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Nintendo Switch

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61–70 of 431 posts

Re: Nintendo Switch

#61
post #53
post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

they shut down Wii U production a couple months back. I imagine this is slightly forced by stockholders to prove that Ninty is trying "something".

They shut it down? I thought I remember reading something about Nintendo saying that the Switch wasn't meant to replace the Wii U or the 3DS. I took that to mean that it would run in parallel.

They also said the 3DS would be a "third pillar" and not replace the gameboy. Just hedging their bets in case it flops.

Re: Nintendo Switch

#62
post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Haven't watched the presentation yet, but I believe the GCN might have been the first console to come standard with "analog" shoulder buttons (dutifully demonstrated by its use in Mario Sunshine to control the spraying power of the backpack). EDIT: Oh also, the Wavebird controller was the first wireless first-party controller.

Sega Dreamcast had analog triggers and came before gamecube.

The Saturn 3D pad also had analog triggers. Not sure if anything actually used then though.

Re: Nintendo Switch

#63
post #31
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In HCI terms, the Gamecube didn't do much. But it was Nintendo's single largest leap in architecture and hardware power—it sticks out above their console "power curve" trend-line quite strikingly. The Wii was basically just a higher-clocked (~2x CPU and GPU) Gamecube—much more like the XBO S or the PS4 Pro are for this generation, than like the architectural reinventions Nintendo usually gets up to. The fact that it…

Wouldn't the biggest leap in power be the N64?

The SNES lasted a while in the market, and—almost uniquely among consoles—it ramped up in power over its lifetime by putting coprocessors like the SuperFX into game carts. By the end of its lifetime, the "system" of the SNES + a cart like Starfox, was much closer to the N64 than the base SNES, making the N64 much less of a shift than it seemed.

Interestingly, if you think of the PSX as descending from the SNES architecturally, it's nearly identical to the end-state of "SNES + SuperFX GSU-1", but with the one added feature of DMA-streamed block IO from the CD device. (Thus why the FF7 demo on the N64 used polygonal backgrounds, while on the PSX you get pre-rendered backgrounds. Each version plays to its console's strength. Makes you wonder what would have been possible in an alternate world where the N64 had a CD drive as well as its better polygon-pushing abilities.)

This also means that the PSX->PS2 likely represents the largest single-generation leap in power of any console: it was a catch-up from "basically a SNES" to modern-for-the-time hardware, representing a literal 10x jump in CPU and GPU power.

Re: Nintendo Switch

#64

That[1] was masterful marketing of an upcoming videogame console on all fronts. From the beginning it emphasises mobility with a (hopefully good!) smartphone app to manage online/local wifi matches, as well as multiple levels of play while on the go. It's reasonably priced (matches current generation in total at the register) and has an incredibly diverse range of titles to be excited about this calendar year. It man…

Small note, it's Dragon "Quest" X. I got really excited for a Dragon Age MMO for nothing.

You're right! So sorry for getting your hopes up.

Re: Nintendo Switch

#65

That[1] was masterful marketing of an upcoming videogame console on all fronts. From the beginning it emphasises mobility with a (hopefully good!) smartphone app to manage online/local wifi matches, as well as multiple levels of play while on the go. It's reasonably priced (matches current generation in total at the register) and has an incredibly diverse range of titles to be excited about this calendar year. It man…

The underlying content was good, and they did well with the Zelda launch date announcement, but to praise the whole presentation as masterful, I'm not so sure. It was extremely awkward throughout.

Re: Nintendo Switch

#66
post #63
post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wouldn't the biggest leap in power be the N64?

The SNES lasted a while in the market, and—almost uniquely among consoles—it ramped up in power over its lifetime by putting coprocessors like the SuperFX into game carts. By the end of its lifetime, the "system" of the SNES + a cart like Starfox, was much closer to the N64 than the base SNES, making the N64 much less of a shift than it seemed. Interestingly, if you think of the PSX as descending from the SNES archit…

Maybe 'closer' but still 'ridiculously far'. You weren't going to coprocessor your way to a Mario 64.

Re: Nintendo Switch

#67

The page loads these two images: https://www.nintendo.co.jp/switch/assets/img/event/top/exper... https://www.nintendo.co.jp/switch/assets/img/event/top/exper... and these two: https://www.nintendo.co.jp/switch/assets/img/event/top/prese... https://www.nintendo.co.jp/switch/assets/img/event/top/prese... Any idea why?

So you can Switch your tabs back and forth while trying to spot the difference.

Re: Nintendo Switch

#68

That[1] was masterful marketing of an upcoming videogame console on all fronts. From the beginning it emphasises mobility with a (hopefully good!) smartphone app to manage online/local wifi matches, as well as multiple levels of play while on the go. It's reasonably priced (matches current generation in total at the register) and has an incredibly diverse range of titles to be excited about this calendar year. It man…

FIFA looked so promising. I can't remember what bullshit political reason kept Madden off of the PS Vita, but that's why I sold mine.

Very much looking forward to the switch.

Re: Nintendo Switch

#69

In line at the NYC store. I'm #2. There are a few people hanging out looking into store which is holding an event with a bunch of kids. Fewer people overall than I expected but there are 9 hours to go.

I'm confused, what's happening in 9 (or 8, now) hours? I haven't watched the entire video yet but the release date isn't until March 3, yes?

[deleted]

Re: Nintendo Switch

#70

That[1] was masterful marketing of an upcoming videogame console on all fronts. From the beginning it emphasises mobility with a (hopefully good!) smartphone app to manage online/local wifi matches, as well as multiple levels of play while on the go. It's reasonably priced (matches current generation in total at the register) and has an incredibly diverse range of titles to be excited about this calendar year. It man…

I personally am excited for the Switch and will get one at launch. And for me personally, the Wii U is the best console of this generation. But I'm not nearly as enthusiastic about the Switch in general as you are from this presentation.

So far it feels like "the Wii part 3". Yes the Wii sold well, but it didn't sell very many games. Most Wii owners were perfectly content with Wii Sports. The Wii U has pretty much been a flop. Nothing about this presentation suggests to me the Switch will finally do what Nintendo has tried three times now: make a gimmicky, low powered console that appeals in non traditional ways and is successful. So far (and sure, a 1 hour video 3 months before launch isn't much), this very much feels like the Wii and Wii U, and not in the good ways.

I love Nintendo and am a huge fan. But part of me can't help but wish Nintendo would just straight up compete with Sony and Microsoft.

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