Nintendo Switch

[TehStu]

6 hours ago, Jarik said:

I'd be more concerned with ease of development than specs anyway.  If developing games for the NX is (relatively) simple then it will be easier to build up a software base, & a bigger software base will attract more development, which is always the catch-22 that new consoles in general (and Nintendo in particular) face.

 

I think it would be reasonable to assume it's android based, right? Obviously they won't have the Google framework, but there's bound to be a load of middleware on which to base their tools. I guess they'd just need to create their own account/achievements type interface, and everyone seems to have managed one of those.

[mushashi]

15 hours ago, Halo said:

I think this puts the console in an awkward position that could be a major issue for 3rd parties. It's too weak for Xbone/PS4 ports, developers are going to be reluctant to make a console with no install base their lead platform, and the system is powerful enough to make developing system-pushing exclusives an expensive proposition.

 

I've long felt that sitting in an awkward middle ground is a major reason why the Vita failed. Too weak for ports and too small install base for developing increasingly expensive exclusives. In the end,  the system's library became niche low-to-mid-budget Japanese titles - and Nintendo surely has grander ambitions than being the future lead platform for the Neptunia series.

 

I'd think multiple Western third-party EOs praising it for luring back smartphone and casual users to consoles would have been the bigger giveaway about the direction Nintendo are wanting to head. I'd give up the dream that Nintendo are ever going to be a viable choice for the sorts of games people here want to play without buying another box, they aren't competing in that market anymore.

 

You buy a Nintendo box for Nintendo games, nothing is changing on that front based on the evidence. The MCV article mentioning who is supporting it are the exact same companies who have supported the Wii and Wii U, and we already know the sorts of games they were putting out on those consoles over time. Their grand ambition would be to do another Wii, it'll be interesting to see what the flagship new game is for it, Wii Sports and Nintendo Land being the last two efforts to show off what made the last 2 consoles different.

[scottcr]

Imagine...

 

Games of the calibre, depth and looks of Zelda, Mario World, Bayonetta 2, Xenoblade Chronicles X, Pikmin 3, Wonder 101, Mario Kart 8 ... all able to be taken away and played anywhere, then plugged into the big telly (any telly) when you get home to carry on playing.  Arguably, due to 2 hours comutting a day and business travel, my 3DS gets more play than any other console. 

 

Imagine, playing MK8 on the go, take it to a pals hoose, plug it into the big telly and play 4 players there and then.  

 

It's fucking PERFECT.  

 

Then they'll release Monster Hunter on it and it will clear up in Japan.

 

The only flaw is that I might need more than one of them - so the kids can play games while Daddy is away with it.

[scottcr]

If they're realllllllly smart - they could release a phone app that allows your phone to be used as a controller.  

 

EDIT: TO COMPLEMENT THE OBVIOUSLY AMAZING TACTICLE CONTROLLER ON THE SYSTEM

 

Go to a pals hoose, plug it into the big telly, download the app on the phones - away you go.

 

Even better - if each game had customised controllers... 

 

Of course, it's my NX, so I get to use the proper controller.

[Guest]

Oh god, I've been suckered into answering again, but I've got to say no to phone controllers. It needs tactile feedback.

[Paulando]

And put GPS into it. When you take it out, the Pokémon game uses a real world map to let you catch Pokémon, then you can bring it back home to use them in the regular game.

[mushashi]

You'd think Ubisoft would use that feature for Just Dance 2017 NX, as they introduced it as an option a few years back, it even supported the Wii U version:

 

Quote

Play Just Dance using your iOS device and your Wii U™, PlayStation®4 or Xbox One console – no additional cameras or accessories required! If you’re holding a phone, you’re ready to Just Dance. This app allows your phone to track your movements and score your dance moves.

 

[scottcr]

11 minutes ago, Jon said:

Oh god, I've been suckered into answering again, but I've got to say no to phone controllers. It needs tactile feedback.

 

Youse have missed my point.  Of course it needs tactile controllers.  This is just to allow people who might not have it to play when you take it to their house.  Rather than humpfing over another 3 controllers.  

 

Then, of course, they'll love it and want to buy their own.

[Guest]

10 minutes ago, scottcr said:

 

Youse have missed my point.  Of course it needs tactile controllers.  This is just to allow people who might not have it to play when you take it to their house.  Rather than humpfing over another 3 controllers.  

 

Then, of course, they'll love it and want to buy their own.

They won't love it if they have to play it on a phone, while the console owner gets the proper controls and beats their arse repeatedly!

[scottcr]

actually - my idea wouldn't work anyway, because you need to look at the phone to see the controls...

 

as you were.

 

 

[smac]

48 minutes ago, scottcr said:

If they're realllllllly smart - they could release a phone app that allows your phone to be used as a controller.  

 

EDIT: TO COMPLEMENT THE OBVIOUSLY AMAZING TACTICLE CONTROLLER ON THE SYSTEM

 

Go to a pals hoose, plug it into the big telly, download the app on the phones - away you go.

 

Even better - if each game had customised controllers... 

 

Of course, it's my NX, so I get to use the proper controller.

 

Was it Nintendo or Apple who had the patent for haptic feedback from a tablet screen? Or is my brain making it up?

 

Maybe MS:

 

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/publication/slickfeel-sliding-and-clicking-haptic-feedback-on-a-touchscreen/

 

Actually, looks like several players have tech in this field.

[mushashi]

An interesting comment from somebody who has sauce and a track record dating back years, sounds like the idea that the dock gives a different performance profile might be wrong, and it's more like a laptop dock, just for easy connection and charging:

 

Quote

Well my disappointment was about power too (if my sources are true) since you can't have a PS4 or XB1 on a HH device as you can guess. Obviously for a HH is a good power but very far for a home console. But I repeat if the sources are true since everything is not set in stone.

In fact I didn't heard anything about different modes (i mean that when docked anything changes). So for a home console I see that power (if true) a great disappointment.

But I understand that for Nintendo it's the best scenario since they are unable to maintain 2 consoles at the same time when they changed to HD development as we saw with 3ds/Wiiu.

 

Quote

Depends on your definition of "hybrid" (I asked on GAF this and no one gave me an answer since everyone has a different definition).

And about the disappointment quote It's my personal opinion since I'm not a HH gamer (I have them but I don't play a lot with them) but I understand that it could be perfect for others.

 

 

Sounds like he thinks it is indeed killing off the too similar portable line, unless they publicly go with the Third Pillar option to hedge their bets for success.

 

[gizmo1990]

1 hour ago, scottcr said:

actually - my idea wouldn't work anyway, because you need to look at the phone to see the controls...

 

as you were.

 

 

 

Good grief Scott, I thought we'd lost you there!

 

I'm still holding out hope that the device somehow incorporates two self contained controllers for always available 2 player shenanigans.

[scottcr]

The USP of this is really easy to explain... it's a home console you can carry with you and play anywhere.  You can imagine the advert of someone playing Monster Hunter on the bus/train and then plugging it into the dock and sitting on the couch for a big game (shoving headphones on or something for online gaming even)... 

 

It'll be great for family holidays as well.

 

All this stuff about POWA is really quite boring now.  

[Paulando]

Maybe in future they'll release a smaller, handheld-only version: an NX Micro if you will. Everything is crossbuy, everything has online save syncing, buy any of these games and play them on any of these consoles.

 

So I don't see the point in maintaining two console lines in future. Handheld and home games are so similar these days, and instant standby makes any game portable-friendly.

[scottcr]

and - pretty much since day 1 - my main gripe with the WiiU has been the limited range of the gamepad.  

 

I'm really looking forward to a game with the oompf of the WiiU (at least) and the ability to play on any telly in the house.  If the kids/wife are using the big telly upstairs, I can just as easily play it on the smaller telly in the other room.

 

Quite excited about it now.

[mushashi]

12 minutes ago, scottcr said:

The USP of this is really easy to explain... it's a home console you can carry with you and play anywhere.

 

Or it might be equally accurately described as a portable tablet that you can use at home on your big TV too if you want. The PSP 2000 had TV Out and home equivalent games, few thought that was a home console.

[Oh Danny Boy]

34 minutes ago, scottcr said:

and - pretty much since day 1 - my main gripe with the WiiU has been the limited range of the gamepad.  

 

I'm really looking forward to a game with the oompf of the WiiU (at least) and the ability to play on any telly in the house.  If the kids/wife are using the big telly upstairs, I can just as easily play it on the smaller telly in the other room.

 

Quite excited about it now.

 

You'd buy a bag of feces and declare it as the best thing ever if Nintendo branded it with their logo. 

[Guest]

10 minutes ago, Oh Danny Boy said:

 

You'd buy a bag of feces and declare it as the best thing ever if Nintendo branded it with their logo. 

Can you play Zelda on that? I'm in.

[Sarlaccfood]

10 minutes ago, Oh Danny Boy said:

 

You'd buy a bag of feces and declare it as the best thing ever if Nintendo branded it with their logo. 

 

 

Yeah but if that bag of faeces played Mario and Zelda.....

[KriessG]

Wasn't there a leaked document or rumour on the initial portable machine launching first and then a dedicated home only device launching later in the year? I've not heard it mentioned for a while, and anyway it is not something I would want, I'm day one in March.

[MikeBeaver]

3 hours ago, mushashi said:

 

I'd think multiple Western third-party EOs praising it for luring back smartphone and casual users to consoles would have been the bigger giveaway about the direction Nintendo are wanting to head. I'd give up the dream that Nintendo are ever going to be a viable choice for the sorts of games people here want to play without buying another box, they aren't competing in that market anymore.

 

You buy a Nintendo box for Nintendo games, nothing is changing on that front based on the evidence. The MCV article mentioning who is supporting it are the exact same companies who have supported the Wii and Wii U, and we already know the sorts of games they were putting out on those consoles over time. Their grand ambition would be to do another Wii, it'll be interesting to see what the flagship new game is for it, Wii Sports and Nintendo Land being the last two efforts to show off what made the last 2 consoles different.

The flagship launch game will be Zelda, no other game is needed .... Playing that on the telly, getting out of your seat, picking up the screen component and carrying on whisky you are out and about is perfectly great

[Paulando]

I imagine it'll be a full, home/handheld NX launching first, then a cheaper TV-only box without a screen launching later, probably in time for Christmas. It can't be much bigger than an Apple TV then, surely? If it's cheap and it has Pokémon on it, that thing will sell.

[KriessG]

I think the proper unit in March will be priced competitively anyway from reports, so an even cheaper home only unit for Christmas would be a great thing for them to do.

[Guest]

10 minutes ago, MikeBeaver said:

The flagship launch game will be Zelda, no other game is needed .... Playing that on the telly, getting out of your seat, picking up the screen component and carrying on whisky you are out and about is perfectly great

Whiskey.

[gone fishin]

12 minutes ago, KriessG said:

Wasn't there a leaked document or rumour on the initial portable machine launching first and then a dedicated home only device launching later in the year? I've not heard it mentioned for a while, and anyway it is not something I would want, I'm day one in March.

Yes, that was the rumour. And that the home unit would use cloud processing to increase performance further (iirc Nintendo patented some thing around that).

 

Maybe the initial dock is expanded a little on the Wii U premium dock, but with an HDMI port in addition to power. 

[MikeBeaver]

1 hour ago, mushashi said:

 

Or it might be equally accurately described as a portable tablet that you can use at home on your big TV too if you want. The PSP 2000 had TV Out and home equivalent games, few thought that was a home console.

Component out was ONLY for UND's or downloaded films though, to get the PSP to play games on the th, you had to install custom firmware, and even when you did, the machine handled it VERY badly!!

[TehStu]

We're about 8 months from supposed launch, when will they start promoting this thing properly?

[Comrade]

3 hours ago, BruceBruce said:

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/nintendo-bolsters-nx-line-greater-third-party-support-game-freak-pokemon-title-1574263

 

According to this and many other articles on the net (albeit rumors), Gamefreak is making a Pokemon game for the NX.  This is very unusual considering they typically only make their Pokemon games for the handheld consoles.  This means they might be porting Sun/Moon to the NX or perhaps a third game tying into those... "Pokemon Earth"?

 

Whatever it means, the point is that we might be seeing a full Gamefreak Pokemon title coming to the home console for the first time.  Which makes sense considering the NX is also portable and will more than likely communicate with the 3DS.

 

I wouldn't get so excited about this. If the EG report is true, then the NX will be home to both traditionally console games and traditionally handheld games, all in one. So it will have both the the big high-end console games like the new Zelda, and the more basic handheld stuff like Tetris.

 

So it's more likely that a new Game Freak Pokemon game for NX would just be the next iteration of handheld Pokemon that they've been making for 20 years (but because it's on NX you can also play it on your big telly), instead of the mythical full-console Pokemon people have been dreaming about for decades.

[Paulando]

I'd say there's no difference between handheld and home games these days, particularly Nintendo-published titles.

 

Both home and handheld consoles have Tetris and many other small, indie games, both have big, sprawling adventures. Any game would work on both formats. The only thing stopping them release Spirit of the Wild on 3DS is the obvious technical limitation, which won't be the case with the NX.