Devil's Advocate: Why should I trust Nintendo Switch to be any different than Wii U?

If everyone waits and sees the Switch will bomb regardless.

You need to buy the console on blind trust to get games. The same happened with the PS4 early on and only now has it gotten a decent game library.

I mean, not really. if the Switch has an enticing launch/year one line up then it'll be fine.

one can take the wait and see approach, see the release schedule for the first few months, and then buy. wait and see doesn't necessarily mean waiting until the console is already a few years old.
 
Because it's the handheld + console output merged together.

Usually I would say this. BUT I'm not convinced that Nintendo can compensate certain genres if 3rd parties don't provide those type of games. I mean does Nintendo really have the expertise to develop a traditional (read as art style and mechanics) FPS on their own?
 
It will have something comparable to Nintendo's 3DS+WiiU output, but that's about all the guarantee you'll have.

If you don't like the sound of that, you're better off waiting for a bit.
 
We will just have to wait and see. Being a hybrid doesn't automatically make it more likely to succeed in my opinion. Might have a clearer picture after the 12th.
 
depends on what you mean by "third party support" I guess

I'm expecting the Switch to be an indie haven

This and lots of Switch 3rd party exclusives.

Reading this thread and seeing so many post that I agree with about them combining home and handheld teams has me thinking....might as well add my devil's advocate ..

Does that necessarily mean more home console type games, more handheld type games or an even split?

It would be easy to assume it means more handheld type games but it wont look so bad since its 1 piece of hardware. Or does that mean they just develop more home console types of games and just let it be played portable? There you go handheld gamers, your handheld game...

I have a feeling some types of gamers arent going to be happy a few years from now. Unless they can succeed where the Vita failed. Home console gaming on the go.
 
Usually I would say this. BUT I'm not convinced that Nintendo can compensate certain genres if 3rd parties don't provide those type of games. I mean does Nintendo really have the expertise to develop a traditional FPS on their own?

They can but they don't want to.

Its not in there philosophy.
 
I would just wait until there are a few games out there that warrant the purchase. No rush to go out and buy one at launch. Especially if you feel burned by the previous console OP. At least that's what I'm doing. I can still play Zelda BOTW on my Wii U so I'm good until then.
 
If everyone waits and sees the Switch will bomb regardless.

You need to buy the console on blind trust to get games. The same happened with the PS4 early on and only now has it gotten a decent game library.

I agree with this too. Yea it had some decent first year games but alot of the pre orders and first year sales had to be because of potential and not current library.

Its a tricky thing but sometimes you have to buy based on potential. Doing that might entice more 3rd party support.
 
-more powerful than previous consoles
-modern tech that supports all (most) of today's engines
-(supposedly) easy to work for and to port on
-all of Nintendo developement efforts focused on one console
 
Luckily you have years to wait and see and the system need not be judged on day 1.

But seriously, EVERY Nintendo game in one system going forward. Like, goddamn.
 
Because it isn't a console like the Wii U. It's primarily a handheld that can be output to TV instantly.
If it's primarily a handheld then why does the official Switch site call it their next home gaming system? Never understood why people keep calling it a portable that happens to hook up to the TV when in reality it's the opposite.
 
I mean sure, the Wii U had set of excellent games. Most 1st party. And we know the Switch will get it's share as well.

But as someone feeling slightly burnt by the short lifetime and narrow library of the Wii U, how can anyone say with any certainty that the Switch will be any different?

How certain can you be that 3-4 years from now we won't have another 1 game year from Nintendo. Look at Wii U 2016 library.

Color me skeptical.
A very narrow library on WiiU, true, but I'm optimistic about Switch, because:

Upgraded ports: this means the games have a short development time and free the teams creating them to do another version. It also helps they don't need to develop a portable version of that game:
Mario Kart
Splatoon
Mario Maker
Smash Bros
Zelda: Not really an upgraded port, since it's releasing first on Switch, but you know what I mean.

Major games:
3D Mario: Seems very far in production, and I trust anything done by that team, they will have time for another big game, and hopefully a small one like Captain Todd.
Xenoblade: It was being done in parallel to X, with the original team, so it must be far along and will probably be awesome (please don't enter development hell).

So they are getting all the big games they MUST do out of the way early, and this leaves them time to explore new games. Mario Kart team doesn't need to do Mario Kart again, because they built a MK platform out of MK8, same with the others.

The other teams:
Mario Party team is gonna Mario Party.
Animal Crossing team is gonna Animal Crossing and Amiibo, and probably a mobile game.
Retro is working on something, probably not Metroid or DK.

Then there are the portable games teams (Intelligent systems, Arzest, NST, etc), ; I think all wrapping up the 3DS and working to release games with the launch of an unannounced NX portable device; hopefully the games will be cross compatible, so they don't waste efforts making two versions of everything.
 
I mean sure, the Wii U had set of excellent games. Most 1st party. And we know the Switch will get it's share as well.

But as someone feeling slightly burnt by the short lifetime and narrow library of the Wii U, how can anyone say with any certainty that the Switch will be any different?

How certain can you be that 3-4 years from now we won't have another 1 game year from Nintendo. Look at Wii U 2016 library.

Color me skeptical.


It simple man, as a consumer, until the product is providing what you needed, buy it else dont buy it..why so bother for 4 years down the road when you can enjoy your life with ps4, 3ds and other consoles now .. And probably few weeks you will know what to expect.. Cheers mate...
 
1) The Switch's software will basically be the equal of what you'd get if you combined the libraries of the Wii U and the 3ds, but since it's supporting more modern engines like Unreal 4, it should result in more 3rd party support even if it's downgraded versions of the stuff you see on Sony/MS systems.

2) Its the Wii U concept done right. As in, on-screen and off-screen gameplay, except off-screen isn't tethered to the console.

3) I expect Nintendo to really put their backs into this. They can't afford any more brand damage coming off the Wii U. Consolidating their development teams under one banner should eliminate any droughts, while having the flexibility to produce scalable hardware both in size and power to meet market demand. I.E, producing a smaller more 'portable' Switch Unit or a 'Pro' version with beefier hardware but all accessing the same ecosystem.

To me, the Switch is what you get if the Vita, Wii U, and 3ds had a threesome.
 
If it's primarily a handheld then why does the official Switch site call it their next home gaming system? Never understood why people keep calling it a portable that happens to hook up to the TV when in reality it's the opposite.
Because all of the hardware is in the Switch unit. The actual 'tablet' portion. It sits in a dock, which is actually called the Switch Dock.

I will likely rarely ever use it undocked, but let's call a spade a spade. It's a handheld console in a dock. And that's fine.

Nintendo of America is calling it a home console for marketing purposes.
 
The mixed mobile and console strategy is what intrigues me most about the switch. Should be interesting times ahead!

Don't buy anything day one if your skeptical about it.
 
1) The Switch's software will basically be the equal of what you'd get if you combined the libraries of the Wii U and the 3ds, but since it's supporting more modern engines like Unreal 4, it should result in more 3rd party support even if it's downgraded versions of the stuff you see on Sony/MS systems.

2) Its the Wii U concept done right. As in, on-screen and off-screen gameplay, except off-screen isn't tethered to the console.

To me, the Switch is what you get if the Vita, Wii U, and 3ds had a threesome.

Excellent description

- Lots of Software

- Modern Chipset, support and features out of the box. Easy to port to and make games for.

- Should be powerful, zippy and easy to use


This is NOT anything like WiiU
 
I do think we'll have smaller 3DS-sized experiences (in HD of course) along with larger Wii U type experiences.

Captain Toad on Wii U is a good example of a smaller 3DS-sized experience on an HD console. They sold it for less money and developed it in under 12 months. Yet the quality was high and the graphics were spectacular. I think we'll see more games like this on Switch.

In fact, I think we'll see brand new 1st party games that run the gamut from small $5 experiences to full fledged $60 titles as well as every price point between those two.
Mmm, that would be a nice role for those 3DS devs to fill. Smaller, quality titles in between the bigger first party studio launches.

I think it is more reasonable to not let expectations become too lofty with the situation either way. I like what you suggested though.

Edit - I also just thought of the 3DS itself and how that will play into it. Will it be dropped off completely? Or will it be cross with the Switch? That will obviously impact things as well.
 
You shouldn't. There is nothing wrong with waiting to see how things are panning out if you are skeptical. It's not like they are only going to sell these things for one day and put them in the Disney vault.
 
The only reason i buy a Switch is Zelda all other games is a bonus. I do hope it gets a fair share of games just like the 3DS ofcourse.
 
You don't have to, and it sounds like you don't. You don't owe Nintendo your purchase, so if you don't trust them to deliver don't buy the console.
 
The quality of the Wii U's library practically guarantees that I'll purchase a Switch to play a few promising exclusives. When you have games like The Wonderful 101, Bayonetta 2, DK Tropical Freeze, and Smash 4 that individually justify the full price of the console, how can you go wrong? I don't care at all about the size of the Wii U's library when it's the quintessential case of quality over quantity.

Is there any reason at all to believe that the quality of Nintendo's output is going to decline with the Switch? Ponder that for a second before resigning yourself to the remote possibility of future disappointment.
 
I mean sure, the Wii U had set of excellent games. Most 1st party. And we know the Switch will get it's share as well.

But as someone feeling slightly burnt by the short lifetime and narrow library of the Wii U, how can anyone say with any certainty that the Switch will be any different?

How certain can you be that 3-4 years from now we won't have another 1 game year from Nintendo. Look at Wii U 2016 library.

Color me skeptical.

One bad release doesn't make a pattern. I think it's wise to maintain a reasonable level of skepticism if you feel burned by the last release, but it really could go either way. Best thing to do is not carry and feelings of certainty and simply wait and see.
 
Consolidation of handheld and console software production resulting in less software droughts. That's the main reason. There seems to be actual interest from third party devs as well, but it's still Nintendo, so if you are concerned most about third party support, I suggest a wait and see approach.
 
You shouldn't trust anything. You should wait until there is proof enough to satisfy your misgivings about a product. This place is well known for hyping everything up. Look at Pascal. That GPU was tagged here as the second coming of Christ. Once if finally came out it was a modest bump over the previous series of GPUs and now everyone is hyping up Volta as the next big thing and the hype cycle continues. Wait until products come out to see if they are worth buying. Never make buying decisions on hype. Only facts.
 
Consolidation of handheld and console software production resulting in less software droughts. That's the main reason. There seems to be actual interest from third party devs as well, but it's still Nintendo, so if you are concerned most about third party support, I suggest a wait and see approach.

Considering the build

Its going to be cheaper, faster, easier

Its just all around a slick system that can support just about any game within the market spectrum that isnt super high end AAA that demands the crazy amounts of power

Otherwise any scalable mass market software can come to this thing easily along with indies and of course ALL Nintendo produced software
 
I buy a Nintendo console for the Nintendo games. Since this is combining the Wii U and 3DS there should be a really good library of those.

If you're not interested in Nintendo's games then there really is no reason to buy this, however. I don't see it being much in the way of third party. It will get a few games here and there, but I doubt it gets a majority of them.

Unless it comes out of the gate and sells like crazy. Then publishers will push to have third party games on it for the money they'll get back from sales.
 
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