Does The Nintendo Switch Match Up To The Competition?

Critics say the Nintendo Switch is underwhelming compared to the competition but is it really?

[FallenAngel1984]

It's going to be very difficult for Sony to release a follow up for the Vita after the release of Switch

[Gemmol]

No one will trust Sony after what they did to the Vita with dropping support so quickly, I understand it save them from.bleeding more money but dang I would of been sad

(Switch friend code 4384-8283-7514)

[carmelo43]

lmfao didnt drop support for the vita, there still making makes, unlike the wii an wii u, nintendo left them so fast people didnt know what happen so shut up before speaking

[S2Killinit]

Umm the Vita was/is a great handheld. They didnt do anything bad to the Vita. And Sony definitly could release another handheld in the future.

On point: The Switch is a competent contender and does "match up to the competition"

[Gemmol]

Carmelo43 and S2Killinit

they drop support long time ago, stop being blind, go back and look up their words, denial not a good thing bro......yes other people still make games for it, same as other people still made games for Wii and Wii U.......but I bet both Wii and Wii U got more 1st party games than the Vita had 1st party games

[Knushwood Butt]

Coming from a Nintendo fan that's an amusing comment.

[bluefox755]

Why not? People trusted Nintendo after Wii U. Also, Vita still gets support where it's popular, Japan.

[S2Killinit]

I see more exclusives for Vita than for xbone (even assuming xbox has exclusives that is).

[_-EDMIX-_]

Just like no one will trust Nintendo with how they treated the wii u

🐸☕

[KuroKiko]

Would of been" Who the eff thought that was proper English?

[conanlifts]

Possibly. I want them to wait 1-2 years then hopefully just release a ps4 portable. How fantastic would it be if they literally released a portable that has the same specs and uses the same system. This would make every digital ps4 game compatible and also ensure future ps4 games once ps5 releases. For me this would be the perfect handheld.

[Gemmol]

well I read something from a sony fan, he said if the Nintendo Switch was change to Sony Switch, everyone would consider it the perfect handheld, but since it have Nintendo name on the system, it is like germs to stay away, what is your take on this??

I ask because you just wrote sony ps4 portable would be a perfect handheld, so I am trying to learn what make it so perfect

[conanlifts]

@gemmol. Firstly i own switch and think it is a great system. But the reason i think a portable ps4 would be perfect is that i own a heap of digital ps4 games. If sony continued the ps4 in a few years by making the exact same system portable and allowing all of the ps4 digital games to work on it my library would already be huge. It's also something that has never been done before. It would launch with hundreds of available games. It would be similiar if nintendo said that every digital wii u game that you had purchased could be used free of cost on switch and every game released digitally on wii u could be purchased for switch. How awesome would this be. It would take backwards compatibility to the digital era and progress the model ms are using onto portable systems. In addition it would push portable gaming further ahead in power making games like Witcher 3 and cyberpunk a true possibility on the go.

[_-EDMIX-_]

Except when the PlayStation Portable released several years into the PlayStation 2 generation it was actually stronger than the PlayStation 2 in many areas

You would simply be describing the same situation.

This might be the perfect handheld situation for you but I don't really believe Sony feels confident in releasing this type of device simply because the market is not really responding well to portable devices simply dedicated to gaming outside of Nintendo's handhelds .

I mean sure they could pack in the Cradle accessory if they feel just but I just don't know how much of a market there is a for dedicated portable gaming devices.

It would not be all that out of the ordinary for a Playstation Portable to release in the future that was equivalent or stronger than the PlayStation 4

Simply but I just don't know if the market exists for it to be feasible I personally don't think it's a good idea right now to release a portable platform for Sony

@Gemm- almost 10 years ago the PSP was the device that allows you to play your portable off of the television as an option anyway , the PSP Go also allows this functionality as well as using the controller as an option and I'm sorry it was not called with "the perfect portable" because of these features.

So if you're wondering how Sony fans would respond to these features I don't know why don't you ask them how they felt about them 10 years ago when they were implemented in the PSP.....

[MyDietEqualsGames]

Gemmol, you forgot your switch friend code after your comment, bruh. You need to step it up.

[XStation4pio_Pro]

I don't think they want to. Sony dominates a demographic of people who tend to swing more adult (their exclusives reflect this), handheld demographics generally swing younger, as do Nintendos exclusives, so it makes sense that Nintendo usually leads in the handheld market. The switch on e otherhand as a console does no compete with current gen consoles on pretty much anything and I don't think Sony has a desire to pander to an audience it isn't looking for

[_-EDMIX-_]

Not necessarily because Sony has already released a handheld that has the ability to out to the television before it's not rocket science.

PSP Go could also use a PlayStation 3 controller as an option.

I would argue with easy for Sony to just implement the same features they've already implemented before so I'm not entirely sure what you're talking about

LMFAO!

Be like " not sure if Sony could do the same thing that they already did almost 10 years ago again" 😂😂😂

[FallenAngel1984]

@ sd

Vita is a portable PS3 and that didn't give it a commercial edge. Releasing a more powerful handheld isn't going to ensure a next Sony handheld success.

@ masta

Sony's demographic hits all ages, which is why most software of various types tend to do best on PlayStation as opposed to Xbox or Nintendo.

Nintendo has dominated the handheld market because of the utilization of Gunpei Yokoi's philosophy of withered technology with lateral thinking. It's what kept the Game Boy and DS lines ahead of more powerful competitors for 28 years. It's going to be even more difficult for Sony to compete with another handheld when NS is also powerful.

NS does compete with the other consoles whether you like it or not. It's going to be sold in the same places and it's going to have similar games as well.

[UltraNova]

"NS does compete with the other consoles whether you like it or not. It's going to be sold in the same places and it's going to have similar games as well."

At this point in time the NS does not compete with traditional consoles.

Did you notice the distinct lack of the console part in Nintendo's communication for the Switch? Its time people see the Switch for what it trully is, a Nintendo handheld 95% of the way. I mean just look at Zelda's reduced performance when docked...I mean really what more do you want to see the Switch for what it trully is?

3rd party support will dictate wether the Switch competes with regular consoles or not and no amount of wishfull thinking can change this.

PS- the second part of the quote above is childish and untrue. A car dealer can sell Ladas and Ferraris at his dealership, that doenst mean Ladas compete with Ferraris in any strech of the imagination especially on the race track (ie console race).

[FallenAngel1984]

NS sure isn't being sold like a console. The cost of its games and accessories alone puts it into console territory. The type of people who usually spend that much on gaming devices are typically of the console variety.

Switch will compete regardless. Switch doesn't exist in a bubble. It costs a similar amount to the other consoles on the market and that is going to factor into a lot of consumers' minds. A console cannot just take itself out of a market and industry that its structure is heavily a part of.

Tablets and smartphones do not compete with consoles since they cater to a completely different audience even though they play games. Switch on the other hand will appeal to people who generally like consoles and handhelds.

[_-EDMIX-_]

Agreed

[conanlifts]

Vita is a portable ps3..

That wasn't what i meant. Vita had a 576i screen and according to many benchmarks only had 28gflops gpu. Power wise it was not a ps3 condensed into a matching portable unit.

But that's not what i meant. I literally meant if they release a new ps4 that is condensed into a portable unit. So every digital ps4 game plays on that portable unit. A 1080p screen, 1.84 tflop gpu , 8gb ram and everything matching. This is a portable that i would love in the future. Surely that in itself would suceed. In 1-2 years it is also potentially possible.

[FallenAngel1984]

@ Edmix

I'm talking about what a Vita successor could use as its selling point. PSP and Vita were heavily marketed as being multimedia devices that offered contemporary console quality gaming on the go.

Smartphones and tablets are extremely multimedia based and took away that selling point, now Switch has taken away the unique selling point of console quality gaming on the go. At that point it'd be very difficult for Sony to release another handheld that would set it apart from its competition, not to mention also sell a lot more than Vita to warrant the effort.

With dedicated handhelds also dwindling in the market I honestly have to ask you why you'd think such a proposition wouldn't be difficult.

[_-EDMIX-_]

I simply mean it wouldn't be difficult for them to implement something they've already done before, not necessarily if they would be successful or even if it's the right idea

I actually agree with you that the way the market is right now I don't even think Sony should release another handheld

I believe the whole console quality on the go thing with the PSP in the PlayStation Vita banked on for a long time and I just don't really think there's a market for something like that at least not for Sony anymore I believe Nintendo it's going to struggle to hold on to that handheld Market.

[drunkenspy007]

The vita was and still is, a great hand held. I can't wait for the next portable from Sony.

[darthv72]

the better question is: Does the Nintendo Switch Have To Match Up to The Competition?

Some will say yes, others no. I, for one, am glad it is different. The only real issue I can see is that Nintendo is generally the only ones that know how to use it. They should be giving all the developers the keys to the castle so they can make fun games like Nintendo does.

[Gemmol]

Read what the indies said, Nintendo made the Switch easier than any other system to make games with all the tools Nintendo gave, Unity, Unreal and etc

(Switch friend code 4384-8283-7514)

[nitus10]

You appear to listen to too much PR speak.

Developing a game is not about getting tools like Unity, Unreal etc which are available for most platforms anyway. Basically, the tools you mentioned allow the developer to port their games to other platforms easier than having to program the game using a different suite of tools for each platform. After the porting is done it may be necessary to customise that port to work efficiently on the target platform.

[EddieNX]

The switch has no competition. Its xbox vs PS with their two similar home consoles and then there is switch, which is IMO. More of a handheld than a home console. You can use it as a handheld all the time if you want, and it makes one hell of an impressive one at that.

[Gemmol]

I agree, I'm loving everything about it in handheld mode

(Switch friend code 4384-8283-7514)

[gbsrnctaln]

Nintendo said that it is primarily a home console. Im not disagreeing with you that it is primarily a handheld, but it is indeed their "competition" in the home console arena. And as such, falls flat on its face.

[CrimsonPheonix]

Only if you think of it in terms of power. In terms of functionality it excels. It enables the ability for you to play wherever you want and with the joycons anyway you want. And even on top of that it enables you have local multiplayer with one machine.

[gbsrnctaln]

Those are all still relating to the PORTABLE aspects of the console. You can play your PS4 anywhere in the house as well by the way.

[PhoenixUp]

It's gonna be hard for NS to match up to PS4 and XO when it's not even going to receive the same amount of titles.

When you match them up NS still seems like a secondary console like its last two predecessors.

[Gemmol]

They could say the same about those systems when 3ds developers move to.the Switch they will have a lot of third party games.........look at 3ds and see how many exclusives it have and you be amaze but now those games will.be in HD on the switch

(Switch friend code 4384-8283-7514)

[slavish0]

Fyi Nintendo isn't paying u🤣

[PhoenixUp]

The development costs were a lot lower on 3DS than any other dedicated platform at the time, hence why it got so many exclusives.

NS games on the other will cost close to the same amount that titles do on PS4 and XO to produce, so it remains to be seen if it'll get as many exclusives.

[Gemmol]

this where you wrong, look at what indie developers say about the tools Nintendo and Nivida made to make games easier on the system which bring down cost even lower than ps4.....they got a game up and running in less than a week, just having it running, not saying they had it running perfect.....but this a big change from Wii U days and difference from ps4 tools

(Switch friend code 4384-8283-7514)

[PhoenixUp]

Indie developers are still going to support PS4 as well as Vita though.

[MASTER_RAIDEN]

"match up" is a tricky term. In terms of a technical capacity the switch is obviously far behind its competition. But what makes the switch seem special to me is what it has to offer in terms of its own capabilities. I love the idea of the switch, and though some things havent panned out exactly as we hoped, im excited about its future.

What the switch has been for the past week has kept me happy as a gamer thus far. I think the product that it has the potential to become in the future definitely matches up to the excitement i have in future ps and xb projects.

[Gemmol]

People keep using term graphic wise far back......then you have others who think all the Switch can do is 900p Zelda when the makers of the game said it was a straight up port with nothing added so they did not have to delay the game any further, so no hd rumble and etc. But still people use that as a benchmark when Nintendo said themselves the Switch way stronger than the Wii U even in Handheld mode. There is no game out there to benchmark what the Switch can do but lets use Zelda for a benchmark. Here is my question is that game that ugly in people eyes????

I ask this because people keep posting the system way weaker than PS4 like the Switch have ps1 graphics or something or switch graphics is like going from ps2 to ps3 and in my opinion ps2 to ps3 was a big jump in graphics but ps3 to ps4 is not a huge jump in graphics, yes you can see the difference, but it's not a ps2 to ps3 difference

My point is even if we use Zelda as a benchmark games on it will not look ugly, they will not look horrible, they are good..........the way everyone talk about it you would think ps4 is a pc but it's not that powerful

(Switch friend code 4384-8283-7514)

[gbsrnctaln]

The Pro is over 400% more powerful lol. Get real buddy, as a home console it just doesnt stack up. It is indeed another "secondary console" by nintendo that will NOT recieve the 3rd party AAAs. If the Swatch is ones only console, they will be missing out on the majority of the biggest games.

[Gemmol]

@gbsrnctaln

I wrote ps4, and you wrote ps4 pro, please read my response again or find a youtube video on ways to improve reading........ps4 pro is 400 percent more powerful than what console??? you posting numbers and I do not know what you comparing it with......because even ps4 to ps4 pro is not a big a jump as ps2 to ps3..........and even if I use ps3 to ps4 pro as an example, it is still not a big as jump as ps2 to ps3.......so in the end as a gamer you not missing out on much if you decide to keep your ps4 and wait for the ps5, same as iphone owners instead of upgrading from iphone 5s to iphone 6, it be better to wait for iphone 6s to upgrade....or even iphone 7 if you want to see a big jump..........and this prove my point again, Switch graphics is far from being horrible.....now maybe when Scorpio come out maybe then graphics will show a bigger jump because ps4 pro not cutting it

[Bronxs15]

i'll say no. because even tho there is a portable aspect to the system it's Nintendo's home console. it's more powerful than the wii u. they them selves have said it is a home console. wii u production has stopped but not the 3ds.

in that regard i think we'll see games of a size and scope on xbox/ps that the switch simple cannot keep up with. zelda while nice for it's art style isn't setting any graphical benchmarks but even that tittle is causing the switch soc to melt....

[Gemmol]

I honestly do not see much competition for the Switch, people will get their games for PS4 and people will get their games for the Switch. Games that will come out for both system, I think the Switch will take some customers away from Sony and Microsoft, only because those people want to play those games on the go.

I see many responses especially from fathers who have kids and they do not get much time to game on their ps4 all the TV are taken with either a kid or with the wife watching TV. One Switch owner who was thinking of returning the switch, he did not open it yet and all the Sony fans got in his head to think the Switch was a bad system and he thought about returning it, but after seeing all the TV being taken up and he could not play his PS4.

He decided to open up the switch box and started to play, now he see how the switch fit his life he have his own personal screen and now he can play whenever he want vs waiting for everyone to be asleep or etc.

People lime his story and other stories show the switch have some value, and those same people said the same thing as me, if any future game that is announced for PS4 is also announced for Switch i will pick up Switch version just like them only because we want to play our game on the go or when we can't use the TV.

Switch is beautiful and lovely once you give it a chance, do not let these die hard Sony fans change your mind, give it a try and be surprised how great of a handheld it is

(Switch friend code SW-4384-8283-7514 add me, and if you getting NBA 2K18 make sure you definitely add me, I would love to have more people I can beat on the regular online)

[bluefox755]

Nintendo doesn't have to directly compete with Sony and MS, but by the same token, they can't really ignore the standards they set either, at least not without detriment.

[Tallpine]

It doesn't match up for a couple of reasons. 1: it is super early in switches life to compare to consoles that have been out for years and have had the chance to grow. 2: Nintendo does their own thing and sometimes it is a hit, sometimes it's a miss. Which one the switch is, is yet to be determined. The wii was a huge hit, the wiiu was a miss... the switch we will have to see after some growth and direction. It will likely be a huge hit with portable gamers.

The switch is personally not for me, I don't like portable gaming (small screen and limited controller comfort and ability). When I play games I prefer big screens/sound and proper controls... but that's just my preference. I came close to buying the vita a few times but it kept coming down to playing with inferior controls over a dual shock controller.

[PlayStation_5]

The fact that Nintendo's Switch can't even properly run a small 13.4 GB launch-day game with low graphical fidelity at a stable 900p and 30fps already proves how outdated the specs are for a 9th Generation Home Game Console in 2017.

But the ridiculous storage medium of 32 GB proprietary SD cards for Switch games is an even bigger problem going forward. 50 GB Dual-Layer Blu-Ray discs have been the industry standard since 2006, and Nintendo still hasn't even caught up to that yet. The Wii U only used 25 GB proprietary Single-Layer Blu-Ray discs. Considering that most 3rd party AAA games have already been pushing the 50 GB Dual-Layer Blu-Ray limit before the Wii U was even released, the fact that Wii U games could not exceed 25 GB already alienated the console from most 3rd party AAA games that simply couldn't be compressed enough to even fit onto a Single-Layer Blu-Ray disc.

The Xbox Scorpio and PlayStation 5 will be using 100 GB Triple-Layer Ultra HD Blu-Ray discs, while the Nintendo Switch will still be restricted to the measly 32 GB proprietary SD Cards. Nintendo's 3rd party AAA game support is already terrible right now the way it is, but it's about to get significantly worse due to the Switch game's archaic storage medium.

[CrimsonPheonix]

None of that matters, it's a powerful handheld with a dock.

[PlayStation_5]

It definitely matters whether you realize it or not. I find it interesting that most gamers (including myself) actually agree that the Switch basically is just "a powerful handheld with a dock", even though Nintendo vehemently denies that by calling it a "home console first". With the Wii U recently discontinued and the Switch obviously a portable console first, does that mean that Nintendo has already taken the first steps towards dropping out of the home console market without officially announcing it yet? Maybe they're just confused, short-sighted and incompetent...

[nitus10]

You do realize that you can connect your Android or iPhone to your TV don't you and you have hundreds of games to choose from https://www.howtogeek.com/2... most of which are free or very cheap (ie. no adverts) and will run at 1080p.

Ok, I won't deny that many smartphone games are IMHO rubbish but there are some good ones as well although I yet to find one that I am genuinely interested in.

[nitus10]

Why would the proposed PS5 use a UHD Bluray player when that has nothing to do with gaming? I would rather the PS5 had a 1TB SSD (minimum 480MB/sec write, 540MB/sec reads) rather than a UHD Bluray player.

Currently, the largest game I have is The Witcher 3 with its two DLC's and that is around 71GB but most games (even AAA) are very much less than 45GB. This won't change even with 4K or 8K gaming and you can get games like Crysis which are less than 20GB and will display natively on an 8K monitor.

BTW. Yes, the graphics cards for 8K output are very expensive and you will be able to get a 32" 8K monitor for the cheap price of $5000 USD on the 23rd of March 2017 http://www.theverge.com/201... but no has said cutting edge is cheap.

[jjb1981]

I honestly just think that Nintendo is in their own league. They do things differently. They are not trying to be better than PS4 or Xbox one. Their games are what make them. I'm having a blast playing Zelda on my switch. Then I have blast playing Horizon on PS4. Then I turn on my PC for Gears of War 4. After that, I watch Netflix on my Xbox One. They are all different experiences. I don't know what people expected from a handheld device. It looks gorgeous the way it is.

[feraldrgn]

Handhelds, yes absolutely.
Consoles, absolutely not.

Though it's strange because Dragon Quest Heroes 2 has worse performance on the Switch than the Vita, they chose to go for a middling graphical quality between the PS4 & the Vita, the framerate drops severely because of it.
https://www.youtube.com/wat...

[CrimsonWing69]

No it doesn't match the competition and that's the problem with it.

[Athos]

Considering there is nothing else like it on the market it has no competition. So yeah, it holds up just fine. I've been enjoying the hell out of mine. Then again, I own all the systems and dont really care who's name is on the box. Thats called being a gamer, not a fanboy.