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Now I can take Zelda with me wherever I go — not some limited version, mind you, but the full console Zelda experience. I can play on my TV, pick up the t

Now I can take Zelda with me wherever I go — not some limited version, mind you, but the full console Zelda experience. I can play on my TV, pick up the tablet from its dock, and continue the game without skipping a beat or compromising the experience. Continue... where, exactly? Modern mobile games work because they can be picked up for a few minutes in a line at the grocery store and put back down when you get to the checkout. Can a full Zelda title lend itself to this pattern of short mobile sessions? Furthermore, the Switch may be a svelte device, but is it something you'll actually carry around every day like your phone? The Switch looks very well suited to a plane or road trip, where you have to sit for a longer period without anything to do, but it's hard to imagine that representing a major change in regular usage for most users.

anthony_romeo 10y ago
If I recall, a number of studies showed that most people mostly play their portable gaming devices at home. I suspect the portability of the Switch for big games like the Legend of Zelda are largely about accommodating this use case (comfort, extra screens in the home, multitasking).
- crooked-v 10y ago
  I think it's also hard to overstate the parental appeal of "you can get the TV back at any time without the kid whining about an interrupted game".
  - joshschreuder 10y ago
    Or SO can watch TV while you kill some Moblins :)
- TranquilMarmot 10y ago
  The Wii U does this, and with much better battery life. I can kind of see where moving the whole console into the controller is a logical step forward, but at the same time I feel like they should have just beefed up the Wii U to have Xbox One/PS4 specs or better. But maybe then it would be harder to sell as a "new" console?
rorosaurus 10y ago
According the US Census in 2013, 5% of commuters used public transit and nearly 10% carpooled. [1] I know I would enjoy occupying that time with some Zelda! [1] https://www.census.gov/hhes/commuting/files/2014/acs-32.pdf https://www.census.gov/hhes/commuting/files/2014/acs-32.pdf

anthony_romeo 10y ago

If I recall, a number of studies showed that most people mostly play their portable gaming devices at home. I suspect the portability of the Switch for big games like the Legend of Zelda are largely about accommodating this use case (comfort, extra screens in the home, multitasking).

crooked-v 10y ago
I think it's also hard to overstate the parental appeal of "you can get the TV back at any time without the kid whining about an interrupted game".
- joshschreuder 10y ago
  Or SO can watch TV while you kill some Moblins :)
TranquilMarmot 10y ago
The Wii U does this, and with much better battery life. I can kind of see where moving the whole console into the controller is a logical step forward, but at the same time I feel like they should have just beefed up the Wii U to have Xbox One/PS4 specs or better. But maybe then it would be harder to sell as a "new" console?

rorosaurus 10y ago

According the US Census in 2013, 5% of commuters used public transit and nearly 10% carpooled. [1] I know I would enjoy occupying that time with some Zelda! [1] https://www.census.gov/hhes/commuting/files/2014/acs-32.pdf https://www.census.gov/hhes/commuting/files/2014/acs-32.pdf