Nintendo Switch

Crazy_Jamie wrote: »

Certainly in terms of marketing, but the console itself is excellent and has a strong library of games.

I expect I'll be getting a Switch eventually, but probably not at launch. There is the issue with the lack of confirmed launch titles, but it's more a time thing really in that I don't spend a lot of time playing games nowadays. It's difficult to justify getting a console at launch when I know I'm probably not going to get a great deal of use out of it.

Yeah, I feel the main problem with the Wii U is simply its image and the name was a huge mistake as it implied it was a Wii style console when it was a generation on. The mandatory gamepad was a mistake but they had the sense to move away from that and allow the excellent Wii Pro controller to be used instead. Of the current generation my Wii U was my favourite of the three consoles for offering something different to everything else whereas the PS4/Xbox One feel increasingly anonymous.

Where the Wii U really excelled was in local multiplayer, not just for actually supporting it when increasingly split screen is becoming a distance memory on other platforms but for the superb support of peripherals. Unlike the Xbox One and PS4 which both dumped support for their previous generation accessories, the Wii U could support Wii controllers mixed in with Wii U controllers without issue - I've had four players going with the gamepad, pro controller, Wii Classic controller and a Wiimote.

Unfortunately the Switch throws all that out the Window with no support for the older peripherals and only offers insanely expensive new accessories which seem designed to discourage local multiplayer and instead encourage people to have multiple Switch consoles for multiplayer which I'm not doing. I'm also not impressed with them finally offering the missing battle mode from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the Wii U and offering it in a Switch exclusive and forcing people to rebuy it all - that feels much more like a Microsoft/Sony tactic and disappointing to see Nintendo take that up along with the price gouging on accessories (almost £30 for a basic charger...wow)

I'll wait and see how the console does once it gets past its launch day hype, there's some choice of games out and prices have calmed down as at launch consoles are usually pretty terrible.

John

motorguy wrote: »

Amazon have sold out of their pre-order allocation...

The relevance of this depends solely on the size of that allocation.


I'm getting the feeling this will be another misfire but desperately want to play the new Zelda...decisions.

They've sold out of pre-orders because Nintendo have done what they always do, have a limited supply to give an overinflated sense of desire for the product, and to build hype.

I have one on pre-order, but I'm far from happy for what has been presented, Nintendo being Nintendo again, proving once again, nothing changes. Wii U Mk.2.

FredG wrote: »

The relevance of this depends solely on the size of that allocation.


I'm getting the feeling this will be another misfire but desperately want to play the new Zelda...decisions.

Well there is that.

Though you'd have to assume Amazon have access to more than "a few"

phoenix_w wrote: »

I'm *hoping* that won't be the case, I haven't seen anything that explicitly confirms the older bluetooth controllers like the wiimote/classic controller won't be supported. I would hope that wiimotes and classic controllers may still be used on the Switch - hell look at games like Super Mario 3D World on the Wii U - that lets you throw just about any controller with an analogue stick at it (not to mention the games that still let you use Gamecube controllers!).

They've confirmed none of the older accessories are supported:

https://mic.com/articles/165115/nintendo-switch-controller-options-compatibility-what-controllers-support-the-switch#.mUswLUFJe

"Sorry, but the answer is none of them. We asked a Nintendo representative at the hands-on event on Jan. 13 and they confirmed that the Switch won't support any older controllers."

The charging grip won't be necessary anyhow, you can charge the joycons connected to the switch, and most people are likely to leave it all in the dock overnight to recharge. The SMK 8 Deluxe comment is right on the nose, though. There is no way in hell I'm rebuying it - however if they offered it as DLC for the Wii U version I'd be tempted.

It's a pain you can't use the supplied grip in the first place but it's pretty much unusable for multiple controllers - with the Wiimotes you could just chuck in AA batteries and the Wii Pro controller could run off any USB port making it easy to get controllers together for multiplayer. Even aside from the crazy cost of the controllers and the lack of backwards compatibility, there's no way I'd be cycling round controllers with the main switch to recharge them nor buying a £30 dock. Nor buying a Switch for every player as seems to be Nintendo's intention.

John