Nintendo Switch

[Chontler]

The price would depend on what gubbins is in the dock, no? It looks like the full game experience can be had with the handheld alone, so I'm guessing it's an upscaler and hard drive. Stash all your games on that and copy across what you want to take out. Maybe

[fog]

The dock does nothing other than charging and TV output.

Nintendo also clarified a couple more features of its newly unveiled Nintendo Switch console, including the function of the Nintendo Switch Dock seen in its announcement trailer, which you can watch below.

"The Nintendo Switch Dock has been created so that it is extremely easy to seamlessly switch from playing games on a TV to transition into a portable mode," a Nintendo representative told IGN.

Nintendo continued: "The dock is not the main console unit of Nintendo Switch. The main unit of Nintendo Switch is the unit that has the LCD screen, which the two Joy-Con controllers can be attached to and detached from. The main function of the Nintendo Switch Dock is to provide an output to the TV, as well as charging and providing power to the system."

http://uk.ign.com/articles/2016/10/20/n ... l-features

When asked if the Nintendo Switch will have touchscreen support, Nintendo declined to comment.

Strange that they wont just confirm touchscreen support.

[pogo]

Touchscreen support would be a bit of a mixed blessing. Apart from adding a little to cost, it would make it much easier to port games from other platforms. But that might make it less distinctive, and so less attractive to consumers who overwhelmingly now have smartphones and tablets to play such games on. Developers are going to be less incentivised to create new gaming experiences for it if they can just make games which use the touchscreen and work on this, iOS and Android.

[Darkflame]

199GBP...nah. It will be 299GBP at launch anyway.
The pound is shit remember

[pogo]

Ars has some more info:

The Nintendo Switch advertisement doesn't show anybody using touch controls because of one apparent mandate for games on the system: that they function even if the system's giant screen is docked to a TV.

The system's main board will reside inside of the screen unit, designed so that people can grab their game in progress and keep playing it on the go, without pausing the action for an instant. As the video demonstrates, one gamer grabs the screen so that he can feed his Zelda habit while walking his dog.

So even if it has a touchscreen the number of ways it can be used are very limited. I would not be surprised if it’s only for the OS, such as for the media player/browser/settings. But games have to use the controllers.

[MegaZoid.]

Can't see the Switch being £299, maybe £250 are the most.

[pogo]

It needs to cost < £200, and that’s all-in, i.e. including the dock and grip. Nintendo are not releasing it from a position of strength but one of weakness. They only have a chance of reversing this if this shakes things up by both being better and cheaper than the Wii U. It’s no PS4 beater. MS and Sony can get away with marking up the price of their new consoles as on release they are the fastest consoles available (and only Sony are actually doing well on that strategy).

Related:
Nintendo: Switch is a home gaming system ‘first and foremost’

It’s not replacing the 3DS which is not going away any time soon; it’s more a replacement for the Wii U. It’s what the Wii U could have been, if they had put its functionality into its odd controller to allow remote play. I.e. it’s the Wii U done right, and as such should cost no more than it.

[zbandito]

[gravy]

I just don't know.

I mean it'll be a day #1 purchase for me even if it was a turd in a box but the concept leaves me cold a bit.

My hands are pretty big so the controllers fill me with a bit of dread and I'm prone to losing stuff I take out the houses: really don't like anything with attachments on. Within a month I always have to buy replacements

And I do hope they include touch, it's on the leaked specs but the N's deliberate silence on the matter isn't encouraging.

But new Zelda, new Mario game in that video, so whatever the price I'm in.

[zbandito]

[venusian]

A big picture

That's a very good point. Hadn't thought of that. Lots of possibilities there.

[Darkflame]

Me neither.
In around about way that probably makes it more attractive to third partys too. If they can have their own physical gimmick. Retail probably appreciates anything that cant be downloaded too.

If one apparent mandate for games on the system: that they function even if the system's giant screen is docked to a TV.

Possible missing feature then; being able to wirelessly stream from the pad to the dock.
Without that WiiU games would be impossible to port anyway, as you need both the pad screen and the tv at the same time.

[Chontler]

Possible missing feature then; being able to wirelessly stream from the pad to the dock.
Without that WiiU games would be impossible to port anyway, as you need both the pad screen and the tv at the same time.

There must be like 2 games that don't support off-tv play. Surely the port would just require it to be stuck in that mode.

I can't believe that dock is just a charger and pass-through. Why is it so bulky then and not just a cradle...?

[Misfit]

Do we have any tentative dates?

I just don't know what to think really. The Wii U had some great stuff, but never really got the use it deserved and I'm not sure we need the portable side and being underpowered doesn't help justify it.

Do I want to buy loads more controls to play a slightly better Mario Kart after the Wii U one being so great?

And with the money spent recently on PSVR and about to spend on the Pro and the desire to buy lots of VR games doesn't exactly leave gaming cash for the Switch.

[Foozwah]

I am tentatively quite excited about this. I can't even explain why, but as someone who didn't bother with the Wii or WiiU, I want this, and suspect my kids (now 6 and 9) will too.

Zelda: BotW as a portable game? Oh yes indeed...