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

[Matisfaction]

I just had a notification from amazon, Nintendo Switch is sold out, this is going to be like the Wii + Amiibo situation.

[Dr. Zoidberg]

[Dr. Zoidberg]

Nintendo Switch to sell for £200 for a basic model and £250 for premium

Plus prices for Switch Pro Controllers.

According to LetsPlayVideoGames, UK retailer GAME’s prices for Nintendo Switch basic and premium models have been confirmed by two reputable sources.

The basic model will be priced at £199.99, while a premium model with greater internal storage and a game will set you back £249.99. The title included with the latter isn’t confirmed at this time.

Their sources also shared the price of the Switch Pro Controllers, which will retail at £39.99.

While these are prices for one specific UK retailer, apparently “Nintendo is planning for the Switch to be close to direct conversion price comparable across regions, which we have been told is tied into their push for the system to be region free.”

So for U.S. prices we’d be looking at around $250 and $300 for the two options.

I’d say those prices are pretty reasonable. And if The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild isn’t the packed in title, I’ll be more than a little surprised.

Are you willing to fork out for one of the console options?

Source: VG24/7

[melancholy]

Considering I was planning for a $300-350 price, I am pleasantly surprised.

[Dr. Zoidberg]

[Dr. Zoidberg]

Rumor: Super Mario Galaxy 3, Super Mario Sunshine HD headed to Nintendo Switch

Charles 'Super Mario' Martinet had both titles listed on his IMDB profile before they were removed.

Charles Martinet, a voice actor who has imbued Mario with his characterized Italian persona since Super Mario 64, was credited in IMDB listings for both Super Mario Galaxy 3 and Super Mario Sunshine HD earlier today.

Segment Next spotted the listings before they were removed.



According to Martinet's IMDB page, Super Mario Galaxy 3 was in post-production as of this year. Super Mario Sunshine HD, a gussied-up port of the 2002 GameCube title, was listed for a 2017 release.

An HD port would be just the right sort of filler content to pad the Switch's launch window while Nintendo's internal dev teams concentrate resources on a brand-new Mario adventure—Super Mario Galaxy 3, for instance.

Nintendo's announce trailer for the Switch showed footage of Mario running through an expansive town square-type area. The footage did not come from any Mario game currently available, leading to speculation that it's a new title.

Miyamoto did confirm shortly after E3 that Nintendo was working on Mario and Pokémon games for the Switch—then referred to by its codename, NX—that would be ready within six months of the console's launch in March 2017.

Another mysterious listing on Martinet's IMDB page, Untitled Mario Golf Game for Wii U, was also on deck for 2017. That might still be the case, but given that Nintendo confirmed that the commercially unsuccessful Wii U will cease production soon, it seems just as likely that the golf game could make the jump to Switch.

Mum's the word on more Switch details until January 13, at which time Nintendo will divulge details like a firm price point and an early look at launch titles. Earlier today, Toys R Us accidentally published an online listing for the Switch, priced at $250. The listing has been deleted.

Source: Shack News

[Matisfaction]

I'd rather have Galaxy HD than Crappy Sunshine, though I guess if Nintendo fixed a few things like they did with Windwaker HD...

[melancholy]

Sunshine HD on Switch is so weird. Sunshine is a rare game that actually would benefit greatly from motion controls, yet it bypassed the two systems that have motion controls. Sunshine with Splatoon controls would be perfect. Sunshine on the non-touch, non-motion Switch will not.

[Matisfaction]

Rumour has it that switch has gyro/motion built into the controllers which is good because I really want to see Skyward Sword HD at some point.

[Matisfaction]

Laura Dale: Ubisoft Developing Rabbids & Mario Crossover RPG For Nintendo Switch Launch

The title will focus on the Mario universe being invaded by Ubisoft’s Rabbids characters, some friend and some foe, and will feature a new Bowser form based around the design of the Rabbids as a recurring boss enemy. While there will be numerous cameo appearances from the Mario series’ best known characters, the core party will feature numerous, more minor characters. There is a particular focus on Yoshi as a primary party member, alongside a playable Rabbid.

The title will have a playable demo ready for press to experience in January, and will feature a quicksave system to ensure that saving is possible on short notice if the battery on the Switch handheld is running low. Part of the planned press demo includes the JoyCons vibrating to imply a Rabbid jumping into and out of them from the TV or handheld screen. The idea is to imply your system is infested with Rabbids, and that they could at any time jump out of your controller and interfere with gameplay.

Sauce

[melancholy]

That sounds terrible. I hate the Rabbid characters.

[pixel]

[...] the core party will feature numerous, more minor characters. There is a particular focus on Yoshi as a primary party member [...]

Oh yeah, because Yoshi is a minor character.



WHAT ABOUT WALUIGI?

[Matisfaction]

And people complained about Colour Splash..

[Dr. Zoidberg]

[Dr. Zoidberg]

Sources: Nintendo Switch will have GameCube Virtual Console support

Sunshine! Luigi! Smash Bros. Melee!

Nintendo Switch will be able to play GameCube games via its Virtual Console service, three separate sources have confirmed to Eurogamer.

GameCube support is already tested and working, we understand, and three Nintendo games have already been prepped for Switch.

Those games are Super Mario Sunshine, Luigi's Mansion and Super Smash Bros. Melee.

Wii, Wii U and 3DS have all offered a Virtual Console service for downloading games released on earlier Nintendo hardware. Switch will be no different.

And while the number of platforms to be offered on Switch's Virtual Console has yet to be nailed down, we've heard that there should be an upgrade programme similar to that available on Wii U, where earlier purchases of Virtual Console NES games can be 'upgraded' for a small fee rather than being bought again at full price.

We've also heard that Nintendo Switch's Virtual Console is being engineered by (Nintendo European Research and Development) NERD, the studio behind the recent NES Mini micro-console which sold out in many stores ahead of Christmas.

Up next on its slate? A version of the GameCube Animal Crossing is currently being tested for potential release.

Animal Crossing is a particularly interesting title as it included more than a dozen NES classics - such as Donkey Kong, Mario and Zelda - to obtain and play within the game.

Impressively, we've heard that support for these games is currently in Animal Crossing's Virtual Console build and working. So, if all goes to plan, you would be able to be play an emulated NES game within an emulated GameCube game on your Switch on the bus.

Nintendo is also looking at Switch support for the Wii U's GameCube controller adaptor peripheral, although we understand that a final decision has not yet been made.

Fans have been asking for GameCube titles to be made available on Virtual Console for years - so, why now?

Switch's increased power from Wii U is certainly a factor. Digital Foundry actually ran tests to see how the GameCube's Dolphin emulator runs on Nvidia Tegra X1 mobile technology - the chipset which powers Switch.

The results were promising and suggested Switch should be able to run each game at least as well as its original state. How much better, of course, will depend on Switch's final hardware.



Another big push behind GameCube Virtual Console, we hear, is the desire within Nintendo to continue making Super Smash Bros. Melee easily playable. 15 years on from its initial release, Melee is still a hugely popular game in the esports scene, and a regular major draw at huge competitions such as Evo.

Melee's easy availability via Switch Virtual Console will help matters, rather than relying on aging hardware or third-party emulation.

Nintendo declined to comment when contacted for this article.

Switch is set to launch in March 2017, and be revealed in further detail at an event in early January.

Eurogamer recently reported that the Switch would have a 6.2" 720p multi-touch screen and next year host its own version of Pokémon Sun and Moon, code-named Pokémon Stars.

Source: Eurogamer

[Dr. Zoidberg]

[Dr. Zoidberg]

Report: Dark Souls 3 Running on Switch, From Software Considering Trilogy ReRelease

Hey Switch news hounds, it’s time for MORE NEWS!!!

Many have been wondering since the reveal of third party Nintendo Switch development partners what From Software have in the works for the system. Well, we’ve got sources telling us a little of that info.

According to one of our sources, From Software has Dark Souls 3 running on the Nintendo Switch with a level of performance they are happy with. They have not committed to releasing it yet, but discussions internally at the company have discussed the financial viability of re releasing the main three Dark Souls titles on the Switch with their DLC bundled in.

Development on a Switch port has been underway for several months via a small team, with From Software waiting to see initial sales data before committing to producing ports. The plan would be for a Switch rerelease of Dark Souls 3 if greenlit to release the same day as PS4, Xbox One and PC receive versions with all DLC included.

So, how would you feel about handheld Dark Souls?

Source: Let's Play Video Games

[Dr. Zoidberg]

Miyamoto is Dedicating His Time to Theme Park; Leaving Nintendo Switch to Others

Miyamoto seems to be living up to his title of “Creative Fellow” in Nintendo — besides leading the charge in developing Super Mario Run (releasing on iOS later this week), the legendary Nintendo developer has been stepping up to consult on Universal’s upcoming theme park. In an interview with Rolling Stones’ Glixel, Miyamoto informed readers that because of his dedication to these two projects, he has let others in the company take the responsibility on creating Nintendo’s anticipated home console, the Nintendo Switch.

When asked about his previous statements regarding retirement, Miyamoto clarified that he meant he would be passing down the mantle many of his responsibility to younger people in the company. More specifically, he noted:

"We have these younger people in the company who are taking the lead on Switch development and it’s really been them that have put this forward and designed this system. They’re the ones that have really shepherded it through the process."

The Nintendo Switch was revealed earlier this year, and is planning to launch March 2017 with an unknown roster of games. Lately, the first on-screen footage for Nintendo Switch was showcased on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

Source: DualShockers

[Dr. Zoidberg]

Clock-speeds are a crucial piece of information required to get some idea of Switch's capabilities beyond the physical make-up of the Tegra processor. As many have speculated, the new Nintendo hardware does indeed feature two performance configurations - and the console is categorically not as capable in mobile form, compared to its prowess when docked and attached to an HDTV. And we can confirm that there is no second GPU or additional hardware in the dock itself regardless of the intriguing patents that Nintendo has filed suggesting that there might be. With battery life and power throughput no longer an issue, the docked Switch simply allows the GPU to run much faster. And to put it simply, there is a night and day difference here.

Where Switch remains consistent is in CPU power - the cores run at 1020MHz regardless of whether the machine is docked or undocked. This ensures that running game logic won't be compromised while gaming on the go: the game simulation itself will remain entirely consistent. The machine's embedded memory controller runs at 1600MHz while docked (on par with a standard Tegra X1), but the default power mode undocked sees this drop to 1331MHz. However, developers can opt to retain full memory bandwidth in their titles should they choose to do so.

As things stand, CPU clocks are halved compared to the standard Tegra X1, but it's the GPU aspect of the equation that will prove more controversial. Even while docked, Switch doesn't run at Tegra X1's full potential. Clock-speeds are locked here at 768MHz, considerably lower than the 1GHz found in Shield Android TV, but the big surprise from our perspective was the extent to which Nintendo has down-clocked the GPU to hit its thermal and battery life targets. That's not a typo: it really is 307.2MHz - meaning that in portable mode, Switch runs at exactly 40 per cent of the clock-speed of the fully docked device. And yes, the table below does indeed confirm that developers can choose to hobble Switch performance when plugged in to match the handheld profile should they so choose.

Gamecube 1.5

[Matisfaction]

Nintendo Switch Listed as Vulkan and OpenGL Conformant

Nintendo’s upcoming console, the Switch, has been certified as a Vulkan 1.0 conformant product by The Khronos Group. The confirmation comes after the console has been listed on the Khronos website as of the 18th December.

It advises that the product is CTS Version 1.0.1.0. For context, the Khronos Vulkan is described by Khronos as “a new generation graphics and compute API that provides high-efficiency, cross-platform access to modern GPUs.”

In addition to this, it also shows that the Switch is listed under the Khronos adopter program for OpenGL. The OpenGL allows developers of software to create high-performance graphics.

This sounds promising for the upcoming console, along with the recently confirmed Tegra chip powered by Nvidia.

Sauce

Funny how they keep going on about the Tegra X1, That was debunked weeks ago, Even the nVidia blog states that the tech is based on the latest line of GFX cards.

Wether it's using Maxwell or Pascal, we know the switch is using a custom Tegra and GPU so comparisons are pretty useless.

The system is primarily a hand held, it's not going to out do PS4 or Xbox, it will be stronger than the Wii U though which is more than sufficient for a handheld system.