Emmanuel-Monegro
Unless you’ve been too busy or living under a rock by now you must have heard the news of Nintendo’s modular console or as other may call a “console on- the-go”.
A good portion of the gaming community seems to say that after the Wii, the Wii U struggled to appeal to the current generation, and the lack of third party support further hindered the chances of Nintendo keeping up with Microsoft and Sony in the sales category.
With the Switch, Nintendo plans to attack the handheld and mobile markets that have been chipping away at their fan base. The aforementioned reason may have been what ultimately pushed Nintendo (along with Niantic) to release Pokemon GO for Android (Google based) and iOS (Apple based) mobile platforms as well as the new Mario game that will release at a later date for iOS devices only.
As someone that enjoyed Nintendo consoles and handhelds throughout most of my childhood, I can say that if there’s anyone that can pull off a mobile console correctly, that would be Nintendo, and it may be a game changer!
Nintendo’s hardware has probably been the best out of all the corporations at withstanding the test of time, and it has sold more handheld devices than Sony. Nintendo is putting one foot down on the console market and a stronger foot down in the mobile market, which may act as the final nail in the coffin for Playstation Vita or other mobile platforms such as the Nvidia Shield.
Do you guys think that Nintendo will affect the playing field? If so, how so? Is having a console that you can play in and outside of your home something that interests you? Do you fancy the idea of being able to play Skyrim , Fallout 4 or your favorite franchises wherever you go?
With Sony’s struggles in getting subscribers to sign up for their PS Now service and the disaster the Playstation Vita still is, these are all legitimate questions for a generation of gamers that find themselves wanting the best of the best at home and on the go.
Let us know what you think in the comments section below!
Great job! Good read.
I don't think Sony should do a PlayStation Switch. I think they could make a superior product, and I think they could make something phenomenal, don't get me wrong.
But I think the mobile console market is relatively small (not including mobile devices like phones, tablets, etc.) and I'm not sure Sony is as great at mobile marketing as Nintendo, who've always been basically perfect in that regard.
As for the Switch itself, I'm not sure how well it will do. I think it will be a modest success. The scenarios in their promo video just isn't realistic. When I go out to play basketball, or volleyball, or whatever… no one is ever interested in bringing along a console device. We want to play our sport then go out for drinks. I think most are like that. And no one takes their DS out to a social party. I can see how travelers would love it, but on the other hand… how many large scale games can you drop at a moment's notice, as is so often necessary when on the move?
Maybe I'm just a negative Nancy, but I just wasn't that blown away by it. I probably wouldn't buy the Nintendo Switch. I definitely wouldn't buy a PS Switch.
The marketing thing was ridiculous right?
Hey why pay attention to your dog, just let him walk himself while you play the Switch!
Hey, your friends want you to hang out? Just bring your Switch and play it there! Im sure the host and everybody else would love to gather around the tiny screen and watch other people play vidya games.
Hey, you and your buddies just played basketball for realsies? Why not gather round a tiny screen and play it some more with the Switch!
Gotta a big tournament for Esports? How about practice before your match with the Switch! (Actually that one I can kinda see working)
Its like Nintendo thinks America is some hipster paradise where people cant stop playing vidya games for more than an hour or so.
Last edited by wackazoa on 11/9/2016 11:06:55 AM
If someone came over to my place for dinner or my kids birthday party or something, and the zoned in on their Switch the whole time, I'd never invite them again.
Last edited by Underdog15 on 11/9/2016 11:59:45 AM
Ive said it before just being general but, Japan is weird. I do believe that Nintendo 1st above all else, even more so than Playstation, markets to Japan 1st and foremost. So being said, who knows if this thing will be successful since you know, Japan is weird.
As for the west? Hard to say. The Wii used a gimmick to sell 100 million. The Switch though? I read a piece just after the Switch announcement talking about why mobile games are so popular. Main reason is that we already have our phones with us. We dont have to drag a different piece of hardware along with us and figure out where to store it. A reason Vita did so bad was it was bulkier than the 3DS which folds up to fit in a pocket. The games selection didnt hurt either I hear.
I will take a look at it mainly because I like tech toys. If it falls in the $300 range I think that is too much. Time will tell. Playstation I think is going VR and leaving the mobile market alone. The Vita is doing decent in Japan after all.
Last edited by wackazoa on 11/9/2016 10:59:25 AM
Sony has announced they're releasing some smartphone games right? I'm looking forward to their offering because I want to see how they innovate such a deplorable landscape. I play KHUx everyday because I feel it's completely worth my time due to loving KH. Let's see what Sony can offer me.
I'm probably in the minority but as someone who constantly switches between premium games and portables, I'd dig a two in one console especially from Sony. But then again I don't think Sony should do it since it seems pointless since Nintendo's already on it.
No thanks the last portable I owned was the PSP and I ended using it more on my house, when I'm out I want to rest from gaming, not sure how the Switch gonna do but it would be useless for me, a under powered console with a portable option that I'm not gonna use lol, this thing in the 90's would be awesome… but now? I fear smart phones gonna kill it.
Remember when the 3DS had a similar price and flopped until Nintendo dropped the price, this time it gonna be worse.
Btw I don't understand people being hyped with Skyrim portable, that's a game that imo most enjoyable feature it's the atmosphere it offers, I can't see myself enjoying that out of home on a party (ton of distraction) or work/classes breaks (limited time) lol
Last edited by Oxvial on 11/9/2016 10:51:17 PM
First and foremost I would like to thank Underdog for posting this for me (and us) and making it better.
Maybe I am the minority but I think I will be getting the Switch. I am excited for the new Zelda game and I can't wait to play it during my lunch time or on top of the bed.
If Playstation had this I would definitely get it since I am mostly on the go and would like to have the opportunity to play when I can.
It looks pretty neat and actually feels like a good balance of Nintendo innovation and hardcore gamer needs. It would be nice to see more AAA multiplat games or maybe a newer variety of exclusives.
I'm not going to purchase a Switch at release, but that's more of a time and finances lacking. It simply makes more sense to invest more into my PS4 or steam library. Otherwise it does make for a pretty awesome portable console.
I certainly wouldn't want Sony to do a "switch", Nintendo is the handheld market and they have ruled it with an iron fist. Sony needs to focus on the home console and let Nintendo have the handheld market all to themselves.
I would this use as much as i used my PSP, which became nothing more than an oversized mp3 player.
I am biased though as i have never enjoyed or even slightly liked mobile gaming.
Many years ago, I hoped and wondered if we'd be able to hold a portable gaming device that can run a console game.
We never came close, the closest we've been so far has only been tablet gaming and it's not really something worth spending 200 hours on.
When I saw the Switch announcement, it was like a dream finally came true.
Nintndo Switch? Hell yeah I'd buy it.
If there's a PS Switch? Buy it even if I already owned a Nintendo Switch.
I don't know about many others, but I for one, thinks that Switch is the future in gaming.
While I expected Nintendo to go this route with their next console I'm not convinced it's going to be a runaway success.
Sony pitched a PS3 on-the-go experience with PS Vita. They initially made an aggressive effort to push many of their most popular titles to the unit, including Uncharted, LBP, and Killzone, fresh faces like Gravity Rush and Tearaway, including classics like WipEout and Hot Shots Golf. All of these were well made games and were a reasonable approximation of being PS3-like experiences in your hands.
Aside from the cost of the memory cards, I'd argue the price was right for the tech as well.
Eventually Sony pushed the idea of making these games playable on your TV in a half-hearted attempt with PSTV. It wasn't exactly a Nintendo Switch but it could be thought of as a approximation of it. It hasn't had any heavy profit driving success.
I don't see Sony returning to this market with any level of aggression anytime soon.
Moving over to Nintendo and examining their past successes we have to recall that the 3Ds had a very rocky start. It priced itself out of it's target market. And the games weren't all that plentiful. After significant price slashing and large game bundles the system eventually caught momentum.
The Wii U far and away has been a slow moving console and makes it fairly clear that most of the gaming populace views Nintendo existing for the handheld space. Where TV based Nintendo entertainment exists only with their ardent faithful and families who feel safe with Nintendo in their living room. Taking a stroll through a local shopping store reveals that most of the titles that exist for something like PS4 or XO have either mean and tough looking guys or robots with guns/swords and a handful of sports games. This is the content that drives these systems with big profits. This isn't Nintendo's domain anymore. It hasn't been with any success for years.
We haven't heard what the price is for the Switch. I'm guessing $300. Anything more than that is suicide. We also don't know how capable the hardware is with the current gen. I suspect less capable. The elitest console gamers won't take to playing versions of Battlefield and Call of Duty made for mobile hardware on their TV. Not when Sony and MS lead with these titles, pushing now to the 4k standard, in the living space.
It's appeal here will be mostly with the mobile aspect. Those who want to game on the go with a better experience than the norm.
I think Sony should stay focused on their core product right now. They have two new pieces of hardware out there right now and have been facing a downturn in popularity due to their primary competitor.
Last edited by Temjin001 on 11/12/2016 11:41:37 AM
No, I want PlayStation Classic mini…
I do too. But I can wait. If anybody pays more than retail price for that thing they are nuts.Christmas be damned.
I would love some thing like that.
Ok let's clear something up. The Switch will not get Skyrim as Bethesda has already said, the framerate would be even worse on a mobile device than a standard console anyway.
The Switch won't be getting any major third party games so forget it. Not only do third party games not sell well on Nintendo's consoles, but their consoles are too weak.
So how does anyone really believe that the Switch can run something like RDR2 lol? Nintendo just collaborated with developers to promote the Switch as none of the games shown were actually running on the hardware…they were just videos.
None of those games can possibly fit on a cartidge and If they could they would be very downgraded to far inferior quality.
As for Sony dosing something like this, why? What advantage does this concept add? Why go backwards to cartridges? Why this concept when a dedicated console and dedicated handheld are better?
I would rather Sony make another handheld instead, but I prefer them to dump mobile hardware all together and focus on consoles as consoles remain better gaming experience.
Playing on the go is a horrible experience and most people play inside anyway. With the high demand for the Pro Sony is on the right track and will have a monster holiday, which further builds the future of consoles and the PS brand for the better.
The Switch will fail IMO. It will fail because it's not strong enough to be a console and will get 0 good third party support.
It will fail because it won't have battery life as good as a dedicated handheld and will be too expensive.
Then you have the 3DS, which is still selling, so Japan will continue to buy that instead and Pokemon will always be a DS product as it has failed on their home console. Nintendo already said the Switch is not a replacement for the 3DS.
No backwards capability for their previous hardware, handheld or console so what exactly is the point of the Switch and why would anyone but hardcore Nintendo fans buy one?
You would have to be a darn fool to trust Nintendo after they dumped the WiiU. I don't trust them and if you want the new Zelda just buy a WiiU, which is cheaper.
So nope, I don't want this from Sony -who already did the concept with Vita and PSTV- nor do I care about the Switch.
Last edited by DarthNemesis on 11/13/2016 11:03:31 PM
I agree it wont get Skyrim most likely. But that doesnt mean it wont get AAA games from 3rd party developers going forward. It can and more likely will, just at lower settings, kinda like the difference between PC and consoles.
Digital Foundry did a good write up on the power of "last gen" Tegra CPU and found that it could run some of the early PS4/Xbox games at 60fps with medium settings. It is a capable processor, just the main difference Ive read between the Switch and PS4/Xbox is the VRAM is doubled(?) on the latter. So better visuals for the big boys.
There is still the matter of cartridges. Third party games are too big for catridges.
You are aware that thumb drives can come as big as 128GB right?
Switch running RDR2, even if with a miracle they made it run the Switch would become a portable oven after 15 minutes xD
I laughed at this thing from the get go. Unless you are a kid or have a long bus/train ride or live in Japan there's no market to own this system. The vast majority of gamers want our big setups and 4k tvs and VR is making big waves and mobile is for a limited crowd, even casual gamers can't be bringing Elder Scrolls and serious gamers around with them. It's another attempt at a gimmick and I say it fails.
Personally I've never been a fan of hand-held gaming and that's essentially what we're talking about here.
Unlike the heyday of hand held gaming with the GameBoy, Sega Game Gear, Atari Lynx (which I owned and thought was a great hand held) etc today we have gaming on our devices so that market is crowded and on most of our devices we can make calls, surf the net etc etc.
I think console gaming as we have known it is on its out but I'm not sure if something like Switch has a place. I guess we'll have to wait and see.
Now after the release with this not being even able to run a game like Zelda at consistent 30 fps, I hope Sony doesn't follow lol
Last edited by Oxvial on 3/17/2017 7:52:42 AM
I do too. But I can wait. If anybody pays more than retail price for that thing they are nuts.Christmas be damned.
I agree it wont get Skyrim most likely. But that doesnt mean it wont get AAA games from 3rd party developers going forward. It can and more likely will, just at lower settings, kinda like the difference between PC and consoles.
Digital Foundry did a good write up on the power of "last gen" Tegra CPU and found that it could run some of the early PS4/Xbox games at 60fps with medium settings. It is a capable processor, just the main difference Ive read between the Switch and PS4/Xbox is the VRAM is doubled(?) on the latter. So better visuals for the big boys.
You are aware that thumb drives can come as big as 128GB right?
Switch running RDR2, even if with a miracle they made it run the Switch would become a portable oven after 15 minutes xD
While I expected Nintendo to go this route with their next console I'm not convinced it's going to be a runaway success.
Sony pitched a PS3 on-the-go experience with PS Vita. They initially made an aggressive effort to push many of their most popular titles to the unit, including Uncharted, LBP, and Killzone, fresh faces like Gravity Rush and Tearaway, including classics like WipEout and Hot Shots Golf. All of these were well made games and were a reasonable approximation of being PS3-like experiences in your hands.
Aside from the cost of the memory cards, I'd argue the price was right for the tech as well.
Eventually Sony pushed the idea of making these games playable on your TV in a half-hearted attempt with PSTV. It wasn't exactly a Nintendo Switch but it could be thought of as a approximation of it. It hasn't had any heavy profit driving success.
I don't see Sony returning to this market with any level of aggression anytime soon.
Moving over to Nintendo and examining their past successes we have to recall that the 3Ds had a very rocky start. It priced itself out of it's target market. And the games weren't all that plentiful. After significant price slashing and large game bundles the system eventually caught momentum.
The Wii U far and away has been a slow moving console and makes it fairly clear that most of the gaming populace views Nintendo existing for the handheld space. Where TV based Nintendo entertainment exists only with their ardent faithful and families who feel safe with Nintendo in their living room. Taking a stroll through a local shopping store reveals that most of the titles that exist for something like PS4 or XO have either mean and tough looking guys or robots with guns/swords and a handful of sports games. This is the content that drives these systems with big profits. This isn't Nintendo's domain anymore. It hasn't been with any success for years.
We haven't heard what the price is for the Switch. I'm guessing $300. Anything more than that is suicide. We also don't know how capable the hardware is with the current gen. I suspect less capable. The elitest console gamers won't take to playing versions of Battlefield and Call of Duty made for mobile hardware on their TV. Not when Sony and MS lead with these titles, pushing now to the 4k standard, in the living space.
It's appeal here will be mostly with the mobile aspect. Those who want to game on the go with a better experience than the norm.
I think Sony should stay focused on their core product right now. They have two new pieces of hardware out there right now and have been facing a downturn in popularity due to their primary competitor.
Last edited by Temjin001 on 11/12/2016 11:41:37 AM
There is still the matter of cartridges. Third party games are too big for catridges.
I laughed at this thing from the get go. Unless you are a kid or have a long bus/train ride or live in Japan there's no market to own this system. The vast majority of gamers want our big setups and 4k tvs and VR is making big waves and mobile is for a limited crowd, even casual gamers can't be bringing Elder Scrolls and serious gamers around with them. It's another attempt at a gimmick and I say it fails.
Personally I've never been a fan of hand-held gaming and that's essentially what we're talking about here.
Unlike the heyday of hand held gaming with the GameBoy, Sega Game Gear, Atari Lynx (which I owned and thought was a great hand held) etc today we have gaming on our devices so that market is crowded and on most of our devices we can make calls, surf the net etc etc.
First and foremost I would like to thank Underdog for posting this for me (and us) and making it better.
Maybe I am the minority but I think I will be getting the Switch. I am excited for the new Zelda game and I can't wait to play it during my lunch time or on top of the bed.
If Playstation had this I would definitely get it since I am mostly on the go and would like to have the opportunity to play when I can.
I think console gaming as we have known it is on its out but I'm not sure if something like Switch has a place. I guess we'll have to wait and see.
Great job! Good read.
I don't think Sony should do a PlayStation Switch. I think they could make a superior product, and I think they could make something phenomenal, don't get me wrong.
But I think the mobile console market is relatively small (not including mobile devices like phones, tablets, etc.) and I'm not sure Sony is as great at mobile marketing as Nintendo, who've always been basically perfect in that regard.
As for the Switch itself, I'm not sure how well it will do. I think it will be a modest success. The scenarios in their promo video just isn't realistic. When I go out to play basketball, or volleyball, or whatever… no one is ever interested in bringing along a console device. We want to play our sport then go out for drinks. I think most are like that. And no one takes their DS out to a social party. I can see how travelers would love it, but on the other hand… how many large scale games can you drop at a moment's notice, as is so often necessary when on the move?
Maybe I'm just a negative Nancy, but I just wasn't that blown away by it. I probably wouldn't buy the Nintendo Switch. I definitely wouldn't buy a PS Switch.
The marketing thing was ridiculous right?
Hey why pay attention to your dog, just let him walk himself while you play the Switch!
Hey, your friends want you to hang out? Just bring your Switch and play it there! Im sure the host and everybody else would love to gather around the tiny screen and watch other people play vidya games.
Hey, you and your buddies just played basketball for realsies? Why not gather round a tiny screen and play it some more with the Switch!
Gotta a big tournament for Esports? How about practice before your match with the Switch! (Actually that one I can kinda see working)
Its like Nintendo thinks America is some hipster paradise where people cant stop playing vidya games for more than an hour or so.
Last edited by wackazoa on 11/9/2016 11:06:55 AM
Ive said it before just being general but, Japan is weird. I do believe that Nintendo 1st above all else, even more so than Playstation, markets to Japan 1st and foremost. So being said, who knows if this thing will be successful since you know, Japan is weird.
As for the west? Hard to say. The Wii used a gimmick to sell 100 million. The Switch though? I read a piece just after the Switch announcement talking about why mobile games are so popular. Main reason is that we already have our phones with us. We dont have to drag a different piece of hardware along with us and figure out where to store it. A reason Vita did so bad was it was bulkier than the 3DS which folds up to fit in a pocket. The games selection didnt hurt either I hear.
I will take a look at it mainly because I like tech toys. If it falls in the $300 range I think that is too much. Time will tell. Playstation I think is going VR and leaving the mobile market alone. The Vita is doing decent in Japan after all.
Last edited by wackazoa on 11/9/2016 10:59:25 AM
If someone came over to my place for dinner or my kids birthday party or something, and the zoned in on their Switch the whole time, I'd never invite them again.
Last edited by Underdog15 on 11/9/2016 11:59:45 AM
Sony has announced they're releasing some smartphone games right? I'm looking forward to their offering because I want to see how they innovate such a deplorable landscape. I play KHUx everyday because I feel it's completely worth my time due to loving KH. Let's see what Sony can offer me.
No thanks the last portable I owned was the PSP and I ended using it more on my house, when I'm out I want to rest from gaming, not sure how the Switch gonna do but it would be useless for me, a under powered console with a portable option that I'm not gonna use lol, this thing in the 90's would be awesome… but now? I fear smart phones gonna kill it.
Remember when the 3DS had a similar price and flopped until Nintendo dropped the price, this time it gonna be worse.
Btw I don't understand people being hyped with Skyrim portable, that's a game that imo most enjoyable feature it's the atmosphere it offers, I can't see myself enjoying that out of home on a party (ton of distraction) or work/classes breaks (limited time) lol
Last edited by Oxvial on 11/9/2016 10:51:17 PM
I'm probably in the minority but as someone who constantly switches between premium games and portables, I'd dig a two in one console especially from Sony. But then again I don't think Sony should do it since it seems pointless since Nintendo's already on it.
It looks pretty neat and actually feels like a good balance of Nintendo innovation and hardcore gamer needs. It would be nice to see more AAA multiplat games or maybe a newer variety of exclusives.
I'm not going to purchase a Switch at release, but that's more of a time and finances lacking. It simply makes more sense to invest more into my PS4 or steam library. Otherwise it does make for a pretty awesome portable console.
I certainly wouldn't want Sony to do a "switch", Nintendo is the handheld market and they have ruled it with an iron fist. Sony needs to focus on the home console and let Nintendo have the handheld market all to themselves.
I would this use as much as i used my PSP, which became nothing more than an oversized mp3 player.
I am biased though as i have never enjoyed or even slightly liked mobile gaming.
Many years ago, I hoped and wondered if we'd be able to hold a portable gaming device that can run a console game.
We never came close, the closest we've been so far has only been tablet gaming and it's not really something worth spending 200 hours on.
When I saw the Switch announcement, it was like a dream finally came true.
Nintndo Switch? Hell yeah I'd buy it.
If there's a PS Switch? Buy it even if I already owned a Nintendo Switch.
I don't know about many others, but I for one, thinks that Switch is the future in gaming.
No, I want PlayStation Classic mini…
Now after the release with this not being even able to run a game like Zelda at consistent 30 fps, I hope Sony doesn't follow lol
Last edited by Oxvial on 3/17/2017 7:52:42 AM
I would love some thing like that.
Ok let's clear something up. The Switch will not get Skyrim as Bethesda has already said, the framerate would be even worse on a mobile device than a standard console anyway.
The Switch won't be getting any major third party games so forget it. Not only do third party games not sell well on Nintendo's consoles, but their consoles are too weak.
So how does anyone really believe that the Switch can run something like RDR2 lol? Nintendo just collaborated with developers to promote the Switch as none of the games shown were actually running on the hardware…they were just videos.
None of those games can possibly fit on a cartidge and If they could they would be very downgraded to far inferior quality.
As for Sony dosing something like this, why? What advantage does this concept add? Why go backwards to cartridges? Why this concept when a dedicated console and dedicated handheld are better?
I would rather Sony make another handheld instead, but I prefer them to dump mobile hardware all together and focus on consoles as consoles remain better gaming experience.
Playing on the go is a horrible experience and most people play inside anyway. With the high demand for the Pro Sony is on the right track and will have a monster holiday, which further builds the future of consoles and the PS brand for the better.
The Switch will fail IMO. It will fail because it's not strong enough to be a console and will get 0 good third party support.
It will fail because it won't have battery life as good as a dedicated handheld and will be too expensive.
Then you have the 3DS, which is still selling, so Japan will continue to buy that instead and Pokemon will always be a DS product as it has failed on their home console. Nintendo already said the Switch is not a replacement for the 3DS.
No backwards capability for their previous hardware, handheld or console so what exactly is the point of the Switch and why would anyone but hardcore Nintendo fans buy one?
You would have to be a darn fool to trust Nintendo after they dumped the WiiU. I don't trust them and if you want the new Zelda just buy a WiiU, which is cheaper.
So nope, I don't want this from Sony -who already did the concept with Vita and PSTV- nor do I care about the Switch.
Last edited by DarthNemesis on 11/13/2016 11:03:31 PM