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Nintendo Switch review: pure potential

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Re: Nintendo Switch review: pure potential

#211

Post by btschaegg »

nsxwolf wrote: post #139
VLM wrote: post #124

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Something only 60s/70s kids will remember is the bubble in digital LCD clocks in the early 80s meant the average 80s kitchen had over 15 digital clocks in it, and keeping them set or covering the screen with electricians tape was an annoyance. I'm happy to be down to 4 digital clocks to maintain in my kitchen and I could achieve a mere 1 with some effort. I'm happy I don't have to install and maintain a netflix accou…

There were so many of those cheap little LCD clock modules with the two little buttons to set the time. They were crammed into absolutely everything. It was like we were thinking, we desperately want the future to be here, but we don't have the technology yet, so these will do.

This reminds me of a comment by Douglas Adams in which he pointed out the absurdity of regular clocks/watches going out of fashion at about the same time as pie charts became insanely popular (since a traditional watch works more or less exactly like a pie chart).

While this is just a funny thing to notice, it really shows that both technical product design and fashion often depend more on a "look what we can do now!" factor than actual practicality.

Luckily, there are more and more product designers who recognize that minimalism is often the better principle to base their work on.

Re: Nintendo Switch review: pure potential

#212

Post by nsxwolf »

eric_the_read wrote: post #194
nsxwolf wrote: post #120

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why? They sell massive amounts of hardware. Clearly their customers do not want to play their games on a smartphone.

Based on the response to Super Mario Run, Fire Emblem Heroes, and Pokemon Go, I'd say their customers clearly do want to play their games on a smartphone; they just haven't had the opportunity. Now, if you'd said, "their customers don't mind buying Nintendo hardware to play their games on," that's much harder to deny.

Some customers want to play those games. They're not necessarily the same customers. It's not proof they could bring their entire customer base with them.

Those games are made for touch screens. Super Mario Run is proof that no one will ever crack the on-screen joystick problem - Nintendo knew they would not be able to make a good game that way. The end result is certainly fun, but can in no way compete with the experience of a traditional Mario game.

And people will not buy add on controllers for smart phones. Not even for Nintendo.

This reminds me of the arguments a decade ago that Apple should stop making hardware and just license OS X to PC manufacturers. We never would have had good trackpads or mic jacks that can use the clicker on iPhone headphones or all the other bits of integrated hardware and software on Macs.

Nintendo is much like Apple in that they design their hardware features to compliment the games they want to make.

Re: Nintendo Switch review: pure potential

#213

Post by btschaegg »

slg wrote: post #146
VLM wrote: post #124

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Something only 60s/70s kids will remember is the bubble in digital LCD clocks in the early 80s meant the average 80s kitchen had over 15 digital clocks in it, and keeping them set or covering the screen with electricians tape was an annoyance. I'm happy to be down to 4 digital clocks to maintain in my kitchen and I could achieve a mere 1 with some effort. I'm happy I don't have to install and maintain a netflix accou…

I'm not sure that analogy works because an unmaintained Netflix isn't a blinking eyesore like an unset digital clock. I setup Netflix on my PC and on my tablet which casts to my TV. Other devices, like my Xbox or my TV itself, are no worse for having never been setup with Netflix.

On the other hand, I am perfectly fine with a console that just plays games, because that's what I buy it for.

There were plenty consoles that came with a plethora of features but had no good games at launch - if Nintendo does it the other way around, I don't have a problem with that.

Also, if you look at it from Nintendo's perspective: If Netflix is everywhere, it certainly won't be the feature that actually sells their product.

Re: Nintendo Switch review: pure potential

#214

Post by Retric »

slg wrote: post #146
VLM wrote: post #124

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Something only 60s/70s kids will remember is the bubble in digital LCD clocks in the early 80s meant the average 80s kitchen had over 15 digital clocks in it, and keeping them set or covering the screen with electricians tape was an annoyance. I'm happy to be down to 4 digital clocks to maintain in my kitchen and I could achieve a mere 1 with some effort. I'm happy I don't have to install and maintain a netflix accou…

I'm not sure that analogy works because an unmaintained Netflix isn't a blinking eyesore like an unset digital clock. I setup Netflix on my PC and on my tablet which casts to my TV. Other devices, like my Xbox or my TV itself, are no worse for having never been setup with Netflix.

Adding UI for a Netflix account that's never setup is a waste. I would much rather they focus on something people would actually want to use.

It's the same basic problem as smart TV's. I don't care if it only adds 1$ in manufacturing costs focusing on making the best TV/console/car is much better reason to buy something than adding yet another so so entertainment features.

Re: Nintendo Switch review: pure potential

#215

Post by brotoss »

hahamrfunnyguy wrote: post #148
skdotdan wrote: post #118

I reckon it will be a big success. But, honestly, I believe video-game only hardware should no longer be a thing in 2017. Almost all features of the Nintendo Switch could have been built on the top of iOS or Android. Nintendo should pivot to a software only company.

I'm with you. Last console I bought was an XB360. I don't play games as much any more, but anything I do play is a Steam game. I don't have any games on my phone right now, but I do enjoy playing them when I am traveling. I'd love to play a REAL Mario game on my phone with a REAL gamepad.

Nintendo Switch + Higher End PC will be the optimal gaming package

Re: Nintendo Switch review: pure potential

#216

Post by sdflkd »

brotoss wrote: post #215
hahamrfunnyguy wrote: post #148

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm with you. Last console I bought was an XB360. I don't play games as much any more, but anything I do play is a Steam game. I don't have any games on my phone right now, but I do enjoy playing them when I am traveling. I'd love to play a REAL Mario game on my phone with a REAL gamepad.

Nintendo Switch + Higher End PC will be the optimal gaming package

Unless you like the amazing exclusives Sony often has...

Re: Nintendo Switch review: pure potential

#217

Post by __david__ »

It sounds good, but the cartridges apparently taste terrible: http://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/17/170059/29224...

Seriously though, I'm taking a wait-and-see attitude here. The console looks promising and there's a lot to like, but it also has some potential negatives: underpowered, bad battery life, poor 3rd party support compared to Sony/Microsoft, unknown online strategy (having a separate phone app for social seems very bad).

None of those are deal breakers, but they're a little "red-flaggy". Since I'm not dying to play Zelda on day 1, I'll be watching how things progress over the next few months. I'm hoping for my and all gamer's sakes that it turns out good.

Re: Nintendo Switch review: pure potential

#218

Post by NegativeLatency »

TYPE_FASTER wrote: post #143
danso wrote: post #101

As a late Wii U owner, I'm willing to wait until the Switch proves to be a success. The horror stories of the Wii U's launch, combined with lackluster support and signs that Nintendo didn't know how to adapt to the Internet age haven't exactly been mitigated by what we know of the Switch so far: no web browser, no Virtual Console nor movie services like Netflix at launch. Everything smells rushed...in the meantime, I…

I honestly don't really care about a browser or NetFlix, because I've never used NetFlix with our Wii U. The two things that have disappointed me about the Wii U have been: * Lack of games * Reliability Reliability especially...the drive has pretty much stopped reading any discs, even when there aren't any scratches. The console randomly stops with a fatal error. I don't really want to pay to get it fixed, since new…

Sounds like a dirty optical drive?

Re: Nintendo Switch review: pure potential

#219

Post by DaiPlusPlus »

VLM wrote: post #115
baccredited wrote: post #43

Anecdote: my son and all his 13 year old friends can't wait for this console and are all preordering this week.

Same here, but they're completely advertising driven so the excitement is driven solely by lack of advertising for anything else, rather than the inherent abilities of the platform.

I'm wary the Switch is simply too big and bulky to be a replacement for the GameBoy/DS form-factor that kids seem to go for (myself included - fond memories of pining for a GameBoy Color some 18 years ago) - smartphone games have effectively supplanted that area anyway. I see the Switch as a PSP competitor, but they'll have to try very hard to succeed.

Assuming this isn't Nintendo's swansong and last hardware product I hope they release an Android phone with built-in (pop-up?) game controls and an official emulator/store app.

Re: Nintendo Switch review: pure potential

#220

Post by mortenjorck » 

  Now I can take Zelda with me wherever I go — not some limited 
  version, mind you, but the full console Zelda experience. I can 
  play on my TV, pick up the tablet from its dock, and continue the 
  game without skipping a beat or compromising the experience.
Continue... where, exactly? Modern mobile games work because they can be picked up for a few minutes in a line at the grocery store and put back down when you get to the checkout. Can a full Zelda title lend itself to this pattern of short mobile sessions? Furthermore, the Switch may be a svelte device, but is it something you'll actually carry around every day like your phone?

The Switch looks very well suited to a plane or road trip, where you have to sit for a longer period without anything to do, but it's hard to imagine that representing a major change in regular usage for most users.

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