Jordan Jones explains why he is excited over the announcement of the Nintendo Switch…
After months of speculation, Nintendo has finally revealed its mysterious new console to the masses. Previously codenamed “NX”, we now have to slowly become used to referring to the device as the “Nintendo Switch”. It’s a catchy name, and also a really fitting one. Nintendo has made a switch, of sorts, recently. It started with the reveal of the NES Classic. Not only the device itself, but in the way that it has been marketed: it was marketed to me, a 31 year old who grew up with the “Big N”. For the first time in, what felt like ages, Nintendo is marketing a device solely towards the first generation of Nintendo fans. This is not a “fun for the whole family” campaign. Not at all. The NES Classic boasts 30 retro titles, and emulates the NES experience right down to the wired controllers and reset button. The NES Classic is not intended to be innovative, or a convenience, but a trip down memory lane. The people who will buy the NES Classic are the ones who remember being glued to their family TV in the late 80’s. When watching the reveal of the Nintendo Switch, I had the same response as I did with the NES Classic. The Switch feels like it was made with my generation in mind.
Watching the big reveal, you probably noticed the complete lack of children. The short movie starts with a single man relaxing in his apartment, and playing his Switch. We then see montages of adults on the move. Whether it be by plane, automobile, or simply across the street for a cocktail party. Nintendo is making it clear that The Switch can fit into the busy, and social lifestyles of adults. This means that I can play my Switch on a lazy weekend, but also stash it in my backpack to play on the subway while commuting to work. I can play during lunch-breaks, or at coffee shops in the afternoon. If I’m on a business trip, that 13-hour flight would be made a lot easier if I could plug some serious hours into Dark Souls 3, or The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
Not only is Nintendo marketing The Switch to older consumers, but they seem to understand how that demographic has evolved. The truth is: I am busy. At 31, the hours in a day that I can reasonably dedicate to games are dwindling. When I see a title like The Witcher 3 release, I’m met with mixed emotions. Simply put: I know that I will probably never finish it. I simply don’t have time to sit in my living room, and dedicated 60+ hours into a video game. I’ve reached the age where I’m more excited about a 5 hour indie game than I am about the next big AAA release. Not because one is better than the other, but because one is shorter than the other. Game length matters for me right now, but with The Switch, maybe it no longer has to. The Switch makes it possible for me to play the lengthier console releases on the go. This is a big deal for myself, and others with busier schedules. It is this very idea that tells me Nintendo has their older fans in mind this console-cycle.
Of course, all of this hinges on the system living up to its promises. We’ve been here before. Promises of changing how we play games. The Wii was supposed to change the way we interact with our games, but ended up feeling more like a novelty. Next, the Wii U promised to allow a portable experience with its large touch-screen controller, but not being able to leave your living room, and a noticeable drop in visual quality when playing remotely was a deal-breaker for some. An overarching issue with both consoles was a severe lack of third-party support. The Wii, and Wii U lacked the graphical capabilities of their competitors, and it simply wasn’t profitable for developers to spend the time downgrading their games for Nintendo. Obviously, this led to a steep drop in sales. It’s a catch-22: consumers won’t buy a Wii U without third-party support. However, third-party support won’t be there if the system isn’t profitable. How do you break free from that? For one, you need to prove to developers that the new console will be worth their while, and while I have no proof, I believe Nintendo may have done just that.
Right out of the gate, Nintendo revealed an infographic with an immense amount of third-party support. Every developer I could have hoped to be on that list is present. Bethesda, From Software, Telltale Games, Ubisoft, Capcom, etc. Many developers have already expressed their excitement over the new console. They have clearly spent time with the system, and I don’t think there would be such a large-scale early endorsement if they did not feel optimistic. This, in turn, makes me optimistic. The Switch feels like everything the Wii U strived to be: a home/handheld hybrid that can be competitive, and offer greater third-party support. This time, however, there does actually seem to be a wealth of support from developers, and a real way to play console games on the go. If Nintendo can find a way to optimize battery life, this could very well change the way we play games.
Right away, Nintendo seems set on making two statements with its reveal of The Switch. The first, is that they haven’t forgotten about the older generation. The ones who are older now, and have felt left behind with the company’s recent offerings. The second, and this ties-in with the first, is that Nintendo is intending to make good on its promise with the Wii U. It’s going to allow me to play my games on the go, and allow me to keep up with the latest releases. This has made me excited about The Switch. While it’s still too early to tell, this could be the first time, in a long time, owning solely a Nintendo console could be a viable idea. Here’s hoping.
…you can find Jordan on Twitter (@JordJJones), and on Facebook.
Originally published October 22, 2016. Updated November 30, 2022.
