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Post by dschroll on Jan 13, 2017 13:59:49 GMT -5
Yep. I got my order in at both Best Buy and Amazon. I will likely cancel one. I really like the hardware overall and it looks good. But their accessory prices are ridiculous. No way I am paying $70 for a controller. I'm sorry, but controllers should not be more than the price of a game. This isn't like some fancy "elite" controller like MS offers...this is the standard controller for the Switch.
This might be the first time in a LONG time that I pick up a 3rd party controller for my Switch. Hori is offering a decent looking one for $30. I can buy that AND a game for cheaper than the Nintendo one.
HUGE fail on the free virtual console service. I'm sorry, but having it only for a month and then I have to pay for it? What exactly am I paying for with this service?
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Post by dschroll on Jan 13, 2017 14:40:09 GMT -5
So, just as a reminder, I will be getting hands on play time with the Switch tomorrow. Meeting up with Jincman and our session starts at 2:30. Will report back my thoughts.
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Post by dschroll on Jan 13, 2017 15:18:23 GMT -5
Info on joycon: 525mAh battery - 3.5h to charge - 20 hours of gameplay
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Post by dschroll on Jan 13, 2017 15:34:52 GMT -5
Launch Lineup for North America:
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Post by dschroll on Jan 13, 2017 15:47:14 GMT -5
Ok, so here's my feedback on everything. Nintendo's presentation: C Very mediocre presentation. The translating was terrible and awkward at times. People at Nintendo tried to be goofy, but the jokes often fell flat. Nintendo often didn't make things clear on certain topics such as their paid online service or launch lineup or internal storage, etc. Some of the trailers Nintendo showed were fantastic (Mario / Zelda). Others were just lame or so bare bones that you didn't really get any kind of idea as to what the game was about. I liked that Nintendo had several new faces, but overall, there wasn't anyone memorable in the bunch. Nintendo should stick with a pre recorded direct in the future rather than trying to do it Live as it just didn't have the impact that it should. Switch Hardware: B+ The unit looks good. The price seems fair given you're getting a lot with it. $300 gets you the dock, the Switch tablet, joycons, grip controller, HDMI cable, wrist straps. I think it's a decent amount of tech and hardware. Internal storage is only 32 GB. That's a misstep IMO as I don't think it's enough and I would've liked to see Nintendo offer more than what's on a Wii U since most Wii U owners know that 32GB runs out fast. Glad it's expandable with micro SD cards. Battery life is about what I expected. Of course I wish it were longer, but again, you've got a device running some high end graphics, so I'm not shocked. It's by no means a dealbreaker since I don't fly too often anymore. The joycons look to have a ton of tech in them and I love the idea of HD rumble. Overall, hardware looks pretty solid. Accessories: F I'm sorry, but I still can't get over what Nintendo is charging for accessories. That's just a huge fail on their part. Controllers should not be more expensive than the games. The dock should not be that pricey. If you add up all the prices of what comes with the Switch unit (pair of joycons, grip, dock) that's $200 worth of stuff. So the tablet then costs $100 is what you're saying? I don't think so. Nintendo needs to get that fixed and adjust accessory pricing as I suspect most fans will opt for 3rd party products instead. Switch Launch games: B Zelda of course looks like an amazing game. Every time I see that trailer I just can't wait to play it. However, most everything else coming out at launch seems mediocre. I have almost no interest in 1-2 Switch and Arms, while it looks fun, doesn't feel like a full priced game. Maybe Bomberman will be fun but only if it's a budget game. Not paying $60 for it. Really, the next solid game coming is end of April with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which is MK 8 with some added content. Not too thrilled with the idea of buying that game again at full price, but I might since it has the battle mode finally. Not a strong launch lineup, but Zelda brings the whole thing up to a B because it looks that good 3rd party Support: C So far I am not impressed with the 3rd party support we are seeing. There are some decent ones that look good like Sonic Mania (will totally get that on the Switch) and Ultra Streetfighter looks pretty cool if you're a Sreetfighter fan. Skyrim looks good too, but it's not scheduled to come out until Fall 2017. So, yet again, here we have a Switch port of a game that's coming out a year after it's come out on PS4 and XB1, not to say anything about the fact that it's older than that since it originally came out on PS3 and 360. So, I hope they don't make that a full priced game (they will of course), because I don't think people will want to pay full price for it. I am interested and would like to check it out, but maybe for $30. Other than that though, there's nothing really jumping out at me that is going to entice people to pick up a Switch. I really thought for sure Nintendo would have some big time 3rd party exclusives for the Switch but we haven't seen any significant standout titles. Online Support: C Nintendo made the boneheaded move of announcing they are offering a paid online service, but didn't bother to detail what the service entailed. They were better off either saying they will have an online service and will announced details later, or not announce it at all. I felt like they gave us the bad news without any of the good. Nonetheless, NIntendo's online support has been mediocre at best, so telling me I will soon have to pay for it isn't doing much in the way of enticing me unless I better know what I'm getting with that money. Sadly, we will have to wait for that info and it looks like the service won't even start until summer time. I will give you guys hands on impressions this weekend after I play the Switch tomorrow. Hopefully I won't be milking any cows
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Post by oldskoolboarder on Jan 13, 2017 16:42:05 GMT -5
So, just as a reminder, I will be getting hands on play time with the Switch tomorrow. Meeting up with Jincman and our session starts at 2:30. Will report back my thoughts. I expect both of you to come back raving about the milking game. I'm REALLY surprised the memes haven't started on that particular game, it's just too easy.
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Post by dschroll on Jan 13, 2017 19:16:22 GMT -5
So, just as a reminder, I will be getting hands on play time with the Switch tomorrow. Meeting up with Jincman and our session starts at 2:30. Will report back my thoughts. I expect both of you to come back raving about the milking game. I'm REALLY surprised the memes haven't started on that particular game, it's just too easy. HAHA. As soon as I saw it, I knew that game was asking for trouble. I can't believe no one at Nintendo thinks about that stuff. Or are we just perverts?
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Post by dschroll on Jan 13, 2017 19:16:37 GMT -5
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Post by dschroll on Jan 13, 2017 19:39:27 GMT -5
Every confirmed Switch game:
1, 2, Switch Arcade Archives Arms
The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth Blazblue
Cube Life: Island Survival
Disgaea 5 Complete Derby Stallion Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 Dragon Quest X: The Five Awakening Races Online Dragon Quest XI Dragon Quest Heroes 1 & 2
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Farming Simulator Fast RMX Fire Emblem Warriors
Has Been Heroes
I Am Setsuna
Just Dance 2017
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Lego City Undercover
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Minecraft: Switch Edition Minecraft: Story Mode - The Complete Edition Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom
NBA 2K18 New Frontier Days: Founding Pioneers Nobunaga's Ambition: Sphere of Influence
No More Heroes (Tentative Title)
Project Octopath Traveler Project Sonic 2017 Puyo Puyo Tetris
Rayman Legends Definitive Edition Redout Rime Romance of the Three Kingdoms 13
Shin Megami Tensei Shovel Knight Skylanders Imaginators Sonic Mania Splatoon 2 Spelunker Snipperclips - Cut it out, together! Stardew Valley Steep Story of Seasons Super Bomberman R Super Mario Odyssey Syberia 3
Untitled Steamworld Game Untitled "Tales of" Game Ultra Street Fighter 2: The Final Challengers
Xenoblade 2
Yooka-Laylee
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Post by dschroll on Jan 13, 2017 19:51:09 GMT -5
Nintendo is moving away from two notable features introduced with its previous round of hardware. David Young, Nintendo of America’s assistant manager of public relations, informed GamesBeat that Switch will not include Miiverse. “I can answer that we’re not going to be using Miiverse for Nintendo Switch,” he said.
Young also confirmed that StreetPass isn’t planned for Switch. This is partially due to the fact that the system isn’t truly a portable device like 3DS.
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Post by reaper on Jan 13, 2017 20:00:55 GMT -5
Thread on neogaf says the system has no voice chat? You may be required to chat thru an app on your phone?
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Post by dschroll on Jan 13, 2017 21:58:57 GMT -5
Thread on neogaf says the system has no voice chat? You may be required to chat thru an app on your phone? That is correct. Voice chat and such are handled thru a smartphone app. While it's not a dealbreaker for me, this is another situation where Nintendo touts this as "more convenient" when in reality it's less so. I am constantly amazed that stuff like this comes to fruition at Nintendo and management there doesn't have common sense to recognize it's a bad move. Paid online service with monthly freebies? Good move. Paid online service with monthly freebies that go away after a month? Bad move. Come on nintendo. Hire some people with common sense.
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Post by reaper on Jan 13, 2017 22:10:47 GMT -5
Yeah I was kind of excited when they mentioned back catalogue games as freebies... until we realized they weren't.. it just amazes me how many non competitive decisions they make solely to be different. They already have the most amazing catalogue of characters. Lean in that. Not stupid hardware parlor tricks that impress no one! Gah.
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Post by dschroll on Jan 13, 2017 22:39:34 GMT -5
Nintendo's pride is its own worst enemy. They refuse to copy anything their competitors do because they feel that it validates their competitors' ideas as good. Instead, Nintendo wants to be different. In some cases, different is good because it forces them to innovate and stand out. But many times, those "differences" are bad and ultimately unnecessarily complicated.
MS does achievements. Sony does trophies. Nintendo? Nothing on a system side. "stickers" on certain games. Still no type of achievement system announced for Switch.
Friends/digital games. Sony and MS have this stuff tied to your ID. Nintendo, tied to your hardware, making it WAY more difficult when getting new hardware.
Online play. Sony and MS have it where you add a friend once and can invite them to chat/play in ANY game. Nintendo has you exchange Friend Codes on a PER GAME basis. Even the latest Mario Run game on iPhone still uses Friend codes.
Nintendo needs to get out of its own way. Instead of thinking that they need to reinvent the wheel, they just need to see what their competitors are doing well and replicate it. Then they need to see where their competitors are falling short and maybe address that. Nintendo's stable of characters is already enough to differentiate them from Sony and MS, but for whatever reason Nintendo feels it needs to implement many changes in its hardware and processes so gamers know it's Nintendo and not someone else. The problem is that "Nintendo difference" isn't the advantage that it used to be.
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Post by dschroll on Jan 13, 2017 23:33:44 GMT -5
In an interview with IGN, Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma confirmed that The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild will run at 1080p on Nintendo Switch and 720p on Wii U.
“I think I mentioned this during E3, but the gameplay is completely the same experience on Wii U and the Nintendo Switch,” Aonuma told IGN. “The game controls for the two are pretty much identical. However, when you play in TV mode, the resolution of the screen and the sound quality go up.”
We asked Aonuma if the Switch version would gain any other performance improvements on Nintendo’s new console, and he noted the the Switch would have faster loading times because it’s much easier to pull data from a game card than from a disc. This means players won’t have to wait long to play when they start up Breath of the Wild on Switch.
“When I said earlier that the gameplay and game experience is the same, I meant the framerate is the same as well,” Aonuma said.
“The world in Breath of the Wild is all seamless,” Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto added. “There’s a lot of processing when [the game] needs to recreate the landscape, so that’s a little bit of challenge. But while you’re playing it there’s no difference whatsoever between the two.”
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Post by oldskoolboarder on Jan 13, 2017 23:35:21 GMT -5
Since you and jincman are going to the N event, why don't you express all of our frustrations directly to N personnel?
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Post by UsualNoise on Jan 13, 2017 23:41:50 GMT -5
Good news (for me) about Zelda since I'll be playing it on the Wii U. And since a recent exploit now allows installing games directly to a USB hard drive I'll likely do that to improve on load times (if indeed they are noticeable between areas).
Keep us updated on your Switch experiences guys, can't wait to hear what you think!
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Post by dschroll on Jan 13, 2017 23:42:10 GMT -5
Since you and jincman are going to the N event, why don't you express all of our frustrations directly to N personnel? I promise you, if I can speak to Reggie or anyone of significance there, I will definitely mention it. I suspect though that my time will mostly be spent with some local person that Nintendo hired to make sure I don't abuse or steal the Switch.
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Post by dschroll on Jan 13, 2017 23:45:48 GMT -5
Graphics comparison of Zelda between Switch and Wii U. I kinda like the Switch one a little better as I feel it shows a bit more detail. What do you guys think?
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Post by UsualNoise on Jan 14, 2017 0:06:39 GMT -5
The screenshots look pretty similar to me, but it's really hard to compare without seeing both systems in person. Honestly while I like good graphics, as a Nintendo fan it's never been a big priority for me. Wind Waker HD on Wii U was plenty good enough, and I have a feeling BOTW on Wii U will also look great.
I neglected to bring up one issue that really bugged me about the online / VC stuff. My brother and I were talking about it today, and basically it goes like this: how many times will we be required to buy the same game? We bought Super Mario Bros 1, 2, 3 on the NES ($50 for the latter), we re-bought it via Super Mario All-Stars on SNES, we re-bought them on the Wii's Virtual Console, we paid the fee to get them on Wii U. (And no, I didn't re-buy these on my 3DS - had to draw some kind of line.) Now, Nintendo is going to charge for their online experience and will we get Mario Bros for free if we do? Sure, maybe for one month, one game at a time. Then you have to buy them again. At some point we feel we should simply own the game. Why can't they have a single account system like Steam where you buy the game and can always play it on whatever device once you purchase it? Even a simple strategy of dual game activation on Wii U / 3DS would be something (like you get with PS3/4/Vita). As things currently stand, the way Nintendo has handled their back catalog reeks of pure greed.
Anyway, I guess you could say my optimistic attitude toward Nintendo has been eroding lately and the Switch presentation didn't help. It actually made me consider just buying a second hand Wii U as a backup since I have a ton of games to still play on that system and once that system is out of stock it will likely fetch a pretty penny on eBay. (And I do love the Wii U.)
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