Nintendo Switch
By now you have probably heard that Nintendo's next console (formally known as NX) debuted today on their website as Nintendo Switch!
If you have watched the video you know it is all about functionality and games and says nothing about performance. The only tidbit of information I have dug up is that it is powered by nVidia's next gen processor. That makes sense when you look at nVidia's foray into tablets with their Shield line. While not successful (arguably due to its being a very pricey android tablet) this team up with Nintendo actually has me pretty excited!
After watching the launch video all I could think to myself is "this is what the WiiU should have been!". I walked into work today and a buddy of mine had watched the video as well and we had a decent conversation about it. This is Nintendo going in a different direction (again) than MS and Sony but unlike the confusing, underpowered, awkward WiiU tablet, you can actually bring your games with you! As well the Nintendo site has a list of 3rd party partners beyond Skyrim developer Bethesda (shown playable on the console) that is quite deep. Konami, Codemasters, EA, Activision, Sega, Ubisoft and the list goes on. I truly believe this is their way of telling us "we're listening". Their video debuted first party titles of Mario Kart, a new 3D Mario game and possibly Splatoon 2 (?!?) along side the already announced Zelda game.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5uik5fgIaI&feature=youtu.be
I mentioned that you can bring your games with you. As the video shows the tablet docks connecting to the TV which (pure conjecture) is possibly a way of upping the graphics and processing power much like MS's Surface Book. Using the dismantable Joy-Con controller you seem to slide the ends into the ends of the tablet and viola!....big ass gameboy! The controllers seem to work when not connected directly to the tablet as well. Although that seems really tiny to hang onto I am more concerned about losing those little pieces in couch cushions, Maybe that is what the Pro controller is for. Looking like Nintendo's version of MS's Xbox controller (which was stolen from Nintendo's GameCube design), the Pro controller is a single wireless unit meant to stay home. However I think most gamers will default to it pretty much all the time. The Joy-Con's halves just look way too small to be truly usable.
I watched the video again when I got home from work today expecting to renew my excitement but actually came away a bit saddened. Watching the lovely millennials enjoying the games was nice but I stared at that moment when they popped in the DS/DSi/3DS cartridge. I had heard the rumors before that Nintendo was ditching the disks in favor of cartridges but I admit I kept thinking back to the old NES style. The 3DS stile makes more sense but therein lies the kicker. You will be able to take the Switch everywhere you would normally have taken their dual screen handheld so what does that mean for the 3DS? Is this the end and if so why did they, more or less, just launch a new version of it? I love my 3DS for trips and camping and other places where the compact comes in handy and the clam shell design really protects the screen. I always turn the 3D down and it just bugs my eyes right out of my head in mere seconds so the 3d capability was never a big thing for me. Durability on the other hand is.
This is our first look and while still 6 months out the Nintendo Switch will likely be the top of everyone's mind after the holiday season. I hope that before Christmas we actually get some more details from the big N: Performance? Price? Region availability at launch? Launch titles? Either way, I am cautiously excited for the Switch at this time. How about you?
