It's been a good while since the gaming community hear anything new from Nintendo regarding their upcoming hybrid console, Switch. Recently on Friday, January 13, Nintendo held a live stream presentation on whats new on the Switch including games, peripherals, release date and the price. If you haven't read my previous LETS TALK blog about the Nintendo Switch, check it out here. Release Date and PriceThere I'll barely recap the Nintendo Switch presentation from last weekend. Nintendo Co.'s President Tatsumi Kimishima opens the event with the recap of the Switch announcement from last October as well as its release date March 3, 2017 worldwide with the suggested retail price of $299.99 USD. Online Service and Region LockingKimishima continues with information about the Switch Online Service, that provides multiplayer online gaming much like Sony's Playstation Network and Mircosoft's Xbox Live for their respective current-gen consoles. In addition to syncing the Switch's Online Service to the Nintendo mobile app, there will be a post-launch trail period that will run until Fall 2017 which will be a paid service after that. Kimishima also informs that the Switch will not have Region Locking like their past consoles and handhelds. "Switch and Play" and Play StylesKimishima, snapping his finger with the background snap noise, gives the stage to Shinya Takahashi, Nintendo's head of Software Development and Mobile Applications (among other titles). Takahashi began with the Switch's orgin, design and influnces with Nintendo's past hardware starting with the Famicom (in which is known as the Nintendo Entertainment System in the states). It follows with a video of the many features of the Switch including (but not limited to) the console with a built-in screen, the Switch dock to mount the console and the Joy-Con Grip which allows you to connect the Joy-Con controllers it its control-like dock. As it was already shown in its announced trailer, having the console on the dock allows you to play on your television, but when removed from the dock and connecting with the Joy-Con controllers it can be play on the go. A second video explaining the Play Styles including TV Mode, Tabletop Mode, Handheld Move. When on Tabletop or Handheld move, the battery life on the console can last up to 3 hours depending on the software. The console can be charged using a USB Type-C or Mirco USB used for most Smartphones and other gaming controllers. In addition to having two players while on Tabletop mode, up to 8 consoles can be played simultaneously for local multiplayer via Wi-Fi connection. Joy-Con ControllersLike a running-gag in a Sitcom or cartoon, Takahashi "switches," finger snap and all, to Nintendo Switch General Development Producer Yoshiaki Koizumi as he explains in great detail about the Switch Joy-Con Controllers. Source: Siliconera The surprisingly small Joy-Cons, docked in the Joy-Con Grip was presented with its basic style. The left and right Joy-Cons can each act as a separate controller when on Tabletop Mode complete with a analog style, the X-Y-A-B button layout, L and R buttons, Home button, motion controls and a NFC Reader/Writer for the Right Joy-Con and a Capture Button for the left. Both Joy-Cons are included with the console. In addition to the grey Joy-Cons, a colored-variation that comes in Neon Red and Neon Blue, complete with a wrist strap for each and HD Rumble for unique gameplay depending on software, comes with its own Switch system at the same price. Games1-2 Switch The first game introduced in the presentation is 1-2-Switch, which consist of 2-player mini-games utilizing the Joy-Con's motion controls and HD Rumble, as seen in the trailer below. Source: Nintendo YouTube Channel The trailer was followed by Kouichi Kawamoto, another Switch General Director and Producer of 1-2 Switch, who takes the stage and explains the concept of the game through face-to-face interaction. Kawamoto close his portion of the presentation with 1-2 Switch being slated as a launch title for the Switch. ARMS Gears quickly switch to another game in the Switch's lineup with a trailer for ARMS, a wacky motion-control based "fighting sports" game where you go one-on-one against opponents with expandable phone cord-like arms, hence the game title... I couldn't make this up; it sounded strange just describing it. Source: Nintendo YouTube Channel Back to the stage, the producer of ARMS, Kosuke Yabuki, explaining his game that is self-explanatory itself. The game combines boxing and shooting using the Joy-Cons in a thumbs-up positions and using the motion of your hands and arms to attack, block, dodge, etc. The release date for ARMS is set for Spring of this year with a final release date yet to be announced. Splatoon 2 The squeal to the cartoonish and colorful paint-war shooter for the Wii U, bring the action to the Switch with Hisashi Nogami taking the helm as its producer (or The Diligent Researcher at the Squad Research Lab as he presented himself) after the trailer shown. Splatoon 2 will be released this summer, Nogami stated, with weapon and stage updates after its release. Source: Nintendo YouTube Channel Super Mario Odyssey Of course, there can never be a new Nintendo console without a new Super Mario game. Judging by its trailer, the latest adventure of the Mushroom Kingdom hero took an interesting and very unique turn... Source: Nintendo YouTube Channel Mario in a real(ish) world setting? I don't know about the GTA-Inspired memes that's been going around, but it's still hard to believe it took Nintendo 16 years to take a page off of Sonic Adventure, but I digress. Completed with some new tricks, new and familiar characters, a variety of strange new worlds, Super Mario Odyssey definitely lives up to the title of his new adventure. Yoshiaki Koizumi presents himself as Odyssey's producer as he describes the latest Mario game as a huge sandbox game like Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine. The game features Mario journeys off the Mushroom Kingdom into an "unknown" world with locations similar to the real world. (i.e. New Donk City, the obvious nod to New York City.) Some of the new tricks Mario performed in the trailer involves his living red cap. (LoZ Minish Cap anyone? LOL). Unfortunately, the legion of Super Mario fans will have to wait this winter for Super Mario Odyssey will be release at that time. Other games announced where... Xenoblade Chronicles 2 (Monolithsoft, Release Date: Source: Nintendo YouTube Channel Fire Emblem Warriors (Nintendo/Koei Tecmo/Team Ninja) Source: Nintendo YouTube Channel Switching gears to the Nintendo's third party partners supporting the Switch with over 80 games in development from 50 third-party publishers and developers. Naming the few were Dragon Quest XI and X and Dragon Quest Heros I and II from Square Enix. What followed was a trailer for Shin Megami Tensei. Shin Megami Tensei (Sega/Altus) Source: GameSpot YouTube Channel Project Octopath Traveler (Square Enix) Source: Nintendo UK YouTube Channel "Switching" once again (in case you didn't watch the presentation, it's an occurring theme), taking the stage is Toshihiro Nogoshi of SEGA as he see's the Switch takig on new challenges and have alot of appealing points. Switching, yet again, this time a video featuring Executive Producer and Game Director for Bethesda Games Todd Howard as he announced Elder Scrolls IV: Skyrim, which was rumored since the Switch's initial announcement. Source: GameSpot YouTube Channel Next on stage is the CEO of Grasshopper Manufacture Inc. Goichi "Suda51" Suda of No More Heroes and Killer is Dead fame as he announce a new No More Heroes title with a teaser illustration of the series protagonist, Travis Touchdown.
After Suda 51's announcement, another video is displayed with a software lineup for Switch titles in the future. Featuring games that was previously announced during the event, the lineup video also includes games such as Sonic Mania, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Minecraft, Skylanders Imaginators, NBA2K18, Super Bomberman R, and Ultra Street Fighter II just to name a few... Source: Nintendo YouTube Channel System Configuration and Messages from Nintendo of Europe and America.After the jazzy medley of Switch games to come, Nintendo Co.'s President Tatsumi Kimishima returns to the stage to introduce the Switch's configuration complete with everything that comes with the system in addition to the Switch Pro Controler, which will be sold separately. Kimishia then "switches" over to Satoru Shibata, President of Nintendo of Europe and Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime thanking those in attendance and watching the presentation liveand announce Nintendo Switch events in their respective regions. The Legend of Zelda: Breathe of the WildPresident Fils-Aime checks in with long-time Nintendo "Creative Fellow" and current Representative Director Shigeru Miyamoto, who helps himself by playing the anticipated Switch title, The Legend of Zelda: Breathe of the Wild. Miyamoto clearly enjoys the upcoming LoZ title, which will also be available on the Wii U upon its release, as he gives Fils-Aime a thumbs up for approval. In a suprise appearance, Breath of the Wild Producer Eiji Aonuma gives President Kimishima the honor to close out the presentation with of the first official trailer of The Legend of Zelda: Breathe of the Wild. Source: Nintendo YouTube Channel More from Nintendo...The Nintendo Switch showcase didn't stop at the end of the presentation, for more upcoming games and additional information added at the Nintendo website. More details about the Switch console included 32GB of internal storage memory with expandable storage via microSDXC cards, exclusive offers for paid online services including a free NES or SNES downloadable game every month, and there's even a smartphone app for parents to utilizes the Switch's parental control seen here... Source: Nintendo YouTube Channel Personally, I though the Suspend Software feature was a bit overkill, but other than that nifty parental system to make sure your kids don't turn into gaming addicts. Of course there are worst things today's kids could do with a gaming console...
Aside from the system specifications that's been known since the initial announcement, several sources, including GameSpot, has information on the prices of each individual Switch peripheral in which it follows...
Some gamers that were interested in the switch find the prices for extra controllers and replacement dock set problematic, though the final prices of the listed items are yet to be confirmed by Nintendo. My Final ThoughtsAside from the botched English translation voice over, especially during Suda 51's announcement, Nintendo has a solid presentation over all. All the Nintendo and third-party representatives in the presentation were optimistic with what to expect from the Nintendo Switch upon its March 3, 2017 release. The key people from Nintendo and third-party companies are optimistic for the upcoming console. Though the live-stream presentation was been watched by over a million worldwide, the dead silence from the "investors" in the audience makes the cost of extra controllers the least of my worries.
While on the subject, I understand the negative reception from the gaming community about the prices of the Switch Pro Controller and Joy-Cons, but please bear in mind that the pair of Joy-Cons comes in two with the consoles. However if any upcoming software requires an addition pair of Joy Cons or a Pro Controller will be an issue depending on the games. With the exception of the Parental Controls (mainly because I have no kids, yay), the additional information and the software lineup for the Nintendo Switch had increase my interest for the new system. However, I am not looking to buy the Switch at day one. Like any game or console prior to release, things may change in terms of price and presentation which would disappoint many Day 1 consumers. It's way it always help to do research on any console or software prior buying before AND after its release dates. The Nintendo switch shows promise, but I like to know more in the coming weeks before its release. How know? I might even buy it later down the line. So what do you all think of the Nintendo Switch thus far? Does the Live-Stream Presentation got you more interested in the console or not? Let me know in the comments. Until next time, Keep It Lock!
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