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>... though it'll probably sell like hotcakes For a while. Then the novelty/fad factor will wear off and people will realize that it's mediocre hardware, the s

>... though it'll probably sell like hotcakes For a while. Then the novelty/fad factor will wear off and people will realize that it's mediocre hardware, the screen scratches if you put it in the dock too forcefully, the battery life is abysmal compared to an iPad, and the game selection is arguably worse. Then sales will fall off a cliff, just like they did with the original Wii.

azhenley 10y ago
As a gamer, why should I explicitly care about the hardware? If the experience is good, I don't care what is inside it. The graphics appear to be "good enough".
- aaron-lebo 10y ago
  Do you care about framerate? Not the same games but Uncharted 4 multiplayer is 1080p 60fps and silky smooth. That's not even talking about PC games - it's dirt cheap to run CSGO at 90 fps and 1440p these days. Bad performance detracts from the experience and it also limits what Nintendo can do with the console over the next three or four years.
  - paulcole 10y ago
    Bad games detract from the experience. I (and many other people) want to play Mario, Zelda, Mario Kart, etc., not silky smooth PC games.
  - cholantesh 10y ago
    I agree that performance is a pretty integral part of the experience. But I think the way it's being brought up in this thread is a bit disingenuous. Most people that are doing so seem to be glossing over the fact that the stutter is 1) rare 2) mostly resolved by the day 1 patch that Nintendo released
    - aaron-lebo 10y ago
      I own the game. Framerate drops are still very common
      - cholantesh 10y ago
        In prerelease reviews, there was talk of very occasional drops to below 30fps, sometimes even 20fps. It's my understanding that, post-launch that a lot of people (reviewers and people on Reddit, etc) are reporting that this happens a lot less. Rose-tinted glasses?
  - maxsilver 10y ago
    > Not the same games but Uncharted 4 multiplayer is 1080p 60fps and silky smooth. Uncharted 4 is only 900p 60fps in multiplayer, and 1080p 30fps in single player (on a regular PS4) But regardless, if your going to switch up the games, Fast RMX runs at 1080p 60fps on the Switch, even in multiplayer mode. Yeah, the Switch does not hit the performance of a PS4. But the Switch has just 1/3rd the power draw of a Slim PS4. (Roughly 30 watts average for the Switch, compared to roughly 80 watts average for the Slim PS4). It's not bad hardware at all, when you consider the power budget it's required to operate under, in order to be portable.
- overcast 10y ago
  That's the thing. The experience is either 720p or 900p, at barely 30fps. Dropping to 20 and below many instances, WHILE DOCKED. The graphics are fine, the performance is unacceptable for a brand new console.
  - aanm1988 10y ago
    On Zelda. A launch title ported from another system. It's also overblown as an issue. No one gives a shit anyway. If people cared they wouldn't ever bother with consoles.
    - overcast 10y ago
      People do care, it's just that when it comes to Nintendo, it's apparently expected. Other native Zelda games on the previous consoles, ran poorly as well. Nintendo needs to be a triple A third party developer for other consoles, and give it up with their gimmicky hardware.
      - aanm1988 10y ago
        Clearly they don't need to do that if the switch is exceeding their expectations. I'd rather have their stuff than crappy pseudo-PCs.
        overcast 10y ago
        So you're happier with an even crappier pseudo-pc. Got it.
        Nugem_ 10y ago
        LOL
        aanm1988 10y ago
        No, I'm happier with a console that just does it's own thing. Nintendo doesn't build shitty watered down PCs. They just build a thing to play some games on.
defective 10y ago
Just like the Wii, the 5th best-selling console of all time? The console that outsold all other consoles of its generation, except the Nintendo DS?
- M_Grey 10y ago
  The Wii was unique, and will not happen again. It was the right place, the right product, and the right time to capitalize on the exploding definition of "Games" and "Gamer". That's over. People have either moved on to their phones/tablets, or they're the type who are still playing with their Wii. The assumption that those many new gamers would behave like a "core" market was laughably wrong. As for the portable, Nintendo is the best in the game, benefited from being up against Sony (the worst in the mobile game... they practically assassinated their own platform), and they have the benefit of a built-in market at home. The Switch isn't a DS... it's not a pocket gaming platform. It isn't as useful as an iPad. It's as powerful as a console. What is it exactly, other than some kind of massive compromise rendered on substandard hardware? Edit: left out the "isn't".
  - baby 10y ago
    IMO the Wii was unique, but a gimmick. The Switch is the real deal, the sales will probably reflect that in December for Christmas.
    - M_Grey 10y ago
      I hope you're right; this is a situation in which I'd be more than happy to be look back in a year and eat my words. I grew up with Nintendo, and was a loyal customer through the Gamecube. I still love their mobile offerings. I would like an excuse to come back to a console, but so far this isn't it, for me.
mikeash 10y ago
Is the battery life really worse than an iPad? iOS devices will last a long time if it's mostly idle, but when playing high-end games they generally only last an hour or two.
jknoepfler 10y ago
Did you even bother to look at Wii sales numbers? They did nothing like that. [1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wii_sales https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wii_sales
givinguflac 10y ago
Sales fell off a cliff?? Are you aware the Wii is the 5th highest selling game system of all time? http://www.vgchartz.com/analysis/platform_totals/ http://www.vgchartz.com/analysis/platform_totals/ I'm not sure what you mean by the hardware is mediocre - are you expecting a desktop class GPU in a tablet form factor? What is your comparison? The Nvidia SOC is quite powerful, and handles 4k output just fine on the Nvidia Shield. I've had no complaints beyond the kickstand and I am loving my Switch so far.
- phaus 10y ago
  It's pretty obvious why he's saying the hardware is mediocre. It can't run a 1ST party launch title consistently @ 30FPS, the console industry standard of minimum acceptable performance for probably at least a decade. I've heard lots of people say the drops in frame rate don't bother them. That's great, but lots of people are bothered by it. In my experience, 30FPS seems barely acceptable and when games randomly fall below that performance feels very choppy. It's not enough to make me not want a switch. I'm planning on getting one as soon as I can find one, but I'm frustrated by the fact that there's no way to play BOTW smoothly on any system, and when it does play smoothly it will likely be in an emulator on a PC. It's not just about how Zelda plays, it makes me concerned for the long term viability of the Switch.
cholantesh 10y ago
>the battery life is abysmal compared to an iPad Okay...in a vacuum, the battery life complaints sounded ridiculous. But this...this is straight up bonkers to me. Are there any widely played Ipad titles that are an apples-to-apples comparison to BOTW?
baby 10y ago
> the screen scratches if you put it in the dock too forcefully as this actually happen to anyone? > it's mediocre hardware > the battery life is abysmal compared to an iPad I cant comprehend your comment, it's the best handheld console on the market. For TV console, it's an experience focused on the game. If I wanted something for the graphics I would have bought a desktop computer not a console in the first place. > the game selection is arguably worse for a launch console no > Then sales will fall off a cliff, just like they did with the original Wii wat

azhenley 10y ago

As a gamer, why should I explicitly care about the hardware? If the experience is good, I don't care what is inside it. The graphics appear to be "good enough".

aaron-lebo 10y ago
Do you care about framerate? Not the same games but Uncharted 4 multiplayer is 1080p 60fps and silky smooth. That's not even talking about PC games - it's dirt cheap to run CSGO at 90 fps and 1440p these days. Bad performance detracts from the experience and it also limits what Nintendo can do with the console over the next three or four years.
- paulcole 10y ago
  Bad games detract from the experience. I (and many other people) want to play Mario, Zelda, Mario Kart, etc., not silky smooth PC games.
- cholantesh 10y ago
  I agree that performance is a pretty integral part of the experience. But I think the way it's being brought up in this thread is a bit disingenuous. Most people that are doing so seem to be glossing over the fact that the stutter is 1) rare 2) mostly resolved by the day 1 patch that Nintendo released
  - aaron-lebo 10y ago
    I own the game. Framerate drops are still very common
    - cholantesh 10y ago
      In prerelease reviews, there was talk of very occasional drops to below 30fps, sometimes even 20fps. It's my understanding that, post-launch that a lot of people (reviewers and people on Reddit, etc) are reporting that this happens a lot less. Rose-tinted glasses?
- maxsilver 10y ago
  > Not the same games but Uncharted 4 multiplayer is 1080p 60fps and silky smooth. Uncharted 4 is only 900p 60fps in multiplayer, and 1080p 30fps in single player (on a regular PS4) But regardless, if your going to switch up the games, Fast RMX runs at 1080p 60fps on the Switch, even in multiplayer mode. Yeah, the Switch does not hit the performance of a PS4. But the Switch has just 1/3rd the power draw of a Slim PS4. (Roughly 30 watts average for the Switch, compared to roughly 80 watts average for the Slim PS4). It's not bad hardware at all, when you consider the power budget it's required to operate under, in order to be portable.
overcast 10y ago
That's the thing. The experience is either 720p or 900p, at barely 30fps. Dropping to 20 and below many instances, WHILE DOCKED. The graphics are fine, the performance is unacceptable for a brand new console.
- aanm1988 10y ago
  On Zelda. A launch title ported from another system. It's also overblown as an issue. No one gives a shit anyway. If people cared they wouldn't ever bother with consoles.
  - overcast 10y ago
    People do care, it's just that when it comes to Nintendo, it's apparently expected. Other native Zelda games on the previous consoles, ran poorly as well. Nintendo needs to be a triple A third party developer for other consoles, and give it up with their gimmicky hardware.
    - aanm1988 10y ago
      Clearly they don't need to do that if the switch is exceeding their expectations. I'd rather have their stuff than crappy pseudo-PCs.
      - overcast 10y ago
        So you're happier with an even crappier pseudo-pc. Got it.
        Nugem_ 10y ago
        LOL
        aanm1988 10y ago
        No, I'm happier with a console that just does it's own thing. Nintendo doesn't build shitty watered down PCs. They just build a thing to play some games on.

defective 10y ago

Just like the Wii, the 5th best-selling console of all time? The console that outsold all other consoles of its generation, except the Nintendo DS?

M_Grey 10y ago
The Wii was unique, and will not happen again. It was the right place, the right product, and the right time to capitalize on the exploding definition of "Games" and "Gamer". That's over. People have either moved on to their phones/tablets, or they're the type who are still playing with their Wii. The assumption that those many new gamers would behave like a "core" market was laughably wrong. As for the portable, Nintendo is the best in the game, benefited from being up against Sony (the worst in the mobile game... they practically assassinated their own platform), and they have the benefit of a built-in market at home. The Switch isn't a DS... it's not a pocket gaming platform. It isn't as useful as an iPad. It's as powerful as a console. What is it exactly, other than some kind of massive compromise rendered on substandard hardware? Edit: left out the "isn't".
- baby 10y ago
  IMO the Wii was unique, but a gimmick. The Switch is the real deal, the sales will probably reflect that in December for Christmas.
  - M_Grey 10y ago
    I hope you're right; this is a situation in which I'd be more than happy to be look back in a year and eat my words. I grew up with Nintendo, and was a loyal customer through the Gamecube. I still love their mobile offerings. I would like an excuse to come back to a console, but so far this isn't it, for me.

mikeash 10y ago

Is the battery life really worse than an iPad? iOS devices will last a long time if it's mostly idle, but when playing high-end games they generally only last an hour or two.

jknoepfler 10y ago

Did you even bother to look at Wii sales numbers? They did nothing like that. [1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wii_sales https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wii_sales

givinguflac 10y ago

Sales fell off a cliff?? Are you aware the Wii is the 5th highest selling game system of all time? http://www.vgchartz.com/analysis/platform_totals/ http://www.vgchartz.com/analysis/platform_totals/ I'm not sure what you mean by the hardware is mediocre - are you expecting a desktop class GPU in a tablet form factor? What is your comparison? The Nvidia SOC is quite powerful, and handles 4k output just fine on the Nvidia Shield. I've had no complaints beyond the kickstand and I am loving my Switch so far.

phaus 10y ago
It's pretty obvious why he's saying the hardware is mediocre. It can't run a 1ST party launch title consistently @ 30FPS, the console industry standard of minimum acceptable performance for probably at least a decade. I've heard lots of people say the drops in frame rate don't bother them. That's great, but lots of people are bothered by it. In my experience, 30FPS seems barely acceptable and when games randomly fall below that performance feels very choppy. It's not enough to make me not want a switch. I'm planning on getting one as soon as I can find one, but I'm frustrated by the fact that there's no way to play BOTW smoothly on any system, and when it does play smoothly it will likely be in an emulator on a PC. It's not just about how Zelda plays, it makes me concerned for the long term viability of the Switch.

cholantesh 10y ago

>the battery life is abysmal compared to an iPad Okay...in a vacuum, the battery life complaints sounded ridiculous. But this...this is straight up bonkers to me. Are there any widely played Ipad titles that are an apples-to-apples comparison to BOTW?

baby 10y ago

> the screen scratches if you put it in the dock too forcefully as this actually happen to anyone? > it's mediocre hardware > the battery life is abysmal compared to an iPad I cant comprehend your comment, it's the best handheld console on the market. For TV console, it's an experience focused on the game. If I wanted something for the graphics I would have bought a desktop computer not a console in the first place. > the game selection is arguably worse for a launch console no > Then sales will fall off a cliff, just like they did with the original Wii wat