Category: Nintendo (Page 2 of 2)

Exciting Things In Early 2017

December 31, 2016 / admin

2017 Rollover, from innovationexcellence.com
(Image from Innovation Excellence (Thanks Google))

Hello and sorry for the delay in writing new content. Between weddings and the holidays (read: adulting and social obligations), I haven’t had much time to put a new post to the page, but I’m here to rectify that now! 2016 had some high peaks and low troughs but now’s the time to look forward to the new year and that means A LOT of new games. Seeing as there are too many to list for the entire year, I’m just going to briefly mention a few things I’m excited for, in no particular order, that should be arriving in the first quarter of the year or so (in the world of adulthood, time is measured in quarters of years, just go with it).

The Nintendo Switch

I’ve written about this a few times before, but I’m very excited about the Nintendo Switch. I’m curious to see what more they have to unveil (besides a price point and official release date) during the January 12th presentation. Will we see more attachments? New features of the base hardware we’ve not been shown? New titles being confirmed? Hopefully, it’s all of the above. Since the last write up I did about the Switch, rumors have come out that the unit will run at a 40% power reduction while not nestled in the cradle. This makes sense and many devices do this currently. You trade off some of the raw power of the device for extended battery life, it’s nothing new and nothing to worry about, in my opinion. Nintendo will make sure its games are still playable at the reduced power levels. Whether that means they’ll be downscaled to require less “umph” (

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Continuing on the Nintendo train, Breath of the Wild continues to look fantastic. The Legend of Zelda is one of my favorite game series, if not my absolute favorite. This entry appears to take the original, more open style of the game and put a modern spin on it and there’s still so much we don’t know! We’ve barely glimpsed villages and NPCs. They’ve teased some kind of airship and wingsuited/flying villain. Armors and weapons that have yet to be seen, Epona hasn’t been shown in a while, other neat tricks the game’s engine can perform (like setting grass on fire with a Fire Rod, fanning it with a Deku Leaf, and riding the updraft from the flames with the same leaf, which is kind of ridiculous), and more! I’m ready to jump, climb, fight, and lose myself in this new iteration of Hyrule. New (and nasty) rumors are saying that the game is going to be delayed again so the system can launch with the new Mario title (also excited about) and Nintendo can avoid competing with itself over which title is a must-have (por que no los dos?). Hopefully, during the Switch press conference on the 12th, we’ll get more concrete details about the game. Until then, I’m hoping and praying it’s still a launch title.

Persona 5

The Persona series has become super stylized in recent years. I was sold on the series watching the intro to Persona 3 and reading all the stellar reviews of the game at the time. Part dungeon-crawler, part high school social sim, all JRPG. Memento mori, Evokers, and the dark theme all drew me in. The series has presented a lot of interesting ideas about coming to terms with one’s true self, death, pop culture consumption, and many others. Persona 5 has been long-gestating and constantly delayed (partially due to Atlus being purchased by Sega and the voice actors’ strike) but looks fantastic from all the information released. It even has a pretty excellent prequel anime episode that helps set up the story we’ll be jumping into in this iteration. The series has spawned anime, manga, and gaming off-shoots, some of which even tie together the entries of the series which are usually stand alone. Most recently, the game was delayed from its projected release date of Valentine’s Day to April 4th (not technically the first quarter of 2017 but I did say, “or so” 😛 ).

Horizon: Zero Dawn

Guerrilla Games has continuously impressed with their newest title for the PS4. The story is intriguing: robotic creatures have overtaken the earth and humans have been mostly relegated to small tribes, their cities having been reclaimed by nature. Think Native Americans with high tech weaponry hunting robotic animals instead of flesh-and-blood ones. The gameplay looks smooth and varied (though they’re probably playing on the PS4 Pro, as seems to be the case recently when titles are being demoed), and has kind of a Monster Hunter vibe to it. The facial expressions/speech options looked a little stiff and weaker than the rest of what has been presented but that doesn’t take away much from the rest of the showcase. I’ve tried to avoid watching too much of the game, so as to avoid any potential spoilers or seeing too much in the trailers (a common issue these days), so that’s all I really know about it. We’ll find out early next year if it ends up being worth our time.

Virtual Reality

This one is a bit more broad than just any one specific title or platform but having played a bit of VR here at the advent, it’s got a lot of promise. The Vive seems to be leading the pack at the moment, with solid motion controls, room scale for a bit of maneuverability, and other features packed in the headset. It’s great to bring out at parties and give people a taste of the immersion VR offers. 2017 will hopefully see hardware become a bit more affordable, software become a bit more prevalent, and a killer app that manages to sell a full-fledged video game in a VR package rather than a tech demo or an “experience.” Many hurdles still need to be addressed, such as in-game motion that doesn’t cause nausea but also isn’t point-and-click teleportation. Space/movement requirements in the real world and properly marking off boundaries without pulling users out of the game world by throwing up a boundary marker in-game. The hardware itself needs to be addressed as well. Every major headset available currently (Oculus, Vive, and PlayStation VR) tethers you to whatever hardware is powering it. Cutting the cord causes quite the concern for the headsets, both from a power standpoint, as well as a tracking one, but until people aren’t worried about strangling themselves with a cable or pulling down their whole entertainment center by yanking a cord during frantic gameplay, the medium is going to be limited in what it can accomplish. As for early 2017, PlayStation VR is getting Resident Evil 7. If the Beginning Hour demo is any indication, we’re in for a terrifying experience. I’m sure we’ll see plenty of internet videos of people playing the game and being scared out of their minds. Additionally, Star Wars Battlefront recently received a DLC in the form of an X-Wing Mission Pack for the PlayStation VR. If you haven’t ever entertained the idea of flying an X-Wing in full immersion, you probably didn’t see the Star Wars movies during your formative years and I apologize for whoever dropped the ball on that one. Regardless of platform, I hope VR sees some growth in the coming year because it has plenty of potential and just needs the right people to harness it.

I’m going to call it quits with these few things. Gaming has plenty more to be excited about in 2017 though (Mass Effect: Andromeda, for example)! Feel free to leave a comment or drop me an e-mail about what you’re excited for in the new year of gaming and whatever your plans may be this evening, be smart and be safe.

See you in the new year!

Pokemon STARring On A New Console?

November 19, 2016 / admin

(Image from Pokemon Database)

Pokemon Sun and Moon launched yesterday to solid praise across the board. I myself am about an hour or so in to my adventures in the Alola region (playing Sun for those wondering. Also #TeamRowlet). The new games, which Nintendo has stated are the most preordered entries in the long-running series, improve upon the 3D of their predecessors, add new features, and of course new Pokemon that you’ll need to catch to be the very best (like no one ever was!).

Now that you’re singing the theme song, think back over the long 20-year history of the Pokemon series (and let it sink in that the first games came out 20 years ago in Japan). The catch’em all craze has been largely relegated to the handheld market, with a few non-main entries appearing on consoles along the way. Game Freak and Nintendo have maintained that this stance is due to the nature of the beasts. It’s in the name, Pokemon or Pocket Monsters. They’re meant to be brought with you, travelling companions on the road of life, arm-in-arm, you’ll win the fight, it’s always been your dream (I’ll stop now). With that in mind, the series have never made a full debut on a console since it wasn’t fitting with the theme.

Until now…

With the upcoming release of the Nintendo Switch, the lines between mobile and home console gaming are being blurred. It has already been stated that a Pokemon game is in development for the Switch’s launch window (roughly within 6 months of release) but no further details were offered. Well, according to several sources that spoke to Eurogamer, that entry could potentially be the third entry to the Sun/Moon lineup. Rumored to be Pokemon Stars, the title would be the first full-fledged entry on a home console to date. The sources that spoke with Eurogamer claimed that the entry has been pushed back from that launch window slightly but will feature enhanced visuals, potentially new Pokemon, and the ability to transfer your Pokemon from Sun/Moon through the Pokemon Bank app.

It makes sense as well, because the formula to release a third game to fill out a generation has been observed for each generation from the inception up through Diamond/Pearl/Platinum. Black/White received sequels in the form of Black 2/White 2, a first for the series, and X/Y bucked the trend, though a Pokemon Z was long-rumored. Pokemon Stars finishing out the Sun/Moon lineup falls in line with this trend and would be a welcome addition to the Pokemon family.

This would also be a smart move on Nintendo’s part. Fans have been clamoring for a console entry to the series for years now and if it sells well, they may even make one from the ground up for the Switch (still holding my breath for a Pokemon MMO, at some point). Further to that point, I think a main series entry would be a great selling point for the Switch, especially come holiday season next year. The mobile/console hybrid is the perfect proving ground for a Pokemon game to make its way out of a strictly handheld market. What other features could be brought to bear on the new system remain to be seen, but this is definitely a step in the right direction.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some Pokemon to catch.

Nintendo, A Cautionary Tale

November 12, 2016 / admin

Nintendo Logo, from Nintendo Wikia
(Image from Nintendo Wikia)

A few months ago, Nintendo announced the NES Classic Edition Console, a small, retro NES complete with 30 fan-favorite games, a controller identical in appearance to that of the original NES (compatible with the Wii/Wii U via Wiimote), and nostalgia-inducing packaging to boot (oh, an HDMI cord and AC adapter as well, but whatever, those aren’t exciting). To top off the bundle, Nintendo included modes for standard 4:3 aspect ratio as well as a CRT filter for scan lines to give you the true 80’s feel. With a $59.99 price point ($9.99 for an additional remote), people were frothing at the mouth for some good ol’ classic Nintendo goodness.

But it was not meant to be.

Yesterday, the NES Classic Edition released with EXTREMELY limited stock around the nation, as well as no apparent options for preordering. This left a lot of people with a sour taste and some negative feelings towards the Big N, with some people in comments sections (which I usually try to avoid) claiming that they will not be purchasing the Nintendo Switch because of this shortage.

Nintendo has been known in recent years to constantly short-ship many popular products. Starting with the Wii, which was near impossible to get until almost 6+ months after launch, through the popular Amiibo toys-to-life line, onto the Pokemon Go Plus, and now, the NES Classic Edition. Nintendo can’t seem to get their production quantities.

Or can they?

If you look back at the Wii console, I don’t think Nintendo had an idea how big of a hit they had on their hands. Morning talk shows were raving about it, grandparents were playing it with (and without) their grandchildren, they popped up in libraries and dorm rooms across the nation and kept going. Eventually, the demand petered out but the explosive response was more than they could have hoped for, let alone planned for.

Amiibo were similarly fated. Nintendo has not manufactured toys in many years, so I assume that capability isn’t something you can just snap your fingers and magically produce infinite quantities of plastic figurines with microchips in them. Supply quickly outpaced demand for Amiibo and they rose in the rankers of scalpers’ dreams, making the supply even more scarce. Nintendo did not want to flood the market and leave shelves full of unsold figurines, as many toy-to-life options had and continued to do. Eventually, fan favorites/hard to find Amiibo would be reprinted and everyone could have their character of choice immortalized as a tiny, glorified desk decoration*.

The Pokemon Go Plus also had a very short shelf life before initial quantities were snatched up. Nintendo has commented that more will be produced and they will continue to make them as demand requires. However, by the time the first batch had shipped, Pokemon Go had lots the sizzle of the sensation from its early days as a mobile phenomenon. Either underestimating how lazy people are, how efficient the Go Plus is at keep people from being glued to their phones, or overestimating the decline of the game, this shortage has continued to frustrate and alienate Nintendo fans.

Which brings us to the NES Classic Edition. The most egregious error, if you are to believe the comments sections. Toying with our nostalgia hits hard in our hearts and people are ridiculously upset with Nintendo over this transgression. No timeline was given for more units, just the standard response that they will continue to ship them as they are manufactured. The same people who bemoan the short cord on the NES Classic controller from one side of their mouths cry foul with the other that they can’t get their hands on one of these units. It seems Nintendo doesn’t care about their fans…

Except I see it as the other way around.

So many people have jumped ship from Nintendo, saying that Nintendo needs to get with the times. They want gritty, mature experiences that grow with them as gamers, not the “for kids” attitude Nintendo seems to take with all of their products. Most people consider Nintendo relegated to a place of secondary importance. You buy Sony or Microsoft’s new console and Nintendo’s as a supplement, if you buy it at all. I believe it’s this mindset that has pushed Nintendo to where they are today.

Nintendo has a relatively new president in Tatsumi Kimishima after the tragic passing of Satoru Iwata last summer. New management and a new direction, coupled with the shrinking space Nintendo holds in the market has pushed them to be more cautious with their endeavors. Overproducing units that just sit on shelves is wasteful. People aren’t putting their money where their mouths are (though it could be argued they can’t because of shortages), so Nintendo is putting out feelers to gauge interest before diving in and committing to larger productions. This can be seen with the launch of the Switch as well. Nintendo has stated that only 2 million units will ship initially, which is less than the Wii U shipped with. There will be shortages and we can blame ourselves for that. When you don’t buy the things a company produces, they produce less to mitigate their losses. They want to be optimistic that things will be different this time, but recent history for them has not shown this to be the case.

To play devil’s advocate, Nintendo could do more on their end to fine tune the situation to more of a happy medium. By taking preorders a bit further in advance, the company could have had a better measure of interest and adjusted production accordingly. Additionally, they have to be cognizant of the fact that a large portion of their business is powered by nostalgia. Virtual Console games, retro compilations, remakes, and the old school gaming market flourishing should be indicative of the interest in these classic titles. I don’t know how many times I’ve repurchased Super Mario World or Ocarina of Time in one format or another, but it’s not an insignificant amount of times. People love being reminded of “simpler” times and if Nintendo can keep giving people that (with enough improvements to justify the cost, like the retro modes/filters), they will keep people coming back. If they don’t start assessing their markets a bit better though, they are going to continue to alienate potential customers through perceived disservice and their caution will end up doing more harm than good in the end.

Nintendo has seen that there is interest for the NES Classic Edition and will produce and ship more. All we can do is remain patient, keep our eyes open, and speak to them with our wallets. In the end, they are a business and that’s going to be the language that gets through to them the loudest.

*- I own most of the Amiibo (excluding the Amiibo cards) and think they’re criminally underutilized. I hope some games are in development that make better use of them.

More Switch News (& Other Tidbits)

October 29, 2016 / admin

Nintendo Switch, from Polygon
(Image from Polygon)

The Nintendo Switch is on everyone’s minds after last week’s unveiling of the new system. Nintendo’s president, Tatsumi Kimishima, has given a few cryptic hints to further whet our collective appetites for more info and rumors continue to fly as Nintendo closes the vault door again after only giving us a peek at the wonderful, nerdy treasures inside. For more concrete details, we will be waiting until January 12. Waiting until after the holidays/new year when the system would potentially be forgotten in the hustle and bustle of the season is smart on Nintendo’s part and it kickstarts the new year with an updated look at the system, as well as starting the ~2 month countdown until the system’s release in March.

Speaking with Bloomberg, Kimishima didn’t give away much. He mentioned that Nintendo has only shown the core concept of the system, not what it is fully capable of. It seems they have more accessories up their sleeves, potentially a few that will be interchangeable with the Joy-Cons strapped to the side of the Switch. Rumors have been flying about the potential add-ons here, everything from infrared pointers to projectors that register motion.

An interesting bit of phrasing to note was that Kimishima said they want people to touch they console in January and experience it for themselves to fully understand what Nintendo is trying to do. The use of the word “touch” here is probably reading into it a bit much, but rumors are saying that the system will feature a 720p touchscreen, which has yet to be confirmed by Nintendo. I believe the comment was made more in the vein of getting hands-on time in order to truly understand what the system can do. Nintendo did not do a good job explaining this with the Wii U and all the cool things/ways of play that it could muster, or of differentiating it in their marketing so parents understood this was a new system, not just a Wii add-on (much like the DS/3DS). In breaking with the “Wii” branding and giving people the opportunity to actually play the console in a sufficient amount of time prior to launch, I think they are setting themselves up to be heard and understood this time. One of their main design philosophies has been to make hardware around their games, not the other way around. So if people don’t understand the hardware, then they’re not going to understand the unique ways to play the games that the company is publishing either. But I digress…

Those of you who were worried about the longevity of the 3DS need not be concerned, as Nintendo’s president has confirmed that they will continue pushing the 3DS as they feel it has a market separate from what the Switch will inhabit. That doesn’t mean consumers will see it that way. If you can play console quality games on the go, why would you settle for a (probably fantastic) 3DS title? Portability, battery life, established install bases, and plenty of other things will factor into this, for certain, but I can’t help but think that Nintendo is going to be stealing a portion of its own market (or maybe occupying the Vita’s shrinking real estate).

2 months and 15 days (but who’s counting?) will tell what we actually receive. Hopefully at that time, they give us a firm release date, price, and what’s included in the launch bundle(s). I assume there will be multiple configurations available, both varied in hard drive space and bundled accessories. Also, if by some chance you’re reading this Nintendo, give us some news about the Breath of the Wild amiibo while you’re at it! I’m going to need one of everything (Switch and Zelda amiibo), please and thank you!

In Other News

Square-Enix had a couple of exciting announcements this week. In addition to releasing the opening cinematic for Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Remix, we were treated to the news that 1.5 Remix and 2.5 Remix are being bundled and remastered for the PS4 so for the first time, the entire series, in all its convoluted glory, will be available on one console. So anyone who has been living under a rock for the past 15 years (Yeah, it’s been that long. I know it’s weird and we’re old. Take a moment, if you need it.), can play/watch from start to finish to prepare you for Kingdom Hearts 3, which is set to release next year. Now, you just have to decide the order in which to play the games. It’s kind of like a Star Wars dilemma. Chronological according to release date? Chronological according to the game’s story? Or some butchered version, hopping around to not spoil any plot points until they were intended to be revealed? I’ll leave that up to you to decide.

Not be left out, Final Fantasy XV also had a new bit of info drop. There’s going to be a DLC pack that allows you to play multiplayer, online, with each of the main 4 heroes being controlled by a human player! I assume this will be in some segmented story arc, rather than in the main campaign but since a good bit of the story revolves around Noctis and his band of brothers, it would be cool if you could experience the game with a brotherhood of your own at the helm. We’re almost exactly a month away from the game’s release and I’m ready to dive in and find out whether the 10+ year wait has been worth it!

The last bit of news was slightly more recent than even the above tidbits. Square-Enix has launched a teaser site, currently with a 5 day countdown, for a new Final Fantasy title for iPhone/Android. While there have been plenty of Final Fantasy titles of varying degrees of quality for mobile already, the interesting part of this is that it features a note from Chrono Trigger’s director, Takashi Tokita, as well as the fantastic art of Yoshitaka Amano (who has had ties to the Final Fantasy series since its inception, I believe). This already bodes incredibly well for the title as many JRPGs fans hold Chrono Trigger in very high esteem and having this duo on-board shows that Square-Enix (hopefully) isn’t “phoning” this one in. *insert pun husky photo here*

I’ll see myself out…

Nintendo Switch (aka The Artist Formerly Known as NX)

October 22, 2016 / admin

Nintendo Switch, from nVidia blog
(Image from nVidia blog)

Nintendo released a teaser trailer on Thursday morning, finally lifting the curtain on their newest console previously known only as the Nintendo NX. Now officially named the Nintendo Switch, we have a better look at the console and what Nintendo is aiming for with the new hardware. Full disclosure before I begin, I have been called a Nintendo fanboy and have not done much to dissuade people of this notion. That being said, let us proceed.

The Breakdown

The Console

The Switch is Nintendo’s next foray into the home console market, except that it is also dabbling into the mobile market as well. Powered by a new nVidia Tegra processor, the Switch is a self-contained tablet-like game console with a dock allowing you the option to connect to a TV when not on the go. The attached controllers (known as Joy-Cons) can be removed and used individually or together (with or without a controller shell attachment). This gives Switch players the option of allowing two people to play at any moment, anywhere. Additionally, multiple Switches can be used for local multiplayer. The number of players per screen and the number of Switches able to connect together locally has yet to be confirmed.

The Accessories

Several accessories were shown in the Switch reveal trailer. Outside of the Joy-Cons, which come with the console, the trailer showed off the new Pro controller. Similar to the existing offering for the Wii U, the Pro controller looks like it will be the go-to for people not wanting to use the Joy-Cons (shell or no), but it is unclear whether one will be included with the console or not. My money is on “not,” if history is any indicator.

The controller shell for the Joy-Cons is another uncertainty at the moment. Since it appears you can use the Joy-Cons, detached from the system, without the shell (making it optional), it would seem that this would most likely not be included with the console either.

Not so much an accessory as it is a feature, but the console itself has a built-in kickstand on the back for propping up to play on the go. Great for when you need to throw down a challenge in a multiplayer game without immediate access to a TV.

Amiibo are shown in the trailer during the Super Mario segment but not specifically interacted with. Nintendo has confirmed that amiibo will function with the Switch, allowing those of us who have spent a fortune on the plastic figurines to breathe a collective sigh of relief.

The dock the system uses is another intriguing accessory. Definitely included with the console, the dock seemingly charges the console as well as allowing it to seamlessly switch (see what I/they did there?) from mobile play to home/TV play. We are not afforded a view of the back side of the dock, so the connection options are unknown at this point. There is one shot of a couple of ports on the side of the dock in the trailer, though I am unsure of what those connections are.

The final accessory shown in the trailer is easy enough to overlook, but it appears to be a cradle that can be attached to a headrest in a car, allowing you to mount the Switch for a bit of stability when on the road.

The Games

In the Switch reveal trailer, several games were shown. We start off with the new Legend of Zelda title, Breath of the Wild and be still, my nerdy heart, it looks fantastic. Everything released about this game gets me more and more excited for it, especially now that I’ll be able to easily and conveniently take it with me when I venture out to a friend’s place or whatnot.

Next up, we are given a brief glimpse of Skyrim running on the console. Many people may think this odd, since Skyrim is a relatively old game now and isn’t necessarily indicative of showing the limits of which the Switch is capable. Also unclear is whether or not the version in the trailer is the soon-to-be-released Special Edition update of the game or the original from a few years ago. Either way, I think this is good because it shows that developers are willing to put games on the Switch they previously would not have brought to a Nintendo system. Third-party support has plagued Nintendo in recent years, so if the trailer and released graphic showing third-party developer support are to be believed, we could be seeing a shift in that trend with this new console.

The unidentified NBA 2k game shown is another product to bolster the hopes of third party support. I’m not a sports fan, so this doesn’t excite me much, but I know others will be glad to have the sports title of their choice potentially return to Nintendo’s platform.

Two titles shown in the trailer are a bit confusing. Mario Kart and Splatoon. Both of these games are currently available on the Wii U but there are things shown in the trailer that point at these being updates of those versions. Nintendo had previously mentioned the possibility of updated ports of Wii U games making their way to the Switch and this seems to be the case here. For Mario Kart, a few subtle things are shown such as the ability to hold two items instead of the standard one, a new/old course (from the GCN version), and the icons of new potential racers. Splatoon shows new stages not previously included in the current game or DLC, as well as new customization options for your characters. All of this seems to point to these titles being featured as an “Ultimate Edition” or something of the sort, including all existing DLC plus some new content only available on the Switch. That may hurt some of the consumers that have recently bought a Wii U and these titles/DLC, but will be a great way for those who have waited/hesitated to get in on the action with the best version of the games.

Lastly, a new 3D Mario game was briefly shown. The theme seemed very “Day of the Dead”-esque, showing a desert town with a skull wearing a sombrero painted on the building, cacti, and architecture you’d think to find in a rural desert town. The shots also include Mario’s signature triple jump, long jump, a familiar baddie in the form of a Bullet Bill cannon, and other staples of the long-running franchise. Multiplayer was alluded to when the woman in the trailer brings the Switch out to a rooftop party and separates the Joy-Cons from the console, handing them to two separate players. Seeing as we are not given a view of the screen during this segment, exactly how the multiplayer works in this title is unclear. It can be assumed it will be cooperative along the lines of the recent Mario titles.

Separately from the trailer, I believe I had read that Nintendo was planning on releasing ports of their mobile games for the Switch. Meaning versions of Miitomo, the upcoming Animal Crossing and Fire Emblem games, Super Mario Run, and potentially Pokemon GO (even though Nintendo wasn’t involved directly with its development) could make appearances on the new console in some form.

I also believe that Nintendo has issued a statement saying that a Zelda title, a Mario title, and a Pokemon title would all be available within the launch window of the Switch (roughly considered to be the first 6 months or so). If that’s true, that’s a strong lineup out of the gate, even excluding third-party options. And if the Pokemon title is a full-fledged main series adventure, that would be an instant selling point for many people. One of the main concerns Game Freak/The Pokemon Company have stated with home console Pokemon games is that it would infringe upon the nature of the series. Pokemon (Pocket Monsters) are supposed to be brought with you, wherever you go. A companion to join you on your adventures. The Switch would satisfy that requirement and the prospect of a fully-realized, high definition Pokemon game is probably more than I should hope for, but I am hoping nonetheless.

The Questions

The trailer was the perfect taste of what’s to come but left a lot of questions unanswered. Nintendo has stated that no new info about the console or its game lineup will be released until 2017, so we will just have to dwell on these questions until then.

A big question mark was left on the topic of cost. No one knows where the Switch will enter the fray, but based on Nintendo’s commitment to affordable, quality gaming, it can be assumed that it will be comparable-to-less-than the competitors’ prices. Will Nintendo be able to keep the price around the $300 mark?

Next, battery life. The Joy-Cons, Joy-Con shell, Pro controller, and the console itself are all wireless. The console is sporting cartridges instead of discs, which will help battery life considerably, but if this thing is supposed to be as mobile as they are marketing it to be, it will need to pack considerable juice to be viable. How long will the battery on the main console last? How much life will we see in our controllers?

Touchscreen or no? It was not shown in the trailer, but will the screen of the main unit be a touchscreen, much like the Wii U GamePad and the 3DS bottom screen.

Operating System. Nintendo has worked in recent years to move to a more connected environment and unified account across their platforms/offerings. Will we see the same discounted Virtual Console offerings we saw in the shift from Wii to Wii U? Will Wii U games be backwards compatible at all? Without the disc drive and the apparent inclusion of updated ports, this seems a highly unlikely prospect. What about media options such as Netflix and Hulu? Will there be a web browser? While these aren’t deal breakers in my opinion since they’re on just about every other device in production now, some people like to have their entertainment solutions all-in-one.

Mobile market concerns. Nintendo is dominating the handheld space in terms of dedicated game hardware. The PS Vita is all but dead at this point while the 3DS continues to see quality releases. If the Switch is truly going to be as mobile as advertised, is Nintendo fragmenting a market they already control? Will the 3DS be phased out in lieu of focusing on Switch titles, bringing AAA titles to the mobile space?

Wi-fi and/or LTE are other concerns, not only from a battery life perspective but also from a connectivity perspective. One of the confirmed games for the console is Dragon Quest X, which is an MMO entry in the popular series. If the Switch is truly going to be as mobile as it is being portrayed, what options are we going to have for staying connected on the go?

Third-party support continues to weigh heavily on my mind. Though Skyrim and the NBA title were showed in the trailer, various media outlets have reached out to developers for comment on the Switch. Bethesda and 2K Sports/Games both commented that they were thrilled to work with Nintendo on the trailer, but had nothing to confirm at this time. Is that because Nintendo wants to hold off full announcements until after the new year, closer to release? Or is it a sign that third-party developers are waiting to gauge reactions and interest in the new system before throwing their lot in with Nintendo?

The Joy-Cons raise an interesting question in my mind. Though they are undoubtedly unique and offer new ways to play, whatever your situation may be, I’m concerned about wear and tear on the connection points. Constant attaching and detaching of the controllers, both to the console and the controller shell, has to wear on the grooves/connectors to some degree. In a few years time, will our Joy-Cons simply fall off of the console at the slightest provocation? I’m sure this has been and is being stress tested but it is a point of concern all the same.

Conclusion

I am definitely excited for the Nintendo Switch. I have enjoyed all the Nintendo consoles up to this point because of their focus on games and fun. The sheer portability of console-quality games is appealing to me because I love couch multiplayer opportunities and the prospect of picking up, say, a Legend of Zelda or new Mario game and taking it to a friend’s house with ease sounds fantastic to me. Going out to a local bottle shop for drinks and a few rounds of Smash Bros. sounds equally enticing.

While there are many questions left unanswered, I think Nintendo is making the right choice in releasing this teaser and then switching to radio silence until after the new year. This gives them the opportunity to solidify support, prepare their message in a way that conveys what they’re hoping to achieve, and not leave us waiting too long as by that time, the release will be a mere 3 months away. I look forward to seeing more content as the release approaches and seeing what other people make of the announcement and position Nintendo is setting themselves into.

Thanks for reading and feel free to click the comments link to leave me anything you’d like to say.