Official Switch website is up. Switch runs a custom Nvidia Tegra chipset, so this is a direction away from AMD's SOCs, which are in PS4/XB1 and previous Nintendo consoles. The controllers are called Joy-Con, and the central unit they attach to is the Joy-Con Grip. Games are distributed physically (on what looks like an SD card) and digitally. There is a pro controller. Release date is March 2017. I'm hyped. I'll preorder when Amazon lists it.
Just the controller looks to be about as big as the console. The controller itself looks weird, like it appears to have comfort grips, yet it is extremely geometric (boxy). Then the console appears to have a tablet docking station. It just seems unusual altogether. Not saying there is anything wrong with it or the performance, just seems different (and that doesn't mean bad). Edit: And while I (long ago) said I was out on the next Nintendo console, technically I believe this is replacing the new 3DS also so I could get it with that type of framing in mind.
The console is the screen, and it does dock in the station. And the controller does look boxy, but you can also use the smaller pro controller. Honestly the controller reminds me of the Dreamcast's controller, and that is fine with me.
As to something I do actually find bad from the pictures, holding a single Joy-con to play looks absolutely terrible.
If we have fond memories of the hand-destroying mess that were NES and SNES controllers, the Joycon should be just fine.
[video=twitter;789155375526260736]https://twitter.com/NintendoAmerica/status/789155375526260736[/video] [video=twitter;789125712196341760]https://twitter.com/bethesda/status/789125712196341760[/video]
I think Nintendo may have hit its niche here. It looks like the system is powerful enough to play AAA games from other consoles, but should be cheaper to develop for. Huge appeal for publishers here.
The mini-Wiimote style sideways controller looks super uncomfortable. The fully assembled Joycon looks fine to me.
Agree. The unit as a whole as a mobile device looks good. I don't like the dock at all. the open edges in the dock with parts of it exposed just looks like a bad cell phone dock to me. As a person that's borderline obsessed with making my entertainment center looking clean... I don't know what I'd do with that thing. Wish it had some laying flat mode to hide it.
New Breath of the Wild footage, presumably running on the Switch. [video=youtube;b8hDuCeG1xg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8hDuCeG1xg[/video] [video=youtube;vEj57Jd6d3A]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEj57Jd6d3A[/video]
I also hope they QA the crap out of that thing. Remembering the hinges on the original DS, there's a lot of connecting and disconnecting on the Switch. If there's any play or movement between the unit (the console? the screen?) and the controllers that slide in and click... It's going to be a real bummer. The 2nd run of the devices (like most tech devices I guess) tend to flesh that out. But in this case, those connections are a huge part of it. Also would like to know what kind of battery life to expect. And about how thick it is.
They showed extreme travel in the unveil. Airports, car drives, that kind of thing. My guess is 12 hours of battery life. And external clamp-on batteries from third parties available soon after release. Nyko's add-on battery for the 3DS is still one of the best products ever.
I think if it's pushing XB1 looking games, there's no way it gets 12 hours. if it manages 8 i think it'd be a super accomplishment.
The Nvidia Shield Tablet K1 gets 10 hours of battery life. Get rid of the crappy Android OS and optimize the hardware, 12 hours should be doable.
yeaaaaahhhhhh but that thing hardly pushes current gen AAA games. I dont think that's a fair comparison. Plus real-world reviews clocks that battery closer to 6 hours under load.
Is that the Shield K1 or the previous gen Shield? I know the previous gen was pretty mediocre on the battery life. We'll have to just wait and see. I don't think Nintendo would be playing up the portable aspect if they didn't have good battery life.
Honestly not sure. Can look when I get home. I just know that hitting 10 hours with high end graphics is kind of the holy grail of mobile batteries. If they do it, I'd be super impressed. But I'd be impressed with console-level graphics at 8 hours. Realistically, any battery that can get you across a coast-to-coast flight is a win.
Well, prepare yourself for a travesty, because the screen has been rumored to be 720p, and I don't see why it wouldn't. 1080p when docked, 720p on mobile, makes sense to me.
Gotta love nintendo's balls. Consistently they do what no other dares and truly innovates. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I'm not sure how purely innovative it is. It's the intersection of the Wii U's controller, Nintendo's portable business, and small size tablets. But it's a logical intersection and it resulted in what can be a really good console.
I'm just looking at all of this as an outside, curious observer. I'll admit that I really don't get it, but I'm an old man, and not the target audience, lol. Its all....very strange. Those controllers look practically unusable, aside from the Pro. But that said, I'm glad that there's something different out there for the people who want it.
You absolutely are the target audience. Nintendo markets their stuff to anyone with a wallet. Especially parents.
Monster Hunter 5 on this and Nintendo has my money (it probably has it anyways). I went without one generation (Wii U) and miss my Nintendo games. Now these games are probably going to be rereleased on a more realized and unique console, so perhaps patience paid off?
And more commonly, the touch screen. Dual analog is on the Switch as well. You are absolutely in the target demo.
The kids certainly are adept with the touch screen. My two year old does better on my cell phone than I do. Its all very intuitive for them. They can take the dual shock from me when they pry it from my cold, dead hands
Nintendo is ending Wii U production this week. Presumably they'll sell through the remaining stock and then that's that.
Wow, that was fast! Four years after release and its gone. Do they not have the factory ability to make both systems at the same time? Sony built the PS2 for 11 years, and you still see them in stores. They've been building PS3's for 11 years now. I see that the Wii U is still going for full price most places. My wife and I bought our Wii back in 2011, I guess five years after it came out, for $90 new.
They're moving full production over to the Switch. I doubt there's going to be much of a Wii U market left in 2017.