Make it All About the Gimmick
If you haven’t seen the first reveal of the Nintendo Switch you should probably check it out (you can watch it right here). While watching that, you may have noticed that a lot of the focus is on the console’s ability to be taken on the go and for the controller to be split to allow for multiplayer. It was a cool trick that really grabbed the attention of millions around the world, and there’s good reason for that. Being able to take a full console experience on the go hasn’t really been possible with modern games. The closest we ever got to living that dream was with the Sega Game Gear back in ’97 at the cost of millions upon millions of batteries.
While it is a cool feature that is sure to attract buyers, it does have its shortcomings. For one, developers would have to figure out how to make a game work on both a full controller and half of a controller on the Nintendo Switch. Another issue would be the graphical disparity between rendering on the Switch’s screen, as opposed to your own HDTV in your house. This means developing multiple formats for a single game to run on and that can become expensive and rather time consuming for developers to pull off.
The Wii U had great ideas as well, ideas that ended up spoiling many of the experiences on Nintendo’s last platform. Having to utilize that second screen didn’t meld well with every game, and the fact that Nintendo kept pushing it didn’t help them. While it’s cool that the Switch can do what it does, please don’t force developers to make it do so.
Don’t Launch or Reveal Plans for a New Online Network
Let’s face it, when discussing serious online play, Nintendo usually isn’t even part of the discussion. The friend system is convoluted, the company has never been fully behind voice chat, their storefront is questionable, and the Wii U didn’t get enough of the big competitive games. It’s just not a company you turn to when you consider playing with your friends from far away. That needs to change with the Switch or else they’ll see themselves falling even further behind the competition.
We aren’t saying building a great network is easy. Microsoft figured it out pretty early on, and it took Sony years to get it somewhat right. But, that means that Nintendo has two different companies to look at when it comes to building their very own. They need messaging, parties, the ability to find games your friends have, an easily navigable storefront, voice chat, and dedicated servers. Of course, not every game needs to have some online component (fans do love their privacy from time to time), but taking it seriously would show that they mean business with the Switch and are looking into the future rather than sticking with the past.
It will be next to impossible for the Switch to compete with the PS4 or Xbox One (and whatever else may turn up) if they aren’t thinking about the digital world. It’s time to step into 2017.
Lacking Major Third-Party Support
By major third-party support, I don’t mean that they need to have these developers or publishers in their corner. Nintendo has already shown some big names that are ready and willing to support the Switch including Take-Two Interactive, EA, Activision, Bethesda, From Software, and Ubisoft (among many others). That’s never been the company’s problem, even the Wii U had some big names behind it after all. The problem is that these third-party entities weren’t bringing their biggest titles to the platform. Ubisoft couldn’t place its major releases on the Wii U so instead opted for smaller exclusives or different versions. After Black Ops II, no other Call of Duty graced the console, instead focusing on the much more powerful PS4 and Xbox One. Destiny, Titanfall, Battlefield, MKX, Metal Gear Solid V, and many more titles released and passed Nintendo over.
The Switch is going to need some of those large, upcoming games. The Mass Effect: Andromedas, the Red Dead Redemptions, the Assassin’s Creeds, if it wants to stand toe to toe with two well-established competitors. Having the name in your corner means nothing if the Switch doesn’t get the flagship games that go along with them. While it’s a great idea to get some smaller exclusives out of the deal, it should always be noted that it’s the blockbusters that these studios and publishers are known for, and it’s time to start taking advantage of that.
$400 Price Tag (Or Some Other Equally Bad Number)
Price is a very big deal when it comes to releasing new hardware. There are two figures a company needs to desperately avoid: too high and too low.
A price that is too high would show that Nintendo is bringing the Switch into a battlefield it hasn’t actually examined. $400 can get you a 4K capable, HDR and VR compatible console right now. Also, that console happens to have an extensive lineup of stellar triple-A titles (both first and third-party), and a 2017 schedule that is set to make waves. The Switch would have to show up with some serious games if it wants to stand against that at $400.
Too low, however, will lead many to think that the Nintendo Switch is just cheap. Nobody likes cheap technology, so they’re willing to fork over a few extra bucks in order to feel like they’re getting a premium product. Seeing a $150-200 console will just bring back horrible memories of the OUYA and how it failed to stand against the big boys.
The Switch definitely needs to be somewhere around the $250-$350 range if it wants to be competitive, while still being appealing as a serious piece of hardware. Anything outside of that may spell trouble for the newcomer.
Zelda and/or Mario Need(s) to Be Present at Launch
One thing that both the PS4 and Xbox One didn’t have at launch was a stellar exclusive. They weren’t bad or anything, but they were nothing to write home about, so not many people felt they had to pick one of the consoles up. The Nintendo Switch cannot afford to do the same thing. Coming out in between two juggernauts puts the console at a disadvantage already, especially since it’s set to launch in March which is when Mass Effect: Andromeda is set to pull everyone towards the competition.
There needs to be either The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild or a new Super Mario game ready to go as soon as the machine hits store shelves. There’s just something magical about each of those two franchises that takes everyone back to their childhoods. They are bonafide system sellers, something that has been proven time and time again. Nintendo would be making a huge mistake if it waited and put out something else to tide fans over.
It’s coming down to crunch time and the next couple of weeks can make or break the Nintendo Switch’s launch. If they can avoid these major mistakes, then we’re in for a good fight as the Big Three is made whole again.
About the author
