Nintendo Switch Thread (March 3 2017 worldwide, US$299)

[Dr. Zoidberg]

[Dr. Zoidberg]

Sources Suggest That Pokémon and Mario Will Arrive on Nintendo NX in First Six Months

"Nintendo seems set on trying to upgrade smartphone gamers"

Following the recent and widely verified reports on the Nintendo NX and its form factor, there's been a growing sense that we now have some firm ideas on Nintendo's approach with its next generation of hardware. Now trade publication MCV has been leveraging its sources and has shared some insights of its own - naturally they're to be treated as rumours at this point.

First of all, MCV cites sources confirming that the aforementioned Eurogamer revelations were "100 percent correct"; that seems to go a bit far, but certainly the odds are high on the bulk of those details being accurate or largely reflective of the NX.

In terms of its own details, MCV reckons that there'll be major Pokémon and Mario titles joining The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild on the NX in the first six months of its launch, typically treated as the launch window. The point is made that Game Freak is working on the Pokémon title, so it may not be a spin-off - whether it could be a port of expanded iteration of Pokémon Sun and Moon would be interesting to see. MCV also claims that Sega, Square Enix, Ubisoft, Activision and Warner Bros are all on board in some manner with titles to support the system.

The report pegs the system's power at 'somewhere between a PS3 and PS4', and the publication also quotes an unnamed executive that's been hands on with the system as saying the following:

It's a nice bit of kit, a bit of a novelty, but a good one. It won't appeal to PS4 fans. Nintendo seems set on trying to upgrade smartphone gamers. That's going to be a big job for the marketing department.

What do you think of these comments - do you believe this report could be on the money, and if it is are you happy with the potential game support and power of the system? Speculate away below.

Source: Nintendo Life

[Dr. Zoidberg]

Nintendo Of America President Says Company Is Aware Of Past Mistakes And Won’t Repeat With NX

A List Daily caught up with Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime to ask him a number of questions regarding the future of Nintendo. It wasn’t long until the subject turned to the upcoming Nintendo NX platform and which lessons Nintendo has learnt with the well documented struggles of the Wii U. Here’s what he had to say.

“One of the things that we have to do better when we launch the NX—we have to do a better job communicating the positioning for the product. We have to do a better job helping people to understand its uniqueness and what that means for the game playing experience. And we have to do a better job from a software planning standpoint to have that continuous beat of great new games that are motivating more and more people to pick up the hardware and more and more people to pick up the software. Those are the critical lessons. And as I verbalize them, they’re really traditional lessons within the industry. You have to make sure people understand the concept, you have to make sure you’ve got a great library of games, and when you do that, you tend to do well.”

Source: MyNintendoNews

You know what would be a good idea, Reggie? Actually telling everybody what the thing is before it's released.

[Matisfaction]

we have to do a better job communicating the positioning for the product.

I'd say that people actually being aware of your product would be a big step forward. In contrast Sony spent $1 Billion advertising the PS4, even though software sales aren't setting anyone's pants on fire, they sure have shifted a lot of systems.

[Dr. Zoidberg]

Emily Rogers @ArcadeGirl64 1h1 hour ago
"These are all rumors for now. Not facts. Just things that I've been hearing down the grapevine. Could be right, could be wrong. *shrugs*"

Emily Rogers ‏@ArcadeGirl64 5 min
1) This article about NX's detachable controllers supporting force feedback and motion controls has truth.

Emily Rogers ‏@ArcadeGirl64 3 min
2) NX prototype had a 6.2 inch 720p multi-touch touchscreen. Unknown if final product's screen size will be larger / smaller than prototype.

Emily Rogers ‏@ArcadeGirl64 3 min
3) Prototype for dock station has USB ports. I heard 2 usb ports, but I don't know if this number will change in the final product.

[Matisfaction]

So it's pretty much what most people thought it was going to be all along, but no one can confirm it.

[Hawq]

Report – Nintendo NX has 6.2-Inch 720p Multi-Touch Screen

Since Nintendo is yet to officially unveil its new console, the NX, the resulting vacuum means that we have to rely on insider reports for information. Recent reports point toward the NX being a portable/home console hybrid, but little more is known about the mysterious hardware. Well-known Nintendo blogger Emily Rogers, though, has shared some details she has heard about the NX, reporting that it will feature a 6.2-inch 720p multi-touch touchscreen, detachable controllers with force feedback, and two USB ports.

“This article about NX’s detachable controllers supporting force feedback and motion controls has truth,” Rogers tweeted. “NX prototype had a 6.2 inch 720p multi-touch touchscreen. Unknown if final product’s screen size will be larger / smaller than prototype.”

“Prototype for dock station has USB ports. I heard 2 usb ports, but I don’t know if this number will change in the final product,” she added. “MCV’s report about GameFreak being involved with NX has some truth to it.”

Since Rogers’ Twitter account is locked, we only have an image of her tweets (via Gamepur):


In her final tweet, Rogers refers to rumours that the NX’s launch titles will feature a Mario and a Pokémon game, the latter being developed by Game Freak, as reported by MCV. In the article, MCV confirmed that reveals from a EuroGamer insider – that the NX is a portable console with detachable controllers that can be docked with a TV at home – was “100 per cent accurate.”

While Rogers regularly reports Nintendo rumours, the accuracy of her information is spotty, at best, so take these tweets with a heap of salt.
source

[Hawq]

Rumours suggest that Nintendo NX is region free

It's being claimed that Nintendo NX will be region free, allowing it to play games from any region.

Let’s Play Video Games cites sources with knowledge of the console who say that early development kits can run software from any region and it's claimed that the final console will also follow the same path.

Wii U, Wii, GameCube and others can only play games from the region in which the console was purchased, meaning that titles released in Japan or the U.S were missed in Europe and vice versa. If the NX system can run titles from any region then any games not released in the region in which the console was purchased could easily be imported.

The NX is rumored to be a portable system with dockable hardware slightly thicker than a Nintendo 3DS XL when the rumoured controllers are attached.

That's about all we know for now, although Nintendo is expected to finally talk about the system next month during the Tokyo Game Show. Who knows, we may even get a price and a firm release date too.
source

[Dr. Zoidberg]

Rumor: What should we expect from the final NX product?

Disclaimer: Everything in this blog post is rumor until proven otherwise. Please take everything with a grain of salt.

About seven months ago, I was told by numerous sources that the NX would be a very controversial system. Nintendo wasn’t interested in releasing a product that directly competed with today’s consoles on the market. Instead, they wanted NX to be welcomed as an additional console in hardcore gamer’s homes. It was even Satoru Iwata himself who admitted way back in October 2013 that Nintendo wasn’t very good at competing.

I have been researching and investigating the NX since January.

On May 13th, I shot down any rumors claiming that NX had x86 architecture or Polaris GPUs. I said the system was struggling to even reach Xbox One levels of power.

On May 15th, I asked NateDrake to send a message to NeoGaf that Nvidia was involved with Nintendo’s future hardware.

I don’t expect many things to dramatically change between the prototype and the final product. Furthermore, I believe NX will hit its March launch without any delays because it is ahead of schedule.

Disclaimer: Everything in this blog post is rumor until proven otherwise. Please take everything with a grain of salt.

Here is what you can expect from the final retail product:

- Custom Nvidia GPU chip
- Region Free (No region lock) <– Confirmed this.
- Six inch (6.2 inch?) multi-touch screen (Heard nothing about a stylus)
- The touchscreen has 720p resolution. <— 100% Confirmed.
- 32GB of built-in internal storage
- SD card support
- Supports USB 2.0 and 3.0
- The dock has two 2.0 usb ports and one 3.0 usb port.
- The device is around 14 – 15 mm in thickness.
- The right analogue stick will be below the face buttons.
- Camera and microphone are not built into the NX portable device.
- Cooling is still a little noisy
- Detachable controllers (motion controls and next-gen vibration technology) <– Everything Laura Kate Dale said in her article was correct.
- Share / Social button that Laura Kate Dale posted is true.
- There are at least two shoulder buttons. I haven’t heard anything yet about triggers.
- Battery Life — Ehhh not great. I haven’t heard an exact number of hours, but it doesn’t sound great.
- Below PS4 and XB1 in raw power.
- Supports Unreal Engine 4 and Unity Engine.

Note: I am not saying that NX won’t have a mic or camera. I am saying that the camera and mic aren’t built inside of the NX portable device.

I’ve heard that this is close to the final retail product. Take with a grain of salt because this is just a rumor.

Could Emily Rogers be right? Or is she a pathological liar? I guess we’ll find out soon!

Source: ArcadeGirl64

[melancholy]

I hate seeing all these leaks and rumors for two reasons.

1. Having info leak kills the excitement of the launch announcement.
2. This launch announcement should have been months ago, yet here we are with almost a full description of the device and STILL no word from Nintendo.

The only reason I can even fathom for Nintendo to continue hiding the NX is to trick non-gamers into buying a dead system this Christmas to clear out stock.

[Matisfaction]

Nintendo made a decision to reveal things closer to release after E3 2015 because every time they show early footage of unfinished games etc... people complained that they look like unfinished games. The NX is also supposed to have some "revolutionary" new feature. If Sony get a wiff of it, no doubt they'll rip it off and add it to the PS4 Neo.

PS Move is the most obvious but the Dual Shock is basically the "Noah's Ark" of controllers, x2 Shoulder Buttons, x2 Analogue Sticks, x2 rumble, 6 AXIS (4 on the Wii remote, they didn't double up but it's MOAR!), and the PS4 Touchpad was added at the last minute.

Here's some more rumours.

The Wall Street Journal has reiterated previous rumours that the Nintendo NX will use cartridges as its media format of choice. The news publication has also heard that the announcement could come before the Tokyo Game Show takes place on September 15th.

Nintendo Co. plans to adopt cartridges for its next-generation videogame console, people familiar with the matter said, a step that might prompt a reassessment of the old-school format.

Analysts have said an announcement could come ahead of the Tokyo Game Show, which begins Sept. 15.

.

mynintendonews

[Dr. Zoidberg]

Nintendo made a decision to reveal things closer to release after E3 2015 because every time they show early footage of unfinished games etc... people complained that they look like unfinished games. The NX is also supposed to have some "revolutionary" new feature. If Sony get a wiff of it, no doubt they'll rip it off and add it to the PS4 Neo.

PS Move is the most obvious but the Dual Shock is basically the "Noah's Ark" of controllers, x2 Shoulder Buttons, x2 Analogue Sticks, x2 rumble, 6 AXIS (4 on the Wii remote, they didn't double up but it's MOAR!), and the PS4 Touchpad was added at the last minute.

The wiimote wasn't really some revolutionary new thing though, both Sony & MS were offered the tech in 2001 but turned it down. Sony had motion controls with the Eyetoy before the Wii appeared. And PS Move & Kinect came out years after the Wii anyway, so it's not like Sony or MS would be cranking whatever it is out before the NX is released, especially if it's some handheld related thing.

[Matisfaction]

Maybe the tech wasn't but the way it was implemented was (same as analogue sticks), it sold over 100m systems, if the NX can emulate any of that success, Sony will no doubt want a piece of that pie.

[Dr. Zoidberg]

If the big new gimmick is just the detachable controllers, then the only companies that will try to make their own versions will be the Chinese tablet/handheld makers.

[Matisfaction]

Ubisoft Says Nintendo Has Learned From The Wii U With The Nintendo NX

Ubisoft has been quiet open about Nintendo’s forthcoming NX platform in recent days. IGN caught up with Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot at a company event yesterday to quiz him about the Nintendo NX and see what he thought of the platform. He says the thing to take away is that Nintendo has learnt plenty of lessons from the Wii U and the Nintendo NX is a platform that should appeal to everyone.

“I think, once again, the interface is very attractive. It’s a machine that will be easy to use for all gamers. They have built in something that will give us chance to really have a different experience from what exists today. That’s what I like – that they come with something new that is adapted to what we actually want now.”

“It’s difficult to answer that [before NX is revealed]. What we see is that Nintendo has learned from the Wii U. All publishers learn from what they do, and then come with something new and more attractive, which I think is the case here.”

[url=ttp://uk.ign.com/articles/2016/09/22/nintendo-nx-fantastic-will-offer-different-experience-to-other-consoles-ubisoft-ceo]link[/url]

Have Ubisoft learned anything though? Time will tell.

[Matisfaction]

Nintendo Has Patented A Projector That Displays Flat Images On Uneven Surfaces

Nintendo continues to issue a number of interesting patents and the latest one submitted by the Kyoto based company is no exception. Yes, the most recent one allows a projector to display flat images on a variety of uneven surfaces. Whether this patent will eventually be used remains to be seen, but it is certainly interesting nevertheless.

The present invention implements a projection system which appropriately corrects geometric distortion of a projected image even when an object to be projected has an arbitrary three-dimensional shape and a user’s point of view is not fixed. A projection unit (3) of a projector device 100 projects a first adjustment test image. A three-dimensional shape measurement unit (4) measures a three-dimensional shape of the object to be projected. An image capturing device (200) captures the first adjustment test image projected by the projection unit (3), and acquires a first adjustment captured image. A projected image adjustment unit (1) executes: (1) first adjustment processing for, on the basis of the first adjustment captured image acquired by the image capturing device (200), correcting the image such that geometric image distortion is reduced at an image capturing point at which the first adjustment captured image was captured; and (2) second adjustment processing for, on the basis of a state when the image adjusted by the first adjustment processing was projected by the projection unit (3), correcting the image such that geometric image distortion is reduced.

link

[melancholy]

If the big new gimmick is just the detachable controllers, then the only companies that will try to make their own versions will be the Chinese tablet/handheld makers.

I'm not so sure. Sony is definitely in the tablet market, so if Nintendo comes up with an idea that happens to sell big, Sony could very quickly create a device that could emulate that functionality.

[Matisfaction]

Ubisoft CEO: NX will put Nintendo ‘back in the race’


Above: Just Dance is coming next year to NX.
Image Credit: Just Dance Wikia

Nintendo has clammed up about the Nintendo NX, but thankfully, the world has Yves Guillemot.

Ubisoft held a call with its shareholders today to alleviate concerns about a hostile takeover by Vivendi, but this also provided the chief executive officer with another opportunity to hype what Nintendo is up to with its next-generation gaming hardware. That system is due out in March, but we still know almost nothing about it. But Guillemot explained to its investors today that the NX has a lot of potential to return the House of Mario back to its former glory.

“I believe Nintendo will be back in the race with the NX,” Guillemot said in French during the call (as first noticed by Chloé Woitier on Twitter).

It’s in Ubisoft’s interest to get people excited about the NX. The publisher regularly releases a lot of software in the first year or two of a new system, and that has helped the company establish new franchises like the Rabbids games and Just Dance, both of which caught on during the Nintendo Wii’s early years. If the NX catches on, Ubisoft will have more opportunities to launch new properties.

And Guillemot is doing his part to give people a reason to anticipate the NX. In addition to today’s comment, he talked about the gaming device repeatedly over the last several weeks.

“The new Nintendo [gaming system] is a fantastic machine,” Guillemot said at a separate Ubisoft presentation earlier this month. “It’s really a new approach. It’s really Nintendo — coming with something new again. We love it.”

Ubisoft is one of the best-selling publishers on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles as well as PC stores like Steam, but a strong Nintendo could keep even more people playing games and spending money. And that’s something that Ubisoft, and every other major gaming publisher, could capitalize on.


Sauce

[Matisfaction]

Ubisoft will have to do better than this for the NX though:

[pixel]

Yeah, I'll need a sequel to Price is Right and the CSI series. Preferably, the NX will turn my living room into a crime scene with its projector and I'll have to search the evidence for semen.