Nintendo Switch

[toxibunny]

Nintendo, biggest gaming company in the world, is gearing up to release a new console. After the damp squib of the Wii U, have they got what it takes to become relevant again? Rumours point to 'erm... maybe?' Is it a console, is it a handheld, is it a hybrid? Is it a bunch of stuff that slots together to make a voltron style megaconsole? I don't know. All I know is that it's time to make a thread. Call it 'pointless, baseless speculation' if you must, for that is what it surely is, but pointless, baseless speculation is the bread-and-butter of the new-console pre-reveal cycle, and especially regarding a new Nintendo console, because those guys are crazy.

Partly based on rumours, I predict:

Home console out before Christmas, handheld console comes later, followed by a tablet style handheld home console later on.
Better specs than PS4, except for internal storage.
Actually cool-looking console and gamepad this time.
Gamepad will have a capacitive touchscreen.
Sharp freeform screen tech will *not* be used for anything exciting, just to make handheld screen bezels smaller/non-existent.
A 'supplemental computing device' won't ever be used either, but the port for it will be there.
Amiibo more than ever.
Will have a *lot* of android/iOS ports at launch. More than 50.
Home console will launch with discless, cheaper version alongside another version with an optical drive.
Home console will play the handheld games, uprezzed but not normally otherwise improved.
Miis will still be a big thing.
They will make a big deal about having Final Fantasy XV as a launch title.

I'm surprised there isn't already a thread about it. Is it just because we don't actually know anything about it yet, or is it just that nobody cares about Nintendo anymore?

[TFO]

I care about Ninty, but the WiiU missed so spectacularly that I've sort of lost the love

[Chontler]

I don't know why the wii-u gets such bad press and is considered a failure. I know it has its drought periods - I got a ps4 to fill that and the games on it don't impress me any more than what Nintendo can do. But it's games are some of the absolute best there's ever been, and they do make a profit. Is it just because they didn't sell as much as the wii? That console was a fluke as they never sell as much as the competition since Sony entered the fray. I'm feel most of the bad press was idiotic journalists guessing stupid shit like the name confused people because it sounded like the previous wifi, or the controller confused people so they didn't buy one.
I'll throw money at anything they do. Yoshi's story finally got released on the VC, as well as starfox64, so I'm happy right now.
I keep up with nx rumours but there is definitely nothing concrete to report. I'm impressed they've managed that in todays leaky world.

[toxibunny]

I have another prediction - they'll have a version of voice/video chat that (often, but not always) uses your mii as an avatar, with facial expression recognition and possibly even with real-time language translation. No way they're going to let people see each other on cam, or do traditional voice chat. It'll all be mediated through the avatars. Miidiated, you might say, aha. I feel that the 'gimmick' will be mostly software this time.

I got my Wii U cheap, so I don't feel burned by that. I *do* feel resentful about what they've done to Paper Mario though, and Mario Party, and 2D Mario, and 3D Mario. They've sucked the soul out of those franchises, maan.

If home NX has got better than PS4 specs and launches at christmas with (at least the promise of) some impressive 3rd Party stuff, and the first party stuff isn't totally for babies, then I'll definitely get one - I've got a decent tax rebate coming. If not, then I'll look into building a steam box to go under the telly...

[Chontler]

Miitomo does similar to that and it's terrible. Though that maybe be because I have no friends with it. Not the face recognition, but I'm sure they could handle that. I loved 3D Mario World, it's as playful as all the others. I'd say pikmin was my high point so far with it. They've said pikmin 4 is practically finished so I'm expecting that as a launch title.

Will,it have better specs than the ps4.5 though?

[Darkflame]

The Nintendo patent for font changes in speech to text based on your voices tone would be nice to see put into use.

Other then that, its probably going to be a bit blah for me.
I'll buy whatever Nintendo puts out because their games are still top notch, but hardware wise the really exciting stuff isn't yet cheap enough to put into a console. "More horsepower" couldn't possible interest me less. Its not bad its just...whatever.
Maybe they could have head-tracked camera, thats well within tech possibility and would add subtly to many game genre's.


As for the WiiU, I'm happy enough with my WiiU - just for Xenoblade alone its given me enough hours or play to justify the cost.

I got my Wii U cheap, so I don't feel burned by that. I *do* feel resentful about what they've done to Paper Mario though, and Mario Party, and 2D Mario, and 3D Mario. They've sucked the soul out of those franchises, maan.

Super Mario 3D World, stupid name aside, was very well reviewed. What makes you think it lacks heart? I have yet to play it, but it seemed pretty creative from what I have seen.

Paper Mario's been diluted a lot, granted, but I suspect thats to differentiate it more from the Mario & Luigi games on the DS.

[toxibunny]

Super Mario 3D World, stupid name aside, was very well reviewed. What makes you think it lacks heart? I have yet to play it, but it seemed pretty creative from what I have seen.

Remember Super Mario world, when you beat a castle and you get a little cutscene and a fanfare? And even the little bit of text at the start in yoshi's house? Well there's none of that. What little there is is told in mime. Remember Mario 3 when you'd go into a toad's house and they'd say 'pick a box, it'll help you on your journey'? Well in this one they just stand there staring at you. Lifeless. Every level except the final ones in Bowser's world is absolutely piss easy, you just go through, collect three stars and a stamp and that's it. Maybe there'll be a tricky one sometimes and it'll take you 4 or 5 goes, but once it's done there's no reason to go back, which I guess is why they encouraged speed running in the marketing. Most mid boss levels you can beat in 10 seconds. Sure, it's shiny, and the double cherry powerup is neat, as is the catsuit, but the whole experience is about as substantial as marshmallow. To be fair, it's probably a lot more fun in multiplayer.

[MegaZoid.]

Really like my Wii U , Mario Kart 8 , Bayonetta 2, Splatoon, Mario 3d world, Mario Maker are some of my favourite games.
Really looking forward to NX and will buy it what ever it turn out to be
Also looking forward to PlayStation vr , this year is gonna be expensive.

[Chontler]

Super Mario 3D World, stupid name aside, was very well reviewed. What makes you think it lacks heart? I have yet to play it, but it seemed pretty creative from what I have seen.

Remember Super Mario world, when you beat a castle and you get a little cutscene and a fanfare? And even the little bit of text at the start in yoshi's house? Well there's none of that. What little there is is told in mime. Remember Mario 3 when you'd go into a toad's house and they'd say 'pick a box, it'll help you on your journey'? Well in this one they just stand there staring at you. Lifeless. Every level except the final ones in Bowser's world is absolutely piss easy, you just go through, collect three stars and a stamp and that's it. Maybe there'll be a tricky one sometimes and it'll take you 4 or 5 goes, but once it's done there's no reason to go back, which I guess is why they encouraged speed running in the marketing. Most mid boss levels you can beat in 10 seconds. Sure, it's shiny, and the double cherry powerup is neat, as is the catsuit, but the whole experience is about as substantial as marshmallow. To be fair, it's probably a lot more fun in multiplayer.

You know there's 4 more worlds after bowsers and then there is the green stars. The extra worlds get really challenging. Nintendo changed their tune a bit with difficulty so they can cater for all ages. I find 100%ing ninty games is particularly satisfying and usually not too grinding either. Pikmin 4s challenge levels are nuts. Even Kirby games are solid enough.
I still haven't touched Bayonetta 2. Took me an age to finish the first one and gave myself a rest. Time to crack it open methinks.

[toxibunny]

You know there's 4 more worlds after bowsers and then there is the green stars. The extra worlds get really challenging. Nintendo changed their tune a bit with difficulty so they can cater for all ages. I find 100%ing ninty games is particularly satisfying and usually not too grinding either.

I did not know that. huh. Well that's encouraging. After breezing through the first 6 worlds in no time flat, I decided to stretch it out into little bits every so often so it wasn't over too quickly. Sorry I forgot to mention I hadn't completed it - I thought there were only maybe 5 levels left... I still think it's been soulless so far though.

[toxibunny]

Real, official news! It's coming in march next year. https://mobile.twitter.com/NintendoAmer ... 3081522176

[toxibunny]

Not showing at e3 either. might as well just merge this with the big Nintendo thread then...

[Jonesey]

The latest "rumour" is that the games will be cartridge based..

[Darkflame]

Id be fine with that. I like solid state stuff.

[toxibunny]

I'd be happy with that. Gold Zelda cartridge at launch would be pretty awesome.