The Nintendo Switch launch presentation just ended and they dropped some pretty important news about the new console. Namely that it will launch March 3rd side by side with Zelda Breath of the Wild. The base system with a Joy-con, docking station, HDMI & included charging cable (yay) will retail in the US for $300 and you will be able to buy it will grey joy-con or blue and red joy-con controllers. The Switch will also launch with region free games, which is pretty unique for Nintendo systems up to this point. They mentioned that online functionality would be free until the fall and then become some kind of paid service afterward. It's not entirely clear what the online service will be yet but hopefully that monthly and yearly fee will go to make it something special.
Nintendo switch will also require a bit of charging as with certain games the battery will last 2 1/2 to 6 hours. That's not too bad I suppose but I imagine Breath of the Wild might run at the 2 1/2 hour battery end. Nintendo mentioned the system can play and charge at the same time so if you are on a flight with a socket, you should be fine.
I'm pretty excited they mentioned that local multiplayer would support up to 8 systems connected together. I bet that would create for an interesting Mario Kart party with people bringing in multiple Switch systems. Something I didn't expect to hear was that the Joy-con also acts as a sort of Wii-mote. This looks to bring the Wii functionality forward to the Switch which looks to create some interesting game experiences. Not sure i'd play many of them all told, but something could come of it that I might enjoy.
Some of the games demo'd were:
Mario Odyssey which looks like an open world Mario game featuring many different planet like areas. Mario’s hat is a character that has some role in the game that seems to interacts with the Switch controller. Mario Odyssey looks like it will come out in the holiday season of 2017. A couple other titles they demoed were Xenoblade Chronicles 2, Fire Emblem Warriors, Dragon Quest 10, 11 (in Japan), Dragon Quest Heroes 1 & 2, Project Octopath traveler, Skyrim and Splatoon 2.
The presentation wasn't quite what I expected and I wanted more technical details of the system but from what they did show the Switch looks pretty cool and I bet it will sell out come March 3rd. What did you think of the presentation? Are you going to pick up the system or are you scratching your head a bit with the new direction Nintendo is headed?
Nintendo switch will also require a bit of charging as with certain games the battery will last 2 1/2 to 6 hours. That's not too bad I suppose but I imagine Breath of the Wild might run at the 2 1/2 hour battery end. Nintendo mentioned the system can play and charge at the same time so if you are on a flight with a socket, you should be fine.
I'm pretty excited they mentioned that local multiplayer would support up to 8 systems connected together. I bet that would create for an interesting Mario Kart party with people bringing in multiple Switch systems. Something I didn't expect to hear was that the Joy-con also acts as a sort of Wii-mote. This looks to bring the Wii functionality forward to the Switch which looks to create some interesting game experiences. Not sure i'd play many of them all told, but something could come of it that I might enjoy.
Some of the games demo'd were:
Mario Odyssey which looks like an open world Mario game featuring many different planet like areas. Mario’s hat is a character that has some role in the game that seems to interacts with the Switch controller. Mario Odyssey looks like it will come out in the holiday season of 2017. A couple other titles they demoed were Xenoblade Chronicles 2, Fire Emblem Warriors, Dragon Quest 10, 11 (in Japan), Dragon Quest Heroes 1 & 2, Project Octopath traveler, Skyrim and Splatoon 2.
The presentation wasn't quite what I expected and I wanted more technical details of the system but from what they did show the Switch looks pretty cool and I bet it will sell out come March 3rd. What did you think of the presentation? Are you going to pick up the system or are you scratching your head a bit with the new direction Nintendo is headed?
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I wonder if Breath of the Wild will launch on the Switch and Wii U at the same time March 3rd?
Zelda on the Wii U is coming out March 31st according to Amazon.
I wanted to see more day 1 games. Zelda and 1 2 switch were the only confirmed launch games.
Battery life was a disappointment but not a surprise.
Controllers are expensive. $79.99 for a pair of joy cons.
I agree with you on the games. It reminds me of the Wii launch list which wasn't a lot of games. That said, Zelda should give people a lot of game to play. At least it would take me months to beat it with a kid but most gamers have much more time than I do.
Right Breath of the Wild on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Legend-Zelda-Breath-Wild/dp/B00KWF803C
Where did you see the price for the joy cons?
Ign post show announced it.
http://www.ign.com/articles/2017/01/13/official-nintendo-switch-controller-accessory-prices-revealed
I guess the more expensive joy con makes sense as it's two controllers in one but it does seem a bit steep. Actually all those controllers seem a bit pricey as the PS4 dual shock and XBox One controller max out at $50 to $60.
Wow, 1 2 Switch is going to be the new Wii Sports! I am really excited to see how they continue to develop for the JoyCons. And Arms looked adorable, but I think it could be another Splatoon. Speaking of which, the Splatoon 2 announcement wassuper awkward. The translator totally ruined that one.
I am pretty sure I'll be buying the Switch at some point. Probably not Day 1 though.
Mario Odyssey looks cool, however if they require using motion controls to throw the hat, forget it.
I'm looking forward to Shin Megami Tensei and Xenoblade 2. Xenoblade was one of the games that looked really interesting, but I missed for not owning a Wii U. Zelda (of course Zelda) looked to have a lot more polish on it since the earlier demonstrations. Can't wait to see what it looks and plays like come March.
The motion controls (*sigh)... I don't know. They could be on the periphery enough that I would never have to mess with it if I didn't want to. I just really wish that wasn't a feature. I'm sure it will be fine, but I worry that some game will require it (Like Mario Odyssey), for the sole purpose of shoehorning the gimmick rather than benefiting the gameplay. You could say "Well, it worked for the Wii..." But this is not the Wii. So the real question is, can it be both? That's the question that I wish I didn't have to ask. Unless it works really, really well! Which it might!!
I bet you anything the games like Zelda BotW, Xenoblade 2, Mario Odyssey are going to start at $70.
Don't forget that it comes with a power adapter! Now you are playing with power!
The Nintendo site is getting hammered now but here are some details on the online service.
https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/hdtpzzlg4ceecaebaqxj.jpg
* Free SNES / NES game per month
* New app to set online play appointments
* Exclusive discounts on games (?)
I love the "games you look at each other rather than the screen" concept. It might end up being a gimmick, but it could change gaming.
Also, I would bet money they're working on a VR headset. The HD Feedback (or whatever they called it with the ice rumbling in the controller) and Joy-Con remotes seem almost built for it.
http://www.nintendo.com/switch/features/
* Internal memory 32GB of internal memory, a portion of which is reserved for use by the system. Users can easily expand storage space using microSDXC cards.
* Screen 6.2-inch, multi-touch capacitive touch screen; can display a resolution of 1280 x 720.
I bet that means the output is 720p which wouldn't be too bad if games could lock at 60FPS.
Looks like Switch will get Mario Kart 8 Deluxe in April. Not sure the details but a second month Mario Kart(even if it's already out) is a pretty good idea for people that don't own the Wii U.
http://mariokart8.nintendo.com/
There is a website for it but so far it's down.
http://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/mario-kart-8-deluxe-switch
More games listed. Just Dance 2017, Has Been Heroes, Super Bomberman R, NBA 2K18, Snipperclips and the rest from the reveal.
http://www.nintendo.com/games/switch/
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Trailer looks cool. Looks like it's the same game with the DLC included. Not sure about any new features yet beyond that.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKlRN2YpxRE
So the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe page is up with some interesting details.
http://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/mario-kart-8-deluxe-switch
* Race as every character on every track from the Wii U version, including DLC characters and tracks.
* Pop some balloons in the revamped Battle mode, complete with Balloon Battle and Bob-omb Blast.
* Battle on new courses, like Urchin Underpass and Battle Stadium, or returning ones, such as GCN Luigi's Mansion and SNES Battle Course 1.
* Inkling Girl & Inkling Boy from Splatoon, King Boo, Dry Bones, and Bowser Jr. join the roster!
* Three new vehicles have been added, two are even inspired by Splatoon
* Returning items include Boo, the item stealing ghost, and the Feather, which gives you a high jump in battle mode.
* Play your friends in local wireless multiplayer with up to 8 players.
* Drive through in 1080p HD quality in TV mode
Looks like the TV mode output is dependent on what the game can do, which is nice.
Breath of the Wild Switch Special Edition looks really cool.
http://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/the-legend-of-zelda-breath-of-the-wild-special-edition-switch
Breath of the Wild Switch Special Edition looks really cool.
Okay! Definitely pre-ordering that! So, $400 for March?
The official page shows an Amiibo logo at the bottom. Hmm...
http://www.zelda.com/breath-of-the-wild/
Ahhh... http://www.zelda.com/breath-of-the-wild/news/classic-amiibo-support-revealed
Yep, it's talked about here.
http://nintendo.tumblr.com/post/153959693594/the-legend-of-zelda-30th-anniversary-amiibo-are
Wow the price of a Joy-Con does seem a bit expensive, but that little gadget apparently has a lot of technology in it, it can do quite a few things. It's not as simple as it looks.
@scrypt, why do you think those games will cost $70? Breath of the Wild, the Wii U version, is on Amazon for $60.
@Jon thanks for the details about the online service. That might be one I wouldn't mind paying for, I guess it just depends on what's offered.
I did notice Mario Kart in some of the videos they showed, but wasn't sure if it was the Wii U version or a new one, until I saw something different. I remember seeing 4 items above the player, as though you could store 4 and choose one among them.
@GregoPeck, because of the cartridge format. I really think they will have to compensate for production costs by increasing retail prices of games. Otherwise it won't be as profitable for developers to sell games on the Switch. The fact that DS/3DS are on cartridges is irrelevant, because there is no competition for those systems, no market to drive down prices, so they can charge what they want. Selling a console game on a proprietary system, with a proprietary media format... Unless they have a way of producing cartridges at the same cost as a Blu-ray disc, then they will have to make up the cost somehow. Proprietary media doesn't ever stick around for very long, historically speaking. Without the market required to mass produce, cost can't compete with more widely adopted media (e.g. CD, DVD, and now Blu-ray).
I'm just speculating, of course, but I'm very interested to see how moving to a cartridge based system will compete against the existing console market.
Of course, after I write that, checking Amazon and they have placeholder box art for Skyrim, Zelda, and Fifa, priced at $59.99. I'm really glad to see that. I don't know how they can do that, but I'm glad :).
I don't know how much more it actually costs to make a cartridge game but I can imagine them eating that cost to get their games on the new hot system. New games were $50 not long ago and people freaked out a bit when they went to $60 so they probably wanted to avoid that same kind of freak out.
Also I kinda figured there would be some motion control. Nintendo is big on re-releasing games from previous generations and this way you can play wii games that you download without having to buy a wii controller.
My plan to get it from Amazon was thwarted by it going up for preorder at midnight. I did manage to get a preorder in at GameStop. We shall see if I get it on the 3rd.
1080p output when docked 720p when in handheld mode
http://i.imgur.com/cI4dpW0.jpg
awesome. 1080p docked is great news.
I kinda guessed that it would but it's nice to have it confirmed
Yeah, it is.
Ugh: http://www.ign.com/articles/2017/01/13/nintendo-switch-online-services-free-classic-games-are-only-available-for-limited-time
Oof... that's incredibly lame.
Some good size comparison shots here. They put the joy-con and the switch up against the wiimote, 3ds, wii u and wii u gamepad. http://www.ign.com/articles/2017/01/13/21-photos-comparing-the-nintendo-switch-to-the-wii-u-nintendo-3ds?abthid=58794710bad7baf135000038
It's small but I don't think it's prohibitively small. As I've seen mentioned elsewhere I think switching between the right stick and the buttons will be the tricky thing, but it might also be fine *because* it's small. It'll take some testing.
So now that the hype of the announcement night is over and we are flush with Switch details has anyone changed their mind about things? I think I am solidly not going to pre-order one but might pick one up around the holidays. I have a few Zelda games i've yet to finish and am also flush with a couple other games so I don't need anything new right now. That said, holidays 2017 look like a good time to possibly pick on up(if I can). I might get the Breath of the Wild Collectors edition on Switch though because I like those packages and want to pick that up before it gets hard to find.
Last night I felt a bit ready to pre-order one. Now that I've had some more time to think about it, I'm not sure. I'm only interested in the Zelda game and that would mean about $360 just for one game. It doesn't make much sense to spend that much on just one game. However, my son would play the Switch, too. He still uses the Wii U, which I haven't used in quite a while. So, I'm not really sure. Maybe I'll just go the cheaper route and get that Zelda game for the Wii U. Right now we don't know if our digital games will transfer from the Wii U to the Switch, or at least I haven't seen nor heard of that being possible. Is it at all backwards compatible with the Wii U? I doubt it, at least for physical copies. One of the games I bought for Vinny's birthday was Terraria, but then that disc failed. I can't get the system to recognize it anymore and it doesn't look like it's in bad shape. So I bought the digital version. I think we also have the digital version of Minecraft. While I like both games, I've already paid for multiple versions of each of them, so I'm kind of thinking, "geez how many times do I have to buy these games?"
Bottom line, I'm only interested in the one game. I still haven't even started playing the games I bought for my PC during the Thanksgiving sales (Steam & Origin).
I still think it's as cool as I did before the announcement, and I still think I might get one this year, but I also might not. Since I'd be almost entirely buying it for first-party titles, waiting for a price drop may make more sense for me.
I pre-ordered the special edition Zelda, but I'll wait on the system, for a bit at least. With Horizon Zero Dawn coming in February, and Mass Effect Andromeda coming in March, I'll be good for games for a while. I assume Switch systems will be hard to come by if you haven't pre-ordered already, anyway.
http://nintendoeverything.com/reggie-talks-switch-online-service-info-teased-on-rebuying-classic-games-supply-concerns-3ds-here-to-stay/
So... voice chat is a smartphone app. This is an odd choice.
What's the point of a paid online service that doesn't let you talk to people? If the smartphone app is part of the online service, why not use any number of other chat apps? If you're chatting on a headset that uses a smartphone app, how do you hear your game?
This is such a weird call.
Reggie: "I think it would be helpful maybe to step back."
You'd have to also think backwards if you're trying to understand what Nintendo is trying to do. It's no real surprise. Nintendo has been hesitant to have anything to do with a modern online infrastructure (i.e. video, voice, multiplayer...) from the beginning (his line about "it continues to reinforce our commitment to online..." is hilarious). Exclusively using a mobile app for chat is completely ridiculous. You're exactly right, Travis. Why not use Discord, or any other free service which is already mobile friendly?
May be worth noting, too, that he's talking about playing online on-the-go. Is that alluding to using your phone as a hotspot? Will all the game audio come through the phone app?
> I pre-ordered the special edition Zelda
Where? It's not available on Amazon right now.
Good to hear they are actively working to get more NES Classic units. I wonder if they revved up to build more Switch units for launch and sort of flubbed the Classic a bit?
In a way using a Smartphone app for online voice basically means we can just keep using whatever we use now. Which is fine, when I used to play Mario Kart online with friends I just talked on my speakerphone or skype.
Ah, looks like it sold out on Gamestop and Amazon and is available on Bestbuy. Hmmmmm.
Where? It's not available on Amazon right now.
It was yesterday, briefly.
The reason you used Skype or your phone in the past is because Nintendo has pretty lame online services. Now, they will be charging for those services, and seemingly providing little else of value. 30 day rental for games? Using an extra piece of hardware (your phone) to chat online? Presumably, they won't allow you to enjoy network multiplayer games without participating in the service. No one else is charging for online networks without giving a lot more of value. It's just a huge step backwards.
The Switch launches in just over a month. Why are they trickling information? They aren't competing with anyone in March. Why not tell us what the service does and does not do, in detail? Probably because it's in some kind of beta phase, meaning they don't really know. Which is probably why it will be free until the fall.
Yes, I'm being skeptical.
> No one else is charging for online networks without giving a lot more of value. It's just a huge step backwards.
I agree. I think they will hear the backlash and change here. At least, I really hope so SIMPLY having a tax on online isn't the solution.
> Probably because it's in some kind of beta phase, meaning they don't really know. Which is probably why it will be free until the fall.
Yeah absolutely OR to keep the hype train going with more marketing later.
I ended up getting 1 2 switch, despite the high price. I think it will get a lot of play in my household.
1 2 Switch isn't shipping with it? I assumed it would be the game bundled with the system. (Obviously I've not looked into buying it at all yet)
@Adam, nope it's a separate game. There are no games shipping with the Switch. I read that it was because they wanted keep the cost of the system as close to $350 as they could. I also read that 1 2 Switch is more of a game than Wii Sports.
I also read that 1 2 Switch is more of a game than Wii Sports.
You know, I loved a few games on the Wii but I probably put the most time into Wii sports. It may not have been much more than some minigames to get you into the motion controls but it was so well done.
Looking at 1 2 Switch it again looks like more minigames with less even going on on-screen so I'm not sure how it would be more of a game, but if it's as polished as Wii Sports AND more of a game, it'll be amazing.
> You know, I loved a few games on the Wii but I probably put the most time into Wii sports. It may not have been much more than some minigames to get you into the motion controls but it was so well done.
I want to echo this. Wii Sports was simple sure, but it did what it did well and it sold the Wii. Plus it was fun and when it was new it made a party.
I also thought Wii Sports was a great game. I had a lot of fun with it! I thought it was a good "ice breaker" to the Wii's motion controls. It seems that 1 2 Switch will be similar to the joy-con. It is hard to imagine playing a game where you don't even look at the screen, but we'll see how it works out.
Forgive my laziness, I should have looked for this and shared it with my previous comment, but here you go (see full article in the link below):
As for 1 2 Switch the article says, "when asked specifically about 1, 2, Switch and how it seems like the ideal evolution of the Wii Sports-style bundled game, Fils-Aime acknowledged the similarities between the two. However, he disputed this to some degree, arguing 1, 2, Switch is a more comprehensive game."
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/why-switch-doesnt-include-any-bundled-games/1100-6446940/
I'd also like to share what I just found regarding Breath of the Wild on the Wii U vs. Switch. Just from reading the article, it doesn't seem as though the difference will really be all that apparently noticeable.
http://www.gamespot.com/articles/switch-vs-wii-u-all-the-zelda-breath-of-the-wild-d/1100-6447008/
I just added the Nintendo Switch as a platform as well as added the 13 main games coming at launch or slightly thereafter to our main games list. So if you pre-ordered anything, feel free to add it to your list!
http://cheerfulghost.com/platform/switch
The binding of isaac: afterbirth+ is now a launch title:
http://www.ign.com/articles/2017/01/19/the-binding-of-isaac-afterbirth-is-a-nintendo-switch-launch-title
I preordered it since I have yet to play it.
I just pre-ordered Breath of the Wild for the Wii U and saved $12 with Amazon Prime! This satisfies my only desire for the Switch and saves me money. :)
Thanks for the game list additions, Jon!
No problem Greg. I figure with all the interest here in the Switch getting it added was a good idea.
"From a first-party standpoint, there's no new development coming after the launch of the legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild,” he said. “We really are at the end of life for Wii U."
Fils-Aime said that Wii U titles will continue to be sold at retail and on the Nintendo eShop, and the company had not begun any discussion for sunsetting online services for the console.
Whoa, the Wii U has only been around for 4 1/2 years and Nintendo is done with first party titles? Wow, that kind of makes sense but surprising. I guess Switch really is the hard Wii U replacement.
http://www.polygon.com/2017/1/19/14313914/legend-of-zelda-breath-of-the-wild-last-nintendo-game-for-wii-u
Hey, at least the Wii U lasted longer than the Virtual Boy! ;)
I just realized the Switch is going to make me reorganize my TV stand. Currently my Wii U is tucked next to the Blue-ray player, but might not need super accessible for docking and undocking. I don't really want a system on the top of the stand... not a huge deal, but will cause some rearranging.
I too have to rearrange things on my TV stand.
#PoorUs #ItsAHardKnockLife
I need more HDMI ports in my receiver.
I feel like I will always need more HDMI ports. I could have 10 and within days I would have 11 devices I need to connect.