Nintendo Switch – New Video Game System [video] • Hacker News Board

Re: Nintendo Switch – New Video Game System [video]

#201

Post by creshal » Thu, Oct 20, 2016, 4:11 PM UTC

emdowling wrote: post #8

It is so reassuring to see Nintendo create a modern gaming machine that doesn't try to be a living room hub or an iPad competitor. Going entirely by the video alone, every single design decision has been made with a clear focus on gaming. The simple docking action for transitioning it to the TV, the versatility and portability of the controllers, the reasonable size, etc all combine to make this (again, judging entir…

> The only thing I want to know more about is the online store. From what I understand, Nintendo's eStore has a lot of shortcomings in a lot of weird areas.

Haven't run into any as a casual user – Nintendo managed to make the purchase workflow easy even on a 3DS, which is impressive.

Re: Nintendo Switch – New Video Game System [video]

#202

Post by kodt » Thu, Oct 20, 2016, 4:13 PM UTC

mcgrath_sh wrote: post #127

sodafountan wrote: post #102

I just don't have faith in Nintendo anymore, they have a track record now of so many failed consoles and disappointments, lack of third party support, even the new Zelda doesn't get me that excited (and I've been a die hard fan for years, playing Ocarina of Time as a kid made me want to learn how to make games). We'll see how this one turns out.

So, the Wii U is so many failed consoles now? The Wii was a raging success. The 3DS is a wonderful mobile gaming platform that I have poured hundreds of hours into. The Wii U wasn't great and was more of a half iteration than a full one. Yes, Nintendo made a mis-step there. But the Wii, DS, and 3DS were far from failures.

The Wii was very successful. But was very underpowered when compared to the 360 and PS3. As a result it did not get many popular AAA multi-platform games such as Call of Duty, Grand Theft Auto, Assassins Creed, etc.. and when it did get games from those franchises it was a simplified or less feature filled version of the game.

It meant that the Wii was not really viable as your "only" system if you were interested in those games. While the NES, SNES, N64, and Gamecube were either competitive or the leaders technically in their gen.

Re: Nintendo Switch – New Video Game System [video]

#203

Post by mbreese » Thu, Oct 20, 2016, 4:14 PM UTC

anotheryou wrote: post #59

What is so big in the dock? Speakers (not really needed with hdmi TVs, no?)? Also an interesting decision to cover the docked screen (probably to keep 100% compatibility to the single mobile screen and not waste resources while powering the big screen).

Power supply for charging? Wired ethernet port? (doubtful) Maybe a hard drive for local game storage? Discrete/external GPU for pushing more pixels? I doubt 4K, but its possible... also, the portable screen might not be 1080.

I'm sure we'll learn more over the next 6 months... but there's a lot of things you could do with a dock like that.

Re: Nintendo Switch – New Video Game System [video]

#204

Post by cbhl » Thu, Oct 20, 2016, 4:16 PM UTC

hprotagonist wrote: post #36

wmeredith wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, the two people playing Mario Kart split screen on that thing was laughable.

with half a controller each, too.

If each half of the controller is similar to a Wii Remote (+-pad and two or three buttons and an accelerometer/gyroscope) then it'll be plenty to play a lot of Wii U games.

Re: Nintendo Switch – New Video Game System [video]

#205

Post by Pxtl » Thu, Oct 20, 2016, 4:16 PM UTC

mratzloff wrote: post #52

If there's a "switch" here, it's Nintendo finally taking feedback from customers and third parties seriously. Console with graphical power that rivals Xbox One and PS4. Check. Industry-standard architecture and tooling (Unity), allowing third parties to flood in. Check. Blends their successful portable division with their console division (this has been a common refrain for awhile now). Check. They already addressed…

Realistically, I'm betting this one is going to lag the competition in terms of specs, and imho that's okay. Nintendo made a huge splash with the Wii while making a weaker device.

This thing has to run on batteries. It has to include mobile-quality batteries and a screen, which is an added cost that other consoles don't have.

With those components in mind, I fully expect it to have comparatively weak hardware so they can hit a comparable price-point.

Re: Nintendo Switch – New Video Game System [video]

#206

Post by slavik81 » Thu, Oct 20, 2016, 4:16 PM UTC

You know, I always thought the idea of a hybrid console/handheld was a terrible idea. I expect that mobile considerations are going to make it graphically underwhelming compared to the next Xbox and PlayStations. I also figure that graphical considerations for TV play are going to make it eat battery. We'll see if the jack of all trades is master is any.

But, on the other hand, Nintendo's games are just plain fun. I didn't buy a Wii U because I didn't want that giant tablet controller and its charging stand taking up space on my coffee table, but every time I saw Splatoon I wished I had room for it.

Perhaps this can fit in my life.

Re: Nintendo Switch – New Video Game System [video]

#207

Post by namiller2 » Thu, Oct 20, 2016, 4:16 PM UTC

finstell wrote: post #87

Am I the only one who found it funny that people, all dressed up, playing a basketball game on the device right in front of a basketball field?

What's a basketball field?

Re: Nintendo Switch – New Video Game System [video]

#208

Post by Pxtl » Thu, Oct 20, 2016, 4:18 PM UTC

erickhill wrote: post #93

bigtunacan wrote: post #62

This is a pretty brilliant move in concept. While phones and tablets have encroached on the handheld gaming space, the DS is still a huge success and where Nintendo has continued to dominate the market. As a parent, I have 4 of the current gen DS systems. One for myself and one for each of my three children. Nintendo has really struggled to stay relevant in the console space though as seen by the Wii U's underwhelmin…

I'm assuming the Switch replaces the Wii U. But will the 3DS live on? I assume the answer there is yes as well, but the lines between the two products is getting really blurry, isn't it?

Presumably the 3DS will march on for a year or two until Nintendo can make a smaller, cheaper version of the Switch.

Re: Nintendo Switch – New Video Game System [video]

#209

Post by kodt » Thu, Oct 20, 2016, 4:19 PM UTC

SadWebDeveloper wrote: post #54

I didn't get it... is it a handheld or a phone/tablet device? my question whatever it would replace my phone or just be another device on my backpack like the iPad, Laptop and tons of extra chargers, i carry to almost everywhere?

Seems to be a gaming device and not a tablet or phone replacement.

I would say with 100% confidence there is no way it would replace your phone.

And I would say with 90% confidence it will not replace a tablet. It may have a web browser, YouTube, Netflix, and a few token apps but don't expect full Android or anything. I could be wrong of course.

Re: Nintendo Switch – New Video Game System [video]

#210

Post by neals » Thu, Oct 20, 2016, 4:19 PM UTC

Maybe not a popular opinion right now... but I'm so glad there's at least one brand out there that isn't jumping the 'VR'/'AR' - bandwagon.

I've tried to get into VR with the oculus and the VIVE, but no, it's just not for me. Happy to see Nintendo do what they do best: come up with a great formfactor, but let games be games.