successful because they no longer compete with the "big three" and just make millions dominating their portable niche. The Switch is going to be one of the most successful consoles in history, you heard it here first.

 

[Yoshi178]

The Switch is going to be one of the most successful consoles in history, you heard it here first.

i don't know about that, but the Switch should definitely end up doing much better than the Wii U did for sure.

apparently it's already sold its first Global shipment of 2 million consoles to support that

 

[Fox12]

Okay, but is that the only thing it has over the PS4 and Xbox One? Because I'll be honest, I can live without that. I don't take that many car (or other transportation) rides, and certainly not ones that last long enough for me to wanna pull out a gaming device.

It's a home console on the go, but it's still a home console and is being marketed as such. And when compared to the competion in the same field it falls very short.

Ever think that maybe this console isn't being marketed to you?

Me neither, but if I have to buy a new one because my old one broke down I know I won't have to pay 80 dollars for it. And this is just me making a wild guess, but the reaction of the average consumer that doesn't know or care about the tech that's inside the joycon is going to look at that 50 dollar price tag for a little, plastic looking toy and laugh.

Eh, decent chance you'll still be able to play whatever game with just one joycon.

Far as the price goes, a PS4 controller still costs the same as a AAA title, and the joycon pack is like buying two wiimotes, so...

*shrug* Guess I don't see the problem. If anything, I could claim the Switch supports two player local co-op out if the box for most titles.

Well, who is it being marketed too? People who like to pay more money for a less powerful console that has a smaller library of games? It's too expensive and low power to be a worthwhile home gaming console, and it's battery life is too short to be a worthwhile handheld. Not to mention how cumbersome it is. It has the weaknesses of both handhelds and consoles and the strengths of neither. So what's the point?

I'm struggling to see what demographic this is apparently being marketed to, other then the hard core Nintendo fans. I suspect that, as a result, it will fail to find an audience and fail. But only time can tell.

 

[RaikuFA]

Things clueless console gamers say:

Oh no, a $300 console is less powerful than a $800 computer that requires a new graphics card every 4 months. Whatever shall I do?

And seriously, paywalls behind consoles aren't new.

Anyway, the ~400 dollar price tag is ridiculous, combine that with a online subscription fee makes it very ridiculous. The consoles specs are worse than consoles released over 3 years ago and yet it's +100 dollar more expensive. Yeah no thanks.

I used to be a PC gamer. Had to quit when my PC broke and I was told to "figure it out myself".

Either way the paid online is stupid(doubly so if the only plus is renting a ROM a month) and I was more pointing out to PS/XB owners that are saying Nintendo is stupid for paid online are living in glass houses.

 

[Fox12]

Well, who is it being marketed too? People who like to pay more money for a less powerful console that has a smaller library of games? It's too expensive and low power to be a worthwhile home gaming console, and it's battery life is too short to be a worthwhile handheld. Not to mention how cumbersome it is. It has the weaknesses of both handhelds and consoles and the strengths of neither. So what's the point?

I'm struggling to see what demographic this is apparently being marketed to, other then the hard core Nintendo fans. I suspect that, as a result, it will fail to find an audience and fail. But only time can tell.

People who play Nintendo games and people who want to play a new Xenoblade game (where is X2?!).

So the same audience as the WiiU? We've already seen how well that played out.

People can't just deflect valid criticism by saying the game "isn't marketed to you." That's a non-argument.

 

[Cold Shiny]

Well, who is it being marketed too? People who like to pay more money for a less powerful console that has a smaller library of games? It's too expensive and low power to be a worthwhile home gaming console, and it's battery life is too short to be a worthwhile handheld. Not to mention how cumbersome it is. It has the weaknesses of both handhelds and consoles and the strengths of neither. So what's the point?

I'm struggling to see what demographic this is apparently being marketed to, other then the hard core Nintendo fans. I suspect that, as a result, it will fail to find an audience and fail. But only time can tell.

People who play Nintendo games and people who want to play a new Xenoblade game (where is X2?!).

So the same audience as the WiiU? We've already seen how well that played out.

People can't just deflect valid criticism by saying the game "isn't marketed to you." That's a non-argument.

It is a good argument though. A console that was marketed towards "everyone in existence" would be the perfect console, and the most perfect piece of technology ever actually. Companies have to choose who they want to appeal to, because they can't have everyone. Nintendo, obviously, is not marketing towards the tech savvy, power hungry, GRAFAX obsessed PC crowd. They just aren't. They are marketing towards Japan. The Switch was designed for Japan, as much as people here might hate that.

 

[Mcgeezaks]

I don't understand why this "console power" argument still persists.

You should only buy a Nintendo console if you like their first party games. Expecting anything else is pure ignorance on your part. Even Nintendo themselves have fully admitted it's just a mario/zelda/etc franchise exclusivity machine. If you want to play non-Nintendo games, buy a non-Nintendo console rather than complaining the Wii/Wii U/Switch doesn't have the games you want.

Xbox and PlayStation are in a completely different arms-race, and you see the "pro" versions of their consoles as a band-aid solution to console power quickly getting outdated in comparison to PC gaming.

People used to call Nintendo/Xbox/PlayStation the "big three" but that no longer exists.

Nintendo completely dominates the portable market, nothing else even comes close. The 3DS is Nintendo's hidden console that prints money.

Meanwhile Xbox and PlayStation fight each other while also trying to remain relevant with the looming threat of PC making them obsolete.

Nintendo is going to be successful because they no longer compete with the "big three" and just make millions dominating their portable niche. The Switch is going to be one of the most successful consoles in history, you heard it here first.

It's not as much about the components power as it is about the price for me. I can't justify it for myself, components worse than the components in consoles released over 3 years ago yet it's +100$ dollar more expensive. It's why I rarely bought games for my Wii, they cost about the same as new 360/PS3 games but they looked worse and relied almost exclusively on gameplay. So why did they cost so much when they were cheaper to produce? That's how I feel about the Switch and probably its games too.

I used to be a PC gamer. Had to quit when my PC broke and I was told to "figure it out myself".

Well that is the easiest and cheapest way if you're knowledgeable but you could've just taken it to a shop and let them troubleshoot it for a small fee.

 

[Fox12]

Well, who is it being marketed too? People who like to pay more money for a less powerful console that has a smaller library of games? It's too expensive and low power to be a worthwhile home gaming console, and it's battery life is too short to be a worthwhile handheld. Not to mention how cumbersome it is. It has the weaknesses of both handhelds and consoles and the strengths of neither. So what's the point?

I'm struggling to see what demographic this is apparently being marketed to, other then the hard core Nintendo fans. I suspect that, as a result, it will fail to find an audience and fail. But only time can tell.

People who play Nintendo games and people who want to play a new Xenoblade game (where is X2?!).

So the same audience as the WiiU? We've already seen how well that played out.

People can't just deflect valid criticism by saying the game "isn't marketed to you." That's a non-argument.

It is a good argument though. A console that was marketed towards "everyone in existence" would be the perfect console, and the most perfect piece of technology ever actually. Companies have to choose who they want to appeal to, because they can't have everyone. Nintendo, obviously, is not marketing towards the tech savvy, power hungry, GRAFAX obsessed PC crowd. They just aren't. They are marketing towards Japan. The Switch was designed for Japan, as much as people here might hate that.

Then why is it so large and cumbersome compared to a 3DS, and why does it have a terrible battery life? Are Japanese businessmen really supposed to pull this out on a crowded train to work, and keep it on their person during the day? Saying "it's not marketed to you" fails to address any of the actual criticisms being made. Therefore it's a non-argument.