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[-Mutsukki-]

Me.

Also, anyone who don't care because they think nintendo wouldn't do better games with current gen tech is just crazy.

Such a shame when i read the DF thread this morning..

Why is it crazy? Where's the empirical evidence? If anything, evidence would say that it would do worse, as did a lot of Japanese devs with the switch to HD.

People have to let go of this weird conception that whatever tech Nintendo is working with is hindering them. On most cases, it isn't

 

[Lord of Ostia]

You haven't been interested for a long time then, huh? Were you similarly uninterested in the PS2, seeing as it was the most underpowered console at the time? I understand the desire from some for Nintendo to release a more powerful console, but I also understand why they won't do that. The market doesn't have room for a 3rd player doing the exact same thing as the other big players in terms of hardware. So, Nintendo leverages new ideas because it has to, and it is in the best position to do so. Switch is a unique device that will funnel their develop pipelines into one system rather than a split ecosystem. That alone is a smart decision, not to mention the form factor and sleek design being appealing to people. Less power also allows the device to be cheaper, which is very important.

 

[see5harp]

Some of you act like Nintendo has been pricing accordingly. The xbox one is marginally more expensive than the Wii U at this point.

 

[Lonely1]

The Switch is not underpowered, though. It has nice power for a handheld.

 

[Rezae]

I don't care if the games look are in 8-bit pixel form. If they're fun they're fun. I don't need a real and gritty looking Mario game.

The last thing Nintendo needs is to add extra costs, both on the hardware end and on the development end (not to mention longer development time), to keep up with "competitors".

 

[Pejo]

I feel like the best way to look at Nintendo systems anymore is just that they will play the awesome inevitable Nintendo exclusives. 3rd party has been dead for them for years, and doesn't look to be getting better unless downports are really easy with this latest gen.

Personally I'm ok with buying a system just for Nintendo's output, but it's totally cool if people aren't. Nintendo's gonna keep on keeping on no matter what, really. It's kinda nice to have them in the market, even though they don't really compete with....well...anyone.

Do I wish they'd get out of the hardware market and make 3rd party games? Maybe. Sega did it, and it worked out ok for them for a while. For now I'll enjoy the Switch when it comes out for Monster Hunter on my TV.

 

[lazygecko]

Were either the N64 or SNES "powerful" consoles by the standards during their life-span? I'm not sure about SNES, but I could swear that N64 was weak as heck compared to the Playstation.

It was moreso that console hardware in general back then was much more specialized in what they did well and efficiently, which has evened out over time (PS3 seemed to be the final straw as the stakes for game development had risen to the point where where having architecture built on unique quirks was no longer feasible in the market conditions). SNES had some very distinct hardware features that could be leveraged, but lacked raw power and coding flexibility which kind of boxed in devs in what kind of features they wanted to realize. I guess similar arguments can be made for the N64. Later into its lifespan devs figured out how to do stuff like essentially use the cartridge/ROM as extra virtual RAM, which was not something you could do on CD systems.

 

[Gestault]

It bothers me that Nintendo prioritizes low-end hardware when (in my opinion) so few of their challenges are (or would be) due to pricing. Like, they're spooked about being too expensive, but higher-target development is already being done across the industry, and buyers seem content with pricing built around higher-end console hardware. Instead of being a brand (rightly) associated with quality, they've cast themselves as a "value" product in a market that isn't responding to it. There's hope with the Switch, but I'm uneasy about even that.

I think they're in a place where it's hard to plan out strategy because the Japanese market is in collapse when it comes to consoles, and even for portables, it's finicky. Like they're getting bad signals for what would be the best strategy globally. Their unexpected success with the gimmick in the Wii set off a corporate mindset that they can't compete without a disruptive element, and without being too blunt here, it hasn't worked out as a longer-term strategy. I feel like they've confused "disruptive" with good.

 

[Ishida]

I don't need to see the mushroom crumbs in Mario's mustache in order to enjoy his games.

 

[emb]

I'd love for more of the industry to support Nintendo platforms (so in that sense more power would be nice), but Nintendo releasing a platform at a high price would probably be suicide too. Seems like a lot of games are becoming more and more scalable and generic these days, with the prevalence of PCs and mobile platforms, so many Ninty will still get a little love from 3rd parties.

I don't care to much about it directly though. If Nintendo stops making games I'd feel less interested (or if they went digital/mobile only, or if they went 3rd party I guess).

 

[OrbitalBeard]

Some of you act like Nintendo has been pricing accordingly. The xbox one is marginally more expensive than the Wii U at this point.

This is a legitimate criticism. I really want to see Nintendo get aggressive with pricing next year.

 

[LegendofLex]

This is a legitimate criticism. I really want to see Nintendo get aggressive with pricing next year.

Yeah, totally.

Their mantra was historically "pay as little as possible to get the hardware, pay a lot for really high-quality games."

They seem to be straying pretty hard from that lately.

 

[KHlover]

I have a PC, so nah. It's the same as every year for the last decade.

 

[Shion]

I definitely I miss the NES/SNES/N64 days.

Powerful hardware, strong focus on premium quality and ambitious 1st party games like Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Metroid, Super Mario 64, Ocarina of Time etc. Nintendo used to wow you back then by going beyond and above the industry standards, I definitely miss that.

Thankfully, though, there's much more to video games than Nintendo, so no I don't feel less interested in gaming. Indies are doing some amazing things and, contrary to popular belief, AAA games are better than ever.

 

[Salty Rice]

In a world of frame rates and resolutions,

Luckily i couldnt care less.

 

[JayWood2010]

From somebody who plays on PC, XBO, and PS4 I will say that I was never going to buy third party games on the Switch even if it was equal power.

On the other hand I love my Vita and NVIDIA Shield, but arent supported the way I'd want them to be. Also a owner of 3DS, which has turned into my Pokemon machine in recent years. The power in it is just undermining, but Pokemon is amazing, so who cares.

However, if I can have a portable console that is more powerful than the Vita and can run downgraded third party games from XBO and PS4 I may be enticed to buy them simply because i like portables.

 

[Sizzel]

Nope - it is a first party box until something changes or I get really interested in playing better looking 3ds games from 3rd party devs(this might happen)

PS4 and Xbone are also way under powered relative what is commonly available on computers now and I just treat them the same way... just for exclusives . The triple AAA games basically get neutered. First parties do a decent job.

Everything else goes to PC.

If I lived in a world where I eas forced to only play on consoles... then yes.. I would want that world where Nintendo dominates like a Super Nintendo Gen which was the last great Nintendo gen.

 

[oni-link]

Does anyone feel less interested in gaming when Nintendo goes under-powered?

No because more power doesn't equal more fun

 

[Kill3r7]

I guess you have been disappointed for a while now. Power = quality or fun. Nintendo has been a secondary console for over a decade for me. That said, it is a console I will always buy, probably not day 1, but certainly down the road. In the case of the Switch, I traded in my WiiU and controllers/accessories for it. It should end up being a wash. I had not used the WiiU in ages.

 

[SephLuis]

Every time a thread like this is created reminds me of one of Nintendo biggest's issues. People want to play their software but aren't inclined to pay for their hardware, even if there's tons of great games in it.

I don't want Nintendo going third party or anything the like, but they need to work on how to convince people to make the purchase of their game systems. The switch isn't even out and people are already begging for a more powerful console, which goes against Nintendo current philosophy.

 

[EVH]

You say Nintendo goes underpowered

I say the others go overpriced

Nintendo goes both. Take a look at what happened with WiiU and specially 3DS launch.

Honestly, the concept of Switch is something I like. The problem is the third party support that with again lacking hardware it will be close to zero after one year. I won't buy a machine just for Nintendo games, its cool if you guys do it, but I dont want to spend 500$+ on two different consoles to play nintendo and third parties.

 

[Father_Brain]

It bothers me that Nintendo prioritizes low-end hardware when (in my opinion) so few of their challenges are (or would be) due to pricing. Like, they're spooked about being too expensive, but higher-target development is already being done across the industry, and buyers seem content with pricing built around higher-end console hardware. Instead of being a brand (rightly) associated with quality, they've cast themselves as a "value" product in a market that isn't responding to it. There's hope with the Switch, but I'm uneasy about even that.

I think they're in a place where it's hard to plan out strategy because the Japanese market is in collapse when it comes to consoles, and even for portables, it's finicky. Like they're getting bad signals for what would be the best strategy globally. Their unexpected success with the gimmick in the Wii set off a corporate mindset that they can't compete without a disruptive element, and without being too blunt here, it hasn't worked out as a longer-term strategy. I feel like they've confused "disruptive" with good.

There isn't really any disruptive element with Switch, though, at least not one significant enough for them to promote alongside the hardware reveal. It's easily the most philosophically conservative hardware they've produced since GC; it's not trying to reinvent how games are played, just to make the same sorts of games you can already play on other dedicated platforms more convenient to play.

It's easy to say that they should produce a PS4 Pro-level console and just go head-to-head with Sony/MS, but competing in that market is about much more than hardware performance.

They face a very difficult situation and I'm bearish on the future of their hardware business overall, but I'm not seeing a significantly better option than the one they've chosen, given market conditions and their own strengths and weaknesses.

 

[Lexxism]

I'm definitely disappointed but to be able to play all Nintendo games in 1 console. That really something I'm looking forward especially mainline Pokemon on my TV

 

[DeathoftheEndless]

I only care that the games look and play well, not the graphics statistics.

 

[Mass Effect]

You haven't been interested for a long time then, huh? Were you similarly uninterested in the PS2, seeing as it was the most underpowered console at the time?

Unfair comparison. The PS2 was on even footing relative to the Wii vs. PS360 or Wii U vs. PS4/XB1. There are very, VERY few games that couldn't work on the PS2 without major compromises (Chaos Theory is one of those few).

Still, I agree with your sentiment.

 

[ckaneo]

Splatoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooon
Mario Maker
Smash 4
Mario Kart 8
3D World
NSMBU
Tropical Freeze
Splatooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooon

Splatoon, yes. The others are just them continuing classic game franchises with typical improvements

 

[The Baron Count]

Christ, Nintendo topics sure do bring out the nonsense in people. A great game is only made better by looking better, but it sure as hell isn't essential.

A game like Zelda is and always has been about immersion and one of the biggest ways that series has always done that is by having detailed and beautiful worlds. The same goes for something like Metroid Prime, perhaps even more so. These experiences are enhanced by having better technology to create more believable worlds. And it looks like this idea that great visuals and great gameplay are somehow mutually exclusive is still alive and kicking, which is BS through and through.

That being said, while I am always disappointed when they have underpowered systems, It's never once affected my excitement for their games. Games like the ones I mentioned would be enhanced by having the power of a PS4, but the core of what they are is still there and is ultimately the reason we play them. It would be nice to have modern visuals in a new Zelda game, I would kill for that. But not having that is not going to ruin my excitement for a new friggin Zelda game.

 

[Duxxy3]

Seems like a pretty powerful hybrid to me.

But then again, I wasn't expecting a lot. I just want it to be on the cheaper side. I don't need XB1 power in that form factor.

 

[cireza]

You say Nintendo goes underpowered

I say the others go overpriced

Pretty sure you can get Xbox One for cheaper than Wii U.

 

[Seik]

Well, those people would be less interested since 10 years.

Seriously, as long as the games are good.

Switch games can be 1080p Wii U levels of graphics (docked) for all I care, some Wii U games really are good looking, some had me wishing they were 1080p instead of 720p and the Switch will probably do exactly that.

 

[Zebetite]

I frankly don't give a shit about graphics as long as the game is good and performance is fine. Nintendo tends to make games that do both of those things.

 

[Kilvas]

Ive always enjoyed underpowered consoles being pushed to their limits. Nintendo does this really well and im really excited to see what the Wii U is capable of with Zelda.

Conker's Bad Fur Day N64, Skyward Sword and RE4 GC. Some of my favorite games just because of the hardware at the time. Just visually and technically amazing games.

 

[BlackJace]

I can't wait to see a carbon copy of this thread in 6-7 years.

OP is buggin

 

[Gaspard]

No matter the system, Nintendo delivers knockouts every gen so a Nintendo system is a must-have for me.

But then again I always have more than one console so idc.

 

[broncobuster]

I feel like most of Nintendo's games aren't, and don't take this word the wrong way as it's not intended as an insult, ambitious enough to make use of PS4/XB1 power. Of Wii U exclusives, there's Xenoblade X and Breath of the Wind that make me think, yeah, these could benefit from much better hardware.

 

[superNESjoe]

No, because Nintendo makes great games that I enjoy. Graphics have never been a deciding factor for me, gameplay always comes first.

 

[pretty done]

Less interested in gaming in Nintendo's ghetto, yes. Thankfully there's other platforms to play on that aren't multiple generations behind.

 

[Lasthope106]

Not really. If anything Nintendo is one of the few companies that truly gets what gaming is all about. Inferior hardware has never prevented any company from having amazing games.

 

[Ooccoo]

Nintendo is doing its own thing, which is good.

The reach for realism slowly killed most Japanese devs (HD era).

When I look at 'superior' gaming experiences on say PS4, it's not what I want from games. Sure, it's fun when you get games like DOOM and The Witcher 3, but a lot of efforts felt very weak lately. Even if they looked good. See: Final Fantasy XV for a recent example.

 

[Orca]

I'm all for the 'I just enjoy the game' argument, but it turns out powerful systems have good games too so you can have both.

Hell, one reason Super Mario World blew me away was the sound and colours were just a light year ahead of the Genesis games. It was ALSO a great game, but that stuff contributed to the experience.

Acting like Nintendo's hardware these days being outdated from launch is some kind of a badge of honour isn't doing them - or gaming - any favours.

 

[Kindekuma]

What happened to just having fun games? It's not all about the grafics, ya know.
Wii U provided some of the most fun games I've played in a long while.

 

[Holy Order Sol]

As someone who has grown up with Nintendo games

so have I and idgaf so that has nothing to do with your point

 

[Zedark]

For me, a Nintendo console is going to be my second console anyway. Its primary draw is its first party lineup. Now, I don't feel that the relatively low power specs of Nintendo hardware detract from the things that make these games fun, so I am not bothered by the lack of power.

I do think that in the Switch' case, it would be nice to approach the current gen, so you get third party games on the go. If current specs pan out, though, it very likely won't happen. I am still fine with that, though it is slightly disappointing.

 

[psyfi]

I honestly don't care.

 

[dragonyeuw]

Some of you act like Nintendo has been pricing accordingly. The xbox one is marginally more expensive than the Wii U at this point.

It's actually been easily cheaper during the entire holiday season. Readily available $249 bundles and I think there was even a $229 one-day bundle across various retailers for the 500GB Minecraft bundles. Now granted, the reasons why it doesn't 'make sense' for Nintendo to drop the Wii U price has been stated 100 times over on Neogaf, but I haven't even seen retailers slash prices themselves to clear out any remaining inventory.

 

[redcrayon]

As someone who has grown up with Nintendo games, I feel I need to find spend more time with a different hobby when I hear of Nintendo going for much less than hardcore consoles and games. I just want the days of SNES and N64 when Nintendo gave us among cutting edge games.

I will still play games but it's just so disappointing not having the best devs working for the hardcore gamers. Such a waste of talent.

I feel less interested in gaming when I hear about the concerns of 'hardcore gamers'.

Very few of my favourite games have required cutting-edge tech, even at the moment of release.

 

[BRocknRolla]

I was just playing Super Mario Galaxy 2 last night, and while I certainly noted the resolution being undesirably lower than I would like, Nintendo's art style and gameplay ultimately overcome those concerns. Their games are just... great.

Would I love to see Nintendo in 4k? Yeah, definitely. But that's not going to stop me from playing their games.

I admit, I do have limits. 3DS is largely below what I expect from technology in this era. The Switch does not appear to be falling into that range.

 

[Budi]

Me.

Also, anyone who don't care because they think nintendo wouldn't do better games with current gen tech is just crazy.

Such a shame when i read the DF thread this morning..

Sure but imagine how Uncharted would be on Scorpio, get your shit together Sony!

 

[Kurdel]

For me, I never got used to the low resolution of the 3DS, but it's one of my favorite consoles of all time.

 

[Zerin]

Just less interested in Nintendo gaming. Going to build a RetroPi for the kids and we'll see where Nintendo is at in a couple of years most likely.