30yearsofhurt
Member
So is the Switch 'next-gen' or just late to last gen?
Digital Foundry: Nintendo Switch CPU and GPU clock speeds revealed
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OrbitalBeard
Member
Everyone knows Nintendo will never reveal detailed specs. This isn't our first rodeo. So, if the "wait until January" posts annoy you, ignore them.
Jonneh3003
Banned
We don't know, we'll find out in a few weeks.
My guess is that this is a strategic decsion that is motivated by maximisation of profit, rather than them being scared of competing. It looks kind of like they want to have their cake and eat it too. That is to say, the want to have a home console and a portable without having to actually build two devices and two sets of games.
I find it incredible to believe that the folks at Nintendo don't think they have the talent and the resources to compete with Xbox and PS.
If the Switch is Wii U Pro no one would be upset either. It's not though, it's a completely new system with its own architecture and library.
"Wait until Jan 13 so we can drown out spec talk with unsurprising surprise that a new Mario game is here."
It needs to be stated as long as people don't understand it's also a handheld. You can't expect an affordable handheld with PS4-like graphics in 2017.
That's impossible and unreasonable.
LordRaptor
Member
That's because - as this thread is rather depressingly hammering home repeatedly - people don't fucking understand specs, and they don't take them into context.
If the reveal shows a bunch of titles that people consider "next gen" (actually current gen) running smoothly enough at a 720p resolution and looking good enough at a 720p resolution, and a sizzle reel of upcoming titles that all also look good enough, are interesting enough, and varied enough, it doesn't actually matter what hypothetical fillrate performance numbers might be, or how many flat-shaded triangles it can render in isolation.
Also because Zelda isn't a linear narrative driven game. Theres way more going on. I love naughty dog games but they are pretty shallow and extremely guided.
cyberheater
PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 PS4 Xbone PS4 PS4
It makes me wonder just how many games will still be 720p when plugged into the dock.
Tertullian
Member
They don't annoy me. I just felt like commenting on them.
I agree with your point about PC, but FWIW, Nintendo absolutely is well known for making 60 fps games. Zelda just tends to be the exception. Many of Nintendo's Wii U games for example are 60 fps. The generation where they consistently failed to provide 60 fps games was N64, but everyone struggled with framerate in the early 3D era. Since then they've been much better about it and in this console gen in particular they have been.
Onimusha78
Member
Yeah I can see that if you're not a fan of hadhelds this could be a problem. You're basically getting a slightly upgraded WiiU which sucks. Only thing I would say is that those few games that you get on handhelds should now have proper console versions playable on the big screen. You also won't have to buy two consoles just for one or two games
Jonneh3003
Banned
I imagine quite a few.
And what if people don't want a handheld? What other choice do they have?
As I said the when this type of argument was brought up way back in some speculation thread: your job as a hardware partner for a console is to provide what the console manufacturer wants, not what you think they should want.
And this once again clearly illustrates that performance is very far down on Nintendo's list of priorities.
Plinko
Wildcard berths that can't beat teams without a winning record should have homefield advantage
Estimates are more like a 2.5-3x Wii U when docked.
To be fair, the vast majority of the consumer base cares nothing about "spec talk."
It's looking like the successor to the Vita it we go by power. Where was the 3ds in relation to the gamecube? A bit weaker? And this is a bit stronger than the Wii U. So on the Nintendo portable side of things, you get a generation and a half jump.
I'm sorry if I came off as rude on my previous posts.
I can be a bit of a pain when I'm passionate about a subject unfortunately.
We'll see on the 12th.
I'd hate to see that new Mario 3D running at 30fps simply because it needs to look better than 3D World.
If you want a console that focuses on power then there are three, soon to be a fourth, options for you.
Jonneh3003
Banned
Don't think we have anything to worry about with Mario, both 3D World and Galaxy were 60fps.
Wishmaster92
Member
aka the get out of jail free card for Ninty.
Nikodemos
Member
Those estimates are way too low. Maxwell is way above AMD's ancient VLIW4 arch in the WiiU.
It'll likely be 4.5x times more powerful than the WiiU when docked and ~2x in mobile mode.
Ports should be easy with just a handful effects turned down/off.
what's the fourth option?
But again, If your answer to my question is "go look somewhere else" Then I hope you understand where the disappointment stems from. You have customers interested in a product only to be told "sorry it's not for you".
It makes sense business wise.. maybe, but the consumer cares about the end product.
Xdrive05
Member
I like to read people's anecdotal reasons why the Switch is a good fit for them. I have one also. We have a three year old and no game consoles. I almost picked up a Wii-U, but it's price along with knowing "NX" was coming stopped me from getting one. And now we find out that Switch will work anywhere, and also the joy cons are small and pretty simple. That's perfect for a toddler's hands. I'm imagining some father-son Mario Karting soon, and I can't want another console more than the Switch.
I think the ease of access of the Switch will make it fit nicely into a lot of folks lifestyles, that if the library will be there - and it will even if as a 3DS successor - then it gets exciting real fast.
OT, I know, but reading your story made me feel like adding to the point.
Well, they can buy a XB1, or a PS4, or buy (or upgrade) a PC.
Suburban Thug
Member
What are you talking about? It is literally being marketed as a home console; that is straight from Nintendo's mouth, not mine. When you watch the actual reveal video it shows hybrid capabilities but you cannot deny that Nintendo is trying to straddle the line and appeal to two audiences. Handheld sales are declining worldwide thanks to mobile so I'm not sure why you're trying to make this out to be an East vs West issue.
Source: https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/sales/hard_soft/
Regional data: https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/library/historical_data/pdf/consolidated_sales_e1609.pdf
LordRaptor
Member
PCs don't count in discussions about specs and power.
Even though apparently POWAR! is the only thing people on GAF care about.
e: but, of course, you know this already
Kssio_Aug
Member
I believe they have a chance. But I also believe it's too risky. Playstation and Xbox has quite a stabilished public nowadays and I don't think a stronger Nintendo hardware would make such a difference as many think it would.
They're trying to keep selling to an different audience rather than jumping between Xbox, Playstation and PC. I think that's fine, not an unreasonable thing to do.
The fourth option is Scorpio. And the only person saying this product isn't for you is yourself because of your obsession with raw graphical power. If that is your view on what your console should be I reckon you haven't owned a Nintendo console in ten years. That or you're just trolling.
The unwritten caveat was 'with Nintendo games'.
Yeah but each one was looking more technically beautiful than the next one (not talking about art style here, just pure technological graphics fidelity).
I'm scared Nintendo will have to do so with the next 3D Mario too, and sacrifice the 60fps for that because the Switch isn't a generational leap over Wii U.
People who are disappointed are trolls? Ok then.
Kssio_Aug
Member
You just answered your own question.
None. The Switch is what it is, they just have to accept it. If they want to play Nintendo games, they will have to buy a Switch.
As soon as the games are shown, specs won't matter much, it will be a must own device for any Nintendo fan, old, lapsed and new.
OrbitalBeard
Member
Sunshine on Gamecube was 30fps.
Galaxy on Wii, a souped-up Gamecube, was 60fps.
I'm not worried.
Aztechnology
Member
Aye
I wanted to hope, I knew I shouldn't have. I've crested that defilade now, won't fool me again.
Don't worry. That wasn't a concern with New Super Mario Bros.
MilkyJoe
Member
They should release a dock only version, ie just a little plastic box and sell it for a third of the price. I think it's too big for a handheld with mass appeal. And I cannot see a right minded parent letting this leave the house.
I was not expecting PS4-like graphics in the handheld, you would have to be incredibly ignorant to expect that. What I was hoping for however, was reasonably contemporary hardware, that would at least have parity with, e.g. NVIDIA's Tegra chip, which has been around for some time.
However what we see from these leaks is that this may not be the case and it may be weaker than a product that has already been on the market for some time. To me, this is disappointing. It may not stop me purchasing the product if the games are there, but I think it is the difference between there being a buzz around the product at launch and it having legs throughout it's life cycle, and it being a bit of a missed opportunity.
Also regarding the reveal in Jan, I think showing off launch games and all of the marketing that goes with that can give one impression of the device, which may be significantly different to what actually arrives at launch and going forward.
Don't get me wrong - I may be proved wrong and Nintendo may have some secret sauce they have not yet revealed, however I think odds are against this.
That's so incredibly sad to me, truly.
This shows how people have grown not to expect any work on hardware from Nintendo.
Suburban Thug
Member
You just cherry picked one sentence while ignoring the greater context.
PS4, PC, XB1
Nintendo has left traditional console market as it's not profitable for them and Sony and MS have majority of that market share.
Opus Angelorum
Member
I think that's unfair, many long-term Nintendo fans would love them to release more powerful hardware.
Perhaps this is the best we can get for a affordable price with a system that has decent battery isn't too bulky and doesn't run too hot in your hands.
I'm... trolling a Nintendo thread? 0_0
It's not obsession with graphical power, it's to have a decent third party support and doesn't feel like Nintendo is being "left out" like it did in the past 20 years. It's to have games from Nintendo themselves that don't feel restrained by the hardware, such as Skyward Sword. It's when multi platforms actually do hit the platform I don't want to feel like the Nintendo console is getting a severely downgraded version to the point where it's just not the same game. It's the fact that there shouldn't be such a visible compromise when purchasing a Nintendo platform.
This is why I care about power. I still think 360 titles look great, and I think Wii U titles look downright incredible at times. But it's the stuff above that gets me.
Your fears here are pretty unfounded though. Nintendo targets 60fps in their platformers for gameplay purposes, and Mario's clean artstyle means they can get away with making it nice looking at lower complexity. I expect Mario Switch will be both gorgeous and 60fps 1080p.
Onimusha78
Member
The part he/she picked out IS the greater context.
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