Quote from the article: "This console, made for shooters and runners and jumpers, could become something much greater than Nintendo ever imagined, because anyone who wants to can build the software and hardware to improve it."
Is this true? Is it no longer necessary to be an approved Nintendo developer to write software for it?
I recall back in the day it was difficult for an indy to get a Nintendo dev licence. What's changed here?
EDIT: For those who care - this is what I just found...
The worst thing from a hardware perspective on the switch is their proprietary dock. They could have used open standards for docked mode, then people could use existing things (like my Apple HDMI dongle, or any of the other third party USB-C power/HDMI ones) as a portable docking solution.
Personally I'm not going to buy a second dock, because it is unnecessarily bulky for traveling, when some thing dongle sized could do the exact same job. Taking my switch and plugging it into a friends TV shouldn't be as much of a hassle as it is, being that it is a portable console. Yes, it is smaller than other consoles even with the dock, but it still requires its own bag to carry it all.
The Switch has a huge amount of potential, but it lacks the games still. None of the big releases so far use the platform to its fullest: they're really good video games, not necessarily good _Switch_ games. BOTW, Splatoon 2, Mario Kart 8, and Mario Odyssey all seem like they are just Wii U games with better internal quality, only sparsely interfacing with new Switch features.
Nintendo also shed beloved handheld features like Streetpass, didn't include obvious features like Bluetooth audio, and are really messing up their online services ... the internet Splatoon fanbase seems to roundly regard the Switch online experience a failure for the context of 2017
i have a really weird and contrarian opinion, which is that Splatoon online is good because it's bad. I swear I actually believe this, though, not just trolling.
voice chat is difficult and terrible, so nobody really uses it! that's a major plus in my book. most people will never run into more vile people than when gaming online.
the multiplayer is unbalanced, issues with lag and disconnection often mean that the outcomes of matches just aren't fair. this is good, because it sort of limits how seriously you can take the game. just relax and have fun instead of a hypercompetitive 3-hours-a-day online sport.
the inconvenience of parties/team up is good, it means it's hard for people to get an us-vs-them mentality or want to just dominate weaker players.
i'd be really shocked if this is all intentional on Nintendo's part; it's probably just hubris and not-invented-here syndrome.
but in practice it feels almost like all the online inadequacies are a kind of traffic calming -- like putting trees and islands in the middle of a busy road to get people to slow down. it makes things more welcoming for people like me who normally loathe online games.
What unique Switch features need to be exploited, exactly? In a sense, the Switch really is a portable Wii U. The most amazing feature, IMO, is how they've managed to make a portable system with local multiplayer (without requiring multiple systems), which plenty of games support.
Mario Kart 8, Splatoon 2, and ARMS make good use of the controller gyroscope, HD rumble, ad-hoc multiplayer, multitude of control options, and portable mode. What other console features should they be using?
I have a Switch and enjoy it a lot - but "future of gadget design" seems like an overstatement.
The docked mode works great (though the performance at 1080p is a bit sluggish in some games), the split-multiplayer mode in games like Mario Kart is friggin genius. I love that the Switch has brought back local multiplayer.
But its actual portability is kind of marginal. Unlike the DS/3DS, it doesn't fold up in a way that facilitates putting it in a bag. The scratchability of the screen means you really don't want to carry it bare in a bag bouncing around with your keys, and the protruding thumbsticks on the controllers make it something of a pain to fit into your default backpack/bag compartments.
It really demands a dedicated carrying case, which is something I thought we got past in the 90s in the Game Boy era.
Overall still really enjoying the Switch, but I carry it around a lot less than I used to carry around a Nintendo DS.
> I love that the Switch has brought back local multiplayer
Sort of. I was really disappointed to find that Splatoon 2, one of the biggest games for the Switch, does not feature splitscreen multiplayer. The original Splatoon, on the Wii U, had awesome local multiplayer: one player used the TV, the other used the screen on the Wii U GamePad. Each user got a full screen. How splitscreen wasn't possible with better hardware is a little confusing, to be honest.
> The scratchability of the screen means you really don't want to carry it bare in a bag bouncing around with your keys, and the protruding thumbsticks on the controllers make it something of a pain to fit into your default backpack/bag compartments.
this was annoying. My solutions were: 1) you can get a pair (1 spare) tempered glass screen protectors for $12 or so, 2) a slim hard shell zipper case for another $10 or $15.
Local, one device Mario Kart is great. It's kind of unfortunate a friend can't bring their Switch over to have an 8 player session. With two Switches, locally, you're limited to 2 players per device.
I'm not sure if you've actually used it for any duration, but it actually ain't too much of a gimmick. It's docked at home most of the time, but I took it on the plane to iceland for example and was playing zelda the same as I do at home. When my buddy wanted to play mario kart I was able to take the joycons off the side and use each piece as a tiny controller. It definitely looks gimmicky, but damned if it's not convenient when you do need it.
In what way is it a gimmick? A portable that I can also play on a TV... it's been wildly successful (challenged by a weak opening lineup to boot) and many people use it in both modes consistently. It's functional and incredibly useful. By definition, not a gimmick. Hell, I've never liked handhelds, but I enjoy being able to take my switch on business trips.
And no one cares about consoles being walled gardens except for people like you on forums like these. Really, 99.999% of people playing these games couldn't care less. In fact, people like these walled gardens better than any other medium because they're simple and they work. The moment my wife has to open a terminal to figure out why her open source variant of a graphics driver is acting wonky is the moment she gives up and goes back to the console.
You say this like it's a bad thing? I love the walled gardens that commenters here seem to hate: iOS, iTunes, Kindle, etc.
I know what's going to work, where to buy what I want, don't have to worry about incompatibilities, and know who to go to if I need support. And the prices are reasonable!
It's not a gimmick. I played it on my parents TV a bunch, moved out, and then played in the plane, played in Airbnbs, played at the laundromat, and now I bought a TV at my new place to be able to play on TV again.
Now I often undock it to play in the bed. I haven't really been into handheld gaming but this thing just makes sense.
That being said it really lacks games at the moment. Controllers are fucking expensive as well.
Walled gardens are the future of gadget design. 98% of the mass market just wants to consume, without getting exposed to crud and malware. For them a walled garden is ideal; openness invariably leads to Bonzi Buddy and Comet Cursor.
Taking it to family and friend gatherings and playing the quickdraw game has now become a norm. I love that it facilitates silly interactive sports where my mother in law is giggling as she outdraws my nephew.
[+] [-] AnotherHustler|8 years ago|reply
Is this true? Is it no longer necessary to be an approved Nintendo developer to write software for it?
I recall back in the day it was difficult for an indy to get a Nintendo dev licence. What's changed here?
EDIT: For those who care - this is what I just found...
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/292788/Becoming_a_Nintend...
According to above article, it will be tough getting onto the platform as an indy. Pity, I was excited for a moment...
[+] [-] jclardy|8 years ago|reply
Personally I'm not going to buy a second dock, because it is unnecessarily bulky for traveling, when some thing dongle sized could do the exact same job. Taking my switch and plugging it into a friends TV shouldn't be as much of a hassle as it is, being that it is a portable console. Yes, it is smaller than other consoles even with the dock, but it still requires its own bag to carry it all.
[+] [-] kllrnohj|8 years ago|reply
But there are alternative docks available - Nyko makes a much smaller, more portable dock, for example.
Charging, input, and network adapters are all common, standard USB-C & Bluetooth, so that's progress at least.
[+] [-] saghm|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] balls187|8 years ago|reply
Unsure if this is a hardware or software problem, but I would say the lack of bluetooth audio support is way worse than the dock problem.
Also upthere-that you can't use the kick-stand AND plug in the USB-C charging cable.
[+] [-] nsaslideface|8 years ago|reply
Nintendo also shed beloved handheld features like Streetpass, didn't include obvious features like Bluetooth audio, and are really messing up their online services ... the internet Splatoon fanbase seems to roundly regard the Switch online experience a failure for the context of 2017
[+] [-] currymj|8 years ago|reply
voice chat is difficult and terrible, so nobody really uses it! that's a major plus in my book. most people will never run into more vile people than when gaming online.
the multiplayer is unbalanced, issues with lag and disconnection often mean that the outcomes of matches just aren't fair. this is good, because it sort of limits how seriously you can take the game. just relax and have fun instead of a hypercompetitive 3-hours-a-day online sport.
the inconvenience of parties/team up is good, it means it's hard for people to get an us-vs-them mentality or want to just dominate weaker players.
i'd be really shocked if this is all intentional on Nintendo's part; it's probably just hubris and not-invented-here syndrome.
but in practice it feels almost like all the online inadequacies are a kind of traffic calming -- like putting trees and islands in the middle of a busy road to get people to slow down. it makes things more welcoming for people like me who normally loathe online games.
[+] [-] saturdaysaint|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jamesgeck0|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] b_ttercup|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] ferentchak|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] unknown|8 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] potatolicious|8 years ago|reply
The docked mode works great (though the performance at 1080p is a bit sluggish in some games), the split-multiplayer mode in games like Mario Kart is friggin genius. I love that the Switch has brought back local multiplayer.
But its actual portability is kind of marginal. Unlike the DS/3DS, it doesn't fold up in a way that facilitates putting it in a bag. The scratchability of the screen means you really don't want to carry it bare in a bag bouncing around with your keys, and the protruding thumbsticks on the controllers make it something of a pain to fit into your default backpack/bag compartments.
It really demands a dedicated carrying case, which is something I thought we got past in the 90s in the Game Boy era.
Overall still really enjoying the Switch, but I carry it around a lot less than I used to carry around a Nintendo DS.
[+] [-] strictnein|8 years ago|reply
Sort of. I was really disappointed to find that Splatoon 2, one of the biggest games for the Switch, does not feature splitscreen multiplayer. The original Splatoon, on the Wii U, had awesome local multiplayer: one player used the TV, the other used the screen on the Wii U GamePad. Each user got a full screen. How splitscreen wasn't possible with better hardware is a little confusing, to be honest.
[+] [-] jdc0589|8 years ago|reply
this was annoying. My solutions were: 1) you can get a pair (1 spare) tempered glass screen protectors for $12 or so, 2) a slim hard shell zipper case for another $10 or $15.
[+] [-] grimgrin|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] dawnerd|8 years ago|reply
Uhhhhhhh, what happened to all of nintendos past handhelds, sonys psp, the countless older handhelds that never gained traction?
[+] [-] tr4656|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] unknown|8 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] skybrian|8 years ago|reply
Yes, this is typical over-the-top Wired writing, but it's still a clever design that's likely to influence other hardware design.
[+] [-] ekianjo|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] QAPereo|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] xeromal|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] EpicEng|8 years ago|reply
And no one cares about consoles being walled gardens except for people like you on forums like these. Really, 99.999% of people playing these games couldn't care less. In fact, people like these walled gardens better than any other medium because they're simple and they work. The moment my wife has to open a terminal to figure out why her open source variant of a graphics driver is acting wonky is the moment she gives up and goes back to the console.
[+] [-] oneeyedpigeon|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] paulcole|8 years ago|reply
You say this like it's a bad thing? I love the walled gardens that commenters here seem to hate: iOS, iTunes, Kindle, etc.
I know what's going to work, where to buy what I want, don't have to worry about incompatibilities, and know who to go to if I need support. And the prices are reasonable!
[+] [-] baby|8 years ago|reply
Now I often undock it to play in the bed. I haven't really been into handheld gaming but this thing just makes sense.
That being said it really lacks games at the moment. Controllers are fucking expensive as well.
[+] [-] balls187|8 years ago|reply
Then I decided to buy the switch for BOTW, and it's no gimmick at all. Sitting on the couch in whatever slouch position and playing is amazing.
And occasionally when I am away from the couch and want to game, the hand-held mode works great.
[+] [-] kin|8 years ago|reply
What's the gimmick you're referring to? The motion controls? The handheld mode? The dock mode? The kickstand?
[+] [-] bitwize|8 years ago|reply
[+] [-] merpnderp|8 years ago|reply