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[Betty]

Only through Wi-Fi or tethering.

No it only has wifi so you would need to connect to a hotspot.

That's a pretty major oversight.

So if something like Overwatch comes to the Switch then you'll still be confined to playing it in your home unless you live in Japan or a busy city area with really generous hotspots.

Still got my pre-order locked but yeesh.

 

[Guevara]

It's foolish to expect Nintendo to change, but we can certainly hope they execute better.

 

[pswii60]

And not many people played them relative to the potential audience for a better selling console.

My point is, those games haven't/aren't going to turn the Wii U fortunes around, so why would they make the Switch sell better in comparison?

 

[Richie]

Irrelevant to this story. Not to backseat mod but can we keep the shitposting to the threads where charts are relevant instead of dismissing a pretty good editorial that happens to be from the same website?

Charts aside what's your opinion on the post?

They are right, just waiting for the inevitable attack on the messenger / writer - ad hominem defense

too late

Chill out, you two, just some low hanging fruit joking around. Anyone that perceives that post as an "attack" could have paper for skin.

I think Nintendo's way of disclosing information has been regrettable, sure, but I too think it's too premature to make any statements on it repeating the Wii U's mistakes. Infinitely better marketing than the Wii U ever had, actual interest among the average Joe and one of the most anticipated games in Zelda right at release should help it earn much more success right out of the gate. Frustrating as it is to us, the ambiguity in online offerings 2 weeks ahead of release isn't going to be a major problem to most of Switch's potential consumers, unlikely to be made up mostly from the forumgoers' sort.

 

[Possumowner]

I do feel they need to get more info out there with launch being so close.

 

[SmokedMeat]

I feel there's a shitload of mistakes with this launch, but one of the most important things they nailed is the Switch hardware itself. The Switch is far more appealing then the lame Wii U and it's lame selling point of hey, the kids can still play even if you want to watch TV!

I'm hoping that sexy and versatile hardware is enough to bring in more users then we saw with Wii U. Nintendo no doubt has their work cut out for them with delivering third party support, a decent online experience, and transition to a new VC where hopefully we don't get nickel and dimed for our games.

Time will tell.

 

[- J - D -]

I guess two weeks from now will still be too early to be either handing out crow or commence with the back patting.

I dunno how things will shake out, but the first 6 months of following this thing's trajectory should be really interesting, and it better be because it's not there will be much else to do with it in that time, post-Zelda.

 

[Shahadan]

My point is, those games haven't/aren't going to turn the Wii U fortunes around, so why would they make the Switch sell better in comparison?

Portable. New toy hype. People double dipping. Not many millions of consoles available by then so more than enough. People actually want to buy/play a switch
All the reasons really.

 

[frankie_baby]

That's a pretty major oversight.

So if something like Overwatch comes to the Switch then you'll still be confined to playing it in your home unless you live in Japan or a busy city area with really generous hotspots.

Still got my pre-order locked but yeesh.

How is it an oversight? Firstly the 3g vita sold like shit secondly no one would buy a data plan for their switch

 

[Larkoz]

Nintendo is far from doing the same mistakes. According to Google, this time people are actually aware of the new console's existence.

 

[SlipperyFishes]

My point is, those games haven't/aren't going to turn the Wii U fortunes around, so why would they make the Switch sell better in comparison?

Because unlike Wii U they're available in a reasonable timeframe in the coming months. We are getting games this year but don't need to wait an extra 12 months.

It's a value added proposition that gives these games another shot at life and I would say that makes it reasonable.

 

[geordiemp]

Chill out, you two, just some low hanging fruit joking around. Anyone that perceives that post as an "attack" could have paper for skin.

The ambiguity in online offerings 2 weeks ahead of release isn't going to be a major problem to most Switch consumers.

Its an old joke sure, and your right it will make no difference to the Nintendo faithful and probably Japan.

 

[Betty]

How is it an oversight? Firstly the 3g vita sold like shit secondly no one would buy a data plan for their switch

Because it means games like Rocket League, Overwatch, Splatoon 2, any online heavy game will largely be only playable at home, just like the Wii U.

For a console they want people to take beyond the home it feels like an omission, to be anyway.

 

[Omnistalgic]

It won't be another Wii U 2.0. It's a handheld. It will be popular in Japan. That alone will propel it to a much bigger success than Wii U. That popularity will eventually transition all/most of the current 3DS support + Vita support from publishers pushing handheld content to Switch support. It might take a year or two but even if Switch starts off a bit weak, it can do a comeback much like 3DS did despite it having a very weak first 1-2 years.

And don't forget Switch is getting some form of Dragon Quest XI, possibly in 2017 already. That will drive sales in Japan and encourage increased support from at least Japanese developers.

Not to forget that Nintendo can start focusing on a single platform (they still support 3DS at the moment, but that support will start to fade in 2017-2018 as they start moving more & more of their teams to Switch and not to new 3DS projects anymore). I'd imagine that would lead to Nintendo's Switch support eventually being stronger than Wii U one since they don't have to divide their attention between two console-level platforms after some point.

Hmm, I think it can be successful in Japan and still be WiiU 2.0, just add 10-15 million units to it. If it's not getting 3rd party support again from the biggest games, and only Nintendo and Japanese developers who mostly do portable titles are putting games on it, it's not that much different from WiiU from my perspective.

Should have a bigger library, but still is very much a secondary console to me as it will miss a ton of important releases from 3rd party still.

But yeah, if it successfully replaces 3DS, sales should be way over WiiU.

 

[BGBW]

Nintendo is going to take another crack at a tablet-based home console platform

Wii U wasn't a tablet.
Switch isn't a tablet.

Polygon, don't be a bunch of daft apeths.

 

[GrayDock]

I didn't have a Wii, so the WiiU launch was a good one. The BC helped too, played more Galaxy2 than NSMBU

But now, having a WiiU, this launch isn't appealing to me, and the lack of some information is kind of troublesome, so I'll wait and see.

I'll probably wait till Odissey before getting one, maybe at black Friday if the deals are good.

A lot of my friends, WiiU burnt, are in the wait and see approach too.

 

[SlipperyFishes]

Chill out, you two, just some low hanging fruit joking around. Anyone that perceives that post as an "attack" could have paper for skin.

I think Nintendo's way of disclosing information has been regrettable, sure, but I too think it's too premature to make any statements on it repeating the Wii U's mistakes. Infinitely better marketing than the Wii U ever had, actual interest among the average Joe and one of the most anticipated games in Zelda right at release should help it earn much more success right out of the gate. Frustrating as it is to us, the ambiguity in online offerings 2 weeks ahead of release isn't going to be a major problem to most of Switch's potential consumers, unlikely to be made up mostly from the forumgoers' sort.

The problem isn't the "will this repeat post launch mistakes" side but the "pre-launch they are still hoarding facts on how this actually fucking works as if they were precious stones"

It's the pre-launch lack of information. Buyer beware and all that, they have been asking Nintendo these questions since the Switch reveal and have bunk in the way of answers.

 

[Salex_]

2 weeks until launch and we can't even get a simple "yes" or "no" to the Wifi Hotspot at launch question. We shouldn't have to be assuming whether or not a portable device will launch with this important standard.

I wonder why the press won't ask anyone at Nintendo about this? Why won't Nintendo talk about this?

 

[Octavianus]

Wii U wasn't a tablet.
Switch isn't a tablet.

Polygon, don't be a bunch of daft apeths.

You can't expect Polygon to change.

 

[Bluth54]

Nintendo is far from doing the same mistakes. According to Google, this time people are actually aware of the new console's existence.

I don't think anyone would disagree Nintendo has done a better job with the marketing the concept of the Switch than they did with the Wii U (and it would of been extremely sad if they hadn't done a better job).
Did you even read the article? It doesn't say the concept marketing being the same mistake they're making.

 

[TheMagician]

Two of those are on Wii U.

Zelda is a simultaneous release and one of the systems is completely dead. Good for people that have a Wii U but the non hardcore and average Joe will never know anything but the Switch version.

I'm betting that Mario Kart 8 will sell better on Switch than Wii U as well. It's been out for a while and played to death though by many Wii U owners (unlike Zelda) so it's not something I'm really excited about or could imagine being an incentive for Wii U owners on the fence about buying Switch at launch.

I've got a friend who never bought a Wii U (the kind of guy that barely knows it was a new system) and he's tempted by Switch and hes more interested in Mario Kart 8 than anything else since he loved the Wii version so much. I think that's where Mario Kart is so important.

 

[CrazedProfessional]

I NEED A PIE CHART POLYGON!

 

[The perfect Dark]

Polygon has no idea what they're talking about. as always

 

[Numb]

So little info so close to release
Even the Wii L was better

 

[TheSpoiler]

Polygon has no idea what they're talking about. as always

This is such a detailed post I was able to immediately side with your point. Booo Polygon.

 

[Scrawnton]

They have a point. It's annoying Nintendo hasn't said much about online or VC (and interviews seem to be ignoring it during this second cycle of interviews), but Switch is a much more attractive project period. People barely knew the Wii U existed. People know what the Switch is just by looking at it and its level of awareness is to the moon compared to Wii Uhh

 

[pronk420]

Is it possible to play the Switch online outside? Through a 3G or 4G network or something?

It would be great to have an eventual Rocket League to play on the go.

From what I've heard console style MP games do not work at all well on 3G/4G. You wouldn't want to play rocket league (or overwatch etc) on it.

 

[Maxrunner]

They have a point.

It's bad enough they've created their last ditch console based on their biggest home console failure, but they're barely if at all improving the online functionality in a world where the online experience is a major part of what makes a console.

The fact that 2 weeks from launch they've showed nothing of the UI/Online is a legitimate concern.

What's to improve? It's wifi or 4G.

 

[Haunted]

Start-up that old narrative again. Sure going to help matters a lot!

It's not a narrative to recount facts.

No one in the press is obligated to "help" any company, they're there to report the facts.



That said, I don't think Nintendo's shitty online service is going to be the thing that makes or break the Switch. It's going to be a factor for sure, but not as important as the level of AAA third party support, or the question whether Nintendo manages to unify their output or will keep 3DS development separate.

 

[Richie]

The problem isn't the "will this repeat post launch mistakes" side but the "pre-launch they are still hoarding facts on how this actually fucking works as if they were precious stones"

It's the pre-launch lack of information. Buyer beware and all that, they have been asking Nintendo these questions since the Switch reveal and have bunk in the way of answers.

In this I'll meet you halfway, because yeah, they've done a terrible job at answering some vital online information this close from release. Reggie was interviewed shortly after the January Presentation and I recall him responding to questions about online and the VC with "Hey we've got 40 days to convey this information, stay tuned". So either they're betting on some blowout Direct VERY close to release (which seems less and less likely with each day) or the offerings are gonna be so barebones as to not necessitate further talking and Reggie was just PRing as usual. In this I'll concede that, yes, they really need to do a better job at reassuring the devoted, hell, anyone interested enough to ask. Even a concrete "we'll reveal more details in X week of February" would go a long way.

However, *at least for now*, I don't think this lip tightedness, however understandably aggravating it is to most of us who post here, will prove a major obstacle in the Switch's initial release. Hence me finding the article valuable in how it presents its opinion but ultimately a touch hyperbolic if not cynical (and it says as much) in its conclusions. Again, at least at this stage.

 

[7threst]

Yes, a lot of it is unclear. But I think I know enough of the Switch to say that I made the right decision to pre-order one. That's not saying much of course. After all, I played my Wii U to death. It's one of my favourite consoles of all time

 

[serplux]

My point is, those games haven't/aren't going to turn the Wii U fortunes around, so why would they make the Switch sell better in comparison?

The Wii U's first major game made by Nintendo after launch was Pikmin 3, which came out 9 months after the Wii U launched. The Switch will have MK8D, ARMS, Splatoon 2, Fire Emblem Warriors, Super Mario Odyssey and possibly Xenoblade 2 by that time frame, not including any E3 announcements that we do not know about. The Switch is getting a much healthier release schedule of games, which is important for consumer adoption.

 

[Sandfox]

It's ok if you don't already have a WiiU but people who buy at launch tend to be more core fans, I'd imagine.

Which would be most people.

 

[Fliesen]

From what I've heard console style MP games do not work at all well on 3G/4G. You wouldn't want to play rocket league (or overwatch etc) on it.

well, it depends on the game.

as it stands, there's people who use LTE modems as their home internet since it's the fastest connecton available to them.

It's not like there's going to be all that many twitch shooters you'd be wanting to play on the switch, on the go - but i don't see an issue with Mario Kart or the likes working well over a 4G connection.

 

[Hoo-doo]

Which would be most people.

Most Nintendo fans though?

 

[Skyzard]

Which would be most people.

Most people that are considering the Switch at launch?

Zelda BOTW, a new open world Super Mario, Xenoblade Chronicles 2, Splatoon 2 + a plethora of less important but potentially still good games (some enhanced Wii U ports + smaller projects) + some possibly still unannounced 2017 releases (remember that Nintendo likes to announce things pretty late, especially smaller projects) is a pretty decent line-up of games from Nintendo themselves within the first 8-9 months of release.

It's the 3rd party support that is a bit lacking at the moment, but I imagine Japanese publishers will start jumping in on the Switch action as they start transitioning off from Vita and 3DS projects and maybe doing some PS4 + Switch projects. Western support is probably somewhat of a lost cause (except indies) unless it proves out to be a much bigger success than most anticipate, but even then the support would come with a bit of a delay.

Mario is way too far away, if it was May or something, I'd be pretty hyped...but end of the year, god damn.

 

[DJIzana]

As someone who mainly plays Nintendo games or RPG's / open world games? I'm hyped as hell. Zelda at launch, with Mario Odyssey end of the year? Xenoblade Chronicles 2 supposedly 2017 as well and Octopath Traveler probably 2018? This is a great platform for someone like me.

 

[borges]

Cant believe that digital purchases of 3DS are hardware tied. Makes absolutely no sense to buy digital.

 

[Distresssss]

From what I've heard console style MP games do not work at all well on 3G/4G. You wouldn't want to play rocket league (or overwatch etc) on it.

You are correct. People would quit playing console style games over 3g or 4g faster than they would complain about not being able to play on 3g or 4g. People that want that have no idea what they are talking about and don't know the horrid connection problems they would have.


Really its laughable that people that think that is remotely a decent solution.



Back on topic though: Polygon must be mad that a GAF user got a Switch unit before them.

 

[Leafhopper]

Because it means games like Rocket League, Overwatch, Splatoon 2, any online heavy game will largely be only playable at home, just like the Wii U.

For a console they want people to take beyond the home it feels like an omission, to be anyway.

Weird it is almost as if they keep using the words "home console" or "console for the home" for their home console that they expect you to take to parties at best with local multiplayer like in advertisements or something.

(Not defending this but it's not like they expected people to be doing online on the go going by marketing and this things battery life.)

Not to mention synchronized multiplayer on 3/4G is ass anyway so unless it was a bunch of turn based games idk.

 

[Hoo-doo]

As someone who mainly plays Nintendo games or RPG's / open world games? I'm hyped as hell. Zelda at launch, with Mario Odyssey end of the year? Xenoblade Chronicles 2 supposedly 2017 as well and Octopath Traveler probably 2018? This is a great platform for someone like me.

You named one game (Zelda), and then the next game on your list you're hyped for is coming 9 months from now, plus two games without release dates.

I don't think many will agree with that being a stellar upcoming releases list. They better go balls-out this E3.

 

[frankie_baby]

Because it means games like Rocket League, Overwatch, Splatoon 2, any online heavy game will largely be only playable at home, just like the Wii U.

For a console they want people to take beyond the home it feels like an omission, to be anyway.

Playing over mobile is rubbish, if you really want to play over mobile you can tether it, for sane people just do local multiplayer

 

[Sesuadra]

Cant believe that digital purchases of 3DS are hardware tied. Makes absolutely no sense to buy digital.

They are not tho. They're tied to your account, so if your 3DS breaks you can re-download them. The problem for a lot of people, me included, right now is that you have to call Nintendo for that.

 

[Sandfox]

Most Nintendo fans though?

Most people that are considering the Switch at launch?

We really don't have a way to measure that.

 

[Broken Hope]

They are not tho.

They are though, I can't buy any random 3DS and log into it and download my games.

 

[Shiggy]

They are not tho.

You cannot move your account to a different system yourself though, thus making your purchases effectively hardware-tied.

You named one game (Zelda), and then the next game on your list you're hyped for is coming 9 months from now, plus two games without release dates.

I don't think many will agree with that being a stellar upcoming releases list. They better go balls-out this E3.

But there's Super Bomberman R at launch. /s

 

[Conrad Link]

I don't see why it's so hard to comprehend, Nintendo need to be so secretive or else their competition might copy them!

 

[ggx2ac]

Playing over mobile is rubbish, if you really want to play over mobile you can tether it, for sane people just do local multiplayer

Pretty much this.

Plus, if I was doing a ranked match of an online game, I wouldn't be playing 'outside'. There would be too many distractions. I can pause any offline game but not all online games.

 

[Soph]

I read the article, don't even know why I bother.

 

[XandBosch]

Sure they might be repeating "the same mistakes", but it's maybe one or two mistakes out of a thousand they made with Wii U that they've got right with Switch. The brand recognition alone this time is much, much better.

People are so doom and gloom about Nintendo. Maybe if their big launch game was Mario Kart or Smash or Splatoon it'd be a bigger thing, but for me, since Zelda is going to take up so much time, I'm not really bothered by the lack of online talk.

I've already been sold on the Switch, and have no problem waiting a bit longer for that stuff.