It's been roughly 24 hours since the Nintendo Switch conference showed up, and it's caused many to have everything from Day 1 Hype, to the point of pre-ordering it at Best Buy and Amazon to day-sayers saying it's just another gimmick that's gonna fall flat, like Wii and Wii-U before it.
Nintendo Wii was and will always be the console for casual people. It's concept was novelty, and it worked in it's favor. It didn't really get the same appeal as Xbox and Playstation users before it, but made up for it, for it's die-hard Nintendo Audience with games like Twilight Princess and Super Mario Galaxy.
Nintendo Wii-U was Nintendo's Attempt at updating that familiar console, and having it pick up games like Splatoon and Super Mario Maker, it's a console that works... but what is Nintendo Switch?
At first dibs, Nintendo Switch looks like a deconstructed Wii-U gamepad that would only be seen on an episode of "Cutthroat Kitchen", but the Joy-Cons (Joy Controllers?) are the real secret to this console, that could make it really dynamic.
What is surprising to me, is how tiny it is, and how Nintendo might have finally perfected somewhat of a Portable-to-Home console. It's not quite as portable as a Nintendo 3DS, but it's size is enough for people to stuff in backpacks much like tablets, making it possibly something to take with you the same way of a Board Game to your next house party.
What I see most exciting for the Switch is essentially a throwback to the days of the Game Boy and the Link Cable. While DS and 3DS always had this sort of online play mode activated. By having essentially two controllers built into the device, with a mini-screen as well, I could see schools across america being filled with a few nerds bringing their Switch to class and during Recess go through a few 1-2 Switch Minigames with friends, instead of just a solo-adventure like a Pokemon, until it's most necessary to trade and battle.
If some of these games available soon, like a Mario Kart 8 or Splatoon was available with at-launch split screen. Or any of the EA Sports Titles like FIFA with only one of the two joycons being needed to play, you might see the return of the "Friend Console". A need to play two-player or multi-player competitive games for casual fun, as opposed to a solo-experience from most action-adventure titles, a possible return of the "I got next" when it comes to a fighting game, or a co-op platformer supporting teamwork.
Something for parents to think about buying just to give the kids something to do in the backseat of their car, as they drive an hour to go someplace. It could be something exciting to think about, the potentials for this product in casual gaming markets. Teenagers in Clubs, College Kids wanting something between classes, or just something for a casual cocktail round. I want to see drunk people play switch games in a booth.
Of course, this is just my thoughts on where it can go, and how many people this could be with. It will depend ultimately on games and this need for multi-player casual games, in addition for the single-player action adventures like a Zelda or Metroid to make this console strive.
But it's all possible Nintendo might not have learned from their mistakes. They might just continue producing very little in an attempt to drive the demand up. Until the sudden backlash of current owners of Switch going "There is nothing to really play right now, so just wait" comments end up all over the place. A mistake they've made with Wii-U at launch, and with the NES Classic during the holidays.
Another problem is 3rd Party support and the sort of games they might release on a Nintendo Switch. Nintendo Wii was full of funny-bad shovelware, Nintendo Wii-U barely had that many 3rd Party support, because of the questionable need for the gamepad. That my hope is that we see more 3rd Parties involved in Nintendo Switch, with a simple control scheme, and the switch screen being essentially just a viewing device, we might see less wiggling of controls, in favor of classic push-button games.
But fans of the wiggling will still find charm in Nintendo Switch with it's continuing motion controls. That Switch could be seen as Nintendo's "All-In" gamble. They have developed something attempting to appeal to as many audiences as humanly possible, including taking out the region-lock. That this hybrid console, could be seen as something that will be imitated in a few years time or as one of the last of Nintendo's "make a gimmick of a console and hope it works".
And considering the game selections right now, it's still a toss-up. My hope is that we see more great announcements at E3 to grab more people finally looking for a "Classic Nintendo Experience" for the modern day.
Much like Taco Bell's Crunchwrap Supreme, Nintendo needs to advertise this console as "Classic, Made Modern" and start rolling in the money.
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