The Switch won’t have Netflix or any other video apps at launch, but it will have a Mii Maker app. No video capture, sad to say.
Last week, just after the Switch event, we sent Nintendo a bunch of questions about their new hardware, which launches on March 3. Here’s our full list, complete with Nintendo’s answers (and non-answers):
Is Switch backwards compatible in any way? Will you be able to download or play Wii, Wii U, or 3DS games?
The Nintendo Switch system is not backward compatible with games designed for other systems, and is not currently compatible with controllers designed for other systems. Support for certain controllers may be considered for a future update. We have nothing to announce regarding Virtual Console or other types of digital purchases at this time.
How if at all does the Switch connect to Wii U and 3DS owners’ existing accounts?
We have nothing to announce at this time.
Will the Switch be compatible with existing Virtual Console purchases?
We have nothing to announce at this time.
Will the Switch have its own library of Virtual Console games that starts from scratch, or will it bring over the Virtual Console library from 3DS and Wii U
We have nothing to announce at this time.
How will SNES online functionality work? Which games will it support?
We have nothing to announce at this time.
For those concerned about the 32GB of storage, how will that work for playing downloadable games? How will it work for DLC and patches?
The Nintendo Switch system has 32GB of internal NAND memory, a portion of which is reserved for use by the system. The system’s internal memory can be easily expanded as needed using microSDXC cards.
The SDXC standard supports up to 2TB of storage. (Note that 2TB cards are not yet on the market, but Nintendo Switch will support them when they are.) External USB hard drives are not supported at launch, but we are researching the possibility of supporting them in the future.
If no microSDXC card is used, everything is stored in internal NAND memory. If a microSDXC card is used, game save data is stored in internal NAND memory while data that can be redownloaded, such as digital games, game updates, and DLC, is stored on the microSDXC card. Nintendo Switch game cards are non-writable; game save data is stored in internal NAND memory.
Is there a trophy or achievements system?
We have nothing to announce at this time.
The 3DS has built in games and the Wii and Wii U were bundled with games. Are there any games being bundled with the Switch?
There are no games being bundled with Nintendo Switch.
Every launch is different, and with each one we try to make the best decision for the consumer, marketplace and our company. We believe the hardware configuration at the price point we’ve chosen is a great consumer value. The consumer will have their choice of great software for the system.
How does the Share button work? Does it allow you to capture video as well as screenshots? Will it allow you to stream on Twitch or YouTube?
The Capture Button is located on the Joy-Con (L) controller and the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, and lets users grab screenshots from their games. They can then view, edit (add text of various sizes, colours and positions) and post them to social media. The original unedited screenshot is also saved.
We are planning to add the ability to record video in the future.
Switch won’t have Miiverse – will there be Miis? Or any other equivalent?
While Miiverse will continue to be supported on the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS systems, our approach with the Nintendo Switch system is to make greater use of other established, broadly used social platforms. For example, captured gameplay screenshots can be shared on popular social networks, and social features such as voice chat are possible with smart devices through our app.
There is a Mii Maker on Nintendo Switch. The software to create Mii characters is now located in System Settings, and no longer resides on the HOME menu as a standalone application. You can also create a Mii character from the Profile screen. Making Mii characters is similar to the method used on past systems.
Mii characters can be used to represent a user profile, but are not required. Users also have the option to choose a profile picture from an included library of Nintendo character images. Mii characters can still be used in games if developers choose to include them.
You can send/receive Mii characters through local wireless communication between Nintendo Switch systems, or use an amiibo figure to transfer Mii Characters from Wii U and Nintendo 3DS systems.
Mii characters on the Nintendo Switch system are similar to past iterations, but they have some different options. More facial components and colours for hair and skin have been added, while the following attributes have been removed: creator’s name, favourites, birthday, copying, and “public.”
Will Switch support Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, HBO Go, or any other streaming services?
All of our efforts have gone toward making the Nintendo Switch system an amazing dedicated video game platform, so it will not support any video-streaming services at launch. However, support for video-streaming services is being considered for a future update.
Will online stores be region-free or just cartridges?
The Nintendo Switch system is not region locked, but we recommend that players buy games within their region to ensure full service and support. The user will access the Nintendo eShop that corresponds to the country identified in their Nintendo Account. (Up to eight user accounts can be created on a single Nintendo Switch system.)
Comments
139 responses to “Nintendo Answers (And Avoids) Our Switch Questions”
Who in their right mind will buy this? This is a stuff up of monumental proportions. And everyone thought the release of the xbone was half-arsed and had no idea what it was trying to do!!
Supports 2tb cards that aren’t invented/available yet?
On that basis, any console/pc maker can say they support 16k visuals, it just needs to be created!
Sintendo! For shame!
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-one-sales-reach-26-million-report/1100-6447023/
I think Nintendo would be well pleased if the Switch does what the Bone has done.
I think they would be pleased if it continues to sell six months after the initial novelty wears off!! Gimmick system aimed at casual/children user base methinks. I outgrew them 20 years ago, and they’re still pumping out the same re-hashed games and people clamour for it. Bizarre!
I know!
It is isn’t it!
The reasons escape me!
Aiming it at casual and young players is fine if it’s good and is at that price point. It’s just that, it’s not. Zelda looks like fun, but I can have a SHITLOAD of fun for $550 if u get my drift.
Pack some goggles.
Yep $550 will bring in the good times!! I drift. Mmmkay?
You say aimed at children… but their marketing / advertising have no children in them.
The only mention of children was the Parental Control App.
I am neither a child nor a casual gamer. The Switch is aimed at Nintendo fans, and people that like fun.
I’m neither a child, nor a casual gamer. I’m also a Nintendo fan and I like fun.
And yet I dont have any inkling to buy a Switch…Curious.
I’m buying a switch FOR the inklings!
Good for you sir/madam.
I’m think a certain way, I have my perspective, so what the hell?! Why doesn’t everybody feel the exact same as me?
“I outgrew them 20 years ago, and they’re still pumping out the same re-hashed games…”
Yeah, except they’re not.
If you hadn’t outgrown them 20 years ago, you would have realised that each time there is a new entry into one of their main franchises, it’s completely different from the last, and – best of all – fantastic fun. Look at the last few main Mario entries, for example…
Mario 3D World: 92.56% average
New Mario U: 84.48% average
Mario 3D Land: 90.09% average
Mario Galaxy 2: 97.35% average
(Thanks Gamerankings) 😉
Sooooo… gamers and critics seem to adore these games. Looks like the only people who don’t are the ones who “outgrew” them. Oh well. Your loss.
My morning commute to work is a 40 minute bus trip. Being able to take the system with me is a highly desirable feature, not a gimmick.
“People other than I like things that I don’t like! Inconceivable! They must be as despicable as the filthy drivel they like, but that was already evident by the very fact that they are not me, the only one with perfect, discerning and sophisticated taste in the world!”
Up to 2 TB cards, the biggest I have seen is 256 GB so far. I’m not complaining.
At this point. 2tb cards exist and are in testing. Military already utilise high capacity memory cards as well. We will see ones like that late this year to mid next year. Exy tho,very exy.
People who like games and have money. You know, the usual kind.
Yep, you’re right. I like games and have money – and I will be buying a Switch.
Guess, I’m wrong then, since I like games and have money, but wont be buying a switch…
How strange, a product is released by a company that appeals to some people and not to others.
This cannot be true! Someone must be wrong!!!
How dare those bastards be forward-thinking. Have they no shame?
Not sure if joking or you actually don’t understand why they’re talking about 2tb cards.
They’re saying it supports up to 2tb because it supports microSDXC – an SD card interface with a maximum capacity of 2tb though currently said maximum isn’t available for sale. I believe you can buy up to 512gb already, not sure if you can buy 1tb yet.
It’s a little different than advertising things like 16k that physically aren’t possible on current tech yet as the 2tb cards do technically exist on the same interface (that the Switch uses), they’re just currently too expensive to mass produce. Will be along in a year, maybe two.
Err no, you can already get 200+ GB microSDXC cards. The 2TB limit is built into the standard. It’s like saying hard drives can be upto 16 exabytes in size but are currently limited to 60TB SSDs.
So basically everything they said “We have nothing to announce at this time” to (SNES online functionality, Virtual Console and Achievement/Trophy system) they are working on, but don’t want to announce anything yet.
I’d say it’s gone beyond working on, but they want to prevent the inevitable backlash from drowning out the core messaging of the system.
If they announce that Virtual Console will be available but you have to re-buy the games, that would be the headline on dozens of sites.
Basically, they are saving some bad news (like the subscription price for online play) along with some good news (like the achievement system) for later, when the image and idea of the system is more firmly entrenched in people’s minds.
Totally agree with you. With little over a month to go until it ships, nothing is going to be added before launch. Every where it says “We have nothing to announce at this time.”, assume it’s bad news. I’m especially disappointed with the “no video streaming apps”. The Switch could be a great Netflix player.
Not necessarily, They said extra functionality will be added through later updates, eg video capture and the possibility of adding external hard drive support. They also said streaming services such as Netflix are being considered for a future update.
“planning to add the ability in the future”, “considered for a future update”. Not phrases that I really want to hear.
Wrong category there.
XD
They said they’re going to talk about online/virtual console closer to launch so I’d say they’re just going to keep quiet about it all until then :/
We have nothing to announce except that you can buy it in soon.
Well that interview was a massive non-event.. great job Nintendo, giving the fans all the answers they seek… Not
The region info is fantastic. So you can conceivably have a US, JP and AU account on the one system, buy point cards for outside your own region, and use all the games and DLC without dicking with multiple systems. That’s basically almost exactly what I was hoping they’d do, and definitely not what I expected. Nintendo’s finally caught up to where Sony was 11 years ago.
I’ve pre-ordered on the basis that the Wii U was such a great console and Nintendo traditionally provides experiences I can’t get on the PS4.
It is frustrating that there are lots of un-answered questions, but I’m happy to take things as they come.
– Shitty online service? I won’t use it.
– Terrible VC range? I won’t buy any.
– Use up 32gb of space? I’ll buy the expansion.
I’m keen for Zelda, Snipperclips, ARMS, Octopath, Xenoblade 2 and Mario which will mostly all land in 2017.
I’m hopeful for Monster Hunter, Pikmin, Metroid, Pokemon and others but we shall see.
I’d sacrifice my 300+ game steam library for a Monster Hunter game to release this year. And a goat. Maybe my housemate too, he’s kind of annoying.
Seriously, Capcom please get on to it.
It’s the perfect console for it because they have the portability they love for the japanese audience, and the “holy shit i can play this on something that isn’t a god awful 3DS screen for most of the western audience.
I get giddy over the idea of being able to play it on my TV, then pull it out of the dock to go to a friends house for a hunting night.
Mhx on the 3ds just ruins my hands, I’d go back to Mh3U if I didn’t love the sick new moves so much.
A ground-up switch version would be great, and it’d be the first main entry game developed for something significantly more powerful than the ps2! Imagine botw mixed with mh, on the tv. Mmmmm…
Breaking this down:
I have controllers for everything Nintendo has ever made. Nintendo made the Wii Remote as a sort of (almost) universal adapter for its legacy gear with the help of certain cables, either produced by Nintendo themselves or third party manufacturers.
I’m not going to act entitled and say Nintendo needs to cater my whims alone, but depending on what they do with older software libraries, the ability to control them ‘properly’ would be appreciated.
Side note: The Wii U VC’s control customisation options are very nice indeed. I play Super Mario 64 heavily customised so the rudimetary camera is controlled by the X and A buttons, and Y and B are punch and jump respectively.
I’d probably end up going with the external USB route. That’s what I’ve done with my Wii U and my digital libary. Works a treat.
What is most distressing here is the fact the save data isn’t on the cart. Never liked that. I should be able to take my save data with me as easily as the physical media.
Not a good idea in the slightest, but I hope this forces retailers to get creative.
I’ve dabbled with these features, on the 3DS/Wii U, and the PS4. Now it might just be my particular curated feeds, but they don’t normally feature a whole lot of console-uploaded material. It’s usually one game that takes the zietgiest by storm for a good while.
In this case, FFXV and those damn foodie shots. Every damn day.
It needs to have a competent web browser. That’s it. The UI and hardware should be able to visit these web sites and stream the content from there.
I’d also hold out hope for local streaming channels (BBC/even AU ones) to approach Nintendo at some point, provided the console gets a big enough take up.
Very interesting. I’m not celebrating yet. I would forsee myself having a standard Aussie account (which I have), and an American account.
I already have a UK account too, so really I could use that account as a test case. Change it to Japanese perhaps.
All in all, a satisfying chunk of information there. Kotaku doesn’t see fit to mention whom exactly is giving out these answers.
It’s all but certain we’ll see another presentation of some kind before launch, surely?
Does that matter when you can take the whole console with you?
It does if the console breaks and you find yourself unable to access your saves and data.
How is this any different to the 3DS? Ninty has been doing this for ages.
The 3DS game saves go on the cart though.
Also it was a problem then too, I’m still pissed about all the stuff I lost when my first 3DS got bricked by an update.
The console supports SDXC cards, I’m sure you’ll be able to just put one in and back-up your saves that way.
How does sharing on Social Media work when Nintendo of Japan has a bot that can DMCA takedown any image or video on Youtube and Facebook in less thsn a few minutes?
Ahh Nintento… They really have no idea, do they?
Which is actually good news for everyone really. Well maybe not everyone. It’ll be bad for Nintendo, and the 3 people that actually buy this “console”. When this thing fails, and it will fail, they’ll surely give up on consoles.
I look forward to finally playing mario games on my PS4.
The console comes out in 2 months, preorders are available now, and certainly as a major Japanese corporation you have a five year plan for this system… so why all the “nothing to announce” and “nothing planned”?
Because the Internet will blow up with arguments and outrage about those details and Nintendo wants to keep the focus on what you get now. Future plans can change and people get crazy.
Six weeks for Nintendo to release information at their leisure while everyone clamours. Going to be almost as exciting as the last federal election.
Saved game data is stored internally… what about cloud saves?
This concerns me. Account transfer and how previous purchases will be handled is important purchase decision making information. Having media apps is also a really important feature for a lot of people who would be looking for something they can stream to the TV with or carry to the couch when someone wants to watch something else.
They also should have had game streaming or at least video capture in by default due to the popularity of it on PS4. They’ve had several years to study the current console market and they obviously were inspired by the Share button of the PS4 so it surprises me they didn’t capitalise fully on it. It’s going to be interesting to see how the Switch does once people get past the hype phase.
If anyone’s interested apparently LoZ: Breath Of The Wild Amiibo’s are going to slightly more expensive than others.
http://www.vooks.net/legend-zelda-breath-wild-amiibo-get-price-hike-previous-amiibo/
Yeah, but the guardian is yuuge!
I’ve been gaming since the beginning and I can’t remember seeing this level of negativity towards a console in all of that time. The only one that might come close is the Xbone.
I for one will be buying the Switch, but it does make me think how much time Nintendo has left in the console business. I mean it only took 2 low selling consoles for Sega to stop making them. So will we see Nintendo go the same way very soon, I hope not. Only time will tell I guess.
That’s becuase Sega had Sonic and an open world fork-lift racer game.
That’s it.
Nintendo have revenue streams including:
Licensing
Mobile
amiibo
Legacy Retro mini-consoles
Actual software
Plus the theme park agreement that’s just been arranged.
All of this is designed to keep its hardware business afloat and viable. We might even get Shenumue games to the Switch some day so we can enjoy forklift racing on the go.
You know Sega is still one of the largest arcade machine manufacturer around, among their other revenue streams. With the amount of console manufacturers that came and went it was probably a smart move to close down the home market.
I don’t think I’ve ever been so negative towards a Nintendo since the 3DS (the first one I nearly didn’t buy at launch, til a good preorder deal came up). I want to be hyped but they seem to be tripping over themselves to make it worse.
At this point, with the rubbish they keep announcing, I’d prefer if they stopped making hardware altogether, and developed their amazing games for other consoles. They’d make just as much, if not more money, because they’d open their market up and as consumers, we wouldnt have to put up with paying an extra $500 to play a handful of games we otherwise couldn’t. I love some of their games to death, but I get better value out of my Sony consoles/PC at the end of the day.
Having said that, Ninty have had a few successes outside their consoles, and they seem like a company that has always done things somewhat backwards, so they’ll probably be fine…
The day that Nintendo stops making hardware is the day that innovation in the games industry dies. The reason that new Zelda and Mario games feel fresh is because they play on the hardware of the console. Without this unique hardware these games would actually be the same every time.
Not really concerned about that. If people were worried about games being the same all the time, then Call of Duty would have stopped back at the first one. Also, Final Fantasy is a prime example of a games series that stays fresh and popular while being developed for Sony consoles.
Nintendo are great at making their games excellent irrespective of the hardware. That means they would still be making excellent games for PS4/Xbone. Not to mention that they’ve started making mobile games, and how many Nintendo mobile phones are out there?
So which current TV dockable portable console with physical detarchable controllers, and 8 player local link up would they release their games on?
And it goes to show the power of a good or bad presentation, when you see how instantly the public opinion shifted, from optimistic and excited to “Nintendoz Am D00md!” in a single hour.
To be honest, it was a disappointing presentation, and didn’t show half of what people expected it to show. They really boned that up.
I would love to know why there hasn’t been an article about the following:
http://www.techradar.com/news/the-nintendo-switch-will-need-its-smartphone-app-for-online-matchmaking
Honestly you can’t play online without a mobile phone. People need to find out about this and be warned. I feel sorry for the kids with NO MOBILE PHONES.
That is absurdly stupid. And you’ll probably still have to remember some ridiculous 78 character random player number to add your friends.
Arse.
Arse.
Arse.
DRINK.
I’m saltiest about the death of miiverse. That meme factory was the best!
Were you really attached to your Wiimotes or Wii U Gamepad? Consoles with backward compatibility for controllers are pretty damn rare that I don’t understand how it’s that upsetting for a semi-portable one not to…
Solid argument there, personally see this one as 50/50.
Oh no! How dare Nintendo support social systems people like to use!
I like to use Miiverse 😛
Mainly thinking the Wii U’s Pro controller. I don’t know how many games are going to use the Switch Pro’s motion sensors, but aside from those and the analogue triggers the old Pro is pretty much on par in terms of features. I’d rather use that for regular controller games than spend a hundred bucks on a replacement.
What’s wrong with the first one? It’s not like I can plug a GC controller into a PS4 or Wii U.
/SSeriously though, native support for legacy controllers isn’t/hasn’t-been a thing in the console industry. The wiimote working with the Wii U should be viewed as anomalous rather than a commitment to future practices.
There was also the GCN -> Wii support too 😛 We’ve also had a pack-in game for the last two iterations of Nintendo console and people seem to have been expecting the same of the Switch too, despite it hardly being an industry standard.
But yeah, as mentioned above, mainly just thinking about the old Pro controller and being able to keep using that at times.
Ha, that’s my new thing learnt for the day. With any luck all the bluetooth enabled controllers of days gone will be included in the possible, maybe future update. And yeah, the loss of the pack-in is shallow but sharp.
Everything I hear about this console is making me less and less enthusiastic about buying one. The fact that streaming services aren’t going to be available on the switch is going to be a mistake I feel, since having a gaming console you can take with you that also has streaming services on it would be a huge uptick.
Yeah, basically. I started off lukewarm but keen at least on Breath of the Wild, though put off by the price.
But a lot of these responses don’t exactly fill me with confidence.
I’m also disappointed to find out their hero game, BotW, will run at 900p 30fps. I know this is Nintendo so the usual responses will come in (“they’re not trying to compete on specs”, “graphics aren’t everything”) but…ugh.
You can be more expensive or drastically less powerful. Not both.
inb4 “but it’s expensive because it’s handheld”. Well maybe don’t make it a half arsed hybrid handheld then, with 2.5 hours gaming battery life. And that’s Nintendo’s estimate, we all know real world battery life never comes close to manufacturer estimates. It’s like those tablet/laptop hybrids. By and large, the concept is nice but you tend to end up with a device that’s neither a great tablet or a great laptop, it’s just mediocre at both.
Very true. I like how it’s not even really that portable, since it doesnt fit in your pocket like a 3DS does. I dont enjoy carrying a bag around, so all my laptops etc stay at home unless i need them. This is just going to be another thing I need a bag for. Also, the battery life thing is going to be big if it pans out like you’re saying. Coupled with the potentially rubbish battery life (especially when playing the 1 game a lot of people are actually interested in, Zelda).
Precisely. It’s limited as a console because they have to use tablet grade hardware, so performance isn’t as great as if it was a static console. It’s also more expensive than if it was a comparatively specced static console, because they had to design around the portability.
It’s limited as a handheld, because it’s too big to be a “true” handheld on account of the tablet hardware. It’s also more expensive than a dedicated handheld, because it’s designed to be a halfway “normal” console.
Whereas if they’d made it a regular console, it could either be (a) the same level of power but cheaper, or (b) the same price but more powerful. Potentially even more powerful and cheaper if they used “old” hardware on the level of, say, the original PS4 and Xbox One.
The 2.5 hours battery life was straight from Nintendo and refers to Breath of the Wild. Other games may get more/less, but BotW is the marquee title. And since when has anyone ever come close to manufacturer battery estimates?
Actually, they said that the system battery can range from 2.5 hours to 6 hours with BOTW holding charge for 3 hours.
Fair enough, then we’ll take 3 hours (which is not far from 2.5) as the Breath of the Wild figure. I did also say I was talking about Breath of the Wild specifically and not other games, so the 6 isn’t as relevant. Particularly as the upper end of that estimate is likely based on very light work. I also won’t be surprised if it doesn’t hit that in the real world, like the majority of other portable device battery estimates.
Well…
Xbox One games and their Native resolutions:
Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag. 900P, 30fps
Assassin’s Creed Syndicate. 900P, 30fps
Assassin’s Creed Unity. 900P, 30fps
Battlefield 4. 720P, 30fps
Dead Rising 3. 720P, 30fps
Ryse: Son of Rome, 900P, 30fps
Watchdogs. 792p @ 30fps
and there are many, many more that run at those resolutions/framerates or less….
Some of yours differ from ign’s testing.
http://m.au.ign.com/wikis/xbox-one/PS4_vs._Xbox_One_Native_Resolutions_and_Framerates
A bunch of sites vary a bit, and some games got better once they ditched the Kinect, but the point is, people are bagging the Switch for not running every game at 1080P, when the PS4 and XB1 also don’t run every game at 1080P, so saying the Switch’s graphics are ‘garbage’ is a bit silly.
First of all Nintendo said that they are considering streaming services for a later update. Second, I don’t see what is wrong with a console that just plays games. Just goes to show that people are not easily pleased these days, they only want the most technically advanced products, they want them yesterday and they damn well better do everything or they won’t buy it.
Because what about those people who dont have anything else that can stream stuff? What if I’m a parent who wants to buy a console for my kids, but also wants to be able to watch Netflix etc. Under those conditions, a PS4 still offers a lot more than the Switch.
The point is not that we’re simply asking for advanced tech, we’re asking for a machine that we can buy so we DONT HAVE TO BUY anything else. Right now, as it stands, if I buy a Switch, I still have to buy other gear to be able to do everything I want, which means the value for money is not there UNLESS you’re a giant Nintendo fan. That’s not the case with the PS4/Xbone.
Sure there are people like you and that’s what the PS4 and Xbone are for. My point is we already have two all-iin-one entertainment boxes on the market, do we really need a third one. I for one applaud Nintendo for bucking the trend and not just shitting out a carbon copy of what everyone else is making.
And therefore I am glad I have a PS4. But that doesnt help Nintendo. The perception is that it’s already an overly expensive console, now it’s missing a key feature that other consoles have, so unless you’re a Ninty game fan, this could be a deal breaker when people are buying it.
Diversity in the market is great. But at the same time, the perception in the market is that streaming services are a standard feature for consoles. Too much diversity can be a bad thing.
Enjoy using that PS4 as a media server straight after launch?
Short memories…
Edit: Oh, also, I actually am a parent that wants to buy a console for his kids. Mine have access to PC, PS4, iPad, 3DS and WiiU. The WiiU gets the most play, with the 3DS second, by a street. PS4 simply isn’t child friendly.
The telly plays Netflix and so on, as does just about any that has been bought in the last 5 years or so. Don’t need a console to do that…
What the PS4 did or didnt do at launch is irrelevant when I’m deciding on a purchase now. What I’m looking at right now is what the Switch can do compared to the other options in the market. In other words, is the thing value for money compared to the other consoles. I personally dont think so, and considering the comments sections of most of the Kotaku articles on the switch, the general consensus is in agreement with me.
I’m so happy you’re able to afford purchasing that many devices. Your kids are super lucky. I’m sure everyone in Australia is in the same boat as you and able to afford 5 devices that they can play games on. Also, it’s super nice that your kids play tons of WiiU. When you inevitably buy a Swtich, I’m sure it’s going to get just as much play time. Since it’s so kid friendly and so fun to play on, I guess that’s why Nintendo’s sold so many WiiU’s…
Yes, the console doesnt NEED to do it necessarily. But people (aka the consumer aka the market that Nintendo is trying to advertise this to) look favourably on consoles that include the ability to stream Netflix/video services. Just because my TV can do it doesnt mean I want my TV to do it. The current lukewarm reception we’ve generally been seeing on Kotaku and other sites suggests that Nintendo arent doing enough to make this console worth purchasing, and this is yet another feature they could have included relatively easily that they missed out on.
No need to be snide. Just pointing out that your royal “we” regarding other functionality wasn’t as applicable as you perhaps thought. Different strokes for different folks. As an example, demonstrably, such functionality is plainly irrelevant to you as you have access to said function on your PS4 (as do I…). I just personally don’t buy consoles to stream Netflix.
I’m quite unsure as to why you feel the need to be so negative about the Switch, but again, each to their own. I never understood SNES v Megadrive either, for that matter. If you don’t like it, don’t buy it, but I can’t see why you feel the need to expend energy on it.
Cheers.
I enjoy typing out snide comments, especially to people who decide they want to do so themselves…I typed what I originally did because it was a scenario I felt backed up my point. If a family that could only afford one console had to pick, why choose the Switch when they can potentially get more use and value out of a PS4? I wasnt saying everyone’s in this position, but there are some. It was there to highlight that people on the fence may not buy it because it’s missing some key features.
I’m interested in why people are happy to put up with what Nintendo are serving up at the moment. Also, discussion does not flourish without counterpoint. I’m here to engage people on opinion. I can quite easily not do it, but I choose to. I hope that’s adequate explanation.
Not sure how stating my own personal circumstances, and just reminding that the other consoles didn’t come fully featured at launch, is snide. I certainly don’t believe I responded uncivilly. Your comment in reply, especially the second paragraph, is undeniably so. If you genuinely want to foster debate, counterpoint is one thing, but sneering sarcasm regarding one’s children is out and out not on.
Nintendo’s the best for kids. Always has been. $460 isn’t much money for a bit of casual entertainment over a number of years. Good enough for me. So there’s your answer.
It comes out in just over a month but we’re not going to tell you what features it has or hasn’t got.
It seems like they’re planning on having at least one more random direct/conference between now and launch that they’ll announce a day or two beforehand like they did with the Fire Emblem one.
So I’m guessing we’ll know most (hopefully all but I’m not counting on it) of the important information before the switch gets released but I agree that their marketing strategy really isn’t going well so far.
Dont know why nintendo thinks a micro SD is an acceptable form of storage for a console
Micro SD’s are slow, The fastest MircoSD is still slower than a 5400RPM HD
MircoSD’s wear out really fast, So people are gonna getting corrupted data unless they replace the card regularly.
MicroSD’s dont like being read/Written to constantly.
Poor decision Nintendo
Really? Even with all the old SD cards I’ve had since the Wii I’m still yet to have any of them wear out on me or suffer any kind of data corruption.
I actually agree with this. Pretty much all tablets/phones have SD cards in them, and rarely do I find problems with them (probably have 30+ at home due spread throughout the family, and none have failed ever).
They are slow though.
I’m more curious about what other faster options there are out there. Didn’t even know they were slow.
There arent any faster options. The fastest options as i said above are still slower than a 5400RPM HD which is already slow. And the fastest MicrsoSD costs almost the same as the switch itself.
So… I guess you do know why they think that a microSD is acceptable – it’s because they are the best option available.
No they arent.
You just said there was no alternative. Therefore they must be the best option available. Otherwise, what is this superior alternative?
@Gooky I said there was no faster options MicroSD card wise. There are plenty of other options if you dont use a microSD
You may have thought that, but that’s not what you seemed to be saying with your post at all. So I’ll ask again – what options are out there which would be a better choice than MicroSD?
I know what I was saying was, there are plenty of storage options available that are way faster than SD cards and fit the form factor of a tablet. But right now I believe they are the best option for removable storage for a tablet like console.
Ed: blah
95MB/s seems more than fast enough for the relatively small amounts of data being transferred, and is about on par, or faster than the performance of most external HDDs.
The MicroSD card format makes sense, as this is a take-anywhere machine, and lugging an external HDD, with the extra power drain doesn’t make a lot of sense.
You can triple the storage that the Switch comes with for $40, and looking at the size of the games, that will be plenty for quite a while.
None of this surprises me, nor does it affect me enough to cancel my preorder. My town doesn’t have good enough internet do play anything online anyway, so it matters little to me. As long as I can download games feom the eshop as easily as I could on the 3DS, I am happy.
Also, if Nintendo supported anything less than a 2tb microsd, people would be up in arms. Can none of you see that whatever they do it simply is never good enough.
Yeah, Nintendo is just trying to help their customers by having support for the largest size SD cards there are (although you can’t buy one yet). They obviously didn’t want external hard drive support because it’s a hybrid home/portable system and they didn’t want people to have to lug around a hdd as well, but people are calling for hdd support so they’re considering adding it in an update.
It seems since the Wii that people would like nothing better than to see Nintendo gone as a console manufacturer.
Since the Wii? More like since the Nintendo64!
Yes, the N64 only sold about a third of what the PS1 did despite being more powerful, and the Gamecube sold even less, but they came back with the Wii outselling both Sony and Microsoft and they haven’t been able to repeat that since.
So its against the law to have a negative opinion about the switch?
Nope, but it is to engage in hyperbole. You’re going away for a long time.
I’m pretty sure if they created a console that was roughly the same/more powerful than the PS4/Xbone, but played Nintendo games, people wouldnt be complaining at all.
*Post deleted by me
Aww, now Im interested in what you were going to say!
Will it have a web browser at least I wonder? Surely it must!
Does anyone actually use a games console to surf the web? I’m pretty sure I never have…
I did when I had a Wii U, but I’m thinking more as an alternative for a dedicated YouTube or Netflix app.
The Wii U’s browser was pretty fantastic. Hardly a replacement for using a PC (although Crawfish did just that for a good long while…), but I’ve certainly got plenty of use out of it over the years.
This is definitely a no from me.
I’m very happy with what has been announced and the Switch suits me perfectly. In that I’m getting sick of the low graphics on the 3ds, and with a 2.5 hour commute each day I’ll be playing this on my way to/from work.
If your sick of the low graphics 9f the 3ds your going to be disappointed with the switch. An article that might be here but I read on giz suggests a lot of games still in 480p
Link?
http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2017/01/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-nintendo-switchs-garbage-graphics/
Thanks. It only talks about 480p on the Wii as an example and emphasises 720p handheld and 900/1080p tv.
Sorry to mess up your argument, but it will be a massive upgrade over a 3DS.
True my mistake there. Over the DS, which to be honest I’m rusty on the spec’s. But still 720p@30 frames is ummm…. not that flash.
I was originally applauding it. It uses the new tegra X1 chip. But it seems it isn’t living up to the hype.
Only Zelda is listed as being able to run 900p. So I’d assume others will be lower.
Resolution isn’t the be all and end all but in say a 55″ tv the difference between 720 and 1080 is quite noticeable.
720P @30fps is a massive, massive upgrade over 3DS graphics, which was the original point.
They’re saying 900p for Zelda on TV, 720p on tablet.
900p or 1080p on TV for games, Xbox one does 900p for a bunch of games still.
720p on a tablet screen that size is fine.
Just because the screen is physically smaller doesn’t make lower res fine. Your eyes are closer to the screen so you notice finer details.
Xbone one may have a lot of games in 720 or 900 but remember it was released in 2013 not 2017.
personally as a portable gaming system. this is awesome. now just because you can use it as a home console is secondary ….. as a portable gaming system “this is awesome” dont loose that in the fact that the internet spawns hate and slander when groupies think there favorite toy will be offended by new toys.
Do you reckon Nintendo America will organise a Direct presentation sometime in the next month to counter all of the ill-will the Japanese presentation created…?
One can hope…
I very much expect Nintendo to be in damage control mode right now. Basically everything they have announced except region free has been received overwhelmingly poorly.
They will need to bring something big to the party before launch to get the mainstream back on side.
People say overwhelmingly poorly, but I think it is mostly just the usual complaining on forums. There are lines around the block at the hands-on sessions in the US, the pre-orders have been massive according to staff I have spoken to.
I applaud the ‘no comment’ from Nintendo at the moment. They are being honest and stating what the system will do when you buy it on march 3rd, not what it will probably do by Xmas. It seems likely that Netflix etc will come in time, as well as virtual console and other updates. But they are not hyping potential futures, which I find refreshing.
The console isn’t for everyone, and that is fine, it is a true alternative in a way that the choice between XB1/PS4/PC isn’t, and in many ways is a new handheld console with TV capabilities, and as such a great replacement or adjunct to the plethora of 3DS and Vita owners out there.
I think it will do well, I also think the price is good (a 3DSXL is $250 after all). Others don’t, but hey, everything isn’t for everyone. Choice is good.
I hope you are right and it is just a case of the usual online negativity drowning out the good stuff.
Although they are not hyping potential features, the gaming world has been burnt so many times by promises of features in future updates. For some people, I being one of them, if it isn’t their on release I don’t consider it ever happening, there is no guarantee they will or what they will be like.That then makes the switch look a bit featureless. Especially after Nintendo seemed to give up on the wiiu, will they do the same again if sales seem poor.
Its insane that the switch will be out in a bit over a month and we still know so very little about it.
That should be their tagline.
“Nintendo Switch – We Have Nothing To Announce At This Time.”