We are about a month and a half away from heading into 2018. For PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, they are still far from being finished. Nintendo, on the other hand, is pinning all its hopes on their Switch system, which debuted at the start of March this year. I do not own one, but so far, it has done well and it has companies scrambling to get content onto the hybrid. What is it that made this do well compared to the atrocity of the Wii U?
Marketing: When looking at best selling systems, their advertising is a reason to consider success. You think Genesis Does for Sega, Live in your World. Play in Ours slogan for Sony when seeing system campaigns. The idea of being portable and playing on TV is a big point for the Switch. Nintendo is actually showcasing the system on a number of channels, something they didn't really do with the Wii U outside of some major titles. People are aware of it. It's just a matter of if they will buy it.
No shoehorned gimmick: Part of the reason why I think the Wii U failed was because of its GamePad. You didn't have much choices other than Wii controllers and Classic type controllers, and the system price might have hurt from having it. With the Switch, the controller is a basic setup. Nothing exactly shoehorned or forced. They simplified it, and trying it at a store, it felt comfortable. My only complaint if people are going to look to buy the system is additional controllers costing 70 plus dollars.
Heavy hitter killer apps: You know what the big titles are going to be on a Nintendo system. Getting a Zelda title out after numerous delays gave the system a glimmer of hope. Having a new Mario game out last month, and certain ports and original titles helped the Switch in its first year. Not to mention that Zelda and Mario are trying newer things to make experiences fresh for veteran gamers.
Now, first party is fine and dandy, but if Nintendo has to do something, it's this. They have to really support it beyond 2017. Odds are they will, but it has to be at the caliber of what they have done. No doubt, there will be a new Smash Bros. game, a new Pokemon, but what else? Not to mention getting the system promoted, which seems to have done way better than the Wii U debacle. After 2013, Nintendo gave up. With Switch, they are getting back onto the scene.
Third party is still a question mark, something Nintendo has struggled with since 1996. The consensus is that it has a lot of indie companies on board. It's no joke. Having titles like Shovel Knight for example show how willing the House of Mario is to get new customers. As far as major companies, they have stuff like Super Bomberman, Ultra Street Fighter II, Sonic Mania as some of their support. In this month of November, it has Doom. L.A. Noire will be out by the time this blog is finished along with Skyrim at the end of the week. Some are testing the waters, and that will be the true test for 2018. Are third party companies going to keep supporting the Switch? I don't see why not, but the system still has a lot of work to do.
So... should you buy a Switch? I'd say yes. It's got titles for a variety of people and it feels like there should be support for a good while. The question would be how you feel about spending 300 plus dollars. Other than that, I'd say get on the hype. Nintendo is back in town for now.
Score: 7.5 out of 10
Showing posts with label wii u. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wii u. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 14, 2017
Wednesday, October 25, 2017
Wii Shop Shutting Down
For the last generation of gaming, it saw the rise of services of games digitally. From originals to classics, all three competitors and the computer market are all going for the slice of that pie. Nintendo had its Wii Shop Channel just as the Wii launched. With an announcement in September, it will be gone after January 2019 as they are intending to shut it down.
So what is going to disappear? Well, everything. Virtual Console is going to take a huge hit and probably anger quite a few. When it first started it had NES, SNES, N64, Sega Genesis, and Turbografx-16. Eventually, they added Sega Master System, Neo Geo, and Commodore 64 with Commodore shutting down back in 2013. The amount of titles are staggering, especially considering how small the Turbo and Neo Geo libraries were when they were around in the 90s. Some of these titles go for quite a bit of money, so this alternative to getting the expensive stuff is not going to sit well with some.
WiiWare will also disappear as well. These were titles that were made from indies or big name companies. It didn't have a huge library, but it was getting a decent stream of titles from 2008 through early 2013. I'm not sure how attached people are with this compared to Virtual Console, but it will not please some. There are a few other features I can't think of at the moment, but overall, it's all going to be gone.
What does mean at all? It means that you're never going to see some of these games ever again for WiiWare. I doubt people will go out and go after systems like the Turbografx and Master System to get titles. Whether the WiiWare stuff gets emulated, I don't know. It will be a while for its generation to get emulation going, but it needs a lot of time and patience. PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 are going to go through this as well, but they will last longer due to people still playing on these systems. Maybe they will shut down in the 2020s. Online is still being used on stuff like the Call of Duty's, GTA V and a couple other titles that still have servers going.
It's a surprise but not one at the same time. Nintendo gave it a good life. Points will not be allowed after late March of 2018, followed by the January 2019 shutdown. With all the other stuff they shut down, it was to be expected. An era will truly end in more than a year.
So what is going to disappear? Well, everything. Virtual Console is going to take a huge hit and probably anger quite a few. When it first started it had NES, SNES, N64, Sega Genesis, and Turbografx-16. Eventually, they added Sega Master System, Neo Geo, and Commodore 64 with Commodore shutting down back in 2013. The amount of titles are staggering, especially considering how small the Turbo and Neo Geo libraries were when they were around in the 90s. Some of these titles go for quite a bit of money, so this alternative to getting the expensive stuff is not going to sit well with some.
WiiWare will also disappear as well. These were titles that were made from indies or big name companies. It didn't have a huge library, but it was getting a decent stream of titles from 2008 through early 2013. I'm not sure how attached people are with this compared to Virtual Console, but it will not please some. There are a few other features I can't think of at the moment, but overall, it's all going to be gone.
What does mean at all? It means that you're never going to see some of these games ever again for WiiWare. I doubt people will go out and go after systems like the Turbografx and Master System to get titles. Whether the WiiWare stuff gets emulated, I don't know. It will be a while for its generation to get emulation going, but it needs a lot of time and patience. PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 are going to go through this as well, but they will last longer due to people still playing on these systems. Maybe they will shut down in the 2020s. Online is still being used on stuff like the Call of Duty's, GTA V and a couple other titles that still have servers going.
It's a surprise but not one at the same time. Nintendo gave it a good life. Points will not be allowed after late March of 2018, followed by the January 2019 shutdown. With all the other stuff they shut down, it was to be expected. An era will truly end in more than a year.
Tuesday, April 18, 2017
Nintendo Switch Update: April 2017
I'll keep this short and sweet, but Nintendo put up some good numbers with their new Switch system. Debuting at the start of March, it has performed beyond expectations. There are a few things that could be fixed from some people's complaints but overall, it's first month was good. The numbers are at 2.4 million sold worldwide, which is excellent considering releasing at this time of the year.
For as good as that is, I would still stay a little optimistic for now. There hasn't been too many titles, physically and digitally, despite the strong selling of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Other than Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and a few other titles that might come out the next two to three months, Switch owners are going to have to bear it until Splatoon 2 is released in July. This is going to be one of two tests to see if people will still be interested in the Switch. One is now when Mario Kart comes out at the end of this month until Splatoon 2. Then there is whatever else until whenever Super Mario Odyssey comes out. I'm expecting a November release, much like most of the main Mario games the last 10 years since Galaxy.
It could still go either way. People want to see Nintendo succeed, but also put up an effort. They are hitting on the right cylinders. Right now, they have to keep putting up a strong push to keep the Switch relevant until the heavy hitters come out. Mario Kart 8 will be the first true test to see if people will instantly go for it or stick to the Wii U version. Play the cards right, and Switch system numbers could be from 50 to 70 percent near the total numbers of Wii U systems.
Check out some of my previous Switch blogs:
http://sullivanentertainment.blogspot.com/2017/02/nintendo-switch-last-hurrah-or-comeback.html
http://sullivanentertainment.blogspot.com/2017/04/peta-and-virtual-cows.html
For as good as that is, I would still stay a little optimistic for now. There hasn't been too many titles, physically and digitally, despite the strong selling of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Other than Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and a few other titles that might come out the next two to three months, Switch owners are going to have to bear it until Splatoon 2 is released in July. This is going to be one of two tests to see if people will still be interested in the Switch. One is now when Mario Kart comes out at the end of this month until Splatoon 2. Then there is whatever else until whenever Super Mario Odyssey comes out. I'm expecting a November release, much like most of the main Mario games the last 10 years since Galaxy.
It could still go either way. People want to see Nintendo succeed, but also put up an effort. They are hitting on the right cylinders. Right now, they have to keep putting up a strong push to keep the Switch relevant until the heavy hitters come out. Mario Kart 8 will be the first true test to see if people will instantly go for it or stick to the Wii U version. Play the cards right, and Switch system numbers could be from 50 to 70 percent near the total numbers of Wii U systems.
Check out some of my previous Switch blogs:
http://sullivanentertainment.blogspot.com/2017/02/nintendo-switch-last-hurrah-or-comeback.html
http://sullivanentertainment.blogspot.com/2017/04/peta-and-virtual-cows.html
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
Nintendo Switch: Last Hurrah or a Comeback?
I really do question what Nintendo thinks in their offices in Japan. For over 20 years, they have lost a lot of their home console audience due to bad decisions such as the Nintendo 64 using cartridges and a number of things from the GameCube. They rebounded a bit with the Wii, but stumbled heading out of it and failing miserably with the Wii U. Their handhelds, however, have been a consistent seller, even without much competition and the their biggest threat being the PlayStation Portable. All things considered, Nintendo is putting their eggs in one basket to bring in a unique way to play games. Coming March third is the Switch.
What Nintendo is trying to do is to combine the experience of playing on the go like people would with a 3DS, but also have the experience of playing it at home like any of their home consoles since 1983. Their aim is to focus on one system and one system only. The hope is for their to be no multiple versions of the same game like what happened to Super Smash Bros.. They seem to get the grasp somewhat on what needs to be done in order to succeed.
Regarding the Wii U, it was a big failure due to a lack of marketing, the name, pricing, and a bulky gamepad which contributed to the price, just to name a few of its mishaps. Nintendo seems like they understood the problems that plagued their predecessor and are trying to fix any damaged caused by it. I find the price to be a little high, but not a dealbreaker. Three hundred dollars is manageable. The controllers, named Joy-Con, looks to be something that will not add to the price. However, getting a set of two and a Pro Controller altogether is going to cost over a hundred dollars, which will hurt a little bit if you instantly want four player action.
You can't have a launch without having games. The lineup when Switch debuts is very small. Of course, the big one will be The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. It has been in development for a very long time and will also come out on the Wii U. Nintendo launched the Wii with Twilight Princess and it served as a strong launch game in 2006, so hopefully for the big N, they didn't anger a lot of their fanbase. That being said, the rest of their lineup as of now won't have as much of an impact like Zelda, but there is stuff that will keep some owners occupied. The next biggest franchises are Just Dance, which was still being made on the original Wii along with the newer consoles, and Skylanders, the toy based game that has been a seller since 2011. Other notable games include 1-2-Switch, Super Bomberman R, and I am Setsuna.
For the rest of 2017, Nintendo seems to understand to space the game releases over this first year to keep people interested in the Switch. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe comes out in April, but they hope its enough until Splatoon 2 releases in the summer. Then there is the Christmas season, which is when Super Mario Odyssey hits shelves. If Nintendo plays their cards right and advertises the system and the games, this could make people buy a lot of product and somewhat compete with the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
A big problem with Nintendo is getting third party support. For now, it looks okay. A lot of companies are looking to test the waters with a game or two. Getting past the launch titles, some of the notables include Skyrim, Dragon Ball Z, and Sonic Mania. A lot of companies have been confirmed into making games for the Switch. It's just a matter of wondering if they come out and when. The first year of support for the Wii U had quite a bit of third parties, but by the end of 2013, it dwindled down very fast. Nintendo really needs to keep these companies and still give them a big reason to put their heavy hitters on their system.
One of the things that Nintendo has lagged at was online. The way they have been, they are trying to make up for lost time ever since they underestimated online back in the GameCube days. Now, they are going the Sony and Microsoft route of charging instead of it being free. Cost wise, it could potentially be around 17 to 26 dollars going by what the yen costs are going to be, but it will start the charging in the fall. That's not a bad price if that is what it's going to be throughout the world. Their online chat, on the other hand, requires a smartphone app, which is one of my issues regarding Nintendo. It seems like they move a step forward and then move two steps back. Without much information, it's hard to know if it's possible to do chat without a phone.
Then there is the free game with online. Nintendo hasn't really explained the reasoning, but similar to the Xbox systems, you get a game if you are using the paid online. Unfortunately, it's an NES or SNES game that is free for a month. I don't know if you can keep the game or you have to pay for it after a month, but if it's the latter, this could potentially fall flat on its face. I get that there is a wealth of games from the 80s and 90s that are loved, but it would have made more sense to look at the GameCube or Wii. Maybe even the Nintendo 64, but the way it is being done, this pales in comparison to what Microsoft does.
A big thing with the Switch is that it is a cartridge format. It should be obvious if anyone has played a 3DS or DS what the cart is going to look like. There's not much else Nintendo could have done. The memory size is still abysmal. Thirty two gigabytes is still not enough, and some will be forced to buy SD cards, especially if you are going digital. There is no backwards compatibility, which I don't see as a dealbreaker. It would be a nice option, but it won't be the end of the world.
My assessment on it before it launches is this. There is enough positives that will help the system sell. Nintendo is playing it smart with their releases. The big question will be how they market it and how often they will promote it. If it does well, they have to carry that momentum and give people more old and new franchises, provide some price cuts and put improvement into their online and show that they can still be a competitive company with a huge comeback. If it fails, who knows what will come next for Nintendo.
So overall, I would have a little optimism regarding the Switch, but I wouldn't be too scared of it once its library starts to pick up during the year. I somewhat expect this to do better than the GameCube and Wii U if things go well for it. Hopefully, Nintendo knows what works and what doesn't. There's a lot riding on what could be the last hurrah if things don't translate to success.
What Nintendo is trying to do is to combine the experience of playing on the go like people would with a 3DS, but also have the experience of playing it at home like any of their home consoles since 1983. Their aim is to focus on one system and one system only. The hope is for their to be no multiple versions of the same game like what happened to Super Smash Bros.. They seem to get the grasp somewhat on what needs to be done in order to succeed.
Regarding the Wii U, it was a big failure due to a lack of marketing, the name, pricing, and a bulky gamepad which contributed to the price, just to name a few of its mishaps. Nintendo seems like they understood the problems that plagued their predecessor and are trying to fix any damaged caused by it. I find the price to be a little high, but not a dealbreaker. Three hundred dollars is manageable. The controllers, named Joy-Con, looks to be something that will not add to the price. However, getting a set of two and a Pro Controller altogether is going to cost over a hundred dollars, which will hurt a little bit if you instantly want four player action.
You can't have a launch without having games. The lineup when Switch debuts is very small. Of course, the big one will be The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. It has been in development for a very long time and will also come out on the Wii U. Nintendo launched the Wii with Twilight Princess and it served as a strong launch game in 2006, so hopefully for the big N, they didn't anger a lot of their fanbase. That being said, the rest of their lineup as of now won't have as much of an impact like Zelda, but there is stuff that will keep some owners occupied. The next biggest franchises are Just Dance, which was still being made on the original Wii along with the newer consoles, and Skylanders, the toy based game that has been a seller since 2011. Other notable games include 1-2-Switch, Super Bomberman R, and I am Setsuna.
For the rest of 2017, Nintendo seems to understand to space the game releases over this first year to keep people interested in the Switch. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe comes out in April, but they hope its enough until Splatoon 2 releases in the summer. Then there is the Christmas season, which is when Super Mario Odyssey hits shelves. If Nintendo plays their cards right and advertises the system and the games, this could make people buy a lot of product and somewhat compete with the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
A big problem with Nintendo is getting third party support. For now, it looks okay. A lot of companies are looking to test the waters with a game or two. Getting past the launch titles, some of the notables include Skyrim, Dragon Ball Z, and Sonic Mania. A lot of companies have been confirmed into making games for the Switch. It's just a matter of wondering if they come out and when. The first year of support for the Wii U had quite a bit of third parties, but by the end of 2013, it dwindled down very fast. Nintendo really needs to keep these companies and still give them a big reason to put their heavy hitters on their system.
One of the things that Nintendo has lagged at was online. The way they have been, they are trying to make up for lost time ever since they underestimated online back in the GameCube days. Now, they are going the Sony and Microsoft route of charging instead of it being free. Cost wise, it could potentially be around 17 to 26 dollars going by what the yen costs are going to be, but it will start the charging in the fall. That's not a bad price if that is what it's going to be throughout the world. Their online chat, on the other hand, requires a smartphone app, which is one of my issues regarding Nintendo. It seems like they move a step forward and then move two steps back. Without much information, it's hard to know if it's possible to do chat without a phone.
Then there is the free game with online. Nintendo hasn't really explained the reasoning, but similar to the Xbox systems, you get a game if you are using the paid online. Unfortunately, it's an NES or SNES game that is free for a month. I don't know if you can keep the game or you have to pay for it after a month, but if it's the latter, this could potentially fall flat on its face. I get that there is a wealth of games from the 80s and 90s that are loved, but it would have made more sense to look at the GameCube or Wii. Maybe even the Nintendo 64, but the way it is being done, this pales in comparison to what Microsoft does.
A big thing with the Switch is that it is a cartridge format. It should be obvious if anyone has played a 3DS or DS what the cart is going to look like. There's not much else Nintendo could have done. The memory size is still abysmal. Thirty two gigabytes is still not enough, and some will be forced to buy SD cards, especially if you are going digital. There is no backwards compatibility, which I don't see as a dealbreaker. It would be a nice option, but it won't be the end of the world.
My assessment on it before it launches is this. There is enough positives that will help the system sell. Nintendo is playing it smart with their releases. The big question will be how they market it and how often they will promote it. If it does well, they have to carry that momentum and give people more old and new franchises, provide some price cuts and put improvement into their online and show that they can still be a competitive company with a huge comeback. If it fails, who knows what will come next for Nintendo.
So overall, I would have a little optimism regarding the Switch, but I wouldn't be too scared of it once its library starts to pick up during the year. I somewhat expect this to do better than the GameCube and Wii U if things go well for it. Hopefully, Nintendo knows what works and what doesn't. There's a lot riding on what could be the last hurrah if things don't translate to success.
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